bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shakespeare's Historiography
Authors:   , Ewens Robert Leslie
Published: November 2021

This study explores, in a sixteenth century context, the historical thought and consciousness of a selection of Shakespeare's English history plays. Looked at in relation to contemporary historiographical works, it is concluded that the plays in question qualify as a form of dramatic historiography both transitional and progressive in nature. The study, after considering some aspects of Tudor historiography relevant to Shakespeare and his drama in the introductory chapter, goes on in Chapter One to explore Shakespeare's Henry VI sequence. My discussion finds that the interaction of the roles and requirements of both dramatist and historian has two important results: firstly an emerging awareness of the impossibility of presenting the historical "truth"; and secondly an appreciation that the (re)construction of a linear historical narrative (dramatisation), especially when developed from diverse Chronicle accounts, requires the dramatist/historian's critical and historical judgement concerning probability. Also observed in this chapter is the drama's capacity for making character as much a part of history as event. In Chapter Two Shakespeare's Richard III is juxtaposed with its main source, Sir Thomas More's History of King Richard III. These texts provide a springboard for discussion of the tradition of oral history and the problems associated with its use as a source for authoritative historiography, and the apparent resemblance between the historian's and lawyer's pursuit of the "truth". The methods and principles of the courtroom are intimately related to those used by the dramatist/historian. The final chapter couples the anonymous history play Edward III with Shakespeare's most sophisticated history, Henry V. In this chapter I first discuss the growing sixteenth century distinction between poetry (the medium of the history play) and historiography. The history presented in Edward III is interrupted and disrupted by the "poetic" interlude of King Edward's residence at the Countess of Salisbury's castle; I argue that the play (ironically, given its own status as verse drama) privileges "history" at the expense of "poetry". In Henry V, in contrast, there is evidence of a conceptual shift in the use and perception of history. Here, also, is found the full realisation of the ineluctable evasiveness of historical "truth" through the contradictory accounts of the Chorus and the stage action, and the opacity of King Henry.
Inside / Outside and the [Inbetween]
Authors:   , Brookes Toni-Rose
Published: November 2021

How can architecture overcome the traditional differentiation of inside and outside? Architects tend to associate our inhabitation and movement within two spatial realms, those being inside and outside. The connection between the two plays a fundamental role in our relationship and understanding of the environment in which we live in. The details of these connections are often neglected and standardised ideals and components are regularly implemented without much consideration in regards to the context in which they are being established. The fundamental act of architecture is to define one space from another. Primarily this means differentiating the inside from the outside (interactivearchitecture.org). Perceptually and practically the worlds of interior and exterior are mutually exclusive one cannot be in both at the same time, and yet traditionally they border directly on each other. (Lo, 1986) Through the exploration of the relationship between interior and exterior space a focus will be given to the boundary condition. Looking into the details and material expression which enable these connections and their ability and potential to blur the boundary. Along with material properties and capabilities aspects such as kinetic, interactive and dynamic architecture will be investigated and subsequently implemented as a response to the interior, exterior relationship established. Aim to achieve architecture, where one is able to interact with the structure and help to adapt the space surrounding in order to accommodate the activities and behaviour of the occupants whilst enabling a comfortable space in regards to the climatic conditions. With an objective to live with nature and the surrounding environment achieved through blurring the spatial boundaries, forcing one to acknowledge and establish a simultaneous relationship where one can interact and co-exist between the two realms. This will be enhanced through the integration of the building into the landscape enabling the opportunity for the building to work with the environment.
Shouting against Silence: André Brink's Voices of Truth
Authors:   , Dixon Shelley May
Published: November 2021

This thesis investigates the notion of 'Truth' upheld by the South African writer André Brink and discusses his deconstruction of the processes of truth-making. I argue that Brink understands fixed narratives, or received 'truth', as constructed to the detriment of alternative narratives, resulting in their subjugation and eventual loss. In response to authoritative discourses, Brink advocates an ongoing and evolving series of challenging narratives which refuse the closure of narrative possibilities. He urges a constant process of un-forgetting and remembering, a contestational activity that undermines the truth-claims of any oppressive group. Three central texts have been chosen as exemplary of Brink's directive to contest fixed truth claims. The first of these, Devil's Valley, offers an opportunity to examine the novelistic (and often postmodernist) blurring of distinctions between binary oppositions such as 'fact' and 'fiction', 'past' and 'present', 'real' and 'unreal'. In undermining the ostensibly dichotomous nature of these pairings, Brink challenges the bases upon which prejudicial systems such as the Apartheid regime rely. In doing so, he reveals the constructions behind both prejudice and hegemonic discourses, and ultimately undermines these foundations. Similarly, Imaginings of Sand provides a means by which to further explore Brink's engagement with prejudice, and most specifically, with the patriarchal oppression of women. I suggest that Brink's female narratives, in which multiplicity and endless possibility are foregrounded, again contest the constraints imposed by a dominant discourse, offering alternative versions. My final textual examination focuses on A Chain of Voices, in which both the polyphonic narration and the thematic content exemplify the concerns discussed previously Brink's usage of various imagery related to oppressive relationships, I claim, provides metaphors for the manner in which binary relationships are co-dependent, rather than dichotomous, undercutting the justifications associated with privileging certain narratives over others. Brink's Truth, I argue, involves an ongoing contestational process of narratorial imagining, a revisionary project central to both the prejudicial environment of Apartheid South Africa, in which much of Brink's work was written, and also to the larger context of prejudice in all its forms and geographical locations.
Certification and Regulation of Trade in Biofuels
Authors:   , Thomson Vivien
Published: November 2021

The recent increase in biofuel production and trade has raised concerns about environmental and other impacts, and has prompted some governments to initiate measures to ensure biofuels are produced sustainably. Certification schemes are the most common measure used, and apply to both imported biofuels, and those produced in the country that has initiated the certification scheme. This dissertation argues that biofuels certification schemes, as currently drafted, are inconsistent with WTO trade agreements. Biofuel policies and certification schemes need to be better coordinated internationally to ensure that policy goals are met in a way that complies with trade agreements. The dissertation recommends that international standards need to be further developed to promote consistency between certification schemes and to support WTO consistency.
A Likely Story: The Da Vinci Code as Work on Myth
Authors:   , Morris Diane Norma
Published: November 2021

Theory of myth is used as an explanatory framework within which to explore the enormous and controversial popular appeal of the novel The Da Vinci Code, first published in 2003. The Da Vinci Code is a site of contestation between truth and falsity. Modernity has used the category of myth to contain and control false stories that claim to be true. Myth is characterised here as story-with-significance but also as story believed by people other than scholars and the guardians of legitimate culture. The novel reinserts story into religious history, finding 'natural' significances to replace those progressively exposed and expunged by scholarship and liberal theology. Code's major themes, the sacred feminine and the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, endorse popular knowledge about religion, inheritance, identity, community and gender, knowledge that is threatened by detraditionalisation, feminism, and modernity's emphasis on the autonomous individual. The bloodline myth's move into the category of fiction further blurs the boundaries between the legitimately true and the mythically false.
Bush Frontier: North Taranaki, 1841-1860: A Study in Economic Development
Authors:   , Quin Brian Gerard
Published: November 2021

If it needs a justification, this account is an attempt to fill in what I consider to be a gap in the story of New Zealand's economic development. A considerable amount of research has been done on the economic development of the pastoral and gold-mining districts of New Zealand; but the story of settlement in the bush areas, particularly in the period before 1860, has been relatively neglected. The Otago and Canterbury centenaries of 1948 and 1950 provoked a spate of writing on the early development of those provinces which still continues. On the other hand the Taranaki centenary of 1941, possibly because it occurred during war-time, went by almost unmarked by any commemorative publishing. Further, although events of the first two decades of European settlement in Taranaki have been often described in New Zealand history books, any treatment of economic development has usually been scanty and usually directed towards explaining the origins of the war between the Maoris and the European settlers that broke out in 1860. The main emphasis in the ensuing description has been given to the economy of the European community. This is simply because the quantity and quality of the material available allows the European economy to be described in more detailed fashion than the Maori economy.
Contributions to the Geology of Mt. Ruapehu, New Zealand
Authors:   , O'Shea Bernard Emmett
Published: November 2021

During the passage of the lahar, shortly after 10 o'clock on Christmas Eve 1953, a portion of the Whangaehu River rail bridge at Tangiwai was demolished by a raging torrent of mud and boulders which originated from the Crater Lake of Mt. Ruapehu, nearly twenty miles distant. This mudflow, or lahar, damaged the railway bridge piers and the Wellington-Auckland express plunged into the torrent. As a result, one hundred and fifty-one people lost their lives. During tramping and ski-ing trips over the past five years the writer has become well acquainted with the National Park area. Close inspection of the Crater Lake was made on 1 January 1954, and again on 22 January. On the latter date the writer was accompanied by two chemists from the Chemistry Department, Victoria University College, and one from the Dominion Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who collected samples of the lake water. On 24 January, the Whangaehu River was followed from the Desert Road to where it emerges from a deep gorge on the lower slopes of Mt. Ruapehu. A number of braided channels were examined on the alluvial fan that extends east from the outlet gorge almost to the Desert Road. On the same day the scene of the disaster at Tangiwai was also inspected
Health in the Name of Justice: Does Justice Require a Right to Health
Authors:   , Horwood Morgan
Published: November 2021

Upholding and seeking justice in society has been important for philosophers and religious thinkers throughout the ages. Debates of different conceptions of justice have ranged from Plato’s conception of the just individual, to Aristotle’s just community where individuals receive what is owed to them according to their merit, to Kant’s claim that justice concerns the “… exercise of will among people; and it is concerned with the possibility and freedom of the exercise of will …” (Hudson, 2003, p. 11). Interpretations of justice and the value of justice in society vary. Fundamentally, however, theories of justice are concerned with answering the question, what do we as a society owe each other by determining the set of rights that are inalienable and vital for a just society to protect. Theories of justice hope to inform us of the rights that are essential for society to defend and uphold. The ever increasing amount of medical knowledge and sophisticated medical treatments now available raise questions of social justice in health and has prompted many to argue whether or not there is a right to health. As Charles Fried (1976) explained over thirty years ago, extending certain medical treatments to the poor seemed possible and inevitable during a period when certain medical advances in treating illness and disease, such as the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines, made a huge difference to the health of the population. He claims that in this “ ‘Golden Age’ we could unambiguously afford a notion of a general right to medical care because there were a number of clear successes available to medicine, and these successes were not unduly costly” (p. 29-30). However, as Fried recognised in the 1970s, and is even truer today with the costs associated with chronic illnesses, extending universal medical care to all in society in cases where treatment is expensive and marginally beneficial is problematic at best.
"Sidelined": Family Caregiver's Experience of the Emergency Department: Insights from Family Caregivers of People with Alzheimer's Disease
Authors:   , Ridley Sandra Roberta
Published: November 2021

Older patients with a cognitive deficit, such as seen in Alzheimer's Disease (AD), have not been extensively researched in ED. Often patients with AD are accompanied by a familiar person such as a family caregiver when they present to an acute care facility. Literature has shown that family caregivers' have reported dissatisfaction with interaction with healthcare professionals in inpatient settings. There is a paucity of research on the experiences family caregivers have in ED. This study explored the experiences of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease in the ED of a regional hospital in New Zealand. A Hermeneutic phenomenology method was used to bring meaning to the lived experience of family caregivers in the ED. Ricouers Interpretation theory was used to analyse and interpret the data. Six family caregivers were interviewed, using semi-structured interviews, to explore and give meaning to their experience. Findings revealed family caregivers were 'sidelined'; felt invisible, ignored and abandoned by the healthcare professionals in ED. There appeared to be little understanding about dementia symptoms, or the needs of caregivers of people with AD. The experience was distressing for participants who felt they were not able to relay information about their loved one that was pertinent to their health and presenting symptoms. Health Professionals tended to speak directly to their loved ones and not with the participants. Consequently there was a risk of misinformation and poor communication driving treatment decisions for these patients. Participants reported poor information giving and family caregivers were left for long periods of time with no contact, and no support. Despite this, caregivers justified and excused the actions of healthcare professionals. They became passive recipients of process and procedures that were not adequately explained.
Cambodian and Laotian Students' Experience of Language Barriers, Cultural Differences, and Teacher-Student Rapport in a University in Vietnam: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors:   , Doan My Ngoc
Published: November 2021

An increasing number of international students have enrolled in university degree programmes in Vietnam in recent years and this has presented a range of new pedagogical opportunities and challenges in the higher education context of the nation. Currently, little is known about international students’ academic experiences in Vietnamese universities although the literature suggests that effective teacher–student relationships are an important factor in establishing effective teaching and learning processes. This study employs grounded theory to examine the influence of teacher–student relationships on international students’ academic experiences at a university in Vietnam that is located in a region that draws in students from the neighbouring countries of Cambodia and Laos. A mixed research design combining data from questionnaires and in-depth interviews was used in this research. Data from questionnaires were collected from all Cambodian and Laotian international students who were enrolled at a university in the An Giang province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. These data were supplemented by in-depth interviews with a sample group of the students. The findings from this study show that while the Cambodian and Laotian international students reported good relationships with their Vietnamese teachers and having no difficulty in adapting to Vietnamese culture, they also struggled with the challenges of studying in a new language and this made it difficult for them to communicate effectively with their teachers or participate fully in classroom activities.
An Impedance Study of the Membrane Polarisation Effect in Simulated Rock Systems
Authors:   , McKubre Michael Charles Harold
Published: November 2021

Work is reported on the development of a high precision, low frequency impedance bridge, and the use of impedance measurement in characterising the induced polarisation effect of unmineralised material. Impedance spectra for a variety of laboratory model clay/rock/electrolyte systems are analysed in terms of an equivalent circuit. By measuring the dependence of the parameters of this circuit, on such variables as electrolyte type and concentration, temperature and pore geometry, an electrochemical model for membrane polarisation has been developed. Polarisation is considered to arise from diffusional limitation of cations at the membrane/electrolyte interface of clay aggregations in rock pores, and this is found to be amenable to a Warburg diffusional impedance analysis.
A Study of the Frequency Domain Induced Polarisation Effects Displayed by Clay and by Cation Exchange Resin, Model Soil Systems
Authors:   , McKubre Michael Charles Harold
Published: November 2021

Work is reported of the development of clay and resin model soil systems for the observation of induced polarisation phenomena. A measuring technique is developed to determine impedance spectra of such models over the frequency range of 10-3 to 10 4 Hz, and a variety of model cells tested varying such parameters as temperature, electrolyte type and concentration, and bead size of resin. An increase in impedance with decrease in frequency is observed, consistent with field observation of the induced polarisation phenomenon associated with moist, non-mineralised soils, and a number of empirical observations of the form of this are made.
The Geology of Basement Rocks in the Southeastern Tararua Range, North Island, New Zealand
Authors:   , Foley Lisa Ann
Published: November 2021

Basement rocks within the southeastern Tararua Range belong to two associations: a sedimentary association (greywacke, argillite, calcareous siltstone, conglomerate and olistostrome) and a volcanogenic association (metabasite, chert, red argillite and limestone). Rocks of the sedimentary association are more abundant and have been deposited by turbidity currents and debris flows in a deep water, marine environment. Three turbidite and two intercalated non-turbidite lithofacies are recognized. Sedimentological data suggest that the sediment was deposited in a submarine fan system (mid-fan environment), probably in a trench. The alternating greywacke-argillite beds have detrital compositions which are essentially quartzo-feldspathic. Framework mode and geochemical analyses indicate that the sediment was derived from an active continental margin that was shedding detritus of mainly acid-volcanic and metamorphic origin. Rocks of the volcanogenic association, although volumetrically minor, are widely distributed. Geochemical analyses of metabasites suggest that they were erupted in an oceanic environment, both at a mid-ocean ridge and an intra-plate setting. The presence of radiolaria skeletons in red argillite and chert indicates a hemiplagic depositional environment for these rocks. Rocks of the volcanogenic association often have conformable contacts. These rocks have a related depositional environment and represent seafloor material. Where observed, contacts between rocks of the two associations are always faulted. Deformation in the field area is characterized by development of the following types of structures: several generations of folds, faults at both a low angle and high angle to bedding, shear foliation and melange. The region has undergone the following deformational events, outlined from oldest to youngest: 1) folding with at least two fold generations present. 2) fragmentation and disruption of the beds by faults. Low-angle to bedding faults and high-angle to bedding faults have disrupted the bedding. Where these structures have occurred to a great extent, a chaotically disrupted unit, melange, has formed. 3) post-melange folding. 4) recent faulting related to the present strike-slip regime in New Zealand. Rocks have undergone prehnite-pumpellyite facies metamorphism. The rock types, their field relationships and the deformation that the area has undergone is consistent with accretion at a convergent plate margin. Radiolaria were extracted from two red chert samples. In the study the radiolaria define a Middle Jurassic age, which indicates that the sediments in the southeastern Tararua Range must be of Middle Jurassic in age or younger (possibly Cretaceous). A similar sample from the Manawatu Gorge to the north of the study area contained radiolaria of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age. Sediments in both areas therefore belong to fossil zone 5 (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous) of MacKinnon (1983).
“Pulling the Tail of the Cat”: An Exploration of Palestinian Peacebuilders' Conceptualisations of Men and Masculinities in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Authors:   , Foster Alana
Published: November 2021

To date, men as gendered beings have largely remained absent from the international literature on armed conflict and peacebuilding. In general, the literature omits men‘s gendered experiences as civilians, non-combatants and peacebuilders and instead, men remain confined by stereotypes of violence, soldiering and war-making. In this thesis, I aim to break these silences by producing a qualitative analysis of discourses of men and masculinities within semi-structured interviews conducted with fourteen Palestinian peacebuilders in the West Bank. This analysis explores the impacts of the ongoing occupation and armed conflict on non-combat related Palestinian masculinities, and further, how men and masculinities are thought to interact with local peacebuilding initiatives. Through the use of feminist critical discourse analysis, this study has uncovered a number of key themes relevant to gender and peacebuilding theory and practice. Firstly, it found that the ongoing conflict has resulted in a 'thwarting' of West Bank masculinities in which men are understood as finding it increasingly difficult to live up to social expectations of their traditional roles and identities. Secondly, this study found that men and masculinities have become somewhat estranged from civil society, informal peacebuilding schemes. Based on my findings, these initiatives seem to centre around feminised narratives that emphasise women's peacebuilding capacities, while masculinities and the peacebuilding roles of men are overlooked. Nevertheless, this thesis also presents the notion that men are actively involved in the nonviolent resistance movement within the West Bank, which opens up room for a novel, alternative understanding of 'masculinised' peacebuilding in Palestine. In sum, this study articulates the need to 'take masculinities seriously' in the pursuit of more inclusive and effective peacebuilding and post-conflict development practice.
Learning Actions That Reduce Variation in Objects
Authors:   , Bebbington James
Published: November 2021

The variation in the data that a robot in the real world receives from its sensory inputs (i.e. its sensory data) will come from many sources. Much of this variation is the result of ground truths about the world, such as what class an object belongs to, its shape, its condition, and so on. Robots would like to infer this information so they can use it to reason. A considerable amount of additional variation in the data, however, arises as a result of the robot’s relative configuration compared to an object; that is, its relative position, orientation, focal depth, etc. Fortunately, a robot has direct control over this configural variation: it can perform actions such as tilting its head or shifting its gaze. The task of inferring ground truth from data is difficult, and is made much more difficult when data is affected by configural variation. This thesis explores an approach in which the robot learns to perform actions that minimize the amount of configural variation in its sensory data, making the task of inferring information about objects considerably easier. The value of this approach is demonstrated by classifying digits from the MNIST and USPS datasets that have been transformed in various ways so that they include various kinds of configural variation.
Fifteenth and Sixteenth-Century Northern European Prints at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Authors:   , Sippel Annika
Published: November 2021

This thesis examines the collection of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century German, Dutch and Flemish prints at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Beginning with the donation of Bishop Monrad in 1869, prints from the Northern European schools have been added to the collection either through the generosity of private collectors or the museum's direct purchases which continue to the present day. The lives and collecting practices of these collectors are considered, as well as the artists and prints represented in the collection. An analysis of the history of collecting prints from the Northern European schools demonstrates that their recognition as individual works of art was a rather slow process, whereas a canon of the great printmakers was established almost immediately. The place of Northern printmakers in this canon will be considered, as well as the changing ideas about prints and print collecting from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. The most significant collectors for Te Papa's print collection were Bishop Monrad and Sir John Ilott, who together donated more than half of the 164 prints analysed here. While the collecting practices of Monrad and Ilott have been studied individually before, it is worthwhile comparing them and considering their reasons for buying fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Northern European prints in particular. They emerge as collectors with similar financial means, who both made use of agents and had direct contact with dealers. Other private individuals have also emerged as print collectors, who made significant contributions to the collection, yet they have remained mostly unknown until now. In addition to this, Te Papa still has an active policy of purchasing more prints for the collection. Finally the prints themselves are examined in detail, considering both their physical qualities and art historical significance, in order to highlight the strengths of the collection. Some prints from the collection will be analysed for the first time here, as no extensive research has previously been conducted on this particular part of Te Papa's print collection, and some of the prints were added very recently and have thus not been available for viewing until now.
How Can Geomorphology Inform Ecological Restoration? A Synthesis of Geophysical and Biological Assessment to Determine Restoration Priorities
Authors:   , Cooper Leicester
Published: November 2021

The central concern that this study addresses is how an understanding of geomorphological processes and forms may inform ecological restoration; particularly practical restoration prioritisation. The setting is that of a hill country gully system covered in grazing pasture which historically would have been cloaked in indigenous forest. The study examines theory in conjunction with an application using a case study centred on Whareroa Farm (the restoration site) and Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve (the reference site) on the southern Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington. The impact that the change of land use has had on the soil and geomorphic condition of Whareroa and the influence the changes may have on the sites restoration is investigated. The thesis demonstrates a method of choosing reference sites to be used as templates for rehabilitating the restoration site. Geographical Information Systems and national databases are used and supplemented with site inspection. The reference site chosen, Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve, proved to be a good template for the restoration site particularly given that it is located in the midst of a heavily modified area. On-site inspection considering dendritic pattern and floristic composition confirms the database analysis results. Soil variables (bulk density, porosity, soil texture, pH, Olsen P, Anaerobic Mineralisable N, Total N (AMN), Total C and C:N ratio) are investigated and statistical comparisons made between the sites to quantify changes due to land-use change, i.e. deforestation and subsequent pastoral grazing. Factors investigated that may explain the variation in the soil variables were site (land use), hillslope location, slope aspect, and slope angle. Permutation tests were conducted to investigate the relationships between the independent factors and the SQI (dependent soil variables). Land use and slope angle were most frequent significant explanatory factors of variation, followed by hillslope location whilst slope aspect only influenced soil texture. A number of soil variables at Whareroa were found to be outside the expected range of values for an indigenous forest soil including AMN, Total N, Olsen P, and pH ...
Claims Made Insurance Policies in New Zealand and Australia: Should New Zealand Enact a Statutory Deeming Regime?
Authors:   , Bourne Stephen Grant
Published: November 2021

A claims made policy protects an insured person or business in relation to claims made against that person or business during the policy period, regardless of when the cause of loss occurred, and regardless of when the claim is notified to the insurer (subject always to the terms of cover and the relevant law). The trigger event for a claim against the insurer is the receipt of the claim or demand by the insured. However, issues can arise when the insured has knowledge of circumstances that may lead to a claim, but the claim itself is delayed, a situation sometimes addressed by way of a contractual 'notice of circumstances' provision coupled with a deeming provision. The proposition in this dissertation is that New Zealand should have a statutory deeming regime affecting claims made insurance policies, similar to that contained within section 40 of Australia’s Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). However, to properly consider that proposition, it is necessary to review the context within which section 40 arose, its practical effect in that context, and the perceived issues that might be addressed in New Zealand by way of a statutory deeming regime. In particular, it is necessary to acknowledge the juxtaposition of sections 40 and 54 of the Insurance Contracts Act (Cth), and the implications of section 9 of New Zealand's Insurance Law Reform Act 1977.
Critical Analysis of the Composition Techniques and Devices Used in Troy Roberts' Album 'The XenDen Suite'
Authors:   , Crawford Michael Victor
Published: November 2021

Troy Roberts is a jazz saxophonist, originally from Perth, West Australia. At present, no academic research has been done on Roberts’ compositions or playing, making this research project a positive way of contributing new information to the academic body of knowledge.   His album, ‘The Xen-Den Suite’ was chosen as the material best suited to provide insight into Roberts’ musicianship (particularly focussing on his compositional and arranging techniques), as it is both intellectually complex and also musically innovative. The aim of the study was to identify and describe the use of various techniques and devices (including their relevance, purpose and function) present in Roberts’ music. Through this study, this researcher attempted to gain a basic overview of Roberts’ musical characteristics, with the objective to be able to utilise this information to further this researcher’s musical development (including compositions, arrangements and saxophone playing).  The findings were useful for direct application (i.e. the techniques could be used in the same manner as they appeared in the XenDen Suite, and could therefore be immediately applied to other areas such as composition, arrangement and improvisation), but the many different ways in which the techniques were used compositionally by Roberts provided a more insightful look into broader musical concepts, and their application.
Churches as Communities of Practice and the Place of Libraries in Information Sharing
Authors:   , Hedley Lauryn Maria
Published: November 2021

Research problem: Churches are communities of people who journey together, to grow in knowledge and understanding of their faith. One way churches can support this journey is through a library service. In this project, churches are viewed as a Community of Practice; they are united under a “domain of knowledge” which sets the community apart, their identity as a community, and the pursuit of tacit knowledge- sharing and developing knowledge with each other in order to put knowledge into action. Church libraries were researched to determine the role of libraries in church CoPs, whether libraries are fulfilling their purpose in this role, and to identify best-practice solutions for CoP libraries. Methodology: Seven churches in Wellington City who have libraries were chosen for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from each of the seven churches. Results: Church libraries have a lot of old content, as the majority of stock comes from donations- collection development is influenced largely by donations. Resources are modest or non-existent, which means that any best-practice solutions have to accommodate these resources restrictions. Libraries are used to a moderately satisfactory level, but all could benefit from best-practice suggestions. Implications: Unlike other types of libraries, church libraries are not considered to be essential to the running of the organisation, so there is little input or expectations from management. They are not business-driven entities, nor should they be. CoP libraries are one of many possible ways to share knowledge and information and support their communities. Having said this, there are some practical, economical steps that can be taken to improve the service: formalizing policies, procedures and a mission statement; making collections accessible in a database format; exploring web 2.0, social media and cloud-based technology to promote and/or facilitate libraries; undertaking informal user-needs research by asking community members what others in the community are wanting from a library service.
Creative Solutions : how Students With Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) Conditions Manage Their Studies at Victoria University of Wellington
Authors:   , Talboys Sarah
Published: November 2021

The barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and succeeding in post-compulsory education are well documented, as are the accommodations that tertiary institutions provide for students with disabilities. However, there is little research about the aids and techniques that students with disabilities actually use to meet their course requirements. This thesis explores the way in which students with occupational overuse syndrome (OOS) conditions managed their studies at Victoria University of Wellington. My methodology was influenced by the theoretical principles of emancipatory research, which emphasises a collaborative research process for the purpose of individual and social change. I interviewed thirteen Victoria University students about their OOS condition, their study strategies, and the ways in which this University could make it easier for students with OOS to manage their studies. Generally the participants used aids and techniques to enable themselves to demonstrate their ability to meet their course requirements. They also benefited from Victoria University's efforts to provide an inclusive learning environment for students with disabilities. There were however, weaknesses in some of the support services that are available for students with OOS conditions at this University. Moreover, my findings suggested that attitudinal barriers might prevent some students with OOS conditions from seeking assistance with managing their studies. My goal was to enable students with OOS conditions to demonstrate their abilities, by sharing information about the strategies that some of these students used to manage their studies without aggravating their OOS symptoms, and by recommending changes to Victoria University's policies and practices.
Looking at the Works of Alice Tawhai: An Argument for Māori Literary Nationalism
Authors:   , Holland Charlie
Published: November 2021

Contemporary Māori writer Alice Tawhai has published two collections of short stories, Festival of Miracles (2005) and Luminous (2007). Tawhai's narratives portray Māori people living an array of diverse lifestyles and her collections include stories about isolation, gangs, substance abuse, identity, education, art and spirituality; her work has been reviewed in literary magazines and online as new fiction that reflected a contemporary society in Aotearoa and these literary reviews imply that Tawhai's stories are a reflection of Māori people. For Māori readers, Tawhai's narratives demand a different interpretation of the text, a different way of reading, in order to read these stories of their own merits. To this end, this thesis proposes a practice for reading called 'Māori literary nationalism' which is based on a book called, American Indian Literary Nationalism whose proposed literary practice can be suitably adapted for a Maori literary context. One of the most important components of Maori literary nationalism is the idea of keeping Māori as the central focus, analyzing Māori literature with an insider's view. Māori literary nationalism provides a space for Māori readers to discuss literature, exchange ideas and encourage dialogue amongst each other. More importantly Māori literary nationalism offer Māori readers an opportunity to read Alice Tawhai's work in a way that foregrounds the uniqueness of her short stories.
Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing of Fibre Reinforced Composites
Authors:   , Thomson Matthew
Published: November 2021

This thesis focuses on the application of high frequency ultrasound as a tool for performing non-destructive testing for pultruded fibre reinforced composite (FRC) rods. These composite rods are popular in the manufacturing, construction and electrical industries due to their chemical, electrical and strength properties. Such FRCs are manufactured on automated production lines that operate day and night. Non-destructive testing techniques are desired to quickly and accurately detectmanufacturing flaws such as coating thickness irregularities and surface cracks. Layers and cracks can present as large changes in acoustic impedance and will strongly reflect ultrasonic waves. Combined with their low cost, east of use and absense of potentially harmful radiation, ultrasound has proven popular worldwide for Non-Destructive Testing. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was employed to investigate the propagation of ultrasonic waves through layers of material to simulate a thickness measurement and the ability of ultrasound to measure thicknesses was proven. Experimental work was conducted on two fibre reinforced composite samples with varying thickness coatings of plastic and paint. The thickness was measured accurately using immersion transducers at 50MHz and a resolution of 20μm was attained through the use of matched filtering techniques. Surface acoustic waves, particularly Rayleigh waves were investigated using FEA techniques so that the generation, scattering and detection of such waves was understood. This lead to the development of methods for detecting surface cracks in glass using Rayleigh waves and these methods were successfully used in experimental work. Wave propagation in fibre reinforced composites was modelled and experimentally investigated with the results confirming theoretical expectations. Finally a Rayleigh wave was launched onto a fibre reinforced composite sample however the amount of energy leakage into the water was so great, due to the acoustic impedance of water, the detection of the wave was prevented. The conclusion reached was that an immersion setup was not appropriate for launching a travelling Rayleigh wave.
Appraisal: a process for control or development?: a study of teacher accountability, power and decision-making with emphasis on the New Zealand context
Authors:   , Aikin Sandra Wendy
Published: November 2021

This sociological-historical study aims to contribute to the understanding and analysis of the changing pattern of power and decision-making in education apparent in the development of teacher appraisal policy. The study provides an account of the factors influencing the New Zealand teacher appraisal policy draft which at the time of writing is still to be released. A range of considerations to be taken into account is exposed and the signposts for the development of teacher appraisal policy are made explicit. This is achieved by making the process transparent as well as recognising and evaluating the contribution made by participants. A key feature of this study is the examination of the 'policy importation' process as the emerging demand for greater teacher accountability in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand has resulted in the formalisation of the assessment of teachers' professional performance through appraisal policies. This study argues that three perspectives have shaped the debate on teacher appraisal: neo-liberal market; managerial; and professional. It posits that a noticeable shift has been made towards the requirements of managerial accountability and examines the reasons for this.
Synthesis and Characterisation of Photocatalyst Silver/Silver Halide Nanocomposites
Authors:   , Tate Eldon Warwick
Published: November 2021

The photochemical activity of silver halides forms the basis of photography and latent image formation. More recently it has been used to create hybrid silver/silver halide nanoparticles. These are formed through partial reduction of Ag⁺ to Ag⁰ by a photochemical self-sensitisation when irradiated with light. This gives the silver/silver halide nanoparticles interesting photocatalytic properties. As such, these silver/silver halide nanoparticles have seen to be part of group of photocatalysts known as plasmonic photocatalysts. Where, the photocatalytic mechanism is enhanced by the surface plasmon resonance of noble metal nanodomains on the surface of the silver halide nanoparticle. The silver/silver halide nanoparticles of Cl⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻ were synthesised and characterised. Silver/silver halide nanoparticles were then incorporated into porous support materials creating silver/silver halide nanocomposite materials. This was through a straight forward aqueous synthesis method, where silver halide nanoparticles precipitated from solution, and nanoparticle size, shape and stabilisation was controlled by the porous support material. Silver/silver halide nanocomposite samples using Cl⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻ were synthesised using wool fibres, kraft paper fibres and nanostructured calcium silicate as supports. UV/Vis and XRD showed Ag⁰ nanodomains were formed during the self-sensitisation process. SEM showed the morphology of the nanocomposites and that the nanoparticles were distributed within the nanocomposite matrix, not deposited on the surface. Preliminary photocatalytic activity of Ag/AgCl nanoparticles and nanocomposites was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue when irradiated with light. All samples showed increased photocatalytic activity with the Ag/AgCl nanoparticles.
Verdant Home: Growing Elements of Architecture
Authors:   , Babonnick Jenny
Published: November 2021

‘Verdant Home’ explores how the design of residential architecture can evoke the senses through the integration of the garden with the house. This research challenges the use of New Zealand native and exotic plant species as merely an addition to architecture; instead creating stimulating and efficacious verdant elements (components) as part of the architecture. Two concerns provoked investigations into this subject. Firstly, a concern for the gradually occurring loss of vegetation amongst city residences, and secondly a concern for the way in which green elements are often added to buildings, without consideration of how they could sensually transform and improve the aesthetics of space and context. The final refined solution addresses these concerns by incorporating verdant components in an advantageous way, creating a new typology of residential home for New Zealand. Modern architectural technologies allow conventionally separate garden spaces to be integrated with building forms, removing the need for separate garden spaces. These technologies provide humans with the positive environmental benefits of plants within interior spaces. This thesis builds on these benefits, providing ideas for enhancing spatial experiences within the home by merging programmatic use with the pleasurable qualities of gardens. Presented at the outset of the thesis is evidence supporting the physical and mental benefits of everyday human contact with nature. The pursuit for a way in which architecture can encompass verdant elements as integral components of the home is explored through a review of garden history and theory. This review provides specific inspiration for the creation of splendid spaces, spaces which manipulate dimension and materials, sensually practical spaces and statement spaces in the design of a residential home. Following this, buildings from various time periods and locations which innovatively incorporate vegetation are evaluated. An analysis of the New Zealand architectural context and its relationship to gardens is then completed, leading to designs which incorporate all of this research. This thesis challenges the current use of verdant elements such as: living walls, roofs and facades. Whilst these are beneficial technologies, there is potential for them to have an increased atmospheric effect on the spaces they are part of. New aesthetic possibilities are focused on through the designs, which utilise principles of historical garden design typologies to sensually integrate verdant technologies. This results in the creation of aesthetically engaging verdant home solutions.