title: Modelling the impact of policies to reduce environmental impacts in the New Zealand dairy sector

authors: Rae, Allan N.

subjects: global CGE model

abstract: Agriculture remains a major sector of the New Zealand economy, with the vast majority of farm and food production exported. The accelerating intensification of farming in New Zealand over recent decades raises concern over the current sustainability of New Zealand farming, and whether it can remain so in the future. In this study, we focus on the impacts of policies to reduce environmental impacts of dairy farming, with a particular focus on nitrogen pollution and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. We use a modified version of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model and database, with improved specification of the agricultural sector and land-use. We augment the model with environmental indicators for New Zealand, including nitrogen balances and GHG emissions.
We simulate a range of scenarios involving reductions in fertiliser use and stocking rates on dairy farms, from an updated 2010 database. In particular, we consider seven scenarios, with the objective of exploring reductions in the dairy stocking rate and the application of nitrogenous fertiliser to dairy farms to target reductions in the dairy sector’s nitrogen balance of 10%, 20% and 30%. Reducing fertiliser use and stocking rates are two of the approaches that dairy farmers can take in order to reduce their emissions of nitrogen and GHGs. Our results suggest that the nitrogen balance could be reduced by 10% with a 16% cut in nitrogenous fertiliser and a 5% fall in the stocking rate. Reducing fertiliser use and stocking rate by 31% and 11% respectively could result in a 20% cut to the dairy sector’s nitrogen balance. To achieve a 30% reduction in the nitrogen balance, our results suggest that the cut back in fertiliser use would need to be 45%, with the stocking rate reduced by 19%. Across these scenarios, our results indicate that value added in the dairy farm sector could fall by between 2% and 13%, while export earnings from dairy products may fall by between US$269 million and US$1,145 million.

text: Modelling the impact of policies to reduce environmental impacts in the New Zealand dairy sector Agriculture remains a major sector of the New Zealand economy, with the vast majority of farm and food production exported. The accelerating intensification of farming in New Zealand over recent decades raises concern over the current sustainability of New Zealand farming, and whether it can remain so in the future. In this study, we focus on the impacts of policies to reduce environmental impacts of dairy farming, with a particular focus on nitrogen pollution and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. We use a modified version of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model and database, with improved specification of the agricultural sector and land-use. We augment the model with environmental indicators for New Zealand, including nitrogen balances and GHG emissions.
We simulate a range of scenarios involving reductions in fertiliser use and stocking rates on dairy farms, from an updated 2010 database. In particular, we consider seven scenarios, with the objective of exploring reductions in the dairy stocking rate and the application of nitrogenous fertiliser to dairy farms to target reductions in the dairy sector’s nitrogen balance of 10%, 20% and 30%. Reducing fertiliser use and stocking rates are two of the approaches that dairy farmers can take in order to reduce their emissions of nitrogen and GHGs. Our results suggest that the nitrogen balance could be reduced by 10% with a 16% cut in nitrogenous fertiliser and a 5% fall in the stocking rate. Reducing fertiliser use and stocking rate by 31% and 11% respectively could result in a 20% cut to the dairy sector’s nitrogen balance. To achieve a 30% reduction in the nitrogen balance, our results suggest that the cut back in fertiliser use would need to be 45%, with the stocking rate reduced by 19%. Across these scenarios, our results indicate that value added in the dairy farm sector could fall by between 2% and 13%, while export earnings from dairy products may fall by between US$269 million and US$1,145 million.

year: 2011-03

title: How does the concept of guanxi help foreign managers do business in China?

authors: Jiang, Nanqian (Katie)

subjects: Guanxi

abstract: China's fast growing market potential is undoubted. However entering China has never been an easy task for foreign firms and business practitioners. Not only the complex market environment, but also the complex business relationship networks in another word, Guanxi make it difficult for foreign firms to operate profitably. The purpose of this study is to explore some major issues of Guanxi concept, and to provide some practical solutions for foreign managers to use when dealing with Guanxi in their businesses. Both qualitative research and quantitative research were carried out. The author interviewed nine Chinese and foreign managers and surveyed hundreds of respondents in several industries. The findings confirm Guanxi's important role in Chinese society and business world. This study also discovers some major practical issues that could influence quality of Guanxi, either positively or negatively, which gives foreign managers great direction on initiation and maintenance of their Guanxi network. The findings suggest that learning some Chinese culture and having a reliable Chinese partner have positive effect on building Guanxi networks. However, this study shows a quite different result on future role of Guanxi compared with existing literatures: the role of Guanxi would either not change, or increase in China in the future. In addition, foreign managers need to be aware that Guanxi is indeed important, but it does not mean everything in market activities, the core marketing principles are always essential in any market, including China.

text: How does the concept of guanxi help foreign managers do business in China? China's fast growing market potential is undoubted. However entering China has never been an easy task for foreign firms and business practitioners. Not only the complex market environment, but also the complex business relationship networks in another word, Guanxi make it difficult for foreign firms to operate profitably. The purpose of this study is to explore some major issues of Guanxi concept, and to provide some practical solutions for foreign managers to use when dealing with Guanxi in their businesses. Both qualitative research and quantitative research were carried out. The author interviewed nine Chinese and foreign managers and surveyed hundreds of respondents in several industries. The findings confirm Guanxi's important role in Chinese society and business world. This study also discovers some major practical issues that could influence quality of Guanxi, either positively or negatively, which gives foreign managers great direction on initiation and maintenance of their Guanxi network. The findings suggest that learning some Chinese culture and having a reliable Chinese partner have positive effect on building Guanxi networks. However, this study shows a quite different result on future role of Guanxi compared with existing literatures: the role of Guanxi would either not change, or increase in China in the future. In addition, foreign managers need to be aware that Guanxi is indeed important, but it does not mean everything in market activities, the core marketing principles are always essential in any market, including China.

year: 2009

title: Maori goddesses in literature. Part 2: 1900-1940

authors: Yates-Smith, Aroha

subjects: Atua wāhine

abstract: Many contemporary Māori are familiar with atua wāhine, Māori goddesses, through accounts that have been passed on to them by word of mouth. Few, however, have had an opportunity to consult accounts of atua wāhine that date from the early period of Māori-Pākehā contact. Those who wish to do so may have considerable difficulty in sifting through all of the written materials for the information they seek. For this reason, this paper provides a review of the literature pertaining to atua wāhine from 1900 to 1940, together with a commentary on the sources to which reference is made. A review of literature on atua wāhine from 1880 – 1900 appeared in the first issue of this Journal. The period 1940 towards 2000 will be reviewed in the next issue.

text: Maori goddesses in literature. Part 2: 1900-1940 Many contemporary Māori are familiar with atua wāhine, Māori goddesses, through accounts that have been passed on to them by word of mouth. Few, however, have had an opportunity to consult accounts of atua wāhine that date from the early period of Māori-Pākehā contact. Those who wish to do so may have considerable difficulty in sifting through all of the written materials for the information they seek. For this reason, this paper provides a review of the literature pertaining to atua wāhine from 1900 to 1940, together with a commentary on the sources to which reference is made. A review of literature on atua wāhine from 1880 – 1900 appeared in the first issue of this Journal. The period 1940 towards 2000 will be reviewed in the next issue.

year: 2001-02