title: Exhibiting care in captivity: Charisma, design and animal welfare in visitor experience and education at Hamilton Zoo

authors: Clements, Aidan

abstract: As urban spaces grow, New Zealanders have become increasingly separated from nature. Zoos are locations where the public can interact with exotic animals, sometimes for the first time. Employing ethnographic research methods, this study investigates how conservation education opportunities are created by the Hamilton Zoo staff, and how the visitors to Hamilton Zoo engage with this education and messaging during their visits. This research found that the charisma of animals in zoos is one mediating factor in how visitors may become invested in conservation education. This research also found that the design of the enclosure, and other zoo spaces may also limit or enhance a visitor's educational experience in the zoo. This is both in terms of how accessible the animal is for viewing, and how visitors may understand welfare conditions at a zoo, potentially impacting their support for zoos and their conservation goals. These factors drive how zoo visitors perceive the zookeepers, and Hamilton Zoo more generally, in their position as experts. The education of visitors to Hamilton Zoo on local and global conservation issues is most effective in circumstances when these visitors are able to connect with the animals. This might be through behind-the-scenes encounters, conversations with keepers or when the animals in the enclosures are easily visible and active.

text: Exhibiting care in captivity: Charisma, design and animal welfare in visitor experience and education at Hamilton Zoo As urban spaces grow, New Zealanders have become increasingly separated from nature. Zoos are locations where the public can interact with exotic animals, sometimes for the first time. Employing ethnographic research methods, this study investigates how conservation education opportunities are created by the Hamilton Zoo staff, and how the visitors to Hamilton Zoo engage with this education and messaging during their visits. This research found that the charisma of animals in zoos is one mediating factor in how visitors may become invested in conservation education. This research also found that the design of the enclosure, and other zoo spaces may also limit or enhance a visitor's educational experience in the zoo. This is both in terms of how accessible the animal is for viewing, and how visitors may understand welfare conditions at a zoo, potentially impacting their support for zoos and their conservation goals. These factors drive how zoo visitors perceive the zookeepers, and Hamilton Zoo more generally, in their position as experts. The education of visitors to Hamilton Zoo on local and global conservation issues is most effective in circumstances when these visitors are able to connect with the animals. This might be through behind-the-scenes encounters, conversations with keepers or when the animals in the enclosures are easily visible and active.

year: 2025

title: An X-ray absorption spectroscopy investigation of the coordination environment of electrogenerated Ni(ii)-pseudohalide complexes arising from the anodic polarization of Ni electrodes in DMSO solutions of NCO⁻ , NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻ ions

authors: Alwis, Kethsiri H.K.L.

subjects: EXAFS/XANES

abstract: X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to provide direct information in solution on the coordination state of electrogenerated products from anodically polarized nickel electrodes in pseudohalide-ion-containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent (i.e. NCX⁻, X = O, S, Se) in the presence of a supporting electrolyte of tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP). Electrogenerated solutions and model solutions representative of the chemical speciation in electrolyzed systems (prepared by mixing Ni(II) and pseudohalide ion solutions in DMSO), were also examined. In general for Ni(II) interacting with NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻, the complex ion generated appears to be 6-coordinate [Ni(NCX)(DMSO)5]⁺, while EXAFS/XANES data of the Ni/cyanate system suggest an average coordination number of 5, which in reality is due to the electrogenerated solution containing a mixture of 4 coordinate (tetrahedral) [Ni(NCO)4]²⁻ and octahedral [Ni(DMSO)6]²⁺ species. These observations of the octahedral geometry for the Ni(II)/thiocyanate and Ni(II)/selenocyanate systems and 5-coordinate geometry in the Ni(II)/cyanate systems (being electrogenerated products of anodic polarisation of Ni in the DMSO-supported pseudohalide ion electrolytes) agree with the differences in colour observed between samples. EXAFS/XANES measurements combined with IR spectroelectrochemical analyses of solutions provide a versatile way of analyzing these electrochemical systems without the need for isolating compounds from the electrolyte.

text: An X-ray absorption spectroscopy investigation of the coordination environment of electrogenerated Ni(ii)-pseudohalide complexes arising from the anodic polarization of Ni electrodes in DMSO solutions of NCO⁻ , NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻ ions X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to provide direct information in solution on the coordination state of electrogenerated products from anodically polarized nickel electrodes in pseudohalide-ion-containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent (i.e. NCX⁻, X = O, S, Se) in the presence of a supporting electrolyte of tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP). Electrogenerated solutions and model solutions representative of the chemical speciation in electrolyzed systems (prepared by mixing Ni(II) and pseudohalide ion solutions in DMSO), were also examined. In general for Ni(II) interacting with NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻, the complex ion generated appears to be 6-coordinate [Ni(NCX)(DMSO)5]⁺, while EXAFS/XANES data of the Ni/cyanate system suggest an average coordination number of 5, which in reality is due to the electrogenerated solution containing a mixture of 4 coordinate (tetrahedral) [Ni(NCO)4]²⁻ and octahedral [Ni(DMSO)6]²⁺ species. These observations of the octahedral geometry for the Ni(II)/thiocyanate and Ni(II)/selenocyanate systems and 5-coordinate geometry in the Ni(II)/cyanate systems (being electrogenerated products of anodic polarisation of Ni in the DMSO-supported pseudohalide ion electrolytes) agree with the differences in colour observed between samples. EXAFS/XANES measurements combined with IR spectroelectrochemical analyses of solutions provide a versatile way of analyzing these electrochemical systems without the need for isolating compounds from the electrolyte.

year: 2015

title: Piahana Hou: a Ngati Rahiri rangatira

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Piahana Hou, as the half-brother of Karauna Hou, had an illustrious ancestry, but to Pakeha he was known as, briefly, the skipper of a river steamer and, for most of his life, as a labourer. His interests in several blocks of land enabled him to obtain money through selling some of his holdings, but he never became prosperous. He had minimal involvement in mining at Te Aroha.
Piahana came to prominence not as a rangatira but as a drunk, who was even involved in a bar fight at Te Aroha. Despite this weakness, his high status meant that hundreds attended his splendid tangi. Unlike some other rangatira, he did not use his status to play an important role in either Maori or Pakeha society.

text: Piahana Hou: a Ngati Rahiri rangatira Piahana Hou, as the half-brother of Karauna Hou, had an illustrious ancestry, but to Pakeha he was known as, briefly, the skipper of a river steamer and, for most of his life, as a labourer. His interests in several blocks of land enabled him to obtain money through selling some of his holdings, but he never became prosperous. He had minimal involvement in mining at Te Aroha.
Piahana came to prominence not as a rangatira but as a drunk, who was even involved in a bar fight at Te Aroha. Despite this weakness, his high status meant that hundreds attended his splendid tangi. Unlike some other rangatira, he did not use his status to play an important role in either Maori or Pakeha society.

year: 2016