Tough beats warm for macho Kiwis
Mar 2nd 2007, 3:53 pm
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Tough beats warm for macho Kiwis
I'll submit this on behalf of Burt...
By KAMALA HAYMAN - The Press | Friday, 2 March 2007
The hardy pioneer image of New Zealanders is behind a love of polluting log burners and tolerance of freezing houses, say academics.
Canterbury University researchers say that while Kiwis had good economic reasons to burn wood, the thrifty approach partly stemmed from "a deeply embedded identification with the masculine pioneer heritage".
They say the ability to tolerate cold, damp houses, and enjoy chopping wood was central to New Zealanders' identity as pioneers, and also led to a "she'll be right" attitude to the risk of ill-health caused by air pollution.
Canterbury University human geography lecturer Julie Cupples said it was "quite incredible" that New Zealanders accepted seeing their breath indoors when they woke on a cold, winter morning – a sign the room was below 5deg.
Writing in a paper, soon to be published in the international journal Environment and Planning, Cupples and two co-authors said Christchurch homes were usually poorly heated by open fires, log burners and electric heaters.
Log fire, said Cupples, was the major cause of Christchurch's air-pollution problem, estimated to contribute to between 40 and 70 deaths a year.
Despite this, New Zealanders were "really defensive" about their use. To understand why, English-born Cupples, colleague Jamie Pearce and student Victoria Guyatt organised seven focus-group interviews with Christchurch residents.
In their report – whose title begins, Put on a jacket, you wuss – they say denial of pain and discomfort "appears to be a dominant feature" of New Zealand culture.
This allowed people "to feel good about themselves as tough, practical New Zealanders" but may also be preventing them changing to less-polluting forms of heating.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) air quality chairman Richard Budd said the research came as no surprise.
"The use of solid fuel as a means of keeping ourselves and our families warm is deeply embedded in our values and beliefs."
Budd said Canterbury faced "quite a stiff challenge" to meet national air standards by the Government's 2013 deadline.
ECan operations director Ken Lawn said the voluntary Clean Heat programme had converted 7500 homes, but had not reached the hardcore of people who did not want to change.
By KAMALA HAYMAN - The Press | Friday, 2 March 2007
The hardy pioneer image of New Zealanders is behind a love of polluting log burners and tolerance of freezing houses, say academics.
Canterbury University researchers say that while Kiwis had good economic reasons to burn wood, the thrifty approach partly stemmed from "a deeply embedded identification with the masculine pioneer heritage".
They say the ability to tolerate cold, damp houses, and enjoy chopping wood was central to New Zealanders' identity as pioneers, and also led to a "she'll be right" attitude to the risk of ill-health caused by air pollution.
Canterbury University human geography lecturer Julie Cupples said it was "quite incredible" that New Zealanders accepted seeing their breath indoors when they woke on a cold, winter morning – a sign the room was below 5deg.
Writing in a paper, soon to be published in the international journal Environment and Planning, Cupples and two co-authors said Christchurch homes were usually poorly heated by open fires, log burners and electric heaters.
Log fire, said Cupples, was the major cause of Christchurch's air-pollution problem, estimated to contribute to between 40 and 70 deaths a year.
Despite this, New Zealanders were "really defensive" about their use. To understand why, English-born Cupples, colleague Jamie Pearce and student Victoria Guyatt organised seven focus-group interviews with Christchurch residents.
In their report – whose title begins, Put on a jacket, you wuss – they say denial of pain and discomfort "appears to be a dominant feature" of New Zealand culture.
This allowed people "to feel good about themselves as tough, practical New Zealanders" but may also be preventing them changing to less-polluting forms of heating.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) air quality chairman Richard Budd said the research came as no surprise.
"The use of solid fuel as a means of keeping ourselves and our families warm is deeply embedded in our values and beliefs."
Budd said Canterbury faced "quite a stiff challenge" to meet national air standards by the Government's 2013 deadline.
ECan operations director Ken Lawn said the voluntary Clean Heat programme had converted 7500 homes, but had not reached the hardcore of people who did not want to change.
