title: Mammalian Pests in the Waikato Region

authors: Breedt, Brandon

subjects: pest

abstract: This project aimed to use camera traps to study the distribution of seven important mammalian pests across the three main vegetation types of the Waikato Region and to see if this method is a more informative alternative to other passive detection methods. For this study, the species of interest are the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), ship rat (Rattus rattus), house mouse (Mus musculus), stoat (Mustela erminea), ferret (Mustela putorius), and weasel (Mustela nivalis).

The objectives of this study were to 1) calculate the distribution of each mammalian pest within the three main vegetation types of the Waikato Region 2) to determine site occupancy i.e. patchiness of species distribution within these habitats, and the probability of detection where they are present and 3) to evaluate whether the above parameters are influenced by the seasons and/or interactions between the species.

To meet these objectives, I measured five parameters related to site occupancy and activity levels for each species, and use the results to present an estimate of the proportion of the Waikato Region occupied by each species.

These analyses suggest that suggest that species distributions are very much dependent on habitat, but a large portion of all species was accounted for by pastoral areas. Even when species are not particularly abundant on pasture, it makes up more than half of the Waikato, and as such is potentially a source for reinvasions of controlled areas when not cleared in concert with the surrounding areas.

text: Mammalian Pests in the Waikato Region This project aimed to use camera traps to study the distribution of seven important mammalian pests across the three main vegetation types of the Waikato Region and to see if this method is a more informative alternative to other passive detection methods. For this study, the species of interest are the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), ship rat (Rattus rattus), house mouse (Mus musculus), stoat (Mustela erminea), ferret (Mustela putorius), and weasel (Mustela nivalis).

The objectives of this study were to 1) calculate the distribution of each mammalian pest within the three main vegetation types of the Waikato Region 2) to determine site occupancy i.e. patchiness of species distribution within these habitats, and the probability of detection where they are present and 3) to evaluate whether the above parameters are influenced by the seasons and/or interactions between the species.

To meet these objectives, I measured five parameters related to site occupancy and activity levels for each species, and use the results to present an estimate of the proportion of the Waikato Region occupied by each species.

These analyses suggest that suggest that species distributions are very much dependent on habitat, but a large portion of all species was accounted for by pastoral areas. Even when species are not particularly abundant on pasture, it makes up more than half of the Waikato, and as such is potentially a source for reinvasions of controlled areas when not cleared in concert with the surrounding areas.

year: 2017

title: Future Nostalgia: Performing David Bowie

authors: Perrott, Lisa

subjects: Arts & Humanities

abstract: This article reviews the book “Future Nostalgia: Performing David Bowie”, by Shelton Waldrep.

text: Future Nostalgia: Performing David Bowie This article reviews the book “Future Nostalgia: Performing David Bowie”, by Shelton Waldrep.

year: 2018

title: Understanding contemporary Māori demographic fertility patterns and trends in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Rarere, Moana

abstract: This thesis re-examines demographic studies of contemporary Māori fertility patterns and trends. Analysing fertility is a core undertaking in demography, and in studies that include Māori fertility, most have been undertaken by non-Māori demographers who instinctively draw on Western-based frameworks to analyse and interpret these trends.  Consequently, Māori perspectives are virtually invisible.  Incorporating Māori perspectives are needed because despite a convergence of fertility similar to Pākehā, important fertility patterns persist.  Notably, Māori women bear their babies earlier and over a longer period.  Fertility studies of other Indigenous peoples in settler-colonial states share striking similarities.  While demographic and economic factors are important in fertility outcomes, this thesis primarily explores the potential influence of culture, which has received little attention.  Hence, this doctoral study asks: To what extent does culture influence contemporary Māori fertility patterns?

This thesis draws on Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine frameworks, along with the tools of demography, to deploy a mixed methods design of statistical techniques – using secondary data from the 2013 Aotearoa NZ Census and the 1995 New Zealand Women: Family, Employment, and Education Survey – and thematic analysis of interviews with nine Māori women.  While acknowledging the limitations of the analyses, the empirical results suggest that ‘cultural identity’ is an important factor in Māori fertility, and that ‘whakapapa’ and ‘whānau’ are at the heart of fertility decisions.  These findings broadly imply that taken-for-granted demographic theories and analytical practices need to incorporate Indigenous-centred frameworks and perspectives for a better understanding of Indigenous fertility and population change.

text: Understanding contemporary Māori demographic fertility patterns and trends in Aotearoa New Zealand This thesis re-examines demographic studies of contemporary Māori fertility patterns and trends. Analysing fertility is a core undertaking in demography, and in studies that include Māori fertility, most have been undertaken by non-Māori demographers who instinctively draw on Western-based frameworks to analyse and interpret these trends.  Consequently, Māori perspectives are virtually invisible.  Incorporating Māori perspectives are needed because despite a convergence of fertility similar to Pākehā, important fertility patterns persist.  Notably, Māori women bear their babies earlier and over a longer period.  Fertility studies of other Indigenous peoples in settler-colonial states share striking similarities.  While demographic and economic factors are important in fertility outcomes, this thesis primarily explores the potential influence of culture, which has received little attention.  Hence, this doctoral study asks: To what extent does culture influence contemporary Māori fertility patterns?

This thesis draws on Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine frameworks, along with the tools of demography, to deploy a mixed methods design of statistical techniques – using secondary data from the 2013 Aotearoa NZ Census and the 1995 New Zealand Women: Family, Employment, and Education Survey – and thematic analysis of interviews with nine Māori women.  While acknowledging the limitations of the analyses, the empirical results suggest that ‘cultural identity’ is an important factor in Māori fertility, and that ‘whakapapa’ and ‘whānau’ are at the heart of fertility decisions.  These findings broadly imply that taken-for-granted demographic theories and analytical practices need to incorporate Indigenous-centred frameworks and perspectives for a better understanding of Indigenous fertility and population change.

year: 2024