Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contextual meanings in policy discourse: A case study of language use concerning resource policy in the New Zealand high country

  • Published:
Policy Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Variation in the meaning and use of the term 'landscape' by different decision makers and decision influencers in the New Zealand high country is analysed in relation to the way they describe a resource policy issue. The case study is based upon documentary sources and oral accounts of the role that trees might play in high country land use. Links between language use and interest are identified and explored, and some consequential implications discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antaki, C. (1988). 'Structures of belief and justification,' in: C. Antaki, Analysing everyday explanation: a casebook of methods. London: Sage, pp. 60–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ansley, B. (1994). High country sellout. The New Zealand Listener 16 July 1994: 20–25.

  • Ascher,W. (1987). Editorial. Policy Sciences 20: 3–9.

  • Bardwell, L. V. (1991). Problem framing: a perspective on environmental problem solving. Environmental Management 15(5): 603–612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, T. J. and J. S. Duncan, (1992).Writing worlds: discourse, text and metaphor in the representation of landscape. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belton, M. C. (1991). Forestry: a sustainable land use for degraded high country lands. NZ Forestry 36(1): 19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boston, J., ed. (1990). Reshaping the state: New Zealand's bureaucratic revolution. Auckland: Oxford University Press.

  • Brown, S. R. (1980). Political subjectivity: applications of Q methodology in political science. Yale University Press, New Haven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buhrs, T. and R. Bartlett (1993). Environmental policy in New Zealand. Auckland: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (1983).The city and grassroots. London: Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Challenger, S. C. (1974). Changes in the Canterbury landscape. Journal of the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture 2: 5–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chock, P. P. (1995). Ambiguity in policy discourse: congressional talk about immigration. Policy Sciences 29(2): 165–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cockayne, L. (1899). A sketch of the plant geography of the Waimakariri River basin considered from an ecological point of view. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 32: 95–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cosgrove, D. (1985). Prospect, perspective and the evolution of the landscape idea. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 10: 45–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costantini, E. and K. Hanf (1972). Environmental concern and LakeTahoe: a study of é lite perceptions, backgrounds and attitudes. Environment and Behaviour June 1972: 209–241.

  • Cotton, C. A. (1922). Geomorphology of New Zealand. Part I: Systematic. Wellington: Dominion Museum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cumberland, K. (1940). Canterbury landscapes: a study in New Zealand geography. Geographical Review 30(1): 19–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deane, R. (1986). 'Public sector reform: a review of the issues,' in: M. Clark, and E. Sinclair, eds., Purpose, performance and profit: redefining the public sector. Studies in public administration. Wellington: Government Printer's Office, 32: pp. 12–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominy, M. (1993). The bonding of pastoral people and mountainlands: the language of topography on New Zealand sheep stations. Proceedings, East Asia Pacific Mountain Association inaugural symposium. Lincoln University, May 1993.

  • Douglas, M. (1986). How institutions think. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryzek, J. (1982). Policy analysis as a hermeneutic activity. Policy Sciences 14: 309–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryzek, J. (1987). Discursive designs: critical theory and political institutions. American Journal of Political Science 31(3): 656–679.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryzek, J. (1990). Discursive democracy: politics, policy and political science. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Neufville, J. I. and S. E. Barton (1987). Myths and the definition of policy problems. Policy Sciences 20: 181–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, J. (1990). The city as text: the politics of landscape interpretation in the Kardyan kingdom. NewYork: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunster, J. (1987). 'Co–ordinating co–operation: the need for understanding,' in: R. Scace and J. Nelson, Heritage for tomorrow: Proceedings of the Canadian Assembly on National Parks and Protected Areas. Ottawa, Canada: Ministry of Environment, pp. 157–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelman, M. (1971). Politics as symbolic action. Chicago: Markham Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eiser, J. R. (1986). Social psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairclough, N. (1989). Language and power. London: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: selected interviews and other writings, 1972–77. Brighton: Harvester Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, G.N. and M. Mulkay (1981). 'In search of the action.' in: G. N. Gilbert and P. Abell, Accounts and action. Surrey conference on sociological theory and method. Aldershot: Gower pp. 8–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, E. and R. De Lambert (1992). Landscape Values and Resource Management. Wellington: Ministry for Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffman, E. (1974). Frame analysis: an essay in the organisation of experience. New York: NE University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, D. (1988). Forestry in the high country: proceedings of a seminar. Christchurch: Canterbury United Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, M. (1990).Wilding pines: a growing problem. Forest and Bird 21(2): 38–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harré, R. (1976). Life sentences: aspects of the social role of language. London: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartshorne, R. (1939). The nature of geography. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 29(3) and (4): 149–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, P. (1986). Interpretive policy inquiry. Policy Sciences 19: 381–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, H. (1991). Sustainable land use for the dry tussock grasslands in the South Island. Wellington: Parliamentary Commission for the Environment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, H. (leader of technical sub–committee) (1981). Integrating conservation and development: a proposal for a New Zealand conservation strategy. Wellington: Nature Conservation Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. B. (1984). Discovering the vernacular landscape. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, S. (1985). 'The analysis of depth interviews.' in: R. Walker, ed., Applied qualitative research. Aldershot, UK: Gower, pp. 56–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, G. A. (1963). A theory of personality: the psychology of personal constructs. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laitin, D. (1988). Language games. Comparative Politics 20(3): 289–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lakoff, G. and H. Johnson (1980). Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasswell, H. (1970). The emerging conception of policy sciences. Policy Sciences 1: 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ledgard, N. (1988). The spread of introduced trees in New Zealand rangelands–South Island high country experience. Tussock Grasslands and Mountainlands Review 44: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning, P. (1988). 'Semiotics and social theory,' in: N. Fielding, Actions and structures: research methods and social theory. London: Sage, pp. 78–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinig, D.W. (1979).The interpretation of ordinary landscapes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molloy, B. P. J. (1963). Soil genesis and plant succession in the subalpine and alpine zones of the Torlesse Range, Canterbury, New Zealand. Part 1: N.Z. Journal of Botany 1: 137–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molloy, B. P. J. (1964). Soil genesis and plant succession in the subalpine and alpine zones of the Torlesse Range, Canterbury, New Zealand. Part 2: N.Z. Journal of Botany 2: 143–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • New Zealand Forest Service (1977). Indigenous forest policy. Wellington: NZ Forest Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • New Zealand Government (1979). Deciding the use of high mountain resources: choices and decisions of decision makers. Wellington: Department of Lands and Survey.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, K. F. (1983). 'Land use in the hill and high country,' in: R.D. Bedford and A. Sturman, Canterbury at the crossroads. Christchurch: N.Z. Geographical Society, pp. 208–243.

  • O'Connor, K. F. (1986). The influence of science on the use of tussock grasslands. Tussock Grasslands andMountain Lands Review 43: 15–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, K. F. (1993). Rural and mountain land use in: Memon, A.; Perkins, H.C. Environmental planning in New Zealand. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.

  • Potter, J. and M. Wetherell (1987). Discourse and social psychology. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Relph, E. (1981). Rational landscapes and humanistic geography. London: Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabatier, D. (1988). An advocacy coalition framework of policy change and the role of policy orientated learning therein. Policy Sciences 21: 129–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabatier, D. and H. Jenkins–Smith (1993). Policy change and learning: an advocacy coalition approach. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salmond, J.T. (1960).Heritage destroyed: the issue in scenery preservation in New Zealand. Wellington: A. H. & A.W. Reed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlager, E. (1995). Policy making and collective action: defining coalitions within the advocacy coalition framework. Policy Sciences 29(3): 243–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shepherd, P. (1969). English reaction to the New Zealand landscape before 1850. Pacific Viewpoint Monograph no. 4.Wellington: Victoria University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Speight, R. (1915). The physiography of the Cass district. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 48: 145–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, D. (1988). Policy paradox and political reason. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaffield, S.R. and K. F. O'Connor (1986). Conceiving, perceiving, protecting and using New Zealand's landscape systems. Proceedings, International Conference on Landscapes of the Southern Hemisphere. Adelaide: Museum of South Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaffield, S. R. (1993). Naming the rose: observations on 'landscape' usage and professional identity. Landscape Research 18(2): 58–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaffield, S. R. (1994). Attitudes to trees: a case study in the New Zealand eastern high country. New Zealand Forestry: February 1994: 25–30.

  • Swaffield, S. R. (1995). 'Landscape as policy myth,' in: T. Buhrs, ed., Proceedings of Ecopolitics VIII. Centre for Resource Management, Lincoln University.

  • Swaffield, S. R. (1997). Sustainable Management and the Pastoral Ideal. Environmental Politics 6(2): 101–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swaffield, S. R. (1998). Frames of reference: a metaphor for analysing and interpreting attitudes of environmental policy makers and policy influencers. Environmental Management 22(4): 495–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, N.H. and I. J. Pohlen (1962). Soil survey method. NZ Soil Bureau Bulletin 25.Wellington: DSIR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgerson, D. (1985). Contextual orientation in policy analysis. Policy Sciences 18: 241–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgerson, D. (1986a). Between knowledge and politics. Policy Sciences 19: 33–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torgerson, D. (1986b). Interpretive policy inquiry. Policy Sciences 19: 307–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walther, P. (1987). Against idealistic beliefs in the problem solving capacity of integrated resource management. Environmental Management 11(4): 439–446.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanow, D. (1987). Towards a policy culture approach to implementation. Policy Studies Review 7(1): 103–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanow, D. (1993). The communication of policy meanings: implementation as interpretation and text. Policy Sciences 26: 41–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanow, D. (1995). Editorial: Practices of policy interpretation. Policy Sciences 29(2): 111–126.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand E-mail

    Simon Swaffield

Authors
  1. Simon Swaffield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Swaffield, S. Contextual meanings in policy discourse: A case study of language use concerning resource policy in the New Zealand high country. Policy Sciences 31, 199–224 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004380732660

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004380732660

Keywords

Search

Navigation