POLITICS 756 : New Zealand Government

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An examination of the composition, functions and powers of New Zealand's political institutions under MMP. Analyses the extent to which factors such as political leadership, policy, electoral and parliamentary tactics, and relations between the major and minor parties contribute to a government's success.

Course Overview

While many New Zealand politics courses may focus on broader social and political aspects of the subject, this course (as the name suggests) focuses primarily on "government" and governing itself. It is broken up into two main parts, with the first few weeks indeed devoted to taking a broader look at democratic governance in New Zealand, including New Zealand's history of political and institutional reform, representation and participation, as well as New Zealand's constitution. Building on this, however, part 2 of the course focuses more on the "Machinery of Government". In other words, from Week 4 on, we focus more acutely on the inner-workings of government operations and decision-making, including government formation, cabinet decision-making, the role of select committees, as well as public finance, appropriations and authorisation (to name a few). 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. To be able to better identify and explain how New Zealand government works. (Capability 1.1 and 1.3)
  2. Enhanced research skills around a topic germane to New Zealand government. (Capability 2.1 and 2.2)
  3. Enhanced written and verbal skills around a topic germane to New Zealand government. (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reading Reflections 10% Individual Coursework
Seminar Presentation and Supporting Material 25% Group & Individual Coursework
Research Essay (4000 words) 40% Individual Coursework
Group Presentation 25% Group Coursework

Learning Resources

Required text:
Hayward, J. (Ed.). 2015. New Zealand Government and Politics (6th ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect a 2-hours seminar, with the remaining 8 hours available for reading and thinking about the content as well as group work/work on assignments and preparation.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 03:09 p.m.