title: The Taupo eruption occurred in 232 ± 10 CE, and not later

authors: Hogg, Alan G.

abstract: The Taupo eruption1 deposit is an isochronous marker bed that spans much of New Zealand’s North Island and pre-dates human arrival² . Holdaway et al. (2018; HDK18 hereafter)³ propose that the current Taupo eruption date is inaccurate and that the eruption occurred “…decades to two centuries…” after the published wiggle-match estimate of 232 ± 10 CE (2 s.d.)⁴ derived from a tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) tree at the Pureora buried forest Site⁵,⁶. HDK18 propose that trees growing at Pureora (and other near-source areas) that were killed and buried by the climactic ignimbrite event were affected by ¹⁴C-depleted (magmatic) CO₂. HDK18’s proposal utilises a wide range of published ¹⁴C data, but their work results in assertions that are implausible. Four parts to their hypothesis are considered here

text: The Taupo eruption occurred in 232 ± 10 CE, and not later The Taupo eruption1 deposit is an isochronous marker bed that spans much of New Zealand’s North Island and pre-dates human arrival² . Holdaway et al. (2018; HDK18 hereafter)³ propose that the current Taupo eruption date is inaccurate and that the eruption occurred “…decades to two centuries…” after the published wiggle-match estimate of 232 ± 10 CE (2 s.d.)⁴ derived from a tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides) tree at the Pureora buried forest Site⁵,⁶. HDK18 propose that trees growing at Pureora (and other near-source areas) that were killed and buried by the climactic ignimbrite event were affected by ¹⁴C-depleted (magmatic) CO₂. HDK18’s proposal utilises a wide range of published ¹⁴C data, but their work results in assertions that are implausible. Four parts to their hypothesis are considered here

year: 2018

title: Corporate environmental performance and its impact on financial performance and financial risk: Evidence from Australia

authors: Muhammad, Noor

abstract: This thesis consists of four essays on Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) and its impact on Corporate Financial Performance (CFP). The first essay is entitled “Emission Indices for Hazardous Substances: An Alternative Measure of Corporate Environmental Performance”. This essay reviewed significant interdisciplinary research and concluded that firm chemical release/emission can be used as a proxy for a firm measure of environmental performance. It also proposed that due to the variety of chemicals and different levels of toxicity, a risk factor should be calculated for all chemicals on the basis of human health risk, environment risk and risk of exposure. Once a single risk factor is calculated for each chemical, then it should be multiplied by the level of each company chemical release that is reported to National Pollutant Inventory in order to calculate the weighted average risk factor for each company. Thus, the weighted average risk is a robust measure having the combined effect of level of toxicity and volume of chemical emissions.
Once the environmental performance index is formulated, the second essay investigated the nature of the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance of publicly listed companies in Australia. The second essay provided evidence that the nature of the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance is positive. Further, this study divided the sample into a period of economic growth (2001-2007) and a period of economic contraction (2008-2010). The multivariate regression estimation shows a positive relation between CEP and CFP in the period of economic growth but during the extra ordinary circumstances like the financial crisis this relationship is insignificant. This research is of great relevance for managers, academics and society at large.
The third essay investigates the relationship between Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) and financial risk for Australian listed companies from 2001-2010. Three financial risk measures including firm market risk, systematic risk and downside risk were used. The analytical procedure based on fixed effects estimation provides strong evidence that environmental performance is negatively and statistically associated with market volatility and to different measures of downside risk. The third essay results show that downside risk is a better measure of firm risk especially when investors are not showing linear sensitivity to changes in prices. Therefore, this study concludes that environmental performance (reduction in toxic emissions) provides a wealth protection effect. The results are robust after controlling for several moderating effects including financial, institutional and environmental management.
The fourth essay analyses the causal relationship between firm financial performance and environmental performance. The results provide convincing support for the idea that there is a bi-directional relationship between CEP and CFP in both the short and long run. These results support the Hart and Ahuja (1996) hunch that a ‘virtuous circle’ exists with regard to the relationship between pollution prevention and CFP, that is, firms can realize cost savings and plough these savings back into further emission reduction projects for a number of years before the benefits balance turns negative.

text: Corporate environmental performance and its impact on financial performance and financial risk: Evidence from Australia This thesis consists of four essays on Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) and its impact on Corporate Financial Performance (CFP). The first essay is entitled “Emission Indices for Hazardous Substances: An Alternative Measure of Corporate Environmental Performance”. This essay reviewed significant interdisciplinary research and concluded that firm chemical release/emission can be used as a proxy for a firm measure of environmental performance. It also proposed that due to the variety of chemicals and different levels of toxicity, a risk factor should be calculated for all chemicals on the basis of human health risk, environment risk and risk of exposure. Once a single risk factor is calculated for each chemical, then it should be multiplied by the level of each company chemical release that is reported to National Pollutant Inventory in order to calculate the weighted average risk factor for each company. Thus, the weighted average risk is a robust measure having the combined effect of level of toxicity and volume of chemical emissions.
Once the environmental performance index is formulated, the second essay investigated the nature of the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance of publicly listed companies in Australia. The second essay provided evidence that the nature of the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance is positive. Further, this study divided the sample into a period of economic growth (2001-2007) and a period of economic contraction (2008-2010). The multivariate regression estimation shows a positive relation between CEP and CFP in the period of economic growth but during the extra ordinary circumstances like the financial crisis this relationship is insignificant. This research is of great relevance for managers, academics and society at large.
The third essay investigates the relationship between Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP) and financial risk for Australian listed companies from 2001-2010. Three financial risk measures including firm market risk, systematic risk and downside risk were used. The analytical procedure based on fixed effects estimation provides strong evidence that environmental performance is negatively and statistically associated with market volatility and to different measures of downside risk. The third essay results show that downside risk is a better measure of firm risk especially when investors are not showing linear sensitivity to changes in prices. Therefore, this study concludes that environmental performance (reduction in toxic emissions) provides a wealth protection effect. The results are robust after controlling for several moderating effects including financial, institutional and environmental management.
The fourth essay analyses the causal relationship between firm financial performance and environmental performance. The results provide convincing support for the idea that there is a bi-directional relationship between CEP and CFP in both the short and long run. These results support the Hart and Ahuja (1996) hunch that a ‘virtuous circle’ exists with regard to the relationship between pollution prevention and CFP, that is, firms can realize cost savings and plough these savings back into further emission reduction projects for a number of years before the benefits balance turns negative.

year: 2014

title: Desirable attributes for medical graduates: The health aspirations and needs of Maaori living in Te Rohe Pootae

authors: Maikuku, Victoria Louisa Wikitoria

abstract: Health disparities for Maaori, the tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand, are prevalent when compared to the health of European New Zealanders, and even more so in remote and rural communities where access to health-care services is limited. Moreover, Maaori are underrepresented in the medical workforce in which there is a serious and escalating shortage of doctors and nurses.

In the context of the University of Waikato’s proposal to establish a Graduate Entry Medical School, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health has identified the need for a collaborative approach to ‘growing’ a fit-for-purpose health workforce with the skills and commitment to care for and work with Maaori (and Pacific peoples) living in remote and rural communities. This study thus explores the health perspectives, needs, and aspirations of Maaori living in and around the King Country rural service towns of Te Kuiti and OOtorohanga. Conducted by a Ngaati Maniapoto tribal member, the location for the study is known by Maaori as Te Rohe Pootae - the lands of Rereahu/Maniapoto, to which the Waikato people sort refuge after the invasion and confiscation of their lands in the 1860s. The perspectives, needs, and aspirations of Pacific peoples living in these communities have been explored in a ‘sister’ Masters study conducted by Janina Galewski.

The present exploratory study incorporates a co-design research process underpinned by an Indigenous health framework with Kaupapa Maaori values. Kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 community members, 11 males and 19 females aged 18 years and over. The data analysis included a combination of values, verses and holistic, and provisional coding methods (focused, thematic, descriptive) (Saldana, 2021).

The findings reveal that these community members view themselves as either rural or remote based on distance, access to services, and geographic isolation, but not population numbers. In terms of services, they want a mobile health workforce including clinics, carers, doctors, nurses; mental health workers who are equipped with the resources and time needed to reach and serve their patients; and better access to dialysis and related services. The research also identifies three healthcare strategies. When ill or injured, one-third of the group go directly to their GP; one-third try other things before seeking medical assistance, including going home to their parents and/or to their marae for comfort and advice, ‘going bush’ to (re)connect with nature, and forms of pure (cleansing rituals); and although the remaining third are registered with medical centres they do everything they can to avoid seeing a doctor at all. Instead, they rely on rongoaa and other ‘complementary and alternative’ treatments such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and other healers. 

Adopting and adapting a table created by Woolley et al. (2013), the findings also revealed three sets of desirable attributes for medical graduates (and other healthcare professionals): Skill-based attributes include quality care and communication skills, knowledge-based attributes include medical knowledge and culturally appropriate knowledge, while attitude-based attributes include personality and community engagement. This framework can be used to inform a medical education curriculum, with a specific emphasis on the health needs and aspirations of Maaori living in rural and remote communities.

text: Desirable attributes for medical graduates: The health aspirations and needs of Maaori living in Te Rohe Pootae Health disparities for Maaori, the tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand, are prevalent when compared to the health of European New Zealanders, and even more so in remote and rural communities where access to health-care services is limited. Moreover, Maaori are underrepresented in the medical workforce in which there is a serious and escalating shortage of doctors and nurses.

In the context of the University of Waikato’s proposal to establish a Graduate Entry Medical School, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health has identified the need for a collaborative approach to ‘growing’ a fit-for-purpose health workforce with the skills and commitment to care for and work with Maaori (and Pacific peoples) living in remote and rural communities. This study thus explores the health perspectives, needs, and aspirations of Maaori living in and around the King Country rural service towns of Te Kuiti and OOtorohanga. Conducted by a Ngaati Maniapoto tribal member, the location for the study is known by Maaori as Te Rohe Pootae - the lands of Rereahu/Maniapoto, to which the Waikato people sort refuge after the invasion and confiscation of their lands in the 1860s. The perspectives, needs, and aspirations of Pacific peoples living in these communities have been explored in a ‘sister’ Masters study conducted by Janina Galewski.

The present exploratory study incorporates a co-design research process underpinned by an Indigenous health framework with Kaupapa Maaori values. Kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 community members, 11 males and 19 females aged 18 years and over. The data analysis included a combination of values, verses and holistic, and provisional coding methods (focused, thematic, descriptive) (Saldana, 2021).

The findings reveal that these community members view themselves as either rural or remote based on distance, access to services, and geographic isolation, but not population numbers. In terms of services, they want a mobile health workforce including clinics, carers, doctors, nurses; mental health workers who are equipped with the resources and time needed to reach and serve their patients; and better access to dialysis and related services. The research also identifies three healthcare strategies. When ill or injured, one-third of the group go directly to their GP; one-third try other things before seeking medical assistance, including going home to their parents and/or to their marae for comfort and advice, ‘going bush’ to (re)connect with nature, and forms of pure (cleansing rituals); and although the remaining third are registered with medical centres they do everything they can to avoid seeing a doctor at all. Instead, they rely on rongoaa and other ‘complementary and alternative’ treatments such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and other healers. 

Adopting and adapting a table created by Woolley et al. (2013), the findings also revealed three sets of desirable attributes for medical graduates (and other healthcare professionals): Skill-based attributes include quality care and communication skills, knowledge-based attributes include medical knowledge and culturally appropriate knowledge, while attitude-based attributes include personality and community engagement. This framework can be used to inform a medical education curriculum, with a specific emphasis on the health needs and aspirations of Maaori living in rural and remote communities.

year: 2022