Dr Penny Robinson graduated with a PhD in Social Anthropology in 2006. Her thesis explored practices of belonging among a small group of Pakeha women in the west coast, North Island, township of Whanganui, where she lives still. Since then Penny has retained an interest in social practices related particularly to place. A social historian, writer, photographer and office administrator, Penny walked and cycled her neighbourhood recording her impressions of life under rahui/lockdown. In her presentation, Penny will reflect on her observations of neighbourhood practices in suburban Durie Hill and its environs during the five weeks of the rahui/lockdown related to COVID – 19 Level 4.
Here’s the zoom link to Penny’s presentation
When the zoom screen opens, use this password to access the recording. 2p+%2j&E
And a post from Vasudha Rao, a member of Graduate Women Manawatu
In the GWM event on 7th May, Dr. Penny Robinson reflected on her observations of neighbourhood practices in suburban Durie Hill and its environs during the five weeks of the rāhui/lockdown related to COVID – 19 Level 4. I listened with rapt attention as Dr. Robinson took the audience through her observations. I found myself nodding in agreement as she explored human behaviour, glad that there were others in the same boat, with several aha! moments. Comments by other people in the audience resonated with my thoughts. The online platform, Zoom in this case, was really appropriate given that virtual connections were our lifeline during the Level 4 lockdown. Dr. Robinson’s analysis of neighbourhood practices revealed fascinating similarities in human behaviour in times of crisis. Distance was the keyword during the rāhui, yet it connected people in interesting ways, perhaps never seen before. At the same time, it also revealed differences, sometimes subtle, in how people coped with the rāhui. Dr Robinson drew parallels between the stages through which people went through during the rāhui and the stages that people go through in home detentions, as she analysed her observations. Her presentation provide valuable insights into human behaviour during the COVID-19 crisis and raised some interesting questions for further research on this subject. I do hope to see her work published so that it can reach a larger audience, who will no doubt identify themselves in Dr Robinson’s reflections.