bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects for Moral Success Theory
Authors:   , Wood Emma Susan
Published: November 2021

In this thesis, I will argue that the existence of moral facts does not rely on the existence of a reason for action, and that moral facts can be made sense of in other ways. My thesis is both a reply to a type of moral error theory that has been advanced by Richard Joyce and John Mackie, and an account of the truthmakers of moral judgments.  The argument for error theory that I respond to is roughly as follows: moral judgments are judgments about external practical reasons. But external reasons do not exist, and so no moral judgment is ever true. In the first part of my thesis, I will argue in favour of the latter premise of the error theorist’s argument, but against the former: external reasons do not exist, but moral judgments are not committed to them.  In the second half of my thesis I build up a positive account of what moral judgments involve. If moral judgments are not judgments about reasons, then what are moral judgments about? I develop the widely supported idea that moral judgments are judgments that are based on welfarist considerations, and attempt to give this idea a more precise formulation than what has been previously offered. From this account, I go on to develop an account of the truthmakers of moral judgments. The account I end up with is an ideal observer theory that I believe makes sense of a broad range of intuitions about morality.  My hope is that this thesis will be of interest to others who feel the pull of moral error theory, but would prefer to see moral success theory vindicated.
Investigating the effects of corpus and configuration on assistive input methods
Authors:   , Hindmarsh Samuel
Published: November 2021

Assistive technologies aim to provide assistance to those who are unable to perform various tasks in their day-to-day lives without tremendous difficulty. This includes — amongst other things — communicating with others. Augmentative and adaptive communication (AAC) is a branch of assistive technologies which aims to make communicating easier for people with disabilities which would otherwise prevent them from communicating efficiently (or, in some cases, at all). The input rate of these communication aids, however, is often constrained by the limited number of inputs found on the devices and the speed at which the user can toggle these inputs. A similar restriction is also often found on smaller devices such as mobile phones: these devices also often require the user to input text with a smaller input set, which often results in slower typing speeds.  Several technologies exist with the purpose of improving the text input rates of these devices. These technologies include ambiguous keyboards, which allow users to input text using a single keypress for each character and trying to predict the desired word; word prediction systems, which attempt to predict the word the user is attempting to input before he or she has completed it; and word auto-completion systems, which complete the entry of predicted words before all the corresponding inputs have been pressed.  This thesis discusses the design and implementation of a system incorporating the three aforementioned assistive input methods, and presents several questions regarding the nature of these technologies. The designed system is found to outperform a standard computer keyboard in many situations, which is a vast improvement over many other AAC technologies. A set of experiments was designed and performed to answer the proposed questions, and the results of the experiments determine that the corpus used to train the system — along with other tuning parameters — have a great impact on the performance of the system. Finally, the thesis also discusses the impact that corpus size has on the memory usage and response time of the system.
Manipulating Sodium Caseinate Behaviour at the Interface: Applications for Concentrated Emulsion Formulation
Authors:   , Marichal Mario Jesús Alayón
Published: November 2021

The effect of ionic strength, pH and droplet size distribution on the stability and rheological properties of concentrated emulsions formed using sodium caseinate was investigated. The emulsions were formulated with soybean oil concentration between 50 and 70 wt% and 1 wt% protein. In order to understand the role and response of the sodium caseinate interfacial thin film to physicochemical changes to the continuous phase the behaviour of sodium caseinate at the air-water and oil-water interfaces, as a function of pH and ionic strength, was studied using Langmuir trough, surface potential and pendant drop methods. Changes in measured system response can be explained by considering changes to protein conformation. Upon increasing ionic strength the data fit with the protein conformation changing from those states where the protein extends into the aqueous phase to those where it essentially lies flat on the interface. Aggregation and dispersion of the protein at the interfaces were detected at different pH values. Also, the buffer capacity of sodium caseinate was evaluated by preparing protein solutions at different pH and ionic strengths. Bridging flocculation and creaming occurred in the emulsions investigated, evaluated via static light scattering and Cryo-SEM. Emulsions with the appearance and texture of liquid-like through to gel-like were formulated by seemingly small changes to the ionic strength and pH of the aqueous phase. Shear-thinning was the flow behaviour of the emulsions with a shear dependent flow response that was function of the parameters evaluated. Time-dependent flow behaviour was detected for the emulsions at a low shear rate and they showed rheopexy behaviour. Viscoelastic properties of the emulsions and the interaction between the droplets were evaluated by strain sweep and creep-recovery tests.
A few words to church builders: Threshold
Authors:   , Dombroski Gerard
Published: November 2021

Throughout history churches have been concerned with the sharing of the gospel to those who do not know of the salvation received through Jesus Christ. Through history many churches have innovated liturgical operation using relevant language to reach as many souls as possible.  In this thesis the proposed design of a Pentecostal Church departs from traditional Church architectural forms to externalise the building as to reflect the church’s theological standpoint and focus: to be secular attentive. Traditional Christian Churches are designed to fully enclose the gathering of worshipers. This idea is challenged through this thesis by the theological standpoint of the Arise church, the principal client of the design work of this thesis. Form, envelope, materiality and programme will resolve an architecture specific to arise church.  This discussion is between the secular and sacred, focused through the design of permeable threshold, seeking to enable a dialogue from the church to the secular and the secular to the church.
Melodic ornamentation from Muffat to Telemann
Authors:   , Ward Megan
Published: November 2021

Writers on 18th-century musical ornamentation have traditionally focused on the execution of notated ornaments, and on certain disputes arising from ambiguous and contradictory primary sources. Less attention has been given to the addition of ornaments where not prescribed by the composer. Such ornaments can be short, defined, patterns such as trills, turns, and mordents, or larger measured or unmeasured additions known as diminutions, divisions, or passaggi.  Additions of this nature are only in the rarest of cases compulsory. However, the practice of more or less spontaneous embellishment by the performer was so integral to pre-19th-century musical culture that this must have had a significant effect on composition.  The scope of this thesis is loosely defined by its titular composers, covering the period between Georg Muffat‟s later publications in the last years of the 17th century and G.P. Telemann‟s death in 1767. Both lived and worked in the German states, a region which had traditionally looked to Italian models of composition and performance. This period saw a flowering of German composition into its own unique and diverse genre which integrated aspects of various styles, most prominently Italian and French music.  This thesis centres on stringed instruments, but is directly relevant to woodwind players. Many aspects are also transferrable to the keyboard and to vocal music; however, these musicians will find a large volume of more targeted research elsewhere.
Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake – An Iwi Science Education Exploration
Authors:   , McRae Hiria Stacey
Published: November 2021

This thesis aims to provide a pathway to improve Māori student engagement with science education. Internationally, some indigenous communities have worked with schools in the delivery of science programmes, resulting in positive indigenous student engagement. These outcomes show that together indigenous students, schools and indigenous communities can contribute to the development of their particular place when science programmes allow the exploration of self, relating to others, the local environment and the wider world. This thesis investigates the perceptions of Māori students, teachers and kaumātua of science education in the Māori tribal community of Ngāti Whakaue to identify how Ngāti Whakaue is recognised in school science programmes. Individual and focus group interviews were conducted with local Māori elders, Māori secondary science students, and secondary science teachers from six English and Māori medium secondary schools in Rotorua. Data analyses revealed that participant perceptions and experiences of place, science and the Māori culture were disconnected from Ngāti Whakaue, despite its rich potential as a setting for science education. Participants held diverse perceptions and views within and between groups, including student and teacher understandings of Māori culture, attitudes regarding the place of Māori culture and knowledge in science education, and preferences regarding teaching and learning styles. Findings are examined as to how schools and Ngāti Whakaue could work together to better support positive Māori student engagement with science education and suggestions are made about how these relationships could be improved.
Planning for the future: Addressing the spatial accessibility of aged residential care facilities in New Zealand
Authors:   , Daubé Jacob Eric
Published: November 2021

Evidence in New Zealand suggests that spatial access to aged residential care facilities (ARCFs) has been declining. Poor spatial access to facilities has been shown internationally to lead to reduced frequency of visitation by family and friends, and in turn poorer mental health and wellbeing of people in care. However, the New Zealand population is ageing and older people are increasing as a proportion of the total population. Subsequently, total demand for ARCFs is set to increase dramatically and a substantial number of facilities will likely need to be built by 2026. The intent of this thesis is to explore how geographic information science (GIS) methods can be used to identify potential locations for these ARCFs in New Zealand so that travel time for friends and family is minimised.  Providers were surveyed on the relative importance of a series of spatial attributes when deciding where to place new facilities. Maps for each spatial attribute were generated from their preferences and overlaid using weighted linear combination and areas exceeding a suitability threshold were identified as potential locations. To choose optimal locations, maximal covering location-allocation models were used based on projected populations and demand for 2026. The spatial accessibility of these locations was then compared to the spatial accessibility of facilities in 2011. The results suggest that GIS methods have the potential to improve the spatial access to ARCFs to friends and family of people in care.
Impact of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) on Rural Communities' Livelihoods in Xiengkhouang Province, Lao PDR
Authors:   , Soulineyadeth Sopha
Published: November 2021

For over 30 years since the end of the Second Indochina War, UXO (Unexploded Ordnance) contamination in Laos has been a major issue. Laos is considered the most heavily bombed country in the world in terms of quantity of ammunition per capita.  Approximately 25 percent of the villages are contaminated with UXO, and a third of the country’s total area is covered by UXO contamination, comprising around 87 thousand square kilometres. This severely limits the expansion of agricultural production, which leads to scarcity of food supplies, and limits local people’s ability to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Thus, UXO is both a significant challenge to community development and national social and economic development. UXOs are also the cause of many accidents in Laos, the casualties are often farmers who are involved in agricultural activities. Between 1999 and 2012, 934 casualties which was divided into 655 injuries and 279 deaths.  This study was conducted in Xienkhouang province, Lao PDR, a region heavily affected by UXO. The aim of this thesis is to explore the policies and institutions working on UXO in this province, the major difficulties rural communities face in their livelihoods in relation to UXO and the strategies they are using to cope with these difficulties, and to provide a reflection on how to improve support for these communities.  Applying the sustainable livelihood framework as its conceptual framework, this research followed a qualitative approach involving the conduction of 24 semi-structured interviews, including 15 villagers and 9 interviews from organisations working on the UXO domain.  Understanding of the impact of UXO on rural communities' livelihoods an their coping mechanism is crucial to expand debates within development studies in post-conflict settings, as well as for both practitioners and policy makers.
Water Performance Benchmarks for New Zealand: Understanding Water Consumption in Commercial Office Buildings
Authors:   , Bint Lee Ellen
Published: November 2021

There is an increasing amount of literature outlining the issues underlying water shortages and restrictions to come in most regions of New Zealand. The problem is not helped by rising demands and climatic changes, as well as both a lack of measured data, and a lack of any demand-side incentives. No attempt has been made to assess how the users of commercial buildings are consuming potable water. There are no benchmarks for water performance in buildings, hindering attempts to improve water efficiency.  This study investigated the water use in 93 Auckland and Wellington commercial office buildings. The data collected from both survey level water audits (on-site investigations, historic billing analysis) and full water audits (water monitoring), were used to develop market-based water performance benchmarks, and a Water Efficiency Rating Tool (WERT). This was done to understand water consumption in these buildings, and to determine the feasibility of using performance based data for the development of a water benchmarking system.  The principal results were in the form of both a benchmarking index system, and the WERT. The benchmarking study found that Net Lettable Area (NLA) was the most statistically and pragmatically appropriate driver for water use. lt also found that, due to the distinct difference in tariff structures and incentives between Auckland and Wellington, different benchmarks for the two regions (Auckland 'Typical' use 0.76m³ / m² / year, and Wellington 'Typical' use 1.03m³ / m² / year) were required.  The WERT calculates a building Water Use Index (WUI- m³ / m² / year) , estimates its end-use disaggregation, and provides recommendations through outlining the financial viability of implementing specific water efficiency measures. This tool utilised six design criteria to ensure target market usability: accuracy (demonstrated at ±8. 5%) ; relevance and realism; practicality; promotion of understanding and action; objectivity; and effective communication.  Further recommendations included satisfying some of the many knowledge gaps present in the New Zealand water industry concerning office building water use. These included: introducing a national legislative or standard document providing guidelines on demand-side management of water; investigation into changing tariff structures to include a volumetric charge for all building types to increase individual awareness and education of water use; research into the durability of water meters; and expanding the research to include other New Zealand regions.
Bayesian multiple target tracking
Authors:   , Choppala Praveen Babu
Published: November 2021

This thesis addresses several challenges in Bayesian target tracking, particularly for array signal processing applications, and for multiple targets.  The optimal method for multiple target tracking is the Bayes’ joint filter that operates by hypothesising all the targets collectively using a joint state. As a consequence, the computational complexity of the filter increases rapidly with the number of targets. The probability hypothesis density and the multi-Bernoulli filters that overcome this complexity do not possess a suitable framework to operate directly on phased sensor array data. Instead, such data is converted into beamformer images in which close targets may not be effectively resolved and much information is lost. This thesis develops a multiple signal classification (MUSIC) based multi-target particle filter that improves upon the filters mentioned above. A MUSIC based multi-Bernoulli particle filter is also developed, that operates more directly on array data.  The above mentioned particle filters require a resampling step which impedes information accumulation over successive observations, and affects the detection of very covert targets. This thesis develops soft resampling and soft systematic resampling to overcome this problem without affecting the accuracy of approximation. Additionally, modified Kolmogorov-Smirnov testing is proposed, to numerically evaluate the accuracy of the particle filter approximation.
New Zealand midwives' management of perineal trauma during childbirth: A survey of practice
Authors:   , Cronin Robin
Published: November 2021

Background: Perineal trauma is the most common complication of vaginal birth and how this is treated has an impact on the incidence and duration of pain and dysfunction. Responsibility for the management of women’s perinea after uncomplicated births in New Zealand ordinarily rests with midwives although this is a little known aspect of practice. This study aimed to identify how midwives assess and manage second degree perineal trauma, the level to which their practice reflects best evidence, and what influences midwives’ decision-making.  Methods: A descriptive approach using an online survey of 75 questions was used to access the population of 2910 New Zealand midwives. Inclusion criterion was current perineal management. Quantitative data were collected and associations examined using chi-square and Fisher’s exact test. Interval data were analysed with a two-sample t-test.  Results: 818 midwives returned a questionnaire, 744 (25% of the midwifery population) met the inclusion criteria. Evidence-based suturing material for repair of the last second degree tear was used by 96%. Correct suturing technique throughout all layers of repair was 42%. Rectal examination during assessment was performed by 45% increasing to 86% after repair. Confidence to repair was directly related to years since midwifery qualification (p<.001) and self-employment (p<.001). The tear was left unsutured by 7% and associated with reduced confidence with repair (p<.001), lack of recent experience with repair (p<.001), and home birth (p=.002). Unsutured tears were shorter than sutured tears (vaginal/perineal length, p<.001; depth, p=.004) and associated with delayed healing (p=.034). Care to six weeks postpartum was provided by 377 midwives. Perineal analgesia included oral medication (76%), pelvic floor exercises (44%), cooling (38%), and suppositories (31%). Visual assessments of healing were performed by 84% of midwives, 49% of women, and 7% of support people. Complications of infection (2%), pain (2%), and healing delay (3%) were uncommon.  Conclusions: This research has added a New Zealand midwifery practice perspective to the existing literature on second degree perineal care. Potential for reductions in perineal morbidity were identified, even though New Zealand midwifery care already has a low rate of complications compared to international studies.
Architecture & the Intangibles
Authors:   , McPhail Hamish B.
Published: November 2021

New Zealand has a high rate of mental disorders affecting 1 in 5 people. Current guidelines only outline building typologies and do not question the deeper affect of one’s perception of the built environment.  This thesis seeks to help understand the affect of architecture on mental illness: specifically the condition of depression.  In order to comprehend the relationship between architecture/space and its inhabitant, this thesis will firstly investigate how intangible elements such as colour, light; form etc. can alter the perception and experience of space.  Secondly through case studies, text and drawings the thesis will examine the affect of the intangibles on the state of mental illness/depression. The negative aspect of architecture activating depression will be examined. This will assist in understanding how architecture can positively affect occupants of space with depression.  Architecture and its relationship with depression will be examined to conclude whether it is a contributing factor. Architecture as therapy or as a therapeutic agent is proposed to engage aspects of the intangible.  Investigation and comprehension of depression will lead to the selection of the site and a specific programme; then develop analysis to draw conclusions creating design considerations for treatment facilities. Furthermore it will translate ideas and theories from the framework into tangible physical identities. In depth critical analysis of existing precedents and understanding historical facilities is a key part of this research, building upon discovered issues.  A case study design is aimed at creating architecture as therapy, which better understands the relationship of the ‘intangible’ in architecture. This thesis will propose a strategy to develop the specificity of architecture for therapy, to assist in addressing the specific treatment of severe depression in a New Zealand context, with the hope of increasing the success of therapy and rehabilitation.
A new old age?: Exploring the values, attitudes and expectations of baby boomers and their implications for policy and practice in an ageing society
Authors:   , Glasgow Kathy
Published: November 2021

As a large age cohort, baby boomers needs, attitudes and behaviour can have a substantial impact on society. Despite international predictions that older boomers will behave in very different ways to current generations of older people little scholarly research has to date been done to explore „kiwi boomers‟ attitudes to ageing or the underlying values that may predispose them to behave in a particular manner as older workers, consumers, voters and family members.  This study explores boomers views about their own ageing and considers how their expectations, attitudes and beliefs and underlying values may influence their behaviour as they age. Policy implications are then considered. Discourse analysis reveals prevailing paradigms and the degree of disparity or congruence with boomers‟ views is considered.  Eleven focus groups were held in urban and semi-rural settings around New Zealand with boomers born 1946 – 1965, to explore participants' views on ageing, their expected lifestyle in future years, what forms of assistance they expected to give or receive, and what attitudes and values they felt baby boomers typically had that may influence their behaviour in older age. Results are triangulated with existing data on boomers in New Zealand. Where possible comparisons are drawn with boomers in other countries and with older and younger generations in New Zealand.  Results indicate these boomers have a sense of common identity. Many articulated and appeared to have internalised common discourses about the boomer generation, although differences between older and younger, urban and provincial, socio-economic and ethnic groups were apparent. Most believed they would age differently to current generations of older people.  These boomers are interested in new forms of work, more flexible, creative lifestyles and more supportive living arrangements. They have a strong work ethic, but they value work/life balance, choice, freedom and autonomy in decision-making. They anticipate working longer, but on their own terms. They believe they should provide for their families, but the state has a responsibility to reduce inequities and support those in need. Like their parents they value self-reliance and independence, but also inter-dependence and inter-generational care responsibilities. There was a desire for more innovative intra-cohort care and support.  Despite areas of commonality, a key feature of the boomer cohort is their diversity and this presents a major challenge for policy and service development. Boomers accept their status as change agents. They anticipate drawing on previous experience to collectively influence policy. While it remains unclear on which issues they may converge, findings suggest the boomer cohort has the potential and inclination to advocate for social change. Processes of policy development will need to adapt to effectively work, with and not against this cohort.
Factors predicting citizens’ risk tolerance regarding earthquakes
Authors:   , Henrich Liv
Published: November 2021

People tolerate different levels of risk from different hazards in their day-to-day life. Perceptions of risks and the amount of risk mitigation people desire for different hazards vary. Previous research shows that the psychometric properties of different hazards predict the level of risk people tolerate for various hazards, but not for earthquakes. Risk tolerance is likely to also be affected by factors other than the psychometric properties of hazards. This research tested how earthquakes score on psychometric risk properties compared to five other hazards, and aimed to replicate previous research on the risk factors predicting risk tolerance. Secondly, the research aimed to test if other factors, namely framing effects, risk perception and fatalistic thinking predict risk tolerance for earthquakes. In Study 1, participants from Wellington, New Zealand (N = 139) rated six different hazards (nuclear power, smoking, alcohol, driving, flying and earthquakes) on several risk characteristics and measures of risk tolerance. The results showed that the different hazards were perceived differently in terms of risk tolerance and that participants thought different risk mitigation actions were appropriate for the six hazards. Factor analysis showed that factors derived from risk characteristics did not predict risk tolerance. Study 2 (N = 173) assessed the effects of framing messages, risk perception and fatalism on risk tolerance (judgments about the firmness of the legislation; willingness to pay tax) and judgments about who should pay. The frames had an effect on participants’ concern about the risk, but did not affect the other measures. Generally participants thought that the Government should pay for strengthening buildings, however, those participants who perceived damage as preventable (fatalism measure) thought that private owners should pay for strengthening.
The Impact of Antenatal Breastfeeding Education on Young Women’s Breastfeeding Self-efficacy and Breastfeeding Rates
Authors:   , Jackson Nicola Jane
Published: November 2021

Background: Despite the known benefits of breastfeeding to the mother, baby and society as a whole, young women’s breastfeeding rates are generally poor compared to older mothers. Effective antenatal education has been identified as one way to improve these rates. Whether or not antenatal breastfeeding education for young women can make a significant impact on their breastfeeding success is of paramount concern in this research.  An important and modifiable variable, identified in the literature as influencing breastfeeding outcomes, is self-efficacy (confidence in ability to breastfeed). This breastfeeding self-efficacy in young mothers is of great interest due to this group and their infants being vulnerable in terms of breastfeeding initiation and continuation.  Aim: This study aimed to identify the effects of antenatal breastfeeding education on the self-efficacy, experience and duration of breastfeeding for young women. It also aimed to replicate aspects of prior research in this area conducted overseas to see if those findings could be generalized to a New Zealand setting.  Method: A repeated measure design using an existing validated tool was utilised to quantify breastfeeding self-efficacy, prior to and following, an antenatal breastfeeding education session for young pregnant women aged less than 25 years old.  Findings: Breastfeeding antenatal education improved breastfeeding self-efficacy scores in urban young women less than 25 years of age. The Breastfeeding Self-efficacy Scale (short form), was found to be a reliable tool to test this. Whilst initiation rates were high in this group, there was no statistically significant link with breastfeeding self-efficacy and the duration and continuation of breastfeeding.  Conclusion: Whilst breastfeeding antenatal education was shown to increase breastfeeding self-efficacy, there are many confounding factors influencing breastfeeding initiation and continuation for young women. The findings have contributed to the knowledge about breastfeeding patterns of young New Zealand women. It may be that despite international findings, an increased breastfeeding self-efficacy in this setting doesn’t impact on the rates of breastfeeding of urban New Zealand young mothers. Further research with an increased sample size and comparison groups is warranted.
Experiences of Voluntourism in Guangzhou, Mainland China
Authors:   , McDowall Kirk James
Published: November 2021

Volunteer tourism is a relatively new field that usually involves a young person volunteering in a foreign country to improve the social conditions of a local community. In the past decade, there has been an academic focus on this topic that suggests there are potential benefits for the participants involved. However, critical analyses from a post-development perspective have recently highlighted the number of risks involved with these projects. The findings from these studies also emphasis the underlying goals of voluntourism, which can include creating a connection and understanding between the people involved in these projects, in addition to the projects being viewed as significant by the participants. This thesis will test if the experiences of voluntourists in a selected voluntourism project in Guangzhou, Mainland China relate to this goal. The results revealed that the project was considered significant by the participants involved as a result of recognising the importance of place to all participants, the identity of the foreign volunteer and how they relate to place and the members of that place. The recommendations from the academic literature can also lead to a long term connection and greater understanding between the people involved, by making comparisons with the process of integration. Through these findings, it can argued the experiences from the voluntourism project in Mainland China relates to the underlying goals of voluntourism, and a new body of knowledge is emerging in this field, which emphasises ways to improve the implementation of these projects.
Beyond University: Photovoice portraits of some Cambodian young women’s education, identities, and rights
Authors:   , Rogers Anna Vesta
Published: November 2021

‘Educate a Girl. Change the World.’ Faith in this universalising, simple creed permeates development discourse on education and empowerment. Yet these processes are complex, embedded in specific contexts, and dependent upon many factors outside of formal schooling. This research aims to cut through the vague mists of this discourse by exploring processes of education and empowerment for six young Cambodian women. A small minority of such women graduate from university, and their negotiations with personal, professional, and political life illustrate opportunities and constraints in claiming their education and rights.  This research drew from feminist epistemologies and used participatory photovoice methodology. Each participant selected 20 of her photographs which addressed aspects of education and empowerment important to her. Those photographs then guided our semi-structured interviews. This epistemology and methodology allowed women’s images and words to be strongly represented in the thesis and effectively elucidated the complexity and interconnectedness of learning and empowerment processes in the many spheres of these young women’s lives.  Through participants’ images and words, this study illustrates factors that supported and challenged the young women in claiming higher education, how that education influenced the many-layered personal and professional identities they formed, and how they engaged in efforts to build women’s networks and claim public political space. These findings indicate several factors deserving greater attention and research in development: the importance of siblings to educational attainment, the utility of interweaving traditional and alternate gendered identities, the value of women’s networks for transformational learning, and the challenges in claiming public political space when elite ownership of development is tacitly accepted. These findings demonstrate that many interwoven strands influence educational outcomes and processes of empowerment above and beyond formal schooling. These effects do not manifest in a linear fashion. When the education-women’s empowerment-development nexus is better understood and grounded in women’s rights, this enhances development outcomes for young women.
The urban brewery
Authors:   , Wrigley Jeane
Published: November 2021

The effects of an increasingly global and mass produced marketplace has led to a change in consumer values. In an attempt to mediate the current marketplace where consumers are beginning to experience exhaustion as their choices continue to increase, the consumer is employing new means of determining value. Value is increasingly being sough by the new consumer beyond the product itself, and includes the consideration of product customisation and honest production practice and promotion. Despite the development of techniques to mediate the current state of the consumption environment, there is a lack of research into how this could be explored through architecture. This thesis argues that architecture can be used to support the changing nature of the consumption environment, through a physical interpretation of the social needs of the new consumer. A reassessment of the environment designed for consumption is necessary, in order to physically facilitate the increase of consumer awareness of consumption habits and the effects of their given choices.  The layout of this research is broken into two main bodies of work. Part one focuses on the architectural proposition through an analysis of literature, whilst part two explores the fundamental facets of the design solution. The new consumer addressed within the literature and alongside the case study and site analysis is translated spatially, throughout this design led research. The architectural application of new consumer ideals within a consumption program has resulted in the design - The Urban Brewery. The brewery program showcases the potentials for social values to be transformed into a spatial dialogue. Successful facilitation of the new consumer is sought through increased engagement between people, product and program. This thesis concludes that architectural integration of social values and spatial organisation is important to the construction of the future consumption environment.
An analysis of the bass playing of Scott LaFaro as part of the Bill Evans Trio 1959 - 1961
Authors:   , Clark Rowan
Published: November 2021

Scott LaFaro is widely regarded as a highly interactive bass player, and within the context of the Bill Evans Trio it is commonly believed he was able to cast aside the traditional time keeping role of the jazz bassist.  His considerable reputation seems to rest on this understanding, but as this exegesis aims to show, the general understanding of his legacy within jazz history is open to question  More broadly, this exegesis highlights the fact that any claims about his legacy are supported by very limited analysis of his techniques and approaches, rendering any absolute portrayal of LaFaro misleading.  This exegesis aims to provide a thorough analysis of LaFaro’s performances within the Bill Evans Trio. By analysing a representative sample of his work in that context, I hope to discover common techniques and traits that LaFaro employed on a regular basis and which characterise his unique approach to bass playing within a small jazz ensemble.  With the identification of these characteristics, a clearer picture of Scott LaFaro can begin to emerge, as can a more accurate understanding of his legacy.
Hope or hype: A critical assessment of Jatropha curcas for domestic biofuel production in Senegal
Authors:   , Campbell David
Published: November 2021

This thesis was designed to critically test the suitability of Jatropha curcas as a plant feedstock for liquid biofuel production in Senegal. Many countries around the globe have attempted to incorporate bioenergy into their broader energy supply mix, and liquid biofuels are a key component of a low-carbon economy to replace fossil fuels for transport and electrical generation. The Senegalese government instituted a national biofuel plan between 2007 and 2012 to achieve energy independence through biofuels with an annual production target of more than a billion liters of oil. The plan was intended to reduce problems with energy scarcity and price fluctuations, contribute to local economic growth, and expand agricultural production to degraded or otherwise fallow land. The project was largely unsuccessful, and to date there has been no significant oil production from Jatropha curcas for the national energy supply.  This research study was developed to understand the key barriers to the success of this program and mitigate the mistakes of future project developers and policymakers. Preliminary literature reviews and examples from similar endeavors in other countries suggested three main barriers that would be primary determinants of success or failure: the agronomic suitability, and therefore production and yield capacity, of Jatropha curcas to the Senegalese climate; the socio-economic challenges of integrating a broad national plan with smallholder farmers and assuring that the economics are fair for both growers and buyers; and the policy framework developed by government agencies, development organizations, and commercial interests to support an emergent biofuel industry. A mixed-method research design including document reviews, interviews and surveys, and case studies was employed to answer the key questions of why and how the Senegalese biofuel program has failed to achieve its intended goals.  Results from this study indicate that Jatropha curcas is unsuitable as a plant feedstock for liquid biofuels in Senegal at this time, due to significant shortcomings in all three key categories examined. The plant is vastly underproductive and requires considerable investment in scientific improvement of yield, pest tolerance and seed oil content; the economic gain is neither adequate to justify smallholder farmers to adopt it as an alternative to existing crops nor for project developers to generate income from fuel on the open market; and supporting policy has not been consistent or favorable enough to carry this emergent industry from nascence to maturity. There are, however, encouraging signs of resilience in two particular case studies that provide insight into how future programs could be structured, most notably in the Sine-Saloum Delta region. Further research should be devoted to specific economic schemes and innovative financing options for community focused biofuel programs.
Fairy Tale Femininities: A Discourse Analysis of Snow White Films 1916-2012
Authors:   , Dam Lisbet Rosa
Published: November 2021

Fairy tales are enduring cultural texts that have enjoyed wide appeal and the continuing popularity of the fairy tale can be seen in the recent proliferation of media employing fairy tale narratives. Fairy tales provide a site of meaning about femininity and masculinity and examining them over time identifies versions of gender that are prized or denigrated within specific social, historical moments. This project was interested in the continuities and divergences in these gendered discourses across time. Although there has been considerable academic interest in fairy tales and gender, few studies have approached the topic from a genealogical perspective. This research extends the current literature through a genealogical analysis of five Snow White films from 1916 to 2012 in addition to incorporating an analysis in relation to a contemporary postfeminist, neoliberal social climate. The research employed a feminist poststructuralist framework and utilised thematic and genealogical Foucauldian discourse analysis to analyse the data. Discursive analyses found enduring discourses of traditional femininity across the films which centrally organised around a binary construction of femininity as ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ A moral discourse worked to construct ‘good’ femininity as prized and bad femininity as punished. Alongside persistent discourses of femininity, however, a newer postfeminist femininity was evident in recent versions of the fairy tale. Consistent with a postfeminist, neoliberal discourse that highlights the importance of the body, analyses found an increased emphasis on beauty and the vast effort required to maintain it. Another postfeminist shift in the tale was the invoking of a girl power discourse to construct Snow as a competent fighter and leader. However, the complex entanglement of discourses of femininity in contemporary society is highlighted by the co-existence of these newer versions of femininity with traditional goals such as achieving a ‘happily ever after.’ From the perspective of possibilities for subjectivity, these shifts in representation appear to offer a young female audience more empowered possibilities of femininity but such power is simultaneously constrained by a complex amalgamation with traditional ‘niceness’ and beauty.
“And Her Heart Fluttered”: The Psychopathology of Desire in the Argonautika
Authors:   , Simons Julia
Published: November 2021

This thesis investigates the way that Apollonios constructs Medea’s psyche and body in response to contemporary medical and philosophical influences in order to portray realistically the way that erōs manifests itself in Medea as both sickness and mental illness. Apollonios delves into Medea’s psyche and exposes how it functions in moments of intense desire, pain, indecision and introspection while under the powerful sways of erōs. Medea’s erōs manifests as erratic and dangerous behaviour and crippling indecision, the analysis of which is done in light of Chrusippos’ discussion of Euripides’ Medea’s akrasia. Apollonios draws from Euripides’ version to depict Medea in a different stage of her life, making a similar life-altering decision: whether or not to help Jason and betray her family or stay at home and watch him die. Apollonios makes the audience sympathize with Medea by showing her as a victim of destructive erōs and by exhibiting her emotional suffering. He heightens the degree that the internal is depicted and the very fact that he does internalize Medea shows an interest in her side of the story. It humanizes her to see her motivations, her fears, her desires and her moral dilemmas. Apollonios twists the image of Medea that an audience may expect to see by focusing, in Book 3 at least, almost entirely on her maidenhood and her struggle between exercising maidenly shame and giving in to the temptation of Jason. Apollonios makes the audience understand and sympathize with Medea by delving into the workings of her psyche and explaining her pleasure and pain, and most importantly, explaining why she cannot act rationally. erōs also manifests itself inside Medea and in turn this is expressed in Medea’s outward appearance as medical symptoms, like those of fever. In addition, by incorporating contemporary medical discoveries like the nervous system Apollonios is able to utilize the new conceptions of sense-perception to realistically show the way that destructive emotions manifest themselves as perceivable physical pain. Apollonios draws on philosophical and medical influences to heighten the realism of Medea’s physical and psychological pain and pleasure while simultaneously providing a forceful warning of the destructiveness of erōs’ nature.
Acculturation within New Zealand Pacific communities: how does this influence diet and health?
Authors:   , Skudder Emma
Published: November 2021

The aim of this qualitative study was to examine eating related values, principles and practices of individuals of Pacific ethnicity who are living in New Zealand and how this influenced their diet and health. The study also explored themes of acculturation and the degree to which acculturation may influence diet and health. Thirty individuals who identified as Pacific participated in the study, which were audio taped, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Four major themes were derived with three to five supporting sub-themes per theme. The themes identified were: Pacific cultural identity, Translation of Pacific culture into the New Zealand context, Challenges to health due to living in New Zealand and Solutions. These finding were discussed within the broader context of how acculturation, and the resulting practices and principles influence health and health outcomes.
The door behind the bamboo curtain - Chinese law and policy on refugee status
Authors:   , Song Lili
Published: November 2021

This thesis systematically considers the law and policy on refugee status in the People’s Republic of China. It considers relevant Chinese legal provisions, applicable bilateral and multinational treaties, as well as China’s refugee policy and practice. It also presents and analyses first-hand information collected through interviews with refugees and aid workers.  China is an emerging destination of refugees and other displaced foreigners. Although China is a party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, Chinese law contains no provisions governing the definition of a refugee or the determination of refugee status. Further, there is a gap between the criteria for asylum in the 1982 Chinese Constitution and the criteria for refugee status in the 1951 Convention.  In practice, although the Chinese government has generally allowed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to process individual applications for refugee status, the Chinese government has practically performed the function of refugee status determination in large-scale influx situations through policy decisions. In these situations, the security, political, and strategic interests of China have often overshadowed China’s commitment under the 1951 Convention.  China has been cautious about recognising refugees on its territory. However, the Chinese government has clearly demonstrated a growing interest in addressing the issue of refugee recognition within a more formalised framework.  In conclusion, this thesis recommends that China adopt a legal refugee definition in line with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and develop a predictable and fair national RSD mechanism.