bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tama Samoa Stories: Experiences and Perceptions of Identity, Belonging and Future Aspirations at Secondary School
Authors:   , Rimoni Fuapepe 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis investigates the experiences of twelve strong, articulate and thoughtful tama Samoa (Samoan boys) through their participation in secondary schools and lives outside the classroom and through the stories of others. The study looked at how the students enacted their identities as Samoans, as learners and as young men who are anticipating the future. The study is premised on the view that Pacific identities are fluid, diverse, multi-dimensional and include a range of different perspectives relating to social class, ethnicity, culture and gender. Such a view of identity as complex is not generally taken into consideration in the literature on educational success and achievement of Pacific students in New Zealand. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative design, using focus groups and semi-structured interviews by talanoa (conversations). As the study involved a group of indigenous tama Samoa, the Samoan fa’afaletui method was used. Participants were a group of twelve tama Samoa in three Wellington secondary schools and their twelve nominated persons. The study found that there are key aspects to making the experiences of tama Samoa positive and successful within the secondary school. These include acknowledging tama Samoa and their multiple identities while attending secondary school; supporting the development of a sense of belonging through everyday interactions with peers and teachers, and affirming the belief by tama Samoa that secondary school socialisation serves to help them make future decisions. This study argues that the experiences of tama Samoa are deeply embedded within wider social, economic and political trends. Indeed, their “voices” are shaped in part by these broader forces that construct and represent them as being historically “disadvantaged” and socio-economically “underserved.” Further, this study advocates for the diverse voices of tama Samoa, along with their experiences, stories, hopes, aspirations and dreams to be brought to light and placed alongside the official accounts of Pacific “disadvantage” to enable more balanced critical discourses taking place. It is hoped that this study will offer further insights into the experiences of tama Samoa in the New Zealand secondary school context, from which valuable knowledge is derived to inform and support schools in improving the New Zealand secondary school experiences of Samoan adolescent boys.</p>
Towards a Better Understanding of High-Growth Technology Firms
Authors:   , Greig Sasha 
Published: November 2021

<p>High-growth has long been of interest to management academics, as they seek to understand how uncharacteristically high periods of revenue or employment growth occur, and the effects they have on firms, and the wider economy. However, despite the ongoing interest in the field, there have not been conclusive studies that are able to piece together all of the factors that may play a role in the occurrence of high-growth, and therefore there is still relatively little understanding of how and when high-growth occurs, and what control firms may have over such growth. This mixed-methodology research uses both quantitative analysis of high-growth patterns, and qualitative interviews with relevant firms to explore the factors commonly associated with high-growth. This allows for a better understanding of how high-growth may occur. The findings indicate that high-growth is typically the product of interactions between a range of factors. The most influential factor on high-growth appears to be the competence, expertise, and experience of those managing the firm, either in a directorial or managerial capacity. The findings also indicate that, while high-growth may not be entirely predictable, there are commonalities between the high-growth patterns that technology firms experience, such as the receiving of patents, or even inclusion in the TIN100 database. Overall, this research found that there appears to be much greater diversity in high-growth than previous literature tends to suggest. The research concludes with practical implications of these findings for firms and managers of these findings, as well as suggesting directions for future research in the field.</p>
Tensions and Possibilities. The Interplay of 'Traditional' Cultural Elements and the Creation of 'Contemporary' Rapa Nui, Māori and Samoan Diasporic Theatre
Authors:   , Fortin Cornejo Moira 
Published: November 2021

<p>This thesis focuses on notions of ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ theatre in two Pacific Island contexts, Aotearoa and Rapa Nui. It explores how notions of ‘tradition’ are imagined, recreated, and performed through the ‘contemporary’ creative arts, with a particular focus on theatre. It offers insight about culturally-situated understandings of ‘tradition’, and seeks to acknowledge diverse meanings and perceptions of theatre that exist across diverse Pacific Island cultures, languages, and epistemologies. Ideas about what constitutes ‘tradition’ have been significantly impacted by colonial histories, and that these culturally and historically situated ideas have wide-ranging implications for creative possibilities in the ‘contemporary’ performing arts. ‘Traditional’ performances are often seen as acceptable and relevant to Indigenous communities in Aotearoa and Rapa Nui, contributing to processes of cultural reclaiming and revitalisation. Although cultural continuity is a significant theme in Indigenous theatre in Aotearoa and Rapa Nui, the different emphasis placed upon notions of ‘tradition’ across these comparative contexts has led to very different artistic possibilities being available. In Rapa Nui there is a general reluctance in the performing arts to deviate from ‘tradition’ or to declare work as ‘contemporary.’ The reproduction of ‘traditional’ styles and stories is one response to ongoing colonialism in Rapa Nui, and to the ever present demands of the tourist industry. Māori and Samoan theatre practitioners in Aotearoa have developed theatre forms and processes that are based in cultural values and epistemologies while also being integrated with European theatre techniques, creating innovative approaches to ‘contemporary’ themes and understandings. These developments in the creative arts are supported by the availability of a wide range of theatre education opportunities. Culturally reflective and situated approaches to theatre education have enabled Indigenous theatre practitioners in Aotearoa to use theatre as a forum to express ideas and issues to the community weaving in a variety of different cultural influences, and techniques. This thesis utilised a case-study methodology and open-ended interviews, framed under the research methodology of talanoa, to interact with Māori, Samoan diasporic and Rapanui theatre practitioners, in order to explore their perceptions towards ‘traditional’ and ‘contemporary’ practices. This research focuses on the positives of cultural dialogue, and it emerges from a desire to support intercultural theatre practices in Aotearoa and Rapa Nui.</p>
Retrofitting Memory: Retrofitting a Non-Physical Architecture
Authors:   , Low Soon Yie 
Published: November 2021

<p>This project looks at how destroyed architecture, although physically lost, fundamentally continues to exist within human memories as a non-physical entity. The site chosen is Avonside Girls’ High School in Christchurch, New Zealand, a school heavily damaged during the February 22nd earthquake in 2011. The project focuses on the Main Block, a 1930s masonry building which had always been a symbol for the school and its alumni. The key theories relevant to this are studies on non-material architecture and memory as these subjects investigate the relationship between conceptual idea and the triggering of it. This research aims to study how to fortify a thought-based architecture against neglect, similar to the retrofitting of physical structures. In doing so, the importance of the emotive realm of architecture and the idea behind a building (as opposed to the built component itself) is further validated, promoting more broadminded stances regarding the significance of the idea over the object. A new method for disaster recovery and addressing trauma from lost architecture is also acquired. Factors regarding advanced structural systems and programmes are not covered within the scope of this research because the project instead explores issues regarding the boundaries between the immaterial and material. The project methodology involves communicating a narrative derived from the memories alumni and staff members have of the old school block. The approach for portraying the narrative is based on a list of strategies obtained from case studies. The final product of the research is a new design for the high school, conveyed through a set of atmospheric drawings that cross-examines the boundaries between the physical and non-physical realms by representing the version of the school that exists solely within memories.</p>
Evolution of a Normal Fault System, northern Graben, Taranaki Basin, New Zealand
Authors:   , Cameron Hamish 
Published: November 2021

<p>This study investigates the evolution (from initiation to inactivity) of a normal fault system in proximity to active petroleum systems within the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. The aim of this research is to understand the evolution, interaction, and in some cases, death of normal faults in a region undergoing progressive regional extension. This research provides insight into the geometry, development, and displacement history of new and reactivated normal fault evolution through interpretation of industry standard seismic reflection data at high spatial and temporal resolution. Insight into normal fault evolution provides information on subsidence rates and potential hydrocarbon migration pathways. Twelve time horizons between 1.2 and 35 Ma have been mapped throughout 1670 square kilometres of the Parihaka and Toro 3D seismic reflection surveys. Fault displacement analysis and backstripping have been used to determine the main phases of fault activity, fault growth patterns, and maximum Displacement/Length ratios. The timing, geometry, and displacement patterns for 110 normal faults with displacements >20 m have been interpreted and analysed using Paradigm SeisEarth and TrapTester 6 seismic interpretation and fault analysis software platforms. Normal faults within the Parihaka and Toro 3D seismic surveys began developing at ˜11 Ma, with the largest faults accruing up to 1500 m of displacement in <10 Myr (mean throw displacement rate of 0.15mm/yr). Approximately 50% of the 110 mapped faults are associated with pre-existing normal faults and have typical cumulative displacements of ˜20 – 1000 m, with strike parallel lengths of <1 – 23 km. In contrast, new faults have typically greater displacements of 20 – 1400 m, and are generally longer with, with strike parallel lengths of ˜1 – 33 km. New faults were the first faults within the system to become inactive when strain rates decreased from 0.06 – 0.03 between 3.6 and 3.0 Ma. Eight of the largest faults with > 1000 m cumulative displacement reach the seafloor and are potentially active at present day. An earthquake on one of these faults could be expected to produce MW 2.2 based on the maximum strike-parallel length of the fault plane.</p>
Novel Magnetic Resonance Acquisition and Processing Strategies for Biological Tissue Characterisation
Authors:   , Zong Fangrong 
Published: November 2021

<p>Proton magnetic resonance techniques have become indispensable for characterising tissues non-invasively. These methods provide abundant information regarding metabolism, morphology and histology of the sample under study. While these techniques were more expensive in the past compared to radioactive methods, modern advances in hardware and methodology provide the potential to use magnetic resonance systems more efficiently and widely. In this context, this thesis explored innovative magnetic resonance technologies from three independent perspectives which are suitable for tissue characterisation, utilising techniques from a wide range of disciplines including physics, engineering, biology and medical sciences. One strategy relates to compressed sensing magnetic resonance imaging, seeking to recover detailed features at high undersampling rates. A data-adaptive sparse transform facilitated by principal component analysis was introduced as an alternative to the conventional pre-defined sparse transform. Moreover, the principal component analysis was used in a recognition algorithm for the reconstruction of undersampled data. The performances of these approaches were studied in cases of localised changes in the acquired images. The results demonstrated that the recognition reconstruction algorithm performed better than wavelet compressed sensing. This progress can be utilised to accelerate current state of the art imaging protocols at high magnetic field strengths. Furthermore, the prior knowledge contained in high resolution databases may enhance imaging capabilities of technologies at low magnetic field strengths. A second approach exploits nuclear magnetic resonance diffusion contrast instead of contrast agents for tissue characterisation. Microstructural information and global fractional anisotropy can be obtained from diffusion-diffusion correlation spectroscopy via a novel multi-dimensional gradient scheme. The concept was validated by random walk simulations and experiments of biological samples. Both correlation maps and global fractional anisotropy of in vitro healthy and tumour-bearing mouse brains were found to be different, thus providing a potential application of the proposed scheme in diffusion oncology. In addition, a threshold algorithm on the selection of a region of interest was implemented to minimise inter-observer variations. This technique was applied to a pilot study of diffusion weighted imaging data which were acquired from patients after x-ray mammography indicated lesions. The statistical analysis revealed an optimal threshold similar to values commonly used in positron emission tomography. Apart from selecting regions automatically, various data processing methods were implemented and compared with each other regarding their diagnostic accuracies. This field study provides opportunities for standardising procedures in diffusion weighted mammography, which may be integrated into clinical analysis in the future.</p>
Corals and Carbon: The physiological response of a protected deep-sea coral (Solenosmilia variabilis) to ocean acidification
Authors:   , Gammon Malindi 
Published: November 2021

<p>Calcifying corals provide important habitat complexity in the deep-sea and are consistently associated with a biodiversity of fish and other invertebrates. Little is understood about how deep-sea corals may respond to predicted scenarios of ocean acidification (OA), but any predicted changes will have wider impacts on the ecosystem. Colonies of Solenosmilia variabilis, a species of deep-sea coral found in the waters surrounding New Zealand, were collected during a cruise in March 2014 from the Louisville Seamount chain. Over 12-months, coral samples were maintained in temperature controlled (~3.5°C) continuous flow-through tanks. A control group of coral colonies was held in seawater with pH 7.88 and a treatment group in pH 7.65. These two pH levels were designed to reflect current pH conditions and end-of-century conditions, respectively. In addition to investigating changes in growth and morphology, measurements of respiration and intracellular pH (pHi) were taken after a mid-term (6 months for respiration; 9 months for pHi) and long-term (12 months for both respiration and pHi) exposure period. An established method used in measuring the pHi of shallow water corals was adapted for use with deep-sea corals for the first time. pHi was independent from the seawater treatment and ranged from 7.67 – 8.30. Respiration rate was not influenced by the reduced seawater pH tested here. Respiration rates were highly variable, ranging from 0.065 to 1.756 μg O2 g-1 protein h-1 and pHi ranged from 7.67 – 8.30. Yearly growth rates were also variable, ranging from 0.53 to 3.068 mm year-1, and again showed no detectable difference between the treatment and control colonies. However, a loss in the colouration of coral skeletons was observed in the treatment group and was attributed to a loss of tissue. This could indicate a reallocation of energy, allowing for the maintenance of those other physiological parameters measured here (e.g. growth and respiration rates). If this is indeed occurring, it would be consistent with the idea of phenotypic plasticity, where corals can alternate between soft-bodied and fossilizing forms, allowing them to survive past periods of environmental stress. This research is an important first step towards understanding the sensitivity of deep-sea corals to OA and the potential for acclimation, and suggests that in many respects, S. variabilis might not be susceptible to end-of-century projections of OA. Nevertheless, the observed tissue loss is interesting and warrants further investigation to assess its long-term implications. Furthermore, the impacts of greater levels of OA, and the interactive effects of other ecological parameters such as food availability, need to be tested.</p>
Spatial Pressure: The Manipulation of Fluid Space through the Hybridization of Art and Architecture
Authors:   , Prins Anneke 
Published: November 2021

<p>I believe that although those trained within the discipline of architecture are skilled at sculpting form and space, art practice is often more successful at manipulating spatial conditions beyond architectural norms to affect the dynamic human body. This research thesis proposes that by employing an art practice methodology to influence the architectural design process then a new type of spatially affective, hybridized architecture might be created. In affect theory, knowledge of the body’s interaction with space and other bodies, and reaction to atmosphere is essential to the understanding of a spatial environment. Knowledge of the body and of spatial relationships are inherent to the architectural discipline and yet art practice is often more successful at challenging and manipulating affective responses. While architecture promotes affective responses from those who inhabit, or move through, built forms, might we employ art practice to enhance these spatial reactions? Spatial Pressure proposes that if the architectural discipline employs sculptural art practice methodology then a new type of successful spatially affective architecture might be created. It also proposes that through the manipulation of fluid space, hybrids of art and architecture can affect the dynamic body and enhance spatial responses. The thesis argues for the development of new modes, methods and markers of creating and analysing affective hybrids in order to manipulate spatial reactions. It argues for a reintegration of the body into architecture through the central method of the creation of human scale, sculptural yet pragmatic, interventions. In this work the observation of the body’s response to these interventions is analysed and reinterpreted with each design move, avoiding direct representation of the body. By employing sculptural practices to create publically activated, art-architecture, the hybridized interventions act to push and pull space and encourage movement through spatial pressure. The body moves, the spatial interventions are static; it is the “in-between” that provides the affective condition. Working in a liminal zone between two disciplines creates challenges and opportunities to enhance affective influences and opens the possibility of altering current norms of architectural practice.</p>
Curation
Authors:   , McEwan Zachary 
Published: November 2021

<p>Today we see a simplification in our landscapes; a globalisation of culture and landscape that has forced people into a state of disconnection with place. It has divided our world into culturally rich, and culturally absent worlds. Worlds where natural ecologies are seen as separate entities to the human cultures that live on the land. Our landscapes need to reconnect and adapt; not only to the ever increasingly culturally diverse world, but also to the site specific social and natural ecologies that exist. Wainuiomata is no exemption to this condition. Its suburban landscape is divided from the natural ecologies that lay dormant on its peripheries. It is an austere environment, but one with a colourful and culturally diverse community that is unable to express itself. This piece of research argues that landscape architecture has the ability to enable disadvantaged communities to rekindle a sense of connection with, and custodianship over their landscapes. It discusses ways of designing that can reform lost relationships between communities and the common ground they live upon. The work brings forward how landscapes can be designed in ways that provide opportunities not only for communities to self build their landscape, but also how the architect can create frameworks that facilitate a process of engagement at different scales. It further explores how a respect for ecological environments can be instilled into the community through building relationships between ecological and social environments, as opposed to their current segregation. Lastly, the thesis looks at how a landscape architect may design in a way that pushes beyond the final drawings. Doing this with an understanding that it is a curation of a process (one where communities can become a part of the making of a landscape) that will bring a sense of custodianship to its dwellers.</p>