title: The Effect of Binge-drinking on an Individual’s Mood over a Thirty-Day Period.

authors: van Dyk, Rickardt Gerhardus

subjects: Mood

abstract: An issue of great importance within New Zealand society is the high level of binge drinking. The effects of alcohol on consumers’ health are of great concern. Physical, psychological, social, economic and behavioural aspects have been researched over the years by multiple disciplines. The effects of binge-drinking and the ‘hangover’ effects on mood levels were investigated in this research project. Fifty participants (25 males and 25 females) who regularly participated in binge drinking were selected to partake. All participants completed questionnaires which included demographic information, attitudes towards drinking and drinking behaviours. This was followed by completing the Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). All participants were required to complete a 30 day mood rating scale. This was designed as a five-point rating scale system. These rating scales looked at, anxiety, depression, emotion, physiological and provided an overall rating. This also included recording the number of standard drinks consumed the previous evening, types of alcohol consumed, and the number of hours slept. Ten randomly selected participants were interviewed. The results collected were significant and supported the predictions that there is a relationship between the number of standard drinks consumed and increased levels of anxiety and depression, however the correlations were rather weak. The findings also supported the predictions that there is a link between the numbers of standard drinks consumed and decreased levels of physical mood, emotional mood and overall daily mood. The effect of alcohol in regards to increasing aggressive behaviour was evident in the male group, however not in the female group.

text: The Effect of Binge-drinking on an Individual’s Mood over a Thirty-Day Period. An issue of great importance within New Zealand society is the high level of binge drinking. The effects of alcohol on consumers’ health are of great concern. Physical, psychological, social, economic and behavioural aspects have been researched over the years by multiple disciplines. The effects of binge-drinking and the ‘hangover’ effects on mood levels were investigated in this research project. Fifty participants (25 males and 25 females) who regularly participated in binge drinking were selected to partake. All participants completed questionnaires which included demographic information, attitudes towards drinking and drinking behaviours. This was followed by completing the Alcohol Use Questionnaire (AUQ) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). All participants were required to complete a 30 day mood rating scale. This was designed as a five-point rating scale system. These rating scales looked at, anxiety, depression, emotion, physiological and provided an overall rating. This also included recording the number of standard drinks consumed the previous evening, types of alcohol consumed, and the number of hours slept. Ten randomly selected participants were interviewed. The results collected were significant and supported the predictions that there is a relationship between the number of standard drinks consumed and increased levels of anxiety and depression, however the correlations were rather weak. The findings also supported the predictions that there is a link between the numbers of standard drinks consumed and decreased levels of physical mood, emotional mood and overall daily mood. The effect of alcohol in regards to increasing aggressive behaviour was evident in the male group, however not in the female group.

year: 2012

title: The Value of Irrigation Water in New Zealand

authors: Kravchenko, Alexey

subjects: irrigation

abstract: The aim of this thesis is to examine issues pertaining to freshwater quantity in New Zealand agriculture. Currently, freshwater is managed under the Resource Management Act (1991) and the allocation system is essentially on a “first-come first-served” basis – whoever gains access to water rights first blocks out subsequent users, if catchment allocation limits have been reached.   One of the recommendations from a government taskforce engaged to look at the issues of freshwater management suggests that market mechanisms or charges could be viable options of demand management. For any such market or price mechanism to work, it is imperative to know the value of irrigation water in New Zealand as well as to understand wider economic ramifications of establishing such mechanisms. Currently, there is relatively little research concerning these issues and this thesis aims to fill this research gap. The methodologies used include an econometric analysis of dairy farm panel data, a stated choice experiment of irrigation consent holders and a computable general equilibrium [CGE] analysis. In addition to filling the research gap, this thesis also aims to provide improvements in each of the methodologies used. Panel data analysis imputes the water demand function without actual data on water through examining the relationship between milksolid production and output-weighted expected payout – a unique dairy price index developed that more accurately reflects farmers’ incentives than the final payout. The choice modelling section pays particular attention to the issue of attribute non-attendance [ANA], eexamining  its effects on model outputs and compares methods of data collection on ANA. The main findings of the survey suggest that the majority of farmers would be willing to pay for water instead of facing an abstraction ban. In terms of ANA, the results indicate that not accounting for ANA, particularly if it is due to heuristics or respondent fatigue, may significantly bias the welfare estimates and decrease statistical significance. A novel calibration method is presented to negate the ANA bias. Finally, the CGE modelling work modifies the well-known GTAP model to include water as factor of production, as well as to disaggregate the results to a regional level within the New Zealand economy. The findings indicate strong interconnectedness between sectors and regions, with policies in one region having the potential to affect economic activity and resource demand in other regions.

text: The Value of Irrigation Water in New Zealand The aim of this thesis is to examine issues pertaining to freshwater quantity in New Zealand agriculture. Currently, freshwater is managed under the Resource Management Act (1991) and the allocation system is essentially on a “first-come first-served” basis – whoever gains access to water rights first blocks out subsequent users, if catchment allocation limits have been reached.   One of the recommendations from a government taskforce engaged to look at the issues of freshwater management suggests that market mechanisms or charges could be viable options of demand management. For any such market or price mechanism to work, it is imperative to know the value of irrigation water in New Zealand as well as to understand wider economic ramifications of establishing such mechanisms. Currently, there is relatively little research concerning these issues and this thesis aims to fill this research gap. The methodologies used include an econometric analysis of dairy farm panel data, a stated choice experiment of irrigation consent holders and a computable general equilibrium [CGE] analysis. In addition to filling the research gap, this thesis also aims to provide improvements in each of the methodologies used. Panel data analysis imputes the water demand function without actual data on water through examining the relationship between milksolid production and output-weighted expected payout – a unique dairy price index developed that more accurately reflects farmers’ incentives than the final payout. The choice modelling section pays particular attention to the issue of attribute non-attendance [ANA], eexamining  its effects on model outputs and compares methods of data collection on ANA. The main findings of the survey suggest that the majority of farmers would be willing to pay for water instead of facing an abstraction ban. In terms of ANA, the results indicate that not accounting for ANA, particularly if it is due to heuristics or respondent fatigue, may significantly bias the welfare estimates and decrease statistical significance. A novel calibration method is presented to negate the ANA bias. Finally, the CGE modelling work modifies the well-known GTAP model to include water as factor of production, as well as to disaggregate the results to a regional level within the New Zealand economy. The findings indicate strong interconnectedness between sectors and regions, with policies in one region having the potential to affect economic activity and resource demand in other regions.

year: 2016

title: Te mātauranga whakatere waka

authors: Tuaupiki, Jackie Whetumarama

abstract: Hei tēnei tuhinga e whai ake nei, ka tirohia te hangarau waka a ngā tūpuna o Te Moana nui a Kiwa i whakawhiti ai rātou ki ō rātou moutere tae atu ki te mātauranga whakatere waka me te arotahi o te titiro ki te whakatinanatanga o aua mātauranga. Ka tāmutu i konā, ka pūhia te titiro i runga i ngā huarere o Poronīhia e kite ai tātou i ngā āhuatanga o Tāwhirimātea i ōna moutere me ngā wero ki te whakatere waka i ērā huarere.

text: Te mātauranga whakatere waka Hei tēnei tuhinga e whai ake nei, ka tirohia te hangarau waka a ngā tūpuna o Te Moana nui a Kiwa i whakawhiti ai rātou ki ō rātou moutere tae atu ki te mātauranga whakatere waka me te arotahi o te titiro ki te whakatinanatanga o aua mātauranga. Ka tāmutu i konā, ka pūhia te titiro i runga i ngā huarere o Poronīhia e kite ai tātou i ngā āhuatanga o Tāwhirimātea i ōna moutere me ngā wero ki te whakatere waka i ērā huarere.

year: 2017