title: Heterosexuality and home: Intimacies of space and spaces of touch

authors: Morrison, Carey-Ann

subjects: heterosexuality

abstract: This paper uses the notion of touch to understand further the production of heterosexual bodies and home spaces. Specifically, it argues that the everyday geographies of heterosexual touch are an important constituent of homemaking. Considering the ordinary acts of heterosexual touch and home encourages a more nuanced reading of the mutually constitutive relationship between bodies and space. It challenges normative notions about the naturalness and normality of heterosexuality. Drawing on data from joint semi-structured interviews, solicited diaries and self-directed photography with 14 women in heterosexual relationships who live in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand, I offer an in-depth, critical and nuanced analysis of sexualised touch. Building on suggestions that touch is more than simply cutaneous contact, I show that heterosexual bodies touch and feel bodies, spaces and objects in a variety of ways.

text: Heterosexuality and home: Intimacies of space and spaces of touch This paper uses the notion of touch to understand further the production of heterosexual bodies and home spaces. Specifically, it argues that the everyday geographies of heterosexual touch are an important constituent of homemaking. Considering the ordinary acts of heterosexual touch and home encourages a more nuanced reading of the mutually constitutive relationship between bodies and space. It challenges normative notions about the naturalness and normality of heterosexuality. Drawing on data from joint semi-structured interviews, solicited diaries and self-directed photography with 14 women in heterosexual relationships who live in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand, I offer an in-depth, critical and nuanced analysis of sexualised touch. Building on suggestions that touch is more than simply cutaneous contact, I show that heterosexual bodies touch and feel bodies, spaces and objects in a variety of ways.

year: 2010

title: Modelling the impact of sewage reticulation in the Lake Tarawera catchment

authors: Dada, Ayokunle Christopher

abstract: In order to inform efforts being considered for the management of catchment sources of nutrient pollution into Lake Tarawera, a study was commissioned by the Lake Tarawera Ratepayers Association. This study, conducted by the University of Waikato, was specifically to assess the potential impacts of sewage reticulation on lake water quality.
Analyses of available data indicate that Lake Tarawera is regionally unique in that the majority of its phosphorus (P) load and a substantial portion of its nitrogen (N) load appear to be derived from a combination of ‘tributary’ lakes and geothermal sources. This may help explain the relatively high P concentrations and low N: P ratio in the lake. Waste water from septic systems contribute 3.3% (2.9t N y⁻¹) of the total N load and 2.7% (0.29 t P y⁻¹) of the total P load to Lake Tarawera This source of nutrients represents approximately 15% of the ‘manageable’ load from land use in the surface catchment. Mass balance models are often used to estimate catchment external load corresponding to desired in-lake nutrient concentrations or trophic state (assuming internal loading is negligible). In this study we adopted a reverse approach, using mass balance models to estimate the response of in-lake concentrations to changes in external load (namely, with and without sewage reticulation). Retention of phosphorus was estimated using the method of Vollenweider (1976) and retention of nitrogen was estimated after Harrison et al. (2009), with external load retention coefficients¹ of 0.73 and 0.72 for P and N, respectively.
Improperly treated domestic sewage from lakeside properties may contain pathogens including bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths (intestinal worms and worm-like parasites). Historical measurements of E.coli concentrations from tap water samples collected from a number of sites around the lake between 1991 and 2015 were thus analysed, as many residential properties draw water directly from the lake and/or from closely linked groundwater. Given that microbiological noncompliance of drinking water samples was prevalent at most (6 out of 10) of the sampling locations considered in this analysis, authorities may need to look into more frequent testing and to reduce potential sources of faecal contamination within the catchment, including failed septic tanks, to improve public safety. In light of the current study, wastewater reticulation could make a significant contribution to mitigating public health risks associated with poorly performing on-site treatment systems.
From a public health perspective, this study also highlights the need for efforts aimed at investigating and curbing potential sources of faecal contamination of drinking water sources within the catchment. This could include the commissioning of a microbial source tracking study that uses appropriate genetic markers to discriminate among the possible sources of faecal pollution within tap water used for domestic purposes in the Lake Tarawera catchment. These efforts ideally would be put in place before and after the execution of any sewage management intervention to initially establish the extent of human faecal contamination from faulty septic tanks and ultimately, to confirm that the sewage management efforts put in place are effective.
As part of Lake Tarawera water quality management plan, a wastewater reticulation system will reduce nutrient loading by 3 to 5%. Modelling of the reticulation of wastewater nutrient loads revealed that the impact on lake water nutrient concentrations is minor, as wastewater represents a small component of overall N and P loads to Lake Tarawera. Nevertheless, much of the load to the lake is from sources that are difficult to mitigate (e.g. geothermal, other lakes). Further, time lags in response of the nutrient loads to the lake may be lower due to the proximity of current wastewater inputs to the lake shore (as opposed to diffuse inputs from land use on the upper reaches of the catchment). Therefore, implementation of a reticulated sewage system as part of an overall plan to reduce loading of P and N into Lake Tarawera may be a desirable management initiative as it could make a contribution to improving manageable sources of nutrients from the lake catchment. In addition, a reticulated sewage system will reduce public health risks associated with poorly performing on-site treatment systems. From a public health perspective, efforts such as further intensive sampling for faecal coliforms in drinking water, as well as the commissioning of microbial source tracking studies to identify faulty septic tanks is recommended. These investigations will also provide information on the performance of sewage management efforts (and optimisation) to reduce the discharge of pathogenic contaminants into the lake. This report has not made recommendations on the costs or value for money that sewage reticulation would entail. These considerations will be essential to complement our environmental investigation and underpin considerations of a reticulated sewage system for Lake Tarawera.

text: Modelling the impact of sewage reticulation in the Lake Tarawera catchment In order to inform efforts being considered for the management of catchment sources of nutrient pollution into Lake Tarawera, a study was commissioned by the Lake Tarawera Ratepayers Association. This study, conducted by the University of Waikato, was specifically to assess the potential impacts of sewage reticulation on lake water quality.
Analyses of available data indicate that Lake Tarawera is regionally unique in that the majority of its phosphorus (P) load and a substantial portion of its nitrogen (N) load appear to be derived from a combination of ‘tributary’ lakes and geothermal sources. This may help explain the relatively high P concentrations and low N: P ratio in the lake. Waste water from septic systems contribute 3.3% (2.9t N y⁻¹) of the total N load and 2.7% (0.29 t P y⁻¹) of the total P load to Lake Tarawera This source of nutrients represents approximately 15% of the ‘manageable’ load from land use in the surface catchment. Mass balance models are often used to estimate catchment external load corresponding to desired in-lake nutrient concentrations or trophic state (assuming internal loading is negligible). In this study we adopted a reverse approach, using mass balance models to estimate the response of in-lake concentrations to changes in external load (namely, with and without sewage reticulation). Retention of phosphorus was estimated using the method of Vollenweider (1976) and retention of nitrogen was estimated after Harrison et al. (2009), with external load retention coefficients¹ of 0.73 and 0.72 for P and N, respectively.
Improperly treated domestic sewage from lakeside properties may contain pathogens including bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths (intestinal worms and worm-like parasites). Historical measurements of E.coli concentrations from tap water samples collected from a number of sites around the lake between 1991 and 2015 were thus analysed, as many residential properties draw water directly from the lake and/or from closely linked groundwater. Given that microbiological noncompliance of drinking water samples was prevalent at most (6 out of 10) of the sampling locations considered in this analysis, authorities may need to look into more frequent testing and to reduce potential sources of faecal contamination within the catchment, including failed septic tanks, to improve public safety. In light of the current study, wastewater reticulation could make a significant contribution to mitigating public health risks associated with poorly performing on-site treatment systems.
From a public health perspective, this study also highlights the need for efforts aimed at investigating and curbing potential sources of faecal contamination of drinking water sources within the catchment. This could include the commissioning of a microbial source tracking study that uses appropriate genetic markers to discriminate among the possible sources of faecal pollution within tap water used for domestic purposes in the Lake Tarawera catchment. These efforts ideally would be put in place before and after the execution of any sewage management intervention to initially establish the extent of human faecal contamination from faulty septic tanks and ultimately, to confirm that the sewage management efforts put in place are effective.
As part of Lake Tarawera water quality management plan, a wastewater reticulation system will reduce nutrient loading by 3 to 5%. Modelling of the reticulation of wastewater nutrient loads revealed that the impact on lake water nutrient concentrations is minor, as wastewater represents a small component of overall N and P loads to Lake Tarawera. Nevertheless, much of the load to the lake is from sources that are difficult to mitigate (e.g. geothermal, other lakes). Further, time lags in response of the nutrient loads to the lake may be lower due to the proximity of current wastewater inputs to the lake shore (as opposed to diffuse inputs from land use on the upper reaches of the catchment). Therefore, implementation of a reticulated sewage system as part of an overall plan to reduce loading of P and N into Lake Tarawera may be a desirable management initiative as it could make a contribution to improving manageable sources of nutrients from the lake catchment. In addition, a reticulated sewage system will reduce public health risks associated with poorly performing on-site treatment systems. From a public health perspective, efforts such as further intensive sampling for faecal coliforms in drinking water, as well as the commissioning of microbial source tracking studies to identify faulty septic tanks is recommended. These investigations will also provide information on the performance of sewage management efforts (and optimisation) to reduce the discharge of pathogenic contaminants into the lake. This report has not made recommendations on the costs or value for money that sewage reticulation would entail. These considerations will be essential to complement our environmental investigation and underpin considerations of a reticulated sewage system for Lake Tarawera.

year: 2016

title: Maori women and dual ethnicity: Non-congruence, “passing” and “real Maori”

authors: Gibson, Kelly

subjects: Maori

abstract: In this study, I wanted to explore the often uncomfortable experience of having dual ethnicity. I did
this through open-ended interviews with nine women, who, like me, were aged between 20 and 30
and who identified as being of both Maori and Pakeha (or other) descent.
While the women all identified as having dual ethnicity, as the interviews progressed it became
clear that many of them had little pride in being of Pakeha descent and identified more strongly
with their Maori heritage. In most instances the way they were identified by other people was
incongruent with how the participants identified themselves. By virtue of having fair skin, many
were able to “pass” as Pakeha. This provided them with certain advantages, notably being exempt
from racist treatment. On the other hand, their appearance often resulted in them being labelled as
not being a “real Maori.” Paradoxically, when they were identified as Maori, others, both Maori
and non-Maori, sometimes expected them to be an expert in all things Maori. For most participants
being a “real” Maori did not rely on looking Maori or on being able to speak Te Reo fluently.
Instead, having whakapapa was considered the most essential element on which to base their Maori
identity.

text: Maori women and dual ethnicity: Non-congruence, “passing” and “real Maori” In this study, I wanted to explore the often uncomfortable experience of having dual ethnicity. I did
this through open-ended interviews with nine women, who, like me, were aged between 20 and 30
and who identified as being of both Maori and Pakeha (or other) descent.
While the women all identified as having dual ethnicity, as the interviews progressed it became
clear that many of them had little pride in being of Pakeha descent and identified more strongly
with their Maori heritage. In most instances the way they were identified by other people was
incongruent with how the participants identified themselves. By virtue of having fair skin, many
were able to “pass” as Pakeha. This provided them with certain advantages, notably being exempt
from racist treatment. On the other hand, their appearance often resulted in them being labelled as
not being a “real Maori.” Paradoxically, when they were identified as Maori, others, both Maori
and non-Maori, sometimes expected them to be an expert in all things Maori. For most participants
being a “real” Maori did not rely on looking Maori or on being able to speak Te Reo fluently.
Instead, having whakapapa was considered the most essential element on which to base their Maori
identity.

year: 1999