bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Products Studies of Marine Organisms of the South Pacific
Authors:   , Northover Bryan John
Published: November 2021

This thesis describes the NMR-guided isolation and structural elucidation of one novel and several known compounds from marine organisms collected from Tonga and New Zealand. In the process of this work, 11 Tongan algal specimens were subjected to preliminary NMR-guided investigation, as the study of Tongan marine algae is poorly represented. The HMBC spectra of crude fractions generated by the first chromatographic purification of the crude extracts were analysed for perceived structural novelty, providing three specimens that warranted further investigation. Investigation of unknown algae PTN4_17G afforded substructure 76, observed in the known compound avrainvilloside, which included the rare 6-deoxy-6-aminoglucose moiety. This aminoglucose moiety has been reported from marine sources only twice in literature, both in algae specimens. An investigation of unknown brown algae PTN4_18E afforded substructure 83, a methacrylic acid containing moiety. Methacrylic acid moieties are also uncommon in marine organisms, with 27 reported structures containing the moiety, of which only two occur from algae. In each case suitable, mass spectrometry data was not obtainable therefore full structural elucidation of the compounds was not achieved. Further analysis of the unknown algae PTN3_38C afforded the known compound fistularin-3 86, although further studies revealed that a sponge contaminant was responsible for the presence of the compound. The results of this algae study provided interesting correlations between secondary metabolite concentrations of algae in temperate and sub-tropical environments, contrary to the observed correlations of marine sponges. An investigation into an unknown New Zealand Raspailia sponge was conducted as previous studies had suggested the presence of novel resonances. Further analysis of the specimen yielded the known clerodane raspailodane A 126 and the unexpected novel steroidal glycoside raspailoside A 135. Biological activity studies conducted on raspailoside A showed inactivity towards the mammalian cell line HL-60 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae assays.
Distribution Channels for Wine Tourism in New Zealand
Authors:   , Liu Ying
Published: November 2021

This study examines the structure of the distribution channels and the underlying factors influencing the most prominent channel choices within the wine tourism industry in New Zealand. This research specifically compares wine tourism in Marlborough and Auckland. It aims to provide a better understanding of the distribution channels for practitioners in the wine tourism industry, with the hope of assisting them to develop their wine tourism businesses successfully and manage the businesses growth effectively. This is a destination-based study performed by employing qualitative approaches focusing on the supply-side through semi-structured interviews. These in-depth interviews were conducted with the owners or managers of the local wine tour operators and wineries in the two regions. The findings generally show that wine tourism businesses place a clear priority on direct distribution of their wine tourism product to visitors “at destination”; the majority of customers of all these businesses are independent visitors. Specifically, overseas independent tourists comprise the largest portion of customers to local wine tour operators in Marlborough and Auckland. The wine tour operators work more actively with intermediaries and reach tourists “in market”, “while travelling” and “at destination” than wineries in these two regions. Marlborough wineries and Auckland wine tour operators and wineries receive domestic corporate groups, most of whom are approached “at destination” with direct distribution. Compared with wineries in Marlborough, more corporate groups use Auckland wine tour operators to visit wineries. Marlborough wineries and wine tour operators, and Auckland wine tour operators receive more international visitors, whereas the majority of visitors to Auckland wineries are from Auckland. When considering the function of wine tourism distribution channels, information provision, reservation and purchase are nearly equally important to local wine tour operators in both Marlborough and Auckland; the most widely used functions for Marlborough wineries is information provision; for Auckland wineries, information provision and purchase play significant roles in the distribution of wine tourism product. Factors influencing distribution channel choice include information provision cost, commissions, businesses’ attitudes towards tourism, perceptions of the Internet, service diversity, capacity, accessibility, availability, market segments, reputation and nature of intermediaries.
Is Walking and Cycling Irresistible? Community Perceptions and Awareness of Active Travel in Hastings, New Zealand
Authors:   , Muggeridge Dylan
Published: November 2021

Walking and cycling—commonly termed 'active travel‘ or 'active transport'—are fun, cheap, clean and healthy modes of transport. In June 2010, Hastings received central government funding from the New Zealand Transport Agency through its Model Communities Programme (MCP), to encourage active travel. The MCP was renamed iWay by the Hastings District Council, with a vision of 'making walking and cycling irresistible'. This study examines varying community perceptions and awareness levels of walking and cycling in Hastings at an early stage of the implementation of the iWay programme. Findings from focus groups, interviews, and a household questionnaire suggest that Hastings people generally have positive attitudes and opinions about walking and cycling, but these attitudes are not necessarily translated into high levels of active transport, or high intentions to walk and cycle more often in the near future. This is mainly due to other determining factors perceived by the Hastings community as barriers to walking and particularly to cycling. Cycling is generally not perceived as a safe activity, and the perceptions of risk and safety are a hindrance to both walking and cycling. The improvement of current infrastructure, the creation of new, dedicated, off-road facilities for cycling, and more education on driver and cyclist behaviour and cohabitation on the road are some of the key factors to work on to further improve perceptions of active transport in Hastings.
Rise, Ruin & Regeneration: An Examination of the Regeneration of Post-War Suburban State Housing in New Zealand
Authors:   , Arps James
Published: November 2021

Over 70 years since it was completed, the house at 12 Fife Lane, Miramar, New Zealand’s first state house, looks unchanged. However, the intervening years have seen the failure of some state housing models, the deteriorating condition of others, as well as shifting and increasing housing demands. This thesis examines the urban and architectural design, and the subsequent redevelopment, both private and state-initiated, of post-war suburban state housing in New Zealand. The objective of this thesis is to understand through analysis of existing literature, case study fieldwork, and redevelopment examples, the evolving urban and architectural design of these areas and dwellings, which have arguably shaped the residential face of the nation. The outcomes of this thesis are a series of design strategies for the regeneration of post-war suburban state housing in New Zealand. The purpose of these regenerative design strategies is to address a range of significant issues that the Housing New Zealand Corporation faces, while acknowledging the remaining value of the original investment in post-war suburban state housing. The regenerative design strategies are developed from the earlier research, and are broken into three distinct, but inter-related topics. These are suburban environments, state properties, and state houses, and are examined through a specific design case study. The design case study articulates the potential of regeneration to address a number of issues which became apparent through the research. This thesis concludes that while state housing may never again signify in every sense the ‘very heart of the New Zealand dream’ (Ferguson, 1994, p.117), through regeneration it can, once again, be a certain benchmark for housing generally, and can continue to provide for the nation for at least another 70 years.
Evaluation and Recall of Valenced Stimuli as a Function of Spatial Positions
Authors:   , Hewson Gary C. H.
Published: November 2021

Meier and Robinson (2004) had subjects identify pleasant and unpleasant words presented individually either at the top or bottom of a computer screen. Subjects identified pleasant words faster when they appeared at the top of the screen and unpleasant words faster whey they appeared at the bottom of the screen. The authors discussed this finding in terms of metaphors noting that in language good things are often allocated upwards (e.g. “things are looking up for me”) and bad things downwards e.g. (“I’m down in the dumps”). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this relationship between affective stimuli and visual space occurs automatically (implicitly) or whether explicit processing of affective stimuli is required. A second aim was to investigate if memory for affective words is influenced by spatial location. In Experiments 1 and 2 subjects were shown pleasant and unpleasant words presented either at the top or bottom of a computer screen. Half the words were coloured green and half coloured purple. Subjects had to identify the colour as quickly as possible. No significant interaction between stimulus valence and spatial position was found, nor did recall interact with spatial position. In Experiment 3 subjects had to explicitly identify the valence of the words shown either at the top or bottom of the screen. It was predicted that positive stimuli would be explicitly evaluated faster and recalled more accurately when shown at the top of the screen, with the opposite holding true for negative stimuli. Participants were quicker to identify positive words at the top of the screen. Recall did not interact with spatial position. Overall the results of this study were broadly supportive of the hypothesis for explicit evaluation but not so for implicit evaluation or recall.
Exploring the Mission-Development Nexus Through Stories from Christian ‘Missionaries’ in Bangladesh
Authors:   , Thompson Anna
Published: November 2021

Over the past decade, development research and policy has increasingly paid attention to religion and belief. Donors and researchers have progressively engaged with faith-based organisations and recipients. However, Christian mission and ‗missionaries‘ remain underexplored aspects within religion and development discourses. In response, this research explores stories from eleven Christian ‗missionaries‘ in Bangladesh. Firstly, I assess how the changing non-governmental sector in Bangladesh influenced participants‘ activities. Secondly, I contextualise their stories within religion and development discourses with reference to analyses of development workers. Finally, I reflect on the significance of spirituality in participants‘ lives. I also describe how spirituality played a role in my research. I frame this research within feminist and poststructuralist ways of knowing. Methodologically, I conducted semi-structured interviews and ‗hung out‘ with participants. I ‗wrote myself-in‘ to this research to highlight how the process intersected with my own subject positions. I found that participants‘ engaged with development in similar ways to development workers as analysed by others. They reproduced discourses of modernisation, expertise, altruism, and the ‗third world‘. They additionally responded to Christian discourses, such as ‗calling‘. Participants‘ activities and subjectivities were shaped by these intersecting discourses, and were also shaped by the historic and current setting of Bangladesh. Missionaries‘ stories revealed some aspects of the ‗mission-development nexus‘ in Bangladesh (Fountain, 2012). Participants‘ stories and my own research experience, also demonstrated that engagement with belief in God can be difficult within development and within ‗the academy‘ (Shahjahan, 2005).
Non Conformity to Norms: Why Do States Proliferate in Opposition to Well Established and Powerful Non-Proliferation Norms
Authors:   , Kerr James Te Rangihiwinui Latimer
Published: November 2021

Nine countries currently have nuclear weapons and of these only three have acquired them in the past 40 years. The primary reason for this has been the establishment of a powerful nuclear non-proliferation regime and its associated norms. The powerful influence of both the regime and the resulting norms on state behaviour is unquestionable. However a limited amount of state proliferation continues and some states’ behaviour suggests that they either reject, or believe that they are outside of the influence of the regime and its norms. My study is looking at the problem of non-conformity to the non-proliferation norm to see why it occurs. The issue is specifically a nuclear one however non-conformity to norms has wider implications in the study of international relations (IR). Regimes and norms clearly do not exist in a vacuum but operate within an international social environment. This nuclear issue remains a central consideration for state foreign policy and hence has justified extensive examination in the field of IR. The intellectually and ethically complex issues that surround access to this technology were acknowledged from its devastating baptism in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. International regulation was seen as the most appropriate form of control of nuclear weapons. This was in part due to the potential consequence of the misuse and the impact of accidents transcending national boundaries. This ultimate destructive capability has only been in the hands of a few states and the dissemination and control of this capability has been contentious from the day it was first used. Initially its power came from its potential to completely dominate militarily. As soon as the second country gained the same capability it became a lot more complicated. The destructive capability of nuclear weapons is such that any future war that saw their use could result in the annihilation of the human species. The Cold War and its extreme vertical nuclear proliferation actualised this fear. Nuclear technologies dual purpose functionality, of both peaceful power generation and the creation of a military nuclear capability make for a complex situation. There is an obvious power imbalance between the nuclear haves and have-nots and a self protective desire to stop or at least limit the number of countries attempting to join the ‘nuclear club’. Both realism and neo-liberal institutionalism are able to explain, in part, conformity and non conformity to regimes and their associated norms within today’s social environment. In this study I will use a social constructivist approach, which is based on the outcomes of persuasion, identification and social conformity, to see if it can add to the current explanations of state nuclear proliferation.
Resettlement Experiences of Burmese Women from Refugee Backgrounds in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors:   , Kamri-McGurk Una
Published: November 2021

The resettlement experiences of Burmese women from refugee backgrounds living in Wellington are the focus of this thesis. Increasing numbers of people are being resettled worldwide, so it is important to consider how that resettlement process is being experienced. Burmese refugees are the largest group to arrive in New Zealand (NZ) since 2000, yet remain relatively unknown. This research explores subjective aspects of resettlement, such as how women feel about life in NZ, the kinds of difficulties faced in their resettlement and what could help to improve their sense of well-being in everyday life. My intention is to facilitate a collaborative process with a group of ten Burmese women using a qualitative approach that positions former refugees as active participants in their own resettlement. It is guided by a feminist methodology, recognising the significance of women’s experiences and the value of their knowledge arising from this. Specifically, I use the photovoice method, whereby the women use photography to record significant aspects of their lives as a vehicle through which we then explore resettlement. The women’s community networks are shown to play a major role in adapting to life in NZ. These networks are a source of support and information and provide opportunities for maintaining language and culture. The women appreciate the opportunities presented by life in NZ, such as education and healthcare for their children, adult education classes and the chance to cultivate their gardens. However, there is a sense of opportunities lost through lack of English language and work opportunities. Where the relationships work well, volunteers and home tutors assist the women considerably with adapting to life in NZ. These relationships provide information and assistance, but also help to bridge the gap between former refugees and the host community. Other such initiatives that bring together different sectors of the community would allow the women to participate more fully in the wider host community and create greater awareness of the individual stories of refugee-background communities living in NZ.
Significant Social Space: Connecting Circulation in Atrium Design
Authors:   , Marriage Guy Lewis Gerard
Published: November 2021

This thesis examines visual and physical connectivity in multi-level public atrium spaces in modern public buildings, and seeks out common factors and key design principles behind their design. Enhanced physical and visual connectivity in multi-storey public buildings can contribute appreciably to the social significance of interior public spaces. At present, connectivity is typically assessed in the design stages of buildings using two-dimensional spatial analysis theories of syntax. This thesis investigates how threedimensional spatial analysis tools can be applied to the assessment of connectivity during the design of multilevel public atrium spaces, to provide a more accurate reflection of connectivity under built conditions. The thesis focuses on atria in public buildings such as museums, investigates prominent features and factors in their design, examines three examples of atrium buildings as case studies, and asks the question: how can multi-level atrium spaces be analysed for connectivity?
Putting it to the Comic Book Fans: Is Auckland Libraries’ Comic Book/Graphic Novel and Manga Collection Meeting Customer Expectations?
Authors:   , Priest Michael James
Published: November 2021

This study examines whether Auckland Libraries’ comic book/graphic novel and manga collection is meeting customer expectations and ascertains possible improvements that could be made.

Methodology: The study predominantly used a quantitative approach to gather data through the use of self-completion questionnaires. A small degree of qualitative data was obtained from the questionnaire through open-ended questions. There was no recruiting of participants. The target population for this study included all Auckland Libraries customers, regardless of whether they frequently borrow from the comic book/graphic novel and manga collection or not.

Results: The study found that participants were generally satisfied with the range of materials in the collection. However, it was commonly agreed amongst participants that Auckland Libraries could be doing more to showcase what was available. Areas identified for improvement include the organisation of the collection, its promotion and staff knowledge of the comic book/graphic novel and manga formats.

Implications: This study recommends Auckland Libraries redesign cataloguing procedures for comic book/graphic novel and manga collection in order to introduce standardised organisation at each site. It also recommends Auckland Libraries take more promotional opportunities for the collection as well as the up-skilling of staff to assist with these.
The Cellular Effects of Nicotine and Tobacco Particulate Matter on Monoamine Transporters
Authors:   , Danielson Kirsty Maree
Published: November 2021

Cigarette smoking causes nearly 6 million deaths worldwide every year (WHO, 2011). Current smoking cessation therapies available to the public are only marginally effective (Jorenby, 2006; Balfour et al., 2000), partly due to our incomplete understanding of the molecular biology of smoking addiction. The majority of studies examining the molecular biology of smoking addiction have focused on nicotine alone. However, there is a growing body of evidence that non-nicotinic components of cigarette smoke contribute to smoking addiction. Nicotine has previously been shown to modulate the function of the monoamine transporters, but studies in the literature are often contradictory and this effect is not completely understood (see Danielson et al., 2011 for review). Furthermore, very few studies have examined the effects of non-nicotinic components of tobacco smoke on the monoamine transporters. This thesis has examined the effects of nicotine and a tobacco extract (TPM) on the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters (DAT, NET, and SERT). Changes in monoamine transporter function, protein expression, and mRNA expression were measured ex vivo in discrete regions of the rat brain following chronic and acute in vivo nicotine and TPM treatment, and in vitro nicotine and TPM treatment. We found that nicotine and TPM affect monoamine transporter function, in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and that intact whole brain circuitry is required for these effects to be seen. In particular, nicotine (0.35 mg/kg) and TPM (containing 0.35 mg/kg nicotine) significantly decreased DAT function in the NAc at 30 min. This effect did not result in a corresponding decrease in DAT protein expression and was mediated by nicotinic receptors containing β2 subunits. Furthermore, TPM caused some changes in monoamine transporter function and mRNA expression that were not observed with nicotine alone. In functional studies this effect was particularly seen in the striatum of rats treated with nicotine (0.35 mg/kg) or TPM (containing 0.35 mg/kg nicotine). Overall these data demonstrate that nicotine affects monoamine transporter function in a nicotinic receptor-dependent manner, and that nicotine and TPM have different effects on monoamine transporter function and expression. This is the first study to examine the effects of TPM on monoamine transporter function, and supports previous evidence of a contribution of non-nicotinic components of cigarette smoke to neuroadaptations related to smoking. Findings from this study contribute to knowledge on the molecular biology of smoking addiction, which could in future lead to the development of more effective smoking cessation therapies.
Implementation and Evaluation of Security Protocols in E-Commerce Applications
Authors:   , Davenport Hugh
Published: November 2021

There are a large amount of programs in the development process in todays technology environment, and many of these involve some type of security needs. These needs are usually not dealt with in a sensible way and some even don’t bother with any analysis. This thesis describes a solution of implementing a secure protocol, and gives an evaluation of the process along with the techniques and tools to aid a secure design and implementation process. This allows others to take this knowledge into account when building other applications which have a need for security development.
The Limits and Possibilities of Sino-New Zealand Defence Relations: A New Zealand Perspective
Authors:   , Lee Julian
Published: November 2021

Western power has been sustained in the Asia-Pacific region by United States military might ever since the defeat of Japan. For the first time since then, China, a non-Western power, poses a challenge to that dominance, with the result that “neither Australia nor New Zealand has ever seriously considered how we would defend our interests and secure our countries in a region which was not dominated by our great and powerful Anglo-Saxon friends.” China is the new variable in the Asia-Pacific equation, and New Zealand is now required to factor this new element into its strategic calculations for the future. China’s ascendancy in the Asia-Pacific region will have a huge impact on New Zealand’s future strategic outlook. The purpose of this essay will be to design, as simply as possible, a way to structure thoughts and discussion about the defence relationship between New Zealand and China, from a New Zealand perspective. It will aim to establish a basic framework centred around a number of themes in order to provide a platform for analysis in the future. It will be a brief examination of how these two nations talk with each other at the defence level in the early twenty-first century.
Lexical Selection in Language Production
Authors:   , Downes Winston
Published: November 2021

Two experiments were conducted with first-year university students in an effort to discover more about what happens when a phrase is spoken. A paradigm was constructed with the intention of getting the participants to produce a simple, two-noun phrase at a cue and then 'catch' them out having them say the name of a single picture presented instead. The single picture presented to 'catch' the participants out (instead of the cue) was either the first or second name in the simple two-noun phrase, or a third, unplanned picture. The intention was to compare the relative timings of the different catch pictures in an effort to discover which of two theories of speech production best describes the cognitive processes that underlie such processes. The second experiment was an extension of this idea but also included a semantic relatedness variable, where the catch picture could be semantically related to an item shown during the planning of the simple, two-noun phrase. The results of these experiments were not in line with the hypothesis regarding the relative timings of the catch pictures, but were in line with the hypothesis that it would take longer to name catch pictures that were preceded by semantically related pictures. Implications of such findings are discussed along with possible future modifications to extend the utility of the paradigm used in this study.
The Analysis of Samoan Schools Dropout Rates
Authors:   , Fitu Lealaolesau
Published: November 2021

This thesis investigates the dropout problem in Samoan schools particularly at primary and secondary levels from 1995 to 2007. It aims at identifying and comparing the dropout rate by region (or geographical locations), school level (primary, primary/secondary and secondary) and school status (Government, Mission and Private). Moreover, it also investigates whether the student-teacher ratio, school size, the gender and ethnicity of the teacher, the qualification of the teacher, the school building and school facility variables are associated with the dropout of students. The investigation is carried out through analysis of census data gathered annually by the Samoa Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) through census forms from all the primary and secondary schools in the country. Given our response variable is a dichotomous one, the logit regression models to model the effect of both the categorical and continuous explanatory variables on the dropout was adopted. Moreover, since the dropout rates across different year levels (eg, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 13) are correlated within each school we then use the Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) approach. The results show that higher dropout rates are found in the rural areas (Rest of Upolu combined with Savaii region) as compared to urban area (Apia urban region). In addition, students are more likely to leave secondary schools earlier than primary or primary/secondary schools. Apparently, the majority of these dropouts are those who have attended Government schools. Surprisingly, students are less likely to get affected with the dropout in larger schools and those schools with higher student-teacher ratios. The gender of the school teacher has nothing to do with the dropout however; having more Samoan and highly qualified teachers in a school will significantly reduce the dropout rate. Nonetheless, a couple of school building variables are significantly associated with the dropout in the positive direction, while another couple inversely relate with the dropout. Schools with more trucks as means of transportation for students, and more radios for school programs and students’ activities are less likely to get affected with the dropouts.
Abstract Objects in the Causal Order
Authors:   , Ngai Justin
Published: November 2021

Abstract entities have long been viewed as entities that lack causal powers; that is, they cannot be constitutive of causes or effects. This thesis aims to reject this claim and argue that abstract objects are indeed part of the causal order. I will call this thesis ‘AOCO’ for short. In the first chapter I argue that other philosophers have committed themselves to the claim that some abstract objects have been caused to come into existence. In the second chapter, I argue that the best solution to Benacerraf’s problem is to concede that abstract objects have a causal influence on what we believe. In the third chapter I examine and evaluate objections to AOCO.
"The Living Death": The Repatriation Experience of New Zealand's Disabled Great War Servicemen
Authors:   , Walker Elizabeth Anne
Published: November 2021

The New Zealand government committed over 100,000 men to active service during the Great War of which around 40,000 returned injured. Due to the severity of their disabilities many wounded servicemen required ongoing medical care and were unable to return to their former employment. New Zealand introduced a variety of repatriation initiatives during the 1920s and 1930s to aid the Great War’s struggling wounded soldiers and restore them to their traditional masculine role as independent wage-earners and useful citizens. ‘The Living Death’ uses a variety of qualitative sources including state-based documents, newspapers, journals and oral history as well as a quantitative sample from military personnel files. Using these sources this thesis explores the medical treatment, pensioning and employment assistance offered by state and society to disabled soldiers in order to elucidate how New Zealand’s wounded ex-servicemen experienced and negotiated the cultural issues of disability, masculinity and citizenship in the post-war period. I argue that these men were identified as a class apart from other disabled persons in the immediate aftermath of the war, but that this identity began to fade once the economic conditions worsened, war memory faded and as some wounded ex-servicemen failed to complete a successful transition into civilian life.
Developing a Label for Excellence in Design for Urban Sustainability
Authors:   , Chicca Fabricio Ribas
Published: November 2021

The thesis investigates the impact caused by urban development on the environment. In addition, the thesis proposes and tests a methodology and a prototype tool for assessing the environmental performance of urban environments. The first section of the research briefly discusses some of the important environmental performance rating systems available on the market, such as USGBC-LEED, BREEAM, ISO 14000, NABERS and CASBEE. Their use for assessing urban developments is investigated critically. The thesis points out relevant flaws in the methods of these institutions, exposing a gap in knowledge of urban environmental assessment. The next step of the thesis begins by considering some historical societies and their urban models in order to understand how those making urban developments have approached the environment and its limitations. Indeed, the analysis of these historical models was based on selected speculative aspects, since confirmed by the investigation, as being essential for an ecologically balanced society. The thesis dedicates a chapter to describing the impact caused by the progressive monetarization of ancient society on the relationship between the urban environment and nature. The chapter introduces a discussion about how money has interfered with and speeded up the process of job specialization in urban areas, and how it has been shaping urban areas today. The thesis then reflects on important urban problems from an ecological point of view, pointing out relevant issues in modern urban development. Additionally, the research connects the problems of modern urbanism and the economics that have acted as a major force in shaping cities and their expansions. Finally the research proposes a methodology for environmental assessment, based on the ecological footprint. The prototype tool developed puts together all relevant environmental aspects. It also includes personal habits, combining these with urban design, transportation, consumption and energy resources to measure the footprint impact. The research recognises that the footprint cannot be treated as a static number; therefore, the research also presents a second instrument, which calculates the biocapacity per capita, according to population and economic growth, serving as a numerical ecological parameter for the first prototype tool. This enables the environmental impact of proposed changes, such as urban growth, to be assessed. A number of case studies using the tools are presented. These include three new urban developments which have a label for more sustainable urban design (LEED). The measurement prototype tool is also applied to some of the ancient societies previously studied, in order to compare the present urban and life style model with that of ancient urban societies. The thesis ends by comparing results from LEED for Neighbourhood Development with those of the new prototype tool, including comparison of modern and historical urban models.
The Value of Large Scale Tourism in Samoa
Authors:   , Park Donald Dongsik
Published: November 2021

During the mid to late seventies serious questions were raised regarding the value of mass tourism. This lead to the creation of the alternative development paradigm with its preference towards small scale, local and community based and controlled projects which have gained wide acceptance within the field of development studies. This research looks to reopen and examine the case against mass tourism as a development tool under the following arguments: · The initial assessment was done in the late seventies and a combination of changes in business practices and consumer demands for ethical behaviour has potentially changed the development outcomes for host nations · Governments have a greater and more balanced awareness of the range of development issues and enterprises need to respond to this · Alternative development suffers from similar criticisms to those that have been directed at mass tourism as well as some unique issues · Labour force training has been largely overlooked as critical step in maximising potential development outcomes for host nations · Two major critiques around power inequality (Britton 1983) and empowerment (Sofield 2003) are external subjective judgements about development outcomes where feedback and conclusions from within host populations might add additional insight. A survey questioning the impact a large scale development had on people’s lives was central to the research. However, due to difficulties getting survey data from a large scale development in Samoa the research has focused on providing the arguments above from literature and on secondary research aims of seeking the governments views and strategies to deal with tourism and linking these strategies back to literature.
Hakarongo Mai! Rapanui Women and Decolonisation for Development
Authors:   , Christ Karly Gempp
Published: November 2021

On the Pacific island of Rapa Nui, there are growing calls from the indigenous population for political and cultural decolonisation. This research explores and documents how some women in Rapa Nui are engaging in these struggles. It investigates their aspirations for decolonisation and the strategies they are employing to have their voices heard. It also identifies and describes some of the challenges these women have faced as well as the successes they have had in the context of these struggles to date. Sharing the stories of women who are active participants in these efforts, this research seeks to provide space for their perspectives and their experiences, acknowledging the presence and significance of women within decolonisation efforts on Rapa Nui.
The Impact of IT Developments on Space Usage in Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) Library
Authors:   , Ling Fred Ping-Him
Published: November 2021

There are numerous claims of whether physical spaces of academic libraries still required as more resources moved from print to electronic. This project set out to investigate the impact of IT developments on space usage in Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) Library in order to help librarians and space planners to manage the physical spaces better, and improve existing spaces. They will be able to make informed decisions when planning for future use of spaces. A web based questionnaire was used to collect data on who was using the library and the activities in which they are engaged. There were 261 complete responses to the questionnaire. The researcher also conducted interviews with the Associate Librarian and the Institute Librarian from MIT Library on asking them how they have planed and managed the physical spaces in MIT Library. In addition, the researcher also examined the MIT Library statistics: Data in relations to volumes of print serial and monograph acquired, total number of issues, total number of library visits, total reference enquiries from 2003 to 2008 was analysed and then presented in charts, graphs and tables. The majority of respondents from the online questionnaire were found to be undergraduate fulltime students between the age of 20-25, and they were mainly female students. More than half of the respondents reported they can easily find the place to carry out individual study and group work. However, some respondents commented that in certain times of the year (for example, assignments/exams period) it is very difficult to find a place for individual study and/or group work. The majority of the respondents also reported they mainly come to the library to work on their assignments and study for tests/exams. The Institute Librarian and Associate Librarian mentioned that instead of just storing print materials, the physical spaces is also required to house more computers to access online resources, for quiet study space and group study rooms, and to provide more electrical outlets to access wireless using laptops. The conclusion reached was that the physical spaces of MIT Library still remains essential even through more resources has moved from print to electronic.
Seismic Structure Beneath the Wellington Region from Receiver Functions
Authors:   , Hall Lucy Caroline
Published: November 2021

Seismic velocity structures, interpreted as being associated with the Hikurangi subduction system beneath the lower North Island of New Zealand, are imaged using stacked P wave receiver functions computed using teleseismic earthquakes. Receiver functions are a seismological technique that exploits the phenomenon of wave conversion. The upcoming P wave interacts with seismic velocity impedance contrasts below the receiving station to produce polarized P to SV converted phases. The time delay between the first arriving P wave and the SV converted phase is interpreted to infer the depth of interfaces and the velocity structure directly below the receiver, allowing estimates to be made of the physical properties of the interface. Passive seismic data were recorded at eighteen seismic stations deployed across a ~90km transect stretching across the breadth of lower North Island of New Zealand, from Kapiti Island, 5km off the west coast, to the eastern coast. The transect is oriented normal to the strike of the subducting Pacific Plate, as it dives beneath the overriding Australian Plate. Data were recorded at 10 broadband and 2 short period sensors, deployed as part of the Seismic Array Hikurangi Project (SAHKE 1 deployment), 3 Geonet (New Zealand Geonet Project) permanent short period stations, and 3 temporary stations from part of the 1991-1992 POMS project. Seismic data were recorded between November 2009 and March 2010 on the short period sensors and up to 18 months on the broadband sensor. Data recorded between November 2009 and November 2011 were utilised from the Geonet stations. P wave receiver functions are computed using the multi-taper correlation method using 389 > 6.0 Mw teleseismic earthquakes recorded at the individual seismic stations. A total of 1082 individual receiver functions from all the stations are stacked for both the individual stations and as a ‘super-stack’ across the complete transect, using the common conversion point (CCP) method. The CCP stack shows a distinct, thick low velocity layer (LVL), dipping to the west, from ~18km depth in the east to ~30km depth in the west. This is above a higher velocity layer, also dipping west, at depths of between ~22km and ~ 37km. The LVL is interpreted as being subducted sediments overlying the higher velocity plate interface. Structures towards the west indicate the presence of possibly imbricated features associated with the overriding plate. Deeper structures, down to a depth of 140km are evident, but have less clarity than the shallower features. Some of the deeper layers appear to be dipping towards the west, some to the east. The results of the CCP stack agree well with results from active source methods.
An Examination of Young Women's Use of Condoms in Casual Sex Situations: Implications for the Sexuality Education Curriculum.
Authors:   , Cooper Annette
Published: November 2021

New Zealand has high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancy when compared to other comparable countries. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of how sexuality education in schools impacts young people’s behaviour and to elicit their ideas for improving the curriculum. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with eleven women aged 18-25. The research utilised Heideggerian phenomenology as a framework as this approach allows the researcher and participants to co-construct a shared understanding of the event/s. The results outline a complex picture of young people’s lives and their reasons for having both protected and unprotected casual sex. Three major themes were identified as increasing the likelihood of having casual sex: alcohol, biological factors and socio-cultural factors. However, none of these factors alone explain risky sexual behaviour. Rather, the factors interact within and between each other to increase or decrease the likelihood of someone having casual sex. This added complexity should be taken into account when consideration is being given to the way sexuality education in schools is taught. The results from this study add to the growing body of evidence that sexuality education in high schools need to change if it hopes to reduce the rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Investigation into the Decision Making Process of Boards of Trustees Relating to the Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion of Students in New Zealand Schools
Authors:   , Broadbent Lynda
Published: November 2021

This study investigated the decision making processes used by boards of trustees in schools across a range of deciles in a region of New Zealand. The research is framed by two objectives: to gain a broader insight and understanding of the processes used by boards of trustees when making decisions in order to inform a more robust governance system for schools that better responds to the development needs of school board members and educational needs of students; and to explore the ways i.e. skills, knowledge and experience used, in which decisions are made by principals and boards of trustees to stand-down, suspend, exclude and expel students in low/high decile schooling contexts in New Zealand. The inquiry is positioned within a critical educational paradigm, employs a mixed method approach incorporating a case study and survey, and uses a thematic analysis approach to identify themes. The research questions that guide this study are: what factors are the enablers or barriers that influence the decision making process of discipline committees?; how does the current support offered to boards of trustees empower them to make qualified decisions about continuing suspensions or excluding students or are there gaps in the support offered? And; what impact, if any, does the socio-economic area of a school have on the degree of knowledge and capability applied by its trustees when deciding to suspend or exclude/expel students? Data suggest school boards that have followed a sound process incorporating principles of natural justice and that have used quality documentation positively influence the outcome of a discipline committee meeting. The gaps in the current support offered to boards could be addressed by key stakeholders like the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand School Trustees Association committing resources to professional development for board of trustee members. It is often boards of low decile schools that lack confidence in their capability when making decisions about continuing suspensions, excluding and expelling students however, they also believe they are the right people to make that decision.
An Examination of Home Page Design in New Zealand Tertiary Libraries
Authors:   , Howie Jessica Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

The online presence of tertiary libraries is becoming increasingly important, however, research (OCLC, 2010) suggests that library websites are being shunned in favour of commercial search engines. Some scholars (Reidsma, 2012; McCann et al., 2010) attribute this to poor website design. Websites are a valid communication concern and what content is displayed, as well as how it is displayed on library home pages has implications for usability, findability and user perception. Tertiary library websites need to be attractive, modern and user focused in nature. Content needs to be arranged in a way that supports smooth navigation so that users are encouraged to engage with the library.
Data & Craft: The Book Beautiful in the Digital Age
Authors:   , Scudder Dan
Published: November 2021

In 1917 Thomas James Cobden-Sanderson threw his life’s work off the Hammersmith bridge into the river Thames. Cobden-Sanderson did this for the ideal of the Book Beautiful, a book that he thought should be made for beauty, with all constituting elements considered; a book with presence and aura due to the manner in which it is crafted. In contemporary culture technology is becoming increasingly ubiquitous and as a result we read and interact more online than we ever have before. The ease of the internet seems to make the book redundant, yet despite this the book cannot be replaced as it is an emotive physical medium for our text. The ownership of a book is the closest relationship we can have to a text, belying the widespread prevalence of digital texts. This thesis investigates the relevance of the Book Beautiful in our technological society and explores the importance of the Book Beautiful today. One distinct importance is the collecting and ownership of books, in particular the Books Irreplaceable; those so saturated with memories that we cannot part with them. The Book Beautiful facilitates this relationship and nurtures the human side of us, retaining the associations and emotions that permeate it. One hundred years ago Cobden-Sanderson believed that only the exclusive use of the human hand can make a Book Beautiful, but today there exist digital manufacturing machines that can both facilitate the production of the Book Beautiful and facilitate its growth within our communities. To use such technology and yet retain the qualities of craft is called Digital Craft, which this thesis demonstrates is not a contradiction in terms.