Aspectos legales

[DATE]

[NAME]

[ADDRESS LINE 1]

[ADDRESS LINE 2]

[ADDRESS LINE 3]

Dear [NAME]

I am a Masters student in Political Science at Victoria University of Wellington. As per the requirements of this degree, I am undertaking a research project that will consider the theoretical concept of “fair” political representation and analyse the selection and election of New Zealand’s Asian Members of Parliament under the Mixed Member Proportional electoral system.

The political representation of the country’s Asian population is a relatively recent development and it is an understudied area in both New Zealand political science and Asian studies. Consequently, I hope that my research, once complete, will make a significant contribution in developing this emerging field of study.

Given the limited number of existing academic works in this field, my project will depend heavily on information obtained from interviews. I therefore ask for your participation as an individual whose personal experiences, knowledge and perspectives would be highly relevant and similarly most appreciated.

Please find enclosed a participant information sheet and a consent form, which provide further detail about the interview process. I am available to answer any questions or to discuss my research at greater length with you if you require.

If you wish to participate in this project, the signed consent form can be returned to me at the contact details provided, and a copy will be made available to you for your records.

Following its receipt, it is anticipated that the interview would take place at a time and venue of mutual convenience. Alternatively, if you are able to provide an email acknowledgement of this letter I am able to provide the consent form at the time of the interview.

Yours sincerely

Seonah Choi

Encl.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET FOR A STUDY OF THE SELECTION AND ELECTION OF NEW ZEALAND’S ASIAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT UNDER MMP

RESEARCHER: Seonah Choi, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington

I am a Masters student in Political Science at Victoria University of Wellington. As per the requirements of this degree, I am undertaking a research project that will consider the theoretical concept of “fair” political representation and analyse the selection and election of New Zealand’s Asian Members of Parliament under the Mixed Member Proportional system. Upon its completion, this project will take the form of a thesis.

As part of my research, I am seeking to undertake interviews with a number of selected individuals, and as an individual whose experience, knowledge and perspective would be highly relevant to this subject, your agreement to participate in this project would be appreciated. In adherence of University policy, this project has approval from the Ethics Committee.

It is anticipated that the interview will take place in person at a pre-determined time.

Alternatively, if this arrangement is not possible, a telephone or written interview could be considered. The interview is expected to last approximately one hour, during which time you will be invited to discuss aspects of your current position (or former, where relevant) based on the questions identified in the enclosed attachment.

The interviews will be digitally recorded and you will be provided with both an electronic copy and the resulting transcript upon which the findings of this project will be based.

Once the project is complete, this data will be destroyed within two years.

The responses you provide will be placed into a written report. As provided in the enclosed consent form, you have the option of choosing to be identified in your responses, or to remain anonymous. It is recognised that individuals could be identified by way of deduction if one or more participants decide that their responses can be attributed to them by name. Therefore, if any one participant requests to remain anonymous, all other participants will be accorded the same treatment. In this case, it will not be possible for any participant to be identified personally.

All the material that is collected will be kept confidential and no individual, excepting myself and my project supervisors, Emeritus Professor Margaret Clark and Professor Stephen Levine, will have access to the recordings or the transcripts of the interviews.

Once this project is complete, the resulting thesis will be submitted for assessment to the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations at the University and later deposited in the University library.

Should any participants decide to withdraw from the project, they may do so at any time up to two weeks after the interview takes place, and any information provided prior to this will be disposed of.

Further, I am happy to provide you with a copy of the completed project if you wish.

If you have any questions or require further information about this research project, my contact details are as follows:

[ADDRESS LINE 1]

[ADDRESS LINE 2]

[ADDRESS LINE 3]

[CONTACT NUMBER]

[CONTACT EMAIL]

Alternatively, the contact details of my co-supervisors for this project are as follows:

Emeritus Professor Margaret Clark

School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations Victoria University of Wellington

PO Box 600 Wellington

[email protected] Professor Stephen Levine

School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations Victoria University of Wellington

PO Box 600 Wellington

[email protected]

CONSENT TO PARTICIPATION IN RESEARCH

‘The Politics of Presence: The Selection and Selection of New Zealand’s Asian Members of Parliament under MMP’

Seonah Choi, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations

Please indicate your approval to the following statements:

□ I have been provided with adequate information pertaining to the nature and objectives of this research project, which I have understood. I have been provided with an opportunity to seek further clarification and/or explanation and consequently, I give my consent to participate in this research;

□ I consent to information or opinions which I have given being attributed to me in any reports on this research; or

□ I understand that any information or opinions I provide will be kept confidential and utilised only in a non-attributable form;

□ I understand that I have the option of not answering questions during the interview;

□ I understand that I will be provided with a tape recording of my interview and an opportunity to check any resulting transcripts, upon which any part of this research project may be based;

□ I understand that the information I provide will be used only for this research project and that any further use will require my written consent;

□ I understand that I may withdraw from participating in this research project at any time before the interview takes place without penalty, and that any information provided prior to this will be disposed of;

□ I would like to receive a copy of the results of this research project upon its completion (If ticking this box, please provide your address on this consent form).

………. .……. / ….…. / .…….

Signed Date

……….

Name of participant (please print)