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Apo   Aporosa

Research Fellow
Anthropology Department/School of Psychology
The University of Waikato (New Zealand)
Website(s):
[ https://www.aporosa.net/ ]

I speak in the following language(s): English, Fijian

About
Dr. 'Apo' Aporosa is maternally related to the village of Naduri in Macuata, Fiji. He has a doctorate in Development Studies from Massey University (New Zealand) and over 20 years experience as a development practitioner in Fiji and New Zealand.
Apo was awarded the 2016 New Zealand Health Research Council Pasifika Post-Doctoral Fellowship. He is based at The University of Waikato (Anthropology Programme/School of Psychology) where he is investigating driver safety following kava use at traditional consumption volumes. He is also involved in several development projects in Fiji.
Specialities
Discipline(s)
Psychology
Anthropology
Member of
Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania (ASAO)
Geographic administrative areas
Geographic places
Melanesia
Polynesia
Historical periods
Sahul and the prehistory of Melanesia
Lapita and the Austronesian expansion
First and Early contacts
20th century
21st century
Indigenous languages
Fijian
Experiences
  • PhD Research (2009 to 2012)
    Yaqona (kava) and education in Fiji — Massey University
    Yaqona – more commonly known throughout Pasifia as kava – is presented and drunk in Fiji at almost every event from birth to death. Yaqona is considered an ingestible manifestation of the people, their land and cultural systems and consumed by many Fijians on a nightly basis. In a fist of its kind study, Aporosa used cognitive tests and interviews that showed yaqona use by teachers can disrupt cognition and in turn negatively impact teaching quality on mornings following yaqona consumption. Traditionally, development theory has prescribed prohibition and situational bans in cases where indigenous substances negatively impact productivity.
    However, in the case of yaqona, Aporosa argues prohibition would be short-sighted as this indigenous substance is critical to the facilitation of school function, identity formation and academic achievement – all elements necessary to development. This study is important for policy makers and development practitioners, demonstrating the need to consider wider cultural and societal issues in development.
  • Consulting Work (2013 to 2016)
    Contract Researcher — Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development
    Maori based research projects
  • Applied Research (2016 to 2018)
    Kava and driving — New Zealand Health Research Council Pacific Post-doctoral Award 2016
    Examining the cognitive effects of kava at traditional consumption volumes on cognition related to driver safety underpinned by culturally sensitive methods.
  • Teaching Experiences (2018)
    ANTH202 Polynesia and its Peoples — University of Waikato

    This course is concerned with the indigenous cultures and societies of the vast ‘Polynesian Triangle’, from their ancient explorations and settlements, through their engagements with Western colonialism, Christianity and capitalism, to their contemporary nations and diasporas. The course aims to provide students with an up-to-date overview of scholarly knowledge on Polynesia and its peoples, primarily from the perspective of the discipline of anthropology.
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    Some figures...

    The database of experts counts today 1234 profiles, of which 592 are publicly accessible, while 642 have chosen to remain private.

    These persons have defined 747 unique keywords in which they situate their research interests and expertise.

    They have also defined and described 648 'experiences' (research and teaching activities, consulting work, or applied projects) in which they have contributed.