title: The soils of the southeastern sector of Egmont National Park

authors: Tonkin, Philip J.

abstract: The soils of the southeastern slopes of Egmont National Park, Taranaki, are youthful in absolute age and also in soil development. They are classed as recent soils on a parent material basis: andesitic tephras, alluvium, and peat with interbedded tephra. Of these groups the former covers the greatest part of the surveyed area and was studied in the most detail.
The recent soils from andesitic tephra have a profile form dominated by buried soil horizons and little weathered tephra layers, the youngest of which was erupted 210 years ago. Characteristic features are the very weak weathering of minerals in the upper soil layers, the variable depth of melanisation, the extremely leached state of the soil profile and lastly the marked similarity of the soil chemical parameters despite appreciably different biotic regimes and a range in slope and altitude. It is concluded that the extremely high rainfall, in excess of 150 inches per annum, so controls soil processes that the variables of site and vegetation are not expressed in the measured soil parameters.

text: The soils of the southeastern sector of Egmont National Park The soils of the southeastern slopes of Egmont National Park, Taranaki, are youthful in absolute age and also in soil development. They are classed as recent soils on a parent material basis: andesitic tephras, alluvium, and peat with interbedded tephra. Of these groups the former covers the greatest part of the surveyed area and was studied in the most detail.
The recent soils from andesitic tephra have a profile form dominated by buried soil horizons and little weathered tephra layers, the youngest of which was erupted 210 years ago. Characteristic features are the very weak weathering of minerals in the upper soil layers, the variable depth of melanisation, the extremely leached state of the soil profile and lastly the marked similarity of the soil chemical parameters despite appreciably different biotic regimes and a range in slope and altitude. It is concluded that the extremely high rainfall, in excess of 150 inches per annum, so controls soil processes that the variables of site and vegetation are not expressed in the measured soil parameters.

year: 1970

title: An ecological study of Paranephrops planifrons white (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in Lake Rotoiti, North Island

authors: Devcich, Alan A.

subjects: Crayfish

abstract: The Paranephrops planifrons population in mesotrophic L.  Rotoiti consists of 2 bathymetrically and temporally separate breeding groups. Late autumn breeders comprise about 80% of the population, occupy depths mainly above 30 m and at night feed in the littoral zone, where food is 80% more concentrated than elsewhere. Early summer breeders exist mainly below 30 m depth. Utilisation of the whole lake bottom and seasonal changes in food available to the early summer breeders are tentatively given as explanations of this pattern.
Crayfish show increased sensitivity to light intensities greater than 150-205 lux and consequently occupy shelters above around 12 m depth. Shelters include any recesses subjected to intensities below this range. This zone accomodates almost the entire juvenile population and ca 10-20% of the adult population. This response to light intensity is believed to be an adaptation promoting avoidance of their main predator, the shag. Nocturnalism is another adaptation reducing losses to predators, including trout. Crayfish at greater depths lie unprotected and inactive by day and ca 70-80% of these adults form a high density band around the lake at a mean annual depth of 19.2±2.8 m. The band has a mean annual vertical depth range of 11.4±2.1 m and densities up to 50 crayfish m⁻².
At dusk activity begins in the deepest waters first and crayfish forming the band migrate shorewards, while those above emerge from shelters. Within the hour feeding on detritus mainly, commences amongst the weed beds which extend to 6 m depth. At dawn a downward migration preceeds reformation of the high density band. These dual diel migrations apply almost solely to late autumn breeders and are part of a circadian rhythm, the timing of which is modified by light. Locomotion associated with migratory activity appears to be effected mainly through leg proprioceptors responsive to gravity. Directional orientation at this time and also generally, is inversely related to bottom slope angle.
The diel distribution pattern varies seasonally. In summer and autumn the high density band is displaced shorewards by a vertical distance of 3.3 m, to a mean depth of 18.3 m and there is a 4 fold increase in crayfish inhabiting shallow water shelters. This closer association with the main feeding ground is probably an adaptation to meet coincident increases in energy needs. It applies especially to late autumn breeding females, whose period of ovarian development occurs between December and April. Energy requirements appear to be met through food consumed rather than from food stored. Female feeding activity is directly related to temperature but not in males, and prewinter storage is apparently of little importance in both sexes.
Hypolimnetic deoxygenation affects early summer breeders mainly and induces a mass migration from the deeper regions to above the 30 m contour by February. Complete recolonisation of these parts follows lake turnover in May. Crayfish occur on all substrate types in approximately equal numbers except very soft muds, which support densities of <0.001 crayfish m⁻².

text: An ecological study of Paranephrops planifrons white (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in Lake Rotoiti, North Island The Paranephrops planifrons population in mesotrophic L.  Rotoiti consists of 2 bathymetrically and temporally separate breeding groups. Late autumn breeders comprise about 80% of the population, occupy depths mainly above 30 m and at night feed in the littoral zone, where food is 80% more concentrated than elsewhere. Early summer breeders exist mainly below 30 m depth. Utilisation of the whole lake bottom and seasonal changes in food available to the early summer breeders are tentatively given as explanations of this pattern.
Crayfish show increased sensitivity to light intensities greater than 150-205 lux and consequently occupy shelters above around 12 m depth. Shelters include any recesses subjected to intensities below this range. This zone accomodates almost the entire juvenile population and ca 10-20% of the adult population. This response to light intensity is believed to be an adaptation promoting avoidance of their main predator, the shag. Nocturnalism is another adaptation reducing losses to predators, including trout. Crayfish at greater depths lie unprotected and inactive by day and ca 70-80% of these adults form a high density band around the lake at a mean annual depth of 19.2±2.8 m. The band has a mean annual vertical depth range of 11.4±2.1 m and densities up to 50 crayfish m⁻².
At dusk activity begins in the deepest waters first and crayfish forming the band migrate shorewards, while those above emerge from shelters. Within the hour feeding on detritus mainly, commences amongst the weed beds which extend to 6 m depth. At dawn a downward migration preceeds reformation of the high density band. These dual diel migrations apply almost solely to late autumn breeders and are part of a circadian rhythm, the timing of which is modified by light. Locomotion associated with migratory activity appears to be effected mainly through leg proprioceptors responsive to gravity. Directional orientation at this time and also generally, is inversely related to bottom slope angle.
The diel distribution pattern varies seasonally. In summer and autumn the high density band is displaced shorewards by a vertical distance of 3.3 m, to a mean depth of 18.3 m and there is a 4 fold increase in crayfish inhabiting shallow water shelters. This closer association with the main feeding ground is probably an adaptation to meet coincident increases in energy needs. It applies especially to late autumn breeding females, whose period of ovarian development occurs between December and April. Energy requirements appear to be met through food consumed rather than from food stored. Female feeding activity is directly related to temperature but not in males, and prewinter storage is apparently of little importance in both sexes.
Hypolimnetic deoxygenation affects early summer breeders mainly and induces a mass migration from the deeper regions to above the 30 m contour by February. Complete recolonisation of these parts follows lake turnover in May. Crayfish occur on all substrate types in approximately equal numbers except very soft muds, which support densities of <0.001 crayfish m⁻².

year: 1979

title: Māori engagement with early childhood education in a low-socioeconomic area

authors: Nuri, Sinead

subjects: early childhood education

abstract: The early childhood education (ECE) options available to parents in New Zealand are many and varied. As a country New Zealand values ECE and has a high rate of engagement. However, despite a number of government initiatives targeting Māori and those from lower socio-economic areas Māori engagement remains low. This is widely acknowledged and the challenge is to not only find the reasons why but to also be responsive to the causes for low engagement.

Early learning services in New Zealand follow a curriculum that considers an holistic approach with the child at the centre of the learning. That curriculum is Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa. The curriculum recognises the potential of children and the importance of belonging in developing the whole child. 

ECE in New Zealand is important for children who are aged zero to five. It is during these early years that children will begin to develop an understanding of the world around them. The environment that children live in is important to their development and it is generally considered that those from low socio-economic areas are less likely to succeed than those from higher socio-economic areas.

This thesis investigated Māori engagement in ECE from one low socio-economic area in New Zealand using an overarching Kaupapa Māori methodology. Semi-structured interviews were held with five participants from the low socio-economic area using a case study research design. My analysis found that there were many reasons behind the parents' decisions to send their children to ECE or not. It can be concluded that Māori engagement with ECE is dependent upon parents’ early life experiences and their cultural values.

text: Māori engagement with early childhood education in a low-socioeconomic area The early childhood education (ECE) options available to parents in New Zealand are many and varied. As a country New Zealand values ECE and has a high rate of engagement. However, despite a number of government initiatives targeting Māori and those from lower socio-economic areas Māori engagement remains low. This is widely acknowledged and the challenge is to not only find the reasons why but to also be responsive to the causes for low engagement.

Early learning services in New Zealand follow a curriculum that considers an holistic approach with the child at the centre of the learning. That curriculum is Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa. The curriculum recognises the potential of children and the importance of belonging in developing the whole child. 

ECE in New Zealand is important for children who are aged zero to five. It is during these early years that children will begin to develop an understanding of the world around them. The environment that children live in is important to their development and it is generally considered that those from low socio-economic areas are less likely to succeed than those from higher socio-economic areas.

This thesis investigated Māori engagement in ECE from one low socio-economic area in New Zealand using an overarching Kaupapa Māori methodology. Semi-structured interviews were held with five participants from the low socio-economic area using a case study research design. My analysis found that there were many reasons behind the parents' decisions to send their children to ECE or not. It can be concluded that Māori engagement with ECE is dependent upon parents’ early life experiences and their cultural values.

year: 2024