title: Moving to opportunity, leaving behind what? Evaluating the initial effects of a migration policy on incomes and poverty in source areas

authors: McKenzie, David

subjects: emigration

abstract: Migration to New Zealand and consequent remittance inflows are dominant features of many Pacific Island countries. Evaluating the effect of these people and money flows on incomes and poverty in the Pacific is potentially complicated by the non-random selection of emigrants. This paper uses the randomization provided by an immigration ballot under the Pacific Access Category (PAC) of New Zealand’s immigration policy to address this problem. We survey applicants to the 2002-05 PAC ballots in Tonga and compare outcomes for the remaining family of emigrants with those for similar families who were unsuccessful in the ballots. We then contrast these estimates with more conventional ones that construct no-emigration counterfactuals by deducting remittance income from the remaining family of PAC emigrants and adding back the potential home earnings of emigrants. The results suggest that the economic welfare of remaining family may fall in the initial period after members of their household move to New Zealand. We also find that non-experimental methods of constructing counterfactual income are likely to work well only in rare situations where there is random selection of emigrants.

text: Moving to opportunity, leaving behind what? Evaluating the initial effects of a migration policy on incomes and poverty in source areas Migration to New Zealand and consequent remittance inflows are dominant features of many Pacific Island countries. Evaluating the effect of these people and money flows on incomes and poverty in the Pacific is potentially complicated by the non-random selection of emigrants. This paper uses the randomization provided by an immigration ballot under the Pacific Access Category (PAC) of New Zealand’s immigration policy to address this problem. We survey applicants to the 2002-05 PAC ballots in Tonga and compare outcomes for the remaining family of emigrants with those for similar families who were unsuccessful in the ballots. We then contrast these estimates with more conventional ones that construct no-emigration counterfactuals by deducting remittance income from the remaining family of PAC emigrants and adding back the potential home earnings of emigrants. The results suggest that the economic welfare of remaining family may fall in the initial period after members of their household move to New Zealand. We also find that non-experimental methods of constructing counterfactual income are likely to work well only in rare situations where there is random selection of emigrants.

year: 2007-11

title: Surrogate modeling a computational fluid dynamics-based wind turbine wake simulation using machine learning

authors: Wilson, Brett

subjects: computer science

abstract: The Wind Farm Layout Optimization problem involves finding the optimal positions for wind turbines on a wind farm site. Current Metahueristic based methods make use of a combination of turbine specifications and parameters, mathematical models and empirically produced power production equations to estimate the energy output of a real wind farm [15]. The overarching variable in any optimisation function is wind speed - this is what used to determine the power generated. Therefore, accurate predictions of wind speeds at specific points across the volume of the site are needed. In this paper, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate a full scale rotating wind turbine blade with fluid (air) at various wind speeds flowing past the turbine. The wake effect can be observed and leads to decrease in wind speeds, as expected. Wind speed at specific x,y and z (3D) coordinates were sampled and used as input to common Machine Learning regression algorithms to create different surrogate models. This was needed as each individual CFD experiment takes approximately 8 hours to complete, so it is not feasible to continuously repeat these simulations inside a metaheuristic optimiser.

text: Surrogate modeling a computational fluid dynamics-based wind turbine wake simulation using machine learning The Wind Farm Layout Optimization problem involves finding the optimal positions for wind turbines on a wind farm site. Current Metahueristic based methods make use of a combination of turbine specifications and parameters, mathematical models and empirically produced power production equations to estimate the energy output of a real wind farm [15]. The overarching variable in any optimisation function is wind speed - this is what used to determine the power generated. Therefore, accurate predictions of wind speeds at specific points across the volume of the site are needed. In this paper, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate a full scale rotating wind turbine blade with fluid (air) at various wind speeds flowing past the turbine. The wake effect can be observed and leads to decrease in wind speeds, as expected. Wind speed at specific x,y and z (3D) coordinates were sampled and used as input to common Machine Learning regression algorithms to create different surrogate models. This was needed as each individual CFD experiment takes approximately 8 hours to complete, so it is not feasible to continuously repeat these simulations inside a metaheuristic optimiser.

year: 2017

title: Re-examining the best interests of child principle. Can this help tamariki and rangatahi Māori achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health?

authors: Karunaratne, Kalupathirannehelage Dona Thilini Prathiba

abstract: This thesis explores how a re-examination of the best interests of the child principle can assist tamariki and
rangatahi Māori to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health. Although New Zealand has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, which enshrines the “best interests of the child” principle, significant disparities in mental health outcomes remain between tamariki and
rangatahi Māori and non-Māori children and young people. Drawing on international human rights law, domestic legislation, case law, and Māori concepts of health and wellbeing, this thesis develops a theoretical
and practical framework for reducing these mental health disparities. It explores whether New Zealand can utilise the best interests principle in a way that recognises and incorporates the unique cultural identity and
collective rights of tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The flexible nature of the best interests principle is leveraged to integrate collective cultural rights and Māori worldviews into mental health law and policies. By doing so, it aims to facilitate greater recognition of Māori collective rights and practices within NewZealand's legal and healthcare systems.
This research proposes that a culturally-informed interpretation of the best interests principle, aligned with Māori worldviews and values, is important for fulfilling New Zealand’s international obligations and the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health for tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The thesis contends that decisions concerning the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in mental health
should be guided by a “by Māori, for Māori” approach, which informs and shapes the broader application of the best interests principle. Through this analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the improvement of mental health outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

text: Re-examining the best interests of child principle. Can this help tamariki and rangatahi Māori achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health? This thesis explores how a re-examination of the best interests of the child principle can assist tamariki and
rangatahi Māori to achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health. Although New Zealand has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, which enshrines the “best interests of the child” principle, significant disparities in mental health outcomes remain between tamariki and
rangatahi Māori and non-Māori children and young people. Drawing on international human rights law, domestic legislation, case law, and Māori concepts of health and wellbeing, this thesis develops a theoretical
and practical framework for reducing these mental health disparities. It explores whether New Zealand can utilise the best interests principle in a way that recognises and incorporates the unique cultural identity and
collective rights of tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The flexible nature of the best interests principle is leveraged to integrate collective cultural rights and Māori worldviews into mental health law and policies. By doing so, it aims to facilitate greater recognition of Māori collective rights and practices within NewZealand's legal and healthcare systems.
This research proposes that a culturally-informed interpretation of the best interests principle, aligned with Māori worldviews and values, is important for fulfilling New Zealand’s international obligations and the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health for tamariki and rangatahi Māori. The thesis contends that decisions concerning the best interests of tamariki and rangatahi Māori in mental health
should be guided by a “by Māori, for Māori” approach, which informs and shapes the broader application of the best interests principle. Through this analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the improvement of mental health outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi Māori.

year: 2026