bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turning over old ground: investigating garden heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors:   , Goldsmith Susette
Published: November 2021

Aotearoa New Zealand began considering the preservation of some of its colonial buildings in the early twentieth century. Along with the buildings, and mostly by default, came their associated curtilage. This thesis asserts that the focus of heritage in this country has been on its buildings and that the curtilage - and in particular its gardens - has languished as a result. As an examination of garden heritage the study first explores the causes and consequences of this oversight. Secondly, it investigates the role that curtilage gardens can play in heritage and, finally, it considers how and why changes to heritage practice and management would better realise the potential of these gardens.  Little academic research has been carried out on garden heritage in this country and this study has therefore built on a multidisciplinary theoretical framework in order to fill this gap in the literature. The qualitative research undertaken includes a case study of Hurworth Cottage in Taranaki and has employed a mixed method approach that includes archival and documentary research and interviews.  In exploring the first research question, the study found that while some early attempts were made to protect garden heritage they were largely unsuccessful because they relied on the energies of individuals, failed to be adequately resourced and, to some extent, were outstripped by enthusiastic efforts to protect trees. The thesis does, however, cite examples where heritage agencies have been prompted to address wider issues of curtilage within the contemporary conservation plans of historic buildings. The case study addressed the second area of inquiry and established that curtilage gardens can act as powerful interpretive tools and, consequently, that no heritage building is best served by being considered in isolation. In examining contemporary heritage practice and management, the thesis broadens its focus to discuss overseas models of interpretive curtilage gardens and their relationships with their communities.
Māori Urban Migrations and Identities, ‘Ko Ngā Iwi Nuku Whenua’: A study of Urbanisation in the Wellington Region during the Twentieth Century
Authors:   , Keenan Erin
Published: November 2021

Māori urbanisation and urban migrations have been the subject of much discussion and research, especially following World War Two when Māori individuals, whānau and communities increasingly became residents of towns and cities that were overwhelmingly Pākehā populated. However, Māori urbanisation experiences and urban migrations are difficult topics to address because kaumātua are reluctant to discuss ‘urban Māori’, especially considering its implications for Māori identities. The original contribution this thesis makes to histories of Māori urban migrations is that it explores these and other understandings of urbanisations to discover some of their historical influences. By discussing urbanisations directly with kaumātua and exploring historical sources of Māori living in, and moving to, the urban spaces of Wellington and the Hutt Valley through the twentieth century, this thesis is a ‘meeting place’ for a range of perspectives on the meanings of urbanisations from the past and the present. Although urbanisation was an incredible time of material change for the individuals and whānau who chose to move into cities such as Wellington, the histories of urban migration experiences exist within a scope of Māori and iwi worldviews that gave rise to multiple experiences and understandings of urbanisations. The Wellington region is used to show that Māori in towns and cities used Māori social and cultural forms in urban areas so that they could, through the many challenges of becoming urban-dwelling, ensure the persistence of their Māoritanga. Urbanisations also allowed Māori to both use traditional identities in urban areas, as well as develop new relationships modelled on kinship. The Ngāti Pōneke community is used as an example of the complex interactions between these identities and how many Māori became active residents in but not conceptually ‘of’ cities. As a result, the multiple and layered Māori identities that permeate throughout Māori experiences of the present and the past are important considerations in approaching and discussing urbanisations. Urban Māori communities have emphasised the significance of varied and layered Māori identities, and this became particularly pronounced through the Māori urban migrations of the twentieth century.
Freshwater Colonists: The Wellington Acclimatisation Society and the Introduction of Trout, 1871-1914
Authors:   , Dekker Alexandra
Published: November 2021

The Wellington Acclimatisation Society was established in 1871, as part of a larger acclimatisation movement that featured the systematic introduction and exchange of many species across the world. After merging with other lower North Island societies, the Wellington Society began work on introducing trout to the streams and rivers of the district. Initially, the Society was made up of prominent members of the Wellington community, but over time these well-connected enthusiasts gave way to those with practical skills and knowledge. During the twentieth century the Society became an increasingly formalised group, working closely with the Government and other acclimatisation societies within New Zealand, as well as internationally. These networks, which were initially essential for trout introductions through imperial links, soon moved from an emphasis on importations and exchange to a focus on the continued maintenance of trout species throughout the Wellington district. The success of trout introductions relied on the ability of the Wellington Society to sufficiently modify the New Zealand environment. The close ties that existed between acclimatisation societies and the colonial Government meant the Wellington Society could undertake extensive environmental modification and management using a special authority, alongside a degree of involvement from the community. In this way, the introduction of trout had a significant impact on both the social and environmental history of New Zealand.
Plan implementation and medium density housing outcomes: measuring the effect of Wellington City District Plan Change 56
Authors:   , Sturm Joseph
Published: November 2021

The Wellington City District Plan, operative since the year 2000, set goals for housing intensification. Residential development is encouraged within the existing footprint of the urban area of Wellington City. Intensification means housing development must incorporate a greater mix of housing typologies denser than the currently predominant low density single detached dwellings. To deliver intensification, planning in Wellington aims to incorporate medium density housing typologies that result in more dwellings while using less land.  In 2007 Plan Change 56: Managing the Quality of Infill Housing was introduced. The plan change responded to concerns about the quality of housing outcomes being delivered by intensification. The implementation framework was amended through changing and adding a number of policies and rules and the Multiunit Developments Design Guide was replaced with the Residential Design Guide. The Plan Change kept policies for intensification, while policies controlling quality of medium density housing were amended.  This research measured the effect of Plan Change 56 on the quality of medium density housing outcomes. Success in planning was found to be defined by the way plan implementation contributes to built outcomes meeting a plan’s goals and objectives. To measure outcomes, a method of assessing case studies was applied based on a range of prior New Zealand research.  The Ministry for the Environment’s Medium-density Housing Case Study Assessment Methodology was used to assess and compare Wellington case studies of medium density housing from the periods before and after Plan Change 56. The selected case studies give evidence that Plan Change 56 did not cause an improvement in the quality of medium density housing outcomes.  The key finding is that the treatment of open space is significant in defining the quality of medium density housing outcomes. Plan Change 56 made a number of amendments to the District Plan in terms of the way open space is treated around dwellings. Despite this, it was the most significant reason for post-Plan change case studies achieving low quality outcomes. Detailed comparison showed that changes to the District Plan rules for open space did not cause the quality of outcomes to improve.  The application of the Residential Design Guide was compared to the superseded Multi Unit Developments Design Guide. The most significant amendments by Plan Change 56 related to guidelines for the design of building along street frontages in terms of volumes, orientation, and façade treatments. The case study results showed there was little difference in the way each design guide was used to assess Resource Consent applications.  The results conclusively show that Plan Change 56 did not cause an improvement in the quality of medium density housing outcomes in Wellington.
A line of best fit: Re-stitching earthquake prone buildings and re-connecting pedestrian networks in Wellington City
Authors:   , Stewart Charlotte
Published: November 2021

A Line of Best Fit explores weakness and disconnection in the city. Weakness: There are over 600 earthquake prone buildings in Wellington. The urgency to strengthen buildings risks compromising the aesthetic integrity of the city through abrasive strengthening techniques, or losing a large portion of our built environment to demolition. The need for extensive earthquake strengthening in Wellington, Christchurch and other New Zealand cities provides an exciting opportunity for architecture. Disconnection: In Wellington pedestrian activity is focused around three main routes: Cuba Street, Lambton Quay and Courtney Place. The adjacent areas are often disconnected and lack vibrancy due to large building footprints, no-exit laneways and lack of public spaces. The Design proposes a strategy for earthquake strengthening, preserving and upgrading the built environment, and expanding and connecting the pedestrian realm. The site is two earthquake prone buildings on the block between Marion Street and Taranaki Street in central Wellington. A cut through the centre of the Aspro and Cathie Buildings ties the buildings together to strengthen and create a new arcade as public space. The cut aligns with existing pedestrian routes connecting the block with the city. The Design is divided into three components: Void, Curve, and Pattern and Structure. Void investigates the implications of cutting a portion out the existing buildings and the opportunities this provides for connection, urban interaction, and light. Curve discusses the unusual form of The Design in terms of scale, the human response and the surrounding spaces. Pattern and Structure considers the structural requirements of the project and how a void enveloped in perforated screens can strengthen the earthquake prone buildings. The importance of connection, providing strength in the city, a dialogue between old and new, and engagement with the unexpected are evaluated. Opportunities for further development and research are discussed, with particular reference to how the principles of The Design could be implemented on a larger scale throughout our cities. A Line of Best Fit is an architectural proposal that creates strength and connection.
Performance of Scale
Authors:   , Warrander Jae
Published: November 2021

Cities are for people. As the scale of modern day cities continue to grow with overbearing homogeneity, the human body has become a disengaged entity among the repetitive monolithic forms. This city environment has come to lack the facilitation of personal, social, spatial and economic connections. Architecture can be seen to be the major facilitator in engaging and shaping urban space and subsequently the connection between people and space. This thesis responds to these static environmental conditions, questioning how ‘shifts in scale’ could influence the performance of space, and resultantly how performative space can create a connection between the body and the city. The thesis identifies a gap in performance research which considers ‘shifting scales’ as a non-human active agent. Active agents are assessed for their effects on the body (subject) and space (form), becoming critical to successive design evaluation and development. The notion of ‘Performance in Architecture’ is defined and grounded through acknowledging current modes of discourse in architectural theory, establishing the relationships between the interconnected theories of ‘subject performance’ and ‘performance of form’. These two theories explore the performative relationships between the body ‘subject’ and architecture ‘form’, setting up the research structure and subsequent conditions for the production of progressive design iterations. The framework for the performance design iterations engages two alternate scaled conditions (Act One & Act Two), both of which are explored through parametric based software in conjunction with physical modelling. This parametric based technology enables the comprehension and fabrication of complex forms, allowing the design process to move between the digital world and real world with ease. Engaging with this technology allows the scaled conditions to become specifically responsive to parameters defined by the architect. Each design iteration ‘shifts in scale’, focusing on a select combination of components, providing feedback on the productive application as to how ‘shifts in scale’ influence the performance of space. The design iterations systematically bring together parameters responding to: Scaled Volume, Intersection, Context, Traversal Movement and Access, Circulation, Speed, and Connection. The resultant design is evaluated for its performative success in allowing the body to shift and move between multiple scaled volumes and floor levels. The production and evaluation of these design iterations grounds the importance of ‘shifts in scale’ as an active agent that generates a connection between the body and city. The uniqueness of each space provides a set of diverse tenanting opportunities where the design strategy begins to address the expansion and densification of cities, re-enlivening and connecting ‘unused’ ‘left over’ space. The design strategy acts as a catalyst for dealing with complex architectural parameters while maintaining its sensitivity to the human scale.
The role of the dean in the pastoral care structure of a secondary school
Authors:   , Fraser Jennifer Harriet
Published: November 2021

Pastoral care structures in New Zealand schools often include a middle management role of dean. This position has existed in New Zealand schools for decades, influenced by the existing systems and structures adopted from the United Kingdom. The responsibilities included in this role are often defined by schools at the local level in order to satisfy growing expectations of schools’ responsibility for student well-being and achievement. There has been little research concerning this position within the pastoral care structure of schools.  This study aimed to explore the perceptions of members of the school community on the role of the year-level deans within one New Zealand secondary school. Senior managers, deans, teachers, and students from a state co-educational, urban, secondary school were interviewed regarding their views on the role, responsibilities, and effectiveness of the position of the year-level dean within their school. Deans also completed a daily log to record the nature of their tasks completed pertaining to this responsibility. Participants’ responses were analysed for major themes. The themes discussed include the intention of the role of the dean, tensions between the management of academic and pastoral issues, the exploration of the challenge in providing care for all students, and how resources available to the school and the dean can impact their role. A difference in the role between the junior school (Years 9 and 10) and senior school (Years 11, 12, and 13) was reported by all participants. Deans reported engaging in reactive tasks more than proactive, preventative tasks.  Defining the role of the dean and its relationship to other roles within the school proved challenging for the perspectives, and this confusion was evident through a lack of clarity around lines of authority described in the job descriptions. Deans reported some difficulty in understanding their role in relation to managing form teachers, particularly where that staff member may hold a position of responsibility in curriculum.  The reactive nature of the role was revealed. This indicated that deans continue to provide predominantly reactive care concerned with individual students, often meaning that only a small group of students receive direct care from deans. The predominantly reactive nature of the role creates implications for schools in the challenge of delivering care to all students. A more collaborative approach to pastoral care from all staff members may improve the provision of pastoral care for students. A proposed job description that may reflect the role of the dean more accurately is presented.
Chronological Evolution of the Urashima Taro Story and its Interpretation
Authors:   , Holmes Yoshihiko
Published: November 2021

The present thesis examines the evolution of the Urashima story. In modern Japan traditional Japanese tales have been presented in the form of illustrated books for young children. It is generally regarded that these tales contain common motifs or moral lessons; however, the Urashima story, one of the most well-known stories in Japan, seems to differ greatly from other folktales.  Scholars believe that the Urashima story was a popular pre-written orality-based story among the coastal dwelling ama group of people in ancient times in Japan. The introduction of a writing system from China made it possible to record the Urashima story as a written text.  However, the first recorded version of the Urashima story, putatively in the late seventh century, was quite different from later versions in terms of plot, purpose and the characters. The ideology of immortality, suggesting Chinese Daoist origins, was the main purpose of the story for several centuries, overlain by Buddhist influences.  The present study finds that the major turning point in the tale from an orality-based story to a literary text was in Otogizōshi in the Muromachi Period (14th–16th centuries), when people still seemed to be attuned to orality-based puns and the satirical and witty use of word plays through the exchange of songs.  During the ensuing Edo Period, the Urashima story was transformed into a book for reading material. It changed at this time due to social developments, such as the widespread manufacture of paper and the technological development of woodblock printing. A shift in its themes and motifs such as immortality to Buddhist and social moral lessons occurred along with changing the cultural values of society, increase in literacy, and the appearance of new genres of literature and their writers in the Edo Period.  The establishment of the formal compulsory education system in the Meiji Period, accompanied by a shift in readership from educated adults to school children, further changed the story and its purpose, and resulted in the standardisation of the Urashima Tarō story that is well known today. Much of the well-known content of the current Urashima story in modern day Japan has appeared only within the last 150 years.  Therefore, from this thesis it is apparent that the Urashima story evolved as a reflection of Japanese society’s changing views. In short, this study identifies and analyses significant changes to the original recorded story that have appeared over the past fourteen hundred years.
Eudaimonism about Virtue and Qualified Agent Right Action: Some Prospects for Environmental Virtue Ethics
Authors:   , Martin Duncan Christian
Published: November 2021

In this thesis, I aim to show that virtue oriented approaches to environmental ethics are in a position to provide satisfying answers to two central ethical questions: “What kind of person should I be?”, and “What should I do?” I argue that two such approaches – Rosalind Hursthouse’s environmental virtue ethics and Philip Cafaro’s account of environmental vice – provide insights about how we ought to be with regard to the environment, in terms of character and attitudes. I then defend Hursthouse’s account of right action against several objections. First, I respond to the worry that a shortage of environmental exemplars might count against Hursthouse, by showing that non-virtuous agents can conceive of what to do by seeking to avoid acting from environmental vices. Second, I respond the worry that her account of right action fails to generate the right result for non-virtuous agents in some cases, by showing that such cases can be accounted for by appeal to the distinction between action guidance and action assessment. Third, I consider the worry that her theory will fail to provide concrete action guidance. Theories which seek to provide concrete action guidance in all contexts face serious problems of their own, I respond. Further, I maintain that Hursthouse is not ruled out from providing the sort of action guidance her critics are interested in.
A Hybrid Molecular Dynamics Kinetic Monte Carlo Simulation Methodology
Authors:   , Zoontjens Peter A.
Published: November 2021

This thesis describes a novel hybrid computational methodology in which the Molecular Dynamics and Kinetic Monte Carlo methods are concurrently combined. This hybrid methodology has been developed to simulate phenomena which are unfeasible to treat with either Molecular Dynamics or Kinetic Monte Carlo alone, due to the wide range of time scales involved and the need for highly detailed atom dynamics. Is is shown that the hybrid methodology can reproduce the results of a larger (more atoms) all Molecular Dynamics simulation at a significant reduction in computational cost (run time) - due to the replacement of Molecular Dynamics atoms with Kinetic Monte Carlo atoms. The hybrid methodology has been successfully used to study the dynamics of epitaxial stacking fault grain boundaries. This work identified that grain boundary motion was hindered by atoms lodging in off-lattice sites, and also by overlayer islands built up by adatom deposition. It was verified that the ‘kink flip” move is a key element in the motion of grain boundaries. Methods for enhancing the hybrid methodology were researched. It was shown that by an optimal choice of damping parameter γ, wave reflections back into the Molecular Dynamics domain could be minimised. This is expected to enable the hybrid methodology to operate successfully with smaller Molecular Dynamics domains, making larger and/or longer simulation runs feasible. This research included the derivation of the dispersion relation for the discrete case with damping and net reflectivity formulas. These are believed to be new results. The hybrid model can be applied to a wide variety of MD and KMC methods. Other MD potentials such as Embedded Atom or Modified Embedded Atom could be employed. The KMC component can be developed to use a more refined lattice or an ”on the fly” KMC method could be employed. Both the MD and KMC components can be extended to handle more than one species of atom. Parallelised versions of the MD and KMC components could also be developed. Any situation where the problem can be decomposed into distinct domains of fine scale and coarse scale modelling respectively, is potentially suitable for treatment with a hybrid model of this design.
Urban Ensembles: An integrated approach to design in steep, urban landscapes
Authors:   , Burnett Myren
Published: November 2021

Urban Ensembles explores the way in which landscape and architecture can be employed together within the design of a steep, urban site. Lyttelton is a small port town on the border of Christchurch, settled in the foothills of a harbour formed by a major volcanic eruption. This rugged setting, with steeply sloping urban terrain, presents an interesting challenge when designing an urban development. The site was badly damaged in a series of earthquakes in 2010-2011, and many of the town’s oldest buildings, heritage structures dating back to the colonial settlement era, were destroyed. This has left a void in the heart of Lyttelton, and caused the loss of much of the tourism business that the town relies upon for its income. This thesis takes a methodological approach to the design of landscape architecture on such a challenging site. A range of techniques are explored, drawing from both landscape and architecture to explore the roles that each discipline plays in the design of urban spaces. The frequent imbalance between disciplines is addressed both through the literature review and design method, as this landscape architecture thesis draws on architectural design as a tool for generating spaces which fall somewhere in between the two ideals of interior and exterior. The final design proposal is an alternative rebuild plan for the central business area to the south of London St, and also addresses the relationships between that site and the surrounding context, both urban and environmental. The aim of this design is to create a series of interconnected spaces which have a strong relationship to the surrounding harbour setting, and also to facilitate development of the pedestrian spaces throughout the block and encouraging the development of activity at the street level, through the interface between buildings and landscape.
4D Building Information Modelling With Augmented Reality on Mobile Devices to Support Construction Management: Applications and key performance criteria from a stakeholder perspective
Authors:   , Vaai Jay
Published: November 2021

This research addresses the gap between construction project management and the 3D visualization of construction sequence. Typically project managers use software that presents construction stages as 2D Gantt charts, where the X axis represents time and the Y axis represents the construction activity. These are then typically cross referenced to either 2D or 3D construction drawings. The potential of linking construction sequencing charts and critical paths to Building Information Models is well established. So called ‘4D BIM’ applications such as Synchro enable the linking of three dimensional information and Gantt charts. There is also precedent in virtual reality simulations, such as the AR4BC project by (Woodward, Hakkarainen, & Rainio, 2010) and the desktop VR simulation applications for teaching construction management (Nikolic, 2006). From these and other precedents it is observed that 4D BIM is orientated towards the final stages of design where models are complex and not optimized, while full VR applications are typically not available in practice. Moreover, recent availability of augmented reality applications for mobile devices opens up new ways to integrate 4D BIM into project management. As part of initial discussions with consultants, a mock-up of an AR application running on a tablet that would enable on - site visualization was demonstrated. Given positive feedback, prototype applications were developed using the Unity interactive 3D authoring platform, which provides real time interaction between a Gantt chart and a 3D model. The final AR application uses a plan drawing as the marker and the user can switch between isometric and first person cameras to review construction sequencing, with the aim of identifying potential sequencing issues and / or clashes in the design while on site. The prototype interface and functionality have been evaluated through a series of structured interviews with building industry professionals. The results of these interviews have been analysed and from this, key performance criteria and guidelines for further development have been identified. This thesis illustrates the potential of AR on mobile devices for construction management, documents the design and implementation of a prototype application and articulates issues for further research from the perspective of key building industry stakeholders.
Field of Intimacy: Explorations of interiority within the landscape
Authors:   , Hall Michelle
Published: November 2021

Interior Architecture cannot be bound by the confines of a building, it is not the catalyst of architectural intervention, in fact we can have interior experiences within the landscape. As a discipline Interior Architecture tends to be quite insular, struggling to connect to the exterior context of a design, whereas landscape architecture tends to be so involved with the context at the large scale, that the finer details and experiences of space can be lost. Generally, engineered systems tend to be internalized and designed without regard for the social. There is an interesting connection between landscape and interior architecture, with landscapes being able to generate their own sense of interiority. I have defined “existential intimacy” to describe the haptic bodily experience of a space through which one gains an understanding of something bigger than themselves (whether it be a system, process, or just being more aware and connected with their direct surroundings). This research explores what happens when notions of “existential intimacy” are applied within a landscape. Water is used as an important device for establishing existential intimacy enhancing the ability to engage with larger systems. By applying existential intimacy to the Wellington context of Mount Victoria and engaging with stormwater systems in the city, a field of intimacy is created connecting with water detention to allow more intensified experiential inhabitation of the green belt. Designing with a focus on existential intimacy, an expansiveness across scales is created, meaning that the design cannot lose context or detail, but is forced to engage with both, to create spaces which are both functional (in an engineered sense) and experiential.
Joint destination marketing in the South Central Coast region of Viet Nam
Authors:   , Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan
Published: November 2021

The tourism industry of Viet Nam has developed rapidly over the last two decades. However, more attention must be given to destination marketing, especially joint destination marketing, if the sector is to continue to expand. To date there has been little research on joint destination marketing, especially in developing countries and transitional economies like Viet Nam. This study attempts to fulfil this gap by examining the joint destination marketing activities of the eight South Central Coast provinces of Viet Nam. The study has three objectives: (1) to examine the nature and extent of current joint destination marketing activities, (2) to analyze the factors that influence joint destination marketing decision-making, and (3) to investigate the destination marketing relationships between local destination marketing organizations(DMOs) of the eight provinces.  The South Central Coast was chosen as the study site as it is the most dynamic tourism development region of Viet Nam. The study triangulated both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected mainly from semi-structured in-depth interviews with DMO representatives. This was complemented by the content analysis of official tourism websites.  Four sets of key findings result from this research. First, the South Central Coast provinces currently conduct destination marketing more individually than jointly. However, all provinces of the region practise a certain mix of both individual and joint marketing activities. Local DMOs also develop competitive and cooperative relationships with other counterpart DMOs. Second, joint destination marketing is an emerging and increasingly common trend in the region and is characterized by different patterns of cooperative behaviour and levels of involvement. Third, joint destination marketing decision-making is influenced by various factors, including preconditions, benefits, drawbacks, motives and barriers. These factors are inter-related, which in turn creates tensions for DMO in their joint destination marketing decision-making. Fourth, in the South Central Coast region, joint destination marketing activities occur more commonly at a sub-regional scale than at the scale of the whole region. Furthermore, these sub-region cooperative models involve provinces located in other regions. Decisive factors in destination marketing partnership formation include proximity, convenient transportation, mutual benefits, similar target markets and compatibility of tourism products.  The study concludes by highlighting the need to establish a regional tourism coordinating organization to facilitate joint actions and cooperative interrelationships between provinces. There is also much room left in for further joint destination marketing research.
Property of Corrections: The Experience of Incarceration for Female Inmates in a New Zealand Prison
Authors:   , Richards Michelle A.
Published: November 2021

This thesis examines what it means to be an inmate as experienced by female inmates serving sentences at Christchurch Women’s Prison. Using an auto-ethnographic methodology, combined with a mixed-methods approach, 82 female inmates completed a questionnaire and 10 were interviewed via semi-structured conversations. The data from the questionnaire are presented and analysed within the context of research from overseas studies. The conversations are further analysed and complemented by my own insider knowledge of prison life. This study was undertaken when I was a serving inmate and I made the decision to situate myself in this body of research. Excerpts from my prison journal entries, consisting of shared personal reflections from my years of imprisonment, are interspersed throughout the thesis. Three primary motivations drove this research. The first was to discover and interrogate what it means to be a prisoner from the prisoner’s perspective. The second was to explore how the prison experience relates to the possibility of future successful reintegration and, finally, I wanted to give women inmates a platform to share their stories in the hope that it would empower them. It achieves all three. The stories that the women shared, and their understandings of lived prison life, illustrate the ineffectiveness of incarceration and its inability to serve as a foundation for successful future reintegration. The findings provide a preliminary platform for further studies in this area and contribute to the extant academic understanding of an often misunderstood population.
Validation of a Spectroscopic Screening Method for Secondary Metabolites from New Zealand Extremophilic Microbes
Authors:   , Braganza Chriselle Deborah
Published: November 2021

The existing protocol for the screening of natural products from marine invertebrates and macroalgae has been demonstrated successfully at VUW on multiple occasions. This study describes the evaluation of an adapted version of the protocol to screen liquid microbial cultures. The adapted protocol was carried out using an NMR-guided approach and was used to screen 10 New Zealand extremophilic microbes. Investigation of the bacteria Anoxybacillus flavithermus led to the isolation of the known compound 1-acetyl-β-carboline (25), which was briefly evaluated for its biological activity. A detailed investigation on the marine bacteria Shewanella sp. resulted in the isolation of indole-3-carboxaldehyde (93) and 14 known 2,5-diketopiperazines (36, 38, 41–44, 53, 54, 94–99). Three of the isolated 2,5-DKPs were tested against Saccharomyces cerevisiae to evaluate their antifungal activity, the results of which are also described. Overall, the use of the adapted screening method proved successful to guide the isolation of secondary metabolites from microbial cultures.
Developing Scientists Into Leaders: The Role of Shared Leadership Development and Engagement in an R&D Organization Undergoing Change
Authors:   , Zeier Katie Irene Mary
Published: November 2021

Organizations may face a number of challenges in the current economy. In particular, the environment is rapidly changing and knowledge intensive firms must motivate autonomous professional workers toward organizational goals. This thesis therefore investigates the role of shared leadership as a means to address some of these challenges. However, shifting to a shared model of leadership fundamentally requires the development of knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively share influence. Thus, this study sought to investigate whether a shared Leadership Development Program (LDP) impacts on employee engagement, and whether this affects organizational change efforts. It probed these relationships through the single case of a Research and Development (R&D) organization forced to undergo a change in response to changes in the external environment and an internal organizational crisis. Results showed that in conjunction with conditions for shared leadership, developing a multi-level leader identity was an effective means to develop shared leadership skills that were tied to the organizations goals. However, shared leadership conflicted with existing organization structures and was limited by an effective group size. Nonetheless, the LDP provided antecedents to engagement by; increasing personal resources, establishing meaningful identities, providing valuable job characteristics and was symbolic of organizational support. Job crafting and social exchange theory offered an explanation of how these antecedents contributed to greater levels of work and organizational engagement. Interestingly, engagement appeared to be a process of inter-relating components, with the final state of engagement fluctuating over time and in some cases increasing relative to a baseline level. Once engaged, these individuals went on to spread their engagement to colleagues, encouraging them to support the new direction. Furthermore, the future leaders initiated projects that generated additional revenue and new customer bases, which suggests that the LDP played a role in the organizations financial turnaround – although this was not conclusively proven. This study therefore provides evidence that organizational transformations may be more effective if shared leadership is developed. This can lift engagement in a core group of staff, who can garner the support of their colleagues, and increase overall engagement with the organization. Further research is required to generalize these findings beyond a single case and more accurately quantify the relationship between shared leadership development, engagement and organizational transformation.
The Psychopathological Foundations of Conspiracy Theorists
Authors:   , Kumareswaran Darshani Jai
Published: November 2021

The primary aim of this thesis was to understand some of the factors that make an individual more likely to ascribe to conspiracy theories. Ascription to conspiracy theories was conceptualised dimensionally along a continuum labelled Conspiracy Theory Affinity (CTA). Strong CTA reflects both a high level of belief in conspiracy theories and a tendency to create conspiracy theories (conspiracy theorising). To gauge this, I measured level of conspiracy belief, conspiracy pattern perception (conspiracy theory creation), as well as various forms of psychopathology. The findings of the psychopathology study (study 4) suggested that high conspiracy theory affinity individuals are more likely to present with high levels of paranoia, delusion, general mental pathology, as well as a high level and range of schizotypal traits. The conspiracy theory literature has also suggested that a lack of control is germane to development and maintenance of the tendency to believe in conspiracy theories (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999; Douglas & Sutton, 2008; Groh, 1987; Hofstadter, 1965; Leman, 2007; Newheiser, Farias, & Tausch, 2011; Swami et al., 2013; Sullivan et al., 2010; Whitson & Galinsky, 2008). The literature also suggests that one compensatory strategy commonly used to re-establish a semblance of control is illusory pattern perception. Illusory pattern perception or Apophenia, is when unrelated stimuli (either visual or situational) are perceived to be connected in some meaningful way. Therefore, I also sought to establish if a direct link between illusory pattern perception and CTA actually exists. In studies 1 and 2 I experimentally induced a sense of low control using methods that have proven effective in previous research. The findings of these studies suggested that a lack of control does not necessarily reflect that a person is more likely to engage in conspiracy pattern perception. However, the findings also suggested that when a low level of control is felt by an individual who also has a magical thinking style, they are more likely to demonstrate illusory visual pattern perception. Limitations of these studies and therefore their potential influence on interpretations of the findings were also considered. Another major research aim of this thesis was to elucidate how society perceives conspiracy theorists and how those with strong CTA perceive the label of conspiracy theorist. The findings of two studies (studies 3b and 5) revealed that the majority of respondents considered conspiracy theorists to be characteristically similar to those with current mental health concerns and also convicted criminals, and dissimilar to targets with resolved mental health issues and no current mental health issues (e.g. the average man). In contrast however, those with strong CTA rated the target Conspiracy Theorist significantly more favourably than those with low CTA. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings across these 5 studies are discussed, and methodological limitations are also acknowledged.
Mapping the networks of ownership and distribution of rare books in Special Collections at the University of Auckland General Library
Authors:   , Birks Jo
Published: November 2021

The extent and research potential of provenance evidence in rare books in Special Collections at the University of Auckland General Library is largely uncharted territory. This project helps fill that gap by examining the provenance evidence, such as inscriptions, bookplates and stamps, in some of those rare books to identify any networks or patterns in their ownership history and distribution. A purposive sample of 291 pre-1851 volumes on New Zealand and Pacific-related travel and exploration was examined for provenance evidence within a qualitative framework and an historical case study design. Taking a subset of those books, which were bequeathed to the Library by Alfred Kidd (1851-1917), the project then examined other works from his bequest to further explore the scope of provenance evidence.  The project demonstrated the value of treating books as artefacts, exposing a wealth of provenance evidence and providing snapshots of the ownership and distribution histories of some volumes. Overall, 71 percent of the sample contained evidence for identifiable agents: 88 former owners, 14 booksellers, one auction house and nine book binders. The project also discussed lesser-known New Zealand book collectors who merit further study, including Alfred Kidd, Sir George Fowlds, Arthur Chappell and Allan North. Further provenance research into this collection and the provenance-related cataloguing practices in New Zealand libraries would generate additional useful insights.
Ricky Stadium
Authors:   , Wojasz Dawid Ryszard
Published: November 2021

The population of Wainuiomata (figure 1) is set to increase by 35% following Hutt City Council plans to build 2000 new houses. This increase has the potential to further erode a sense of community already weakened by the decline of traditional sources of community identity, notably Wainuiomata’s Sports Clubs, Schools, and Churches. This thesis reconsiders architectures relationship with sport and how architecture can help to enhance a sense of community identity. It employs an architecture derived from the formal and spatial qualities of a sports field to establish a range of programs and activities. Through a series of design iterations this thesis asks, how can Architecture’s relationship with the Sports Field be reconsidered to intensify (social) connections between sport and community? A mixed method research approach was used to obtain data from a broad range of sources including; historical resources, photographs, personal observations, statistical sources, council plans and documents, and local publications and through websites (see appendix 1). Data collected was interpreted into a series of diagrams, revealing relationships and links within the Wainuiomata Community, enabling it to be understood spatially. This data was analysed through a series of design tests which determined ways it could inform the design of a building. This analysis was used to develop a brief for the building which informed a series of design iterations, and ultimately a developed design. These designs developed an understanding of how a ‘sports field’ can be intensified as a spatial and programmatic proposition. The resulting design is a sport and education facility defined by overlapping surfaces which create a dialogue between sports field as a formal condition and a range of programs. Architecture, in this role, acts to connect a diverse range of community groups facilitating social interaction and enhancing local community.
Attachment Style and Working Models of Parenting in Individuals without Children
Authors:   , Conway Arlene P.
Published: November 2021

This study investigated the extent to which insecure attachment predicted negative attitudes and expectations of parenting among people yet to have children. In total, 572 participants aged between 18 to 40 years completed an online survey that rated attachment styles, working models of parenting, and the desire to have children. As predicted, more avoidant people held more negative attitudes. In addition, a lower desire to have children mediated the link between attachment and negative working models of parenting. In contrast and as expected, more anxious people held less negative expectations of childrearing, were more interested in having children, and expected to be satisfied by the future role of parent. There were two novel features of the current study. First, it replicated and extended findings to an older, community based population. Second, analyses across two different samples (those in current relationships and single people) showed they were generally similar, although insecurity of attachment had stronger links with negative attitudes for those in current relationships.