Rural Policy
Impact Assessment of Proposed Policies on Rural Communities
2005: Report for the UK-based Countryside Agency on the extent to which the New Zealand policy making process seeks information on the impacts of proposed policies on rural communities. This was one of the 18 reports from different countries commissioned by the Agency as part of developing best practice.
Survey of Child Youth and Family service providers
2003: Survey of Child Youth and Family service providers for Ministry of Social Development. This involved a mixture of telephone interviews and postal questionnaires to survey over 100 organisations selected by random stratified sample. A 93% response rate was achieved in the survey. The survey was followed up by a second survey asking participants to rank, in terms of urgency, the changes that respondents had noted as being required. This information was to be used by the Department of Child Youth and Family to develop a plan of action to improve their service delivery.
National Survey of Opinion on the Marlborough Sounds
2001: This involved conducting a nation-wide telephone survey (a specialist survey company was sub-contracted to conduct the interviews) to identify people's perceptions and patterns of use of the Marlborough Sounds. The survey focussed particularly on the attributes of the sounds environment which people valued, and on the possible adverse effects of various human activities on those qualities. The survey results will be used by the Marlborough District Council to help make decisions on future applications for marine farms and other activities in the Sounds.
Survey of Blenheim residents on Wastewater Disposal Options
2001: Telephone survey of Blenheim residents on their views on wastewater disposal options and the quality of the waterways affected by the current disposal system. The questionnaire survey was administered under sub-contract by a specialist survey company. Corydon Consultants designed and piloted the questionnaire, analysed the responses and wrote a report on the findings for the client - the Marlborough District Council.
Forest Stewardship council Forest Audits
2000-04: Social impact assessor on evaluation teams that have assessed the operations of 13 commercial forests throughout New Zealand for Forest Stewardship Council certification.
Study of Sustainable Land Management Projects
1999: With Nimmo-Bell undertook a study of sustainable land management projects funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry for the Environment (report titled: Beyond Regulation). Dianne's input involved an assessment of the factors engendering and inhibiting change in behaviour towards more sustainable land management practices.
Agricultural Assistance Package
1989-90: Member of a small team to carry out a social and economic evaluation of the $56 Million Agricultural Assistance Package provided by Government in response to Cyclone Bola. This work was undertaken for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It involved an evaluation of exisiting policies for dealing with large scale natural disasters as well as evaluating the administrative effectivenss of the Assistance Package.
Economic and Social risk assessment, Central Otago
1988-89: With Hort-Research undertook an economic and social risk assessment of the Central Otago summerfruit and winegrowing industries (based on the model developed for the Pukekohe study)
Reports titled: Beating the Odds and Going for Gold.
Assessment of the Pukekohe Onion Industry
1998: With Hort-Research undertook an economic and social risk assessment of the Pukekohe onion industry with respect to a serious disease threat. This involved modelling the relationships between the industry and the local and wider community, and assessing the constraints to adtoption of a range of response scenarios.
Report titled: High Stakes in Pukekohe.
Changing Roles of Rural Women
1997: Member of a team undertaking a study into the changing roles of rural women (Maori and Pakeha) in NZ society in response to global trends and the NZ economic reforms of the 1980-90s. The report deals particularly with the contribution (paid and unpaid) of rual women to the economy and their role in decision-making organisations (Change and Diversity: Opportunities for and Constraints on rural Women in New Zealand. MAF Policy Technical Paper 97/11).
Hamilton Abuse Intervention Pilot Project (HAIPP)
1994: Evaluation of the monitoring and co-ordination aspects of the Hamilton Abuse Intervention Pilot Project (HAIPP). This work was undertaken for the Family Violence Unit of DSW and the Crime Prevention Unit of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.