title: What land is included?

authors: Oppatt, Neil

abstract: Neil has served the Rotorua District as both a Rotorua District Councillor for 15 years and now 9 years as a BOP Regional Councillor. Throughout this time Neil has been actively involved in the cleanup of Rotorua's lakes. He is presently a BOPRC appointee on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group and was an RDC appointee on its predecessor.
He has held positions as Chairman of RDC’s Finance Committee, BOPRC’s Operations and Regulations Committee and the Special Projects Committee set up to address Rotorua lake issues. Neil chaired the Lake Okareka Action Plan Committee and was a BOPRC appointee on the Lake Tarawera Action Plan Committee. Presently he is the BOPRC appointee on the Rotorua catchment Stakeholders Advisory Group.

text: What land is included? Neil has served the Rotorua District as both a Rotorua District Councillor for 15 years and now 9 years as a BOP Regional Councillor. Throughout this time Neil has been actively involved in the cleanup of Rotorua's lakes. He is presently a BOPRC appointee on the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group and was an RDC appointee on its predecessor.
He has held positions as Chairman of RDC’s Finance Committee, BOPRC’s Operations and Regulations Committee and the Special Projects Committee set up to address Rotorua lake issues. Neil chaired the Lake Okareka Action Plan Committee and was a BOPRC appointee on the Lake Tarawera Action Plan Committee. Presently he is the BOPRC appointee on the Rotorua catchment Stakeholders Advisory Group.

year: 2013

title: Reconnection with DNA: Policy and issues with direct-to-consumer DNA testing for indigenous Māori identity reclamation

authors: Turanga, Karen

abstract: The disconnection of tangata whenua (indigenous people born of the land) impacts all social determinants. A clear sense of identity and connection to the land and culture is an important solution to this problem. The purpose of this research is to share a personal and whānau (family group) story of using direct-to-consumer (DTC) autosomal DNA genetic testing (GT) to determine ancestry and show others a potential path forward to identity reclamation. To fulfil this purpose and explain the policy context, the research examines historical assimilation policies of closed cross-cultural adoption, and the possibilities DNA technology offers for whakapapa (genealogy, lineage descent, family history) reconnection. This includes addressing two key research questions: How does DTC-GT facilitate reconnection to Māori identity and whakapapa for cross-cultural adoptees? What are the short, medium and long-term risks and advantages of DTC autosomal DTC-GT testing for iwi Māori? A bricolage methodology frames this research and draws on kaupapa Māori (Māori approach, principles, and ideology), autoethnography, and interpretive phenomenology, which are used to analyse academic commentary and key policy decisions. An autoethnographic layered practice approach presents insights and key findings by combining personal narratives with various media types, academic research, policy documents and popular culture. The research highlights how the implicit processes of policy-led assimilation and colonisation still need to be challenged today. Existing literature has identified the importance of giving Māori pathways to reconnect with their identity. The personal story shared explains how DNA technology offers a way to do that, but the research completed for this thesis demonstrates this approach has serious risks and limitations that require consideration before utilising this technology.

text: Reconnection with DNA: Policy and issues with direct-to-consumer DNA testing for indigenous Māori identity reclamation The disconnection of tangata whenua (indigenous people born of the land) impacts all social determinants. A clear sense of identity and connection to the land and culture is an important solution to this problem. The purpose of this research is to share a personal and whānau (family group) story of using direct-to-consumer (DTC) autosomal DNA genetic testing (GT) to determine ancestry and show others a potential path forward to identity reclamation. To fulfil this purpose and explain the policy context, the research examines historical assimilation policies of closed cross-cultural adoption, and the possibilities DNA technology offers for whakapapa (genealogy, lineage descent, family history) reconnection. This includes addressing two key research questions: How does DTC-GT facilitate reconnection to Māori identity and whakapapa for cross-cultural adoptees? What are the short, medium and long-term risks and advantages of DTC autosomal DTC-GT testing for iwi Māori? A bricolage methodology frames this research and draws on kaupapa Māori (Māori approach, principles, and ideology), autoethnography, and interpretive phenomenology, which are used to analyse academic commentary and key policy decisions. An autoethnographic layered practice approach presents insights and key findings by combining personal narratives with various media types, academic research, policy documents and popular culture. The research highlights how the implicit processes of policy-led assimilation and colonisation still need to be challenged today. Existing literature has identified the importance of giving Māori pathways to reconnect with their identity. The personal story shared explains how DNA technology offers a way to do that, but the research completed for this thesis demonstrates this approach has serious risks and limitations that require consideration before utilising this technology.

year: 2025-08-08

title: A systems approach to the description and interpretation of the landsurface of the northern half of the North Island, New Zealand

authors: Conacher, A.J.

abstract: The paper examines a framework of approach within which landsurface analysis may be undertaken in the humid-temperate northern half of the North Island, New Zealand; an area exhibiting a wide range of lithologies and surface cover, with evidence of recent and current tectonic and volcanic activity, and undergoing active geomorphic processes'. The largely theoretical formulations of W. M. Davis, W. Penck and L. C. King are considered briefly and are rejected on both theoretical and practical grounds. General systems theory encompasses certain concepts and systems properties which have been applied by a number of geomorphologists. The open system property of dynamic equilibrium is examined, and is found to be inapplicable to the total landsurface of this region. The concepts of environment and sub-system are introduced and their relevance to the region illustrated by a physical hillslope model. Dynamic equilibrium is considered to be a possible state of certain hillslope sub-systems. Construction of a mathematical model to describe the total landsurface or the entire hillslope system is not feasible until hillslope sub-systems have been analysed. The form of a linear regression model applicable to hillslope sub-systems is introduced, and it is suggested that the pattern of the residuals from regression may be used as a statistical technique to assist in identifying .significant system boundary conditions, and to provide a quantitative indication of the influence of historical factors.

text: A systems approach to the description and interpretation of the landsurface of the northern half of the North Island, New Zealand The paper examines a framework of approach within which landsurface analysis may be undertaken in the humid-temperate northern half of the North Island, New Zealand; an area exhibiting a wide range of lithologies and surface cover, with evidence of recent and current tectonic and volcanic activity, and undergoing active geomorphic processes'. The largely theoretical formulations of W. M. Davis, W. Penck and L. C. King are considered briefly and are rejected on both theoretical and practical grounds. General systems theory encompasses certain concepts and systems properties which have been applied by a number of geomorphologists. The open system property of dynamic equilibrium is examined, and is found to be inapplicable to the total landsurface of this region. The concepts of environment and sub-system are introduced and their relevance to the region illustrated by a physical hillslope model. Dynamic equilibrium is considered to be a possible state of certain hillslope sub-systems. Construction of a mathematical model to describe the total landsurface or the entire hillslope system is not feasible until hillslope sub-systems have been analysed. The form of a linear regression model applicable to hillslope sub-systems is introduced, and it is suggested that the pattern of the residuals from regression may be used as a statistical technique to assist in identifying .significant system boundary conditions, and to provide a quantitative indication of the influence of historical factors.

year: 1967