title: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park 2021 Long-term monitoring: Report on ecological restoration progress

authors: Farnworth, Bridgette

abstract: This report was requested by Tui 2000 Inc. and the Hamilton City Council (HCC) as a means of tracking terrestrial restoration progress at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (WNHP). WNHP is a cutting-edge urban ecological restoration project in which ecosystems representative of the Hamilton Ecological District are being reconstructed from scratch on public land in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Larger-scale projects of this nature are becoming more commonplace around the globe due to growing emphasis on restoring nature in urban areas. While this report quantifies the remarkable restoration success achieved at WNHP through investments by Tui 2000 Inc., HCC and the community since 2004, it also contributes to scientific theory. Restoration ecology is a newly developing scientific field and hence WNHP presents a unique opportunity for ecologists to improve restoration practice and also learn from the results.
Here we share results from data analysed from 25 permanent monitoring plots throughout WNHP, spanning planting years since the beginning of planting in 2004 through to 2017 (14 years of planting). These plots are located across the five main ecosystem types (i.e., planting zones) being restored. This information should be used to inform current management and future planning for WNHP.
In the 2021 monitoring, we measured key variables of forest development, including: canopy openness, native tree basal area, non-native herbaceous groundcover, leaf litter, dead trees, native tree seedling abundance and species richness, and epiphyte colonisation. Linear regression models revealed a statistically significant relationship between all (except dead trees and native tree seedling abundance) of these ecosystem variables and forest age. We note that there are several thresholds between 12 - 16 years since the initial restoration planting: basal area increased and the canopy openness decreased, reducing the light availability at the forest floor, thus reducing the non-native herbaceous groundcover from 100% to ~25% in 12 years (with one plot having 0% cover). With these ecosystem changes, important indicators of functioning forests appeared around the same time, such as leaf litter accrual (up to 95% groundcover) and an increasing number of dead trees (up to 37 dead small trees in one monitoring plot), native seedling recruitment (in abundance and species richness), and fern cover.
The results in the report generally signal positive restoration progress. Now a focus is required on non-native weed and invasive mammalian pest control management, paired with careful enrichment planting, and where needed, infill of mid/late-successional plants. Enrichment planting and weed/pest management will help secure the investment in initial plantings by starting the longer-term next phase of forest development, while also creating a more species-diverse ecosystem, resilient to the manifold pressures of the urban landscape, disease, and climate change.

text: Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park 2021 Long-term monitoring: Report on ecological restoration progress This report was requested by Tui 2000 Inc. and the Hamilton City Council (HCC) as a means of tracking terrestrial restoration progress at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park (WNHP). WNHP is a cutting-edge urban ecological restoration project in which ecosystems representative of the Hamilton Ecological District are being reconstructed from scratch on public land in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Larger-scale projects of this nature are becoming more commonplace around the globe due to growing emphasis on restoring nature in urban areas. While this report quantifies the remarkable restoration success achieved at WNHP through investments by Tui 2000 Inc., HCC and the community since 2004, it also contributes to scientific theory. Restoration ecology is a newly developing scientific field and hence WNHP presents a unique opportunity for ecologists to improve restoration practice and also learn from the results.
Here we share results from data analysed from 25 permanent monitoring plots throughout WNHP, spanning planting years since the beginning of planting in 2004 through to 2017 (14 years of planting). These plots are located across the five main ecosystem types (i.e., planting zones) being restored. This information should be used to inform current management and future planning for WNHP.
In the 2021 monitoring, we measured key variables of forest development, including: canopy openness, native tree basal area, non-native herbaceous groundcover, leaf litter, dead trees, native tree seedling abundance and species richness, and epiphyte colonisation. Linear regression models revealed a statistically significant relationship between all (except dead trees and native tree seedling abundance) of these ecosystem variables and forest age. We note that there are several thresholds between 12 - 16 years since the initial restoration planting: basal area increased and the canopy openness decreased, reducing the light availability at the forest floor, thus reducing the non-native herbaceous groundcover from 100% to ~25% in 12 years (with one plot having 0% cover). With these ecosystem changes, important indicators of functioning forests appeared around the same time, such as leaf litter accrual (up to 95% groundcover) and an increasing number of dead trees (up to 37 dead small trees in one monitoring plot), native seedling recruitment (in abundance and species richness), and fern cover.
The results in the report generally signal positive restoration progress. Now a focus is required on non-native weed and invasive mammalian pest control management, paired with careful enrichment planting, and where needed, infill of mid/late-successional plants. Enrichment planting and weed/pest management will help secure the investment in initial plantings by starting the longer-term next phase of forest development, while also creating a more species-diverse ecosystem, resilient to the manifold pressures of the urban landscape, disease, and climate change.

year: 2021

title: The relative effectiveness of alternative treatments for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

authors: Heriot, S.A.

abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of pharmacological and behavioural interventions for young children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A randomised between-groups (2 x 2) double blind design was used to compare four treatment conditions: (a) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent training programme; (b) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent support group; (c) placebo medication and parent training; and (d) placebo medication and parent support group. Treatment duration was approximately 8 weeks. The 16 families who completed the study involved children aged from 3 to 5 years and their parents (typically their mothers). All children met stringent diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and five children also met diagnostic criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Changes were assessed on parent and teacher rating scales that measured problems with attention, activity and impulse control and oppositional/defiant behaviours, direct observation during compliance and attention tasks, cognitive measures (Continuous Performance Task), and parenting and family factors. Analysis of results showed that either active treatment component (i.e., methylphenidate versus parent training) was not better than the other. The combination of active treatment components however led to significant improvements in teacher ratings of behaviour associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and oppositional defiant behaviour with a similar, although generally statistically nonsignificant, trend in parent ratings. There was a significant and large degree of variability in performance on the cognitive measures and statistical analysis of group differences was not feasible; however, examination of individual data indicated increases in sustained attention and ability to inhibit behaviour for all children receiving combined active treatments. During a compliance task, the number of repeat commands issued by mothers decreased and levels of child compliance increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention levels for the total sample, irrespective of treatment condition. The quality of family relationships also improved for the total sample. At post-intervention, 7 out of 16 children no longer met diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 2 out of 5 no longer met criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Several independent variables, such as gender, marital status, co-existing disorder, severity of behavioural problems, and level of parental warmth and family relationships, were found not to be predictive of post-intervention status. Findings are discussed within the framework of a transactional model. Analysis of the current data set indicates that successful outcomes for young children, at least in the short term, are more likely following combined treatments. Outcomes however may depend less upon the type of treatment per se than on whether treatment leads to changes in critical child-parent interactions, such as improvement in parental attitudes and positive attention towards the child.

text: The relative effectiveness of alternative treatments for young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of pharmacological and behavioural interventions for young children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A randomised between-groups (2 x 2) double blind design was used to compare four treatment conditions: (a) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent training programme; (b) 0.3mg/kg methylphenidate and parent support group; (c) placebo medication and parent training; and (d) placebo medication and parent support group. Treatment duration was approximately 8 weeks. The 16 families who completed the study involved children aged from 3 to 5 years and their parents (typically their mothers). All children met stringent diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and five children also met diagnostic criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Changes were assessed on parent and teacher rating scales that measured problems with attention, activity and impulse control and oppositional/defiant behaviours, direct observation during compliance and attention tasks, cognitive measures (Continuous Performance Task), and parenting and family factors. Analysis of results showed that either active treatment component (i.e., methylphenidate versus parent training) was not better than the other. The combination of active treatment components however led to significant improvements in teacher ratings of behaviour associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and oppositional defiant behaviour with a similar, although generally statistically nonsignificant, trend in parent ratings. There was a significant and large degree of variability in performance on the cognitive measures and statistical analysis of group differences was not feasible; however, examination of individual data indicated increases in sustained attention and ability to inhibit behaviour for all children receiving combined active treatments. During a compliance task, the number of repeat commands issued by mothers decreased and levels of child compliance increased significantly from pre- to post-intervention levels for the total sample, irrespective of treatment condition. The quality of family relationships also improved for the total sample. At post-intervention, 7 out of 16 children no longer met diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and 2 out of 5 no longer met criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Several independent variables, such as gender, marital status, co-existing disorder, severity of behavioural problems, and level of parental warmth and family relationships, were found not to be predictive of post-intervention status. Findings are discussed within the framework of a transactional model. Analysis of the current data set indicates that successful outcomes for young children, at least in the short term, are more likely following combined treatments. Outcomes however may depend less upon the type of treatment per se than on whether treatment leads to changes in critical child-parent interactions, such as improvement in parental attitudes and positive attention towards the child.

year: 1999

title: Identifying fisheries regions in New Zealand: Some conceptual difficulties

authors: Rennie, Hamish Gordon

subjects: Fisheries

abstract: The importance of fisheries to nations is reflected in the production and employment statistics of the country. It is also reflected in socio-cultural symbols (for instance songs, tales), and in socio-political hegemonies.  Just as these may vary from one nation to another, they may also vary from region to region within a nation.  Several nations speak openly in terms of 'fisheries regions' and there have been a number of attempts to identify such regions in the social science literature. An understanding of these regions is seen as step towards defining appropriate policies for the sustainable management of their resources.

In 1986, New Zealand established an innovative fishery management system based on individually transferable quota (ITQ), and subsequently removed the (never-implemented) region-based, fishery management planning structure from the statutes.  These changes might be indicative of a loss of geography, a flattening of the nation's "fishing topography", and might be expected to result in significant changes to the nature and location of fisheries regions.

This paper outlines the changes in the management structure of New Zealand's fisheries. We then attempt a preliminary analysis of fisheries regions in New Zealand as the basis for a "new regional" geography of New Zealand's fisheries. In the process we discuss various criteria for defining fishery regions and present our initial categorisation of New Zealand into those regions. The relationship between these regions and related institutional structures is then discussed. This raises a number of additional questions regarding the concept of a fisheries region, especially in the context of a resurgent indigenous (Maaori) culture, the emergence of new fishing peoples in New Zealand, and the respective size of recreational and commercial fishing sectors.

text: Identifying fisheries regions in New Zealand: Some conceptual difficulties The importance of fisheries to nations is reflected in the production and employment statistics of the country. It is also reflected in socio-cultural symbols (for instance songs, tales), and in socio-political hegemonies.  Just as these may vary from one nation to another, they may also vary from region to region within a nation.  Several nations speak openly in terms of 'fisheries regions' and there have been a number of attempts to identify such regions in the social science literature. An understanding of these regions is seen as step towards defining appropriate policies for the sustainable management of their resources.

In 1986, New Zealand established an innovative fishery management system based on individually transferable quota (ITQ), and subsequently removed the (never-implemented) region-based, fishery management planning structure from the statutes.  These changes might be indicative of a loss of geography, a flattening of the nation's "fishing topography", and might be expected to result in significant changes to the nature and location of fisheries regions.

This paper outlines the changes in the management structure of New Zealand's fisheries. We then attempt a preliminary analysis of fisheries regions in New Zealand as the basis for a "new regional" geography of New Zealand's fisheries. In the process we discuss various criteria for defining fishery regions and present our initial categorisation of New Zealand into those regions. The relationship between these regions and related institutional structures is then discussed. This raises a number of additional questions regarding the concept of a fisheries region, especially in the context of a resurgent indigenous (Maaori) culture, the emergence of new fishing peoples in New Zealand, and the respective size of recreational and commercial fishing sectors.

year: 1998-06-01