title: The Thames miners’ union

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: More of a friendly society than a class conscious workers’ movement, the Thames Miners’ Union was formed in 1890 as a branch of the Amalgamated Miners’ Association of Australasia. The state of mining at this time in Australia and New Zealand discouraged militancy, and although the inaugural meeting agreed that miners must stand together to protect their rights, it was hoped to avoid strike action. Because of its focus on ‘practical sympathy’, meaning providing financial assistance to members in need, the new union had wide public support, as illustrated by non-miners joining as honorary members.
From the start, the union wished to assist its members by regulating hours and wages, and was willing to look beyond its confines to assist other unions’ struggles. Accepting that capitalists were needed if mining was to develop, it would in time seek legislation to benefit the industry. Mini-biographies of the leading members of the new union and of some of its branches in outlying mining districts (including at Te Aroha) illustrate the moderate nature of these men. Some were mine managers, most were active within the wider community, and all were thoroughly respectable. Examples are included of harmonious relationships between miners and their managers.
Accident and health benefit payments were devised, and public concerts were held for the union’s ‘benevolvent fund’. Miners’ Union Demonstrations, held annually to mark the union’s founding, included parades and sports meetings involving members’ families. Miners’ halls became the social centres of mining communities. Involvement in national politics commenced when a labour candidate, a clergyman, stood for the Thames electorate.
In the Te Aroha district, the first association was an accident relief fund, which involved non-miners. A branch of the union had only a brief life because of the rapid decline of mining there.
By the twentieth century there were demands for more militancy, especially at Waihi, where the policies of the Waihi Company provoked resistance amongst the workers. By then Hauraki miners were experiencing increased unemployment, with companies under-manning or not working some of their ground, all causes for complaint. In 1903 the Waihi branch would break away from the parent union, which steadily declined as mining declined. The Thames Miners’ Union, which exalted the ‘dignity of honest labour’, gently faded away without ever calling a strike.

text: The Thames miners’ union More of a friendly society than a class conscious workers’ movement, the Thames Miners’ Union was formed in 1890 as a branch of the Amalgamated Miners’ Association of Australasia. The state of mining at this time in Australia and New Zealand discouraged militancy, and although the inaugural meeting agreed that miners must stand together to protect their rights, it was hoped to avoid strike action. Because of its focus on ‘practical sympathy’, meaning providing financial assistance to members in need, the new union had wide public support, as illustrated by non-miners joining as honorary members.
From the start, the union wished to assist its members by regulating hours and wages, and was willing to look beyond its confines to assist other unions’ struggles. Accepting that capitalists were needed if mining was to develop, it would in time seek legislation to benefit the industry. Mini-biographies of the leading members of the new union and of some of its branches in outlying mining districts (including at Te Aroha) illustrate the moderate nature of these men. Some were mine managers, most were active within the wider community, and all were thoroughly respectable. Examples are included of harmonious relationships between miners and their managers.
Accident and health benefit payments were devised, and public concerts were held for the union’s ‘benevolvent fund’. Miners’ Union Demonstrations, held annually to mark the union’s founding, included parades and sports meetings involving members’ families. Miners’ halls became the social centres of mining communities. Involvement in national politics commenced when a labour candidate, a clergyman, stood for the Thames electorate.
In the Te Aroha district, the first association was an accident relief fund, which involved non-miners. A branch of the union had only a brief life because of the rapid decline of mining there.
By the twentieth century there were demands for more militancy, especially at Waihi, where the policies of the Waihi Company provoked resistance amongst the workers. By then Hauraki miners were experiencing increased unemployment, with companies under-manning or not working some of their ground, all causes for complaint. In 1903 the Waihi branch would break away from the parent union, which steadily declined as mining declined. The Thames Miners’ Union, which exalted the ‘dignity of honest labour’, gently faded away without ever calling a strike.

year: 2016

title: Variation in mandible shape and body size of house mice Mus musculus across the New Zealand archipelago: A Trans-Tasman comparison using geometric morphometrics

authors: West, Annie Grace

subjects: geometric morphometrics

abstract: Islands create unique environments that provide niche expansion opportunities for invading species not previously available on continental areas. This thesis investigates variation in house mouse mandible shape and body size across the New Zealand archipelago, and aims to identify environmental variables that might influence change between island populations using geometric morphometric techniques.
Mice were introduced to New Zealand in the early 19th century with European explorers and settlers. The Mus phylogroups currently known in New Zealand include Mus musculus domesticus, M. m. musculus, and M. m. castaneus. Each of these subspecies has a distinct distribution throughout the archipelago, with M. m. domesticus dominating the northern New Zealand ‘mainland’.
Past studies have shown habitat composition and co-existence with rats can significantly influence the activity and behaviour of house mice. Additionally, environmental events such as seed masting are known to provide abundant food resources that inflate house mouse density. Consequently, different habitats may promote variation in dietary components. Here I examined variation between house mice inhabiting five different forest environments across the North and South Islands. Significant variation in mandible shape and body size was found between all five forest populations. Annual rainfall was the most significant covariate with mandible shape. General variation in body size somewhat followed rising latitude, supporting the general ecological trend known as Bergmann’s rule. Habitat type, ambient temperature, and presence of rats were also significant predictors of body size under regression.
Ecological complexity and biodiversity are known to vary with island size. Islands with greater landmass are associated with increased habitat and species diversity which support heightened competition and predation. Small mammals colonising diminutive, remote islands often experience ecological release from these interactions, leading to the largest cases of gigantism currently known. This study investigated variation between six populations of house mice on small, often very remote islands in the New Zealand archipelago. Significant variation in body size and mandible shape was found between all six populations, but again, rainfall was the most significant covariate with mandible shape. The general pattern in body size between island populations followed Bergmann’s rule, and is also consistent with previous studies that observe an inverse relationship between island size and body size, peaking at 50° latitudes. Ambient temperature, rainfall, and genetics were also significant predictors of body size.
Significant variation was also found between all New Zealand mouse populations compared with samples from Sydney. Australia. Sydney was an important shipping port during the settlement of New Zealand. Modern Sydney house mice are probably descendants of the original population from which northern New Zealand domesticus mice are derived. Sydney mandibles clustered with extreme examples of variation in New Zealand mouse mandible shapes on separate axes. Collectively, these studies describe significant variation between distinct house mouse populations of the New Zealand archipelago, and lay the foundations for further research in this area.

text: Variation in mandible shape and body size of house mice Mus musculus across the New Zealand archipelago: A Trans-Tasman comparison using geometric morphometrics Islands create unique environments that provide niche expansion opportunities for invading species not previously available on continental areas. This thesis investigates variation in house mouse mandible shape and body size across the New Zealand archipelago, and aims to identify environmental variables that might influence change between island populations using geometric morphometric techniques.
Mice were introduced to New Zealand in the early 19th century with European explorers and settlers. The Mus phylogroups currently known in New Zealand include Mus musculus domesticus, M. m. musculus, and M. m. castaneus. Each of these subspecies has a distinct distribution throughout the archipelago, with M. m. domesticus dominating the northern New Zealand ‘mainland’.
Past studies have shown habitat composition and co-existence with rats can significantly influence the activity and behaviour of house mice. Additionally, environmental events such as seed masting are known to provide abundant food resources that inflate house mouse density. Consequently, different habitats may promote variation in dietary components. Here I examined variation between house mice inhabiting five different forest environments across the North and South Islands. Significant variation in mandible shape and body size was found between all five forest populations. Annual rainfall was the most significant covariate with mandible shape. General variation in body size somewhat followed rising latitude, supporting the general ecological trend known as Bergmann’s rule. Habitat type, ambient temperature, and presence of rats were also significant predictors of body size under regression.
Ecological complexity and biodiversity are known to vary with island size. Islands with greater landmass are associated with increased habitat and species diversity which support heightened competition and predation. Small mammals colonising diminutive, remote islands often experience ecological release from these interactions, leading to the largest cases of gigantism currently known. This study investigated variation between six populations of house mice on small, often very remote islands in the New Zealand archipelago. Significant variation in body size and mandible shape was found between all six populations, but again, rainfall was the most significant covariate with mandible shape. The general pattern in body size between island populations followed Bergmann’s rule, and is also consistent with previous studies that observe an inverse relationship between island size and body size, peaking at 50° latitudes. Ambient temperature, rainfall, and genetics were also significant predictors of body size.
Significant variation was also found between all New Zealand mouse populations compared with samples from Sydney. Australia. Sydney was an important shipping port during the settlement of New Zealand. Modern Sydney house mice are probably descendants of the original population from which northern New Zealand domesticus mice are derived. Sydney mandibles clustered with extreme examples of variation in New Zealand mouse mandible shapes on separate axes. Collectively, these studies describe significant variation between distinct house mouse populations of the New Zealand archipelago, and lay the foundations for further research in this area.

year: 2017

title: Green or grey pandemic recovery? Revealing the blue–green infrastructure influences in Aotearoa-New Zealand’s “Shovel Ready” Covid-19 response

authors: Hanna, Christina Jane

abstract: This paper analyses Aotearoa-New Zealand’s “shovel-ready fund” to assess if, and how, blue–green infrastructure systems were present in bids from its largest city regions. Findings indicate a greater prevalence in areas with existing spatial plans, and while there was some consideration of climate resilience, there was no real acknowledgement of the pandemic or human health. More positively, there was some evidence of unique indigenous influences that have potential to develop more inclusive and holistic blue–green infrastructure initiatives. The overall response, however, demonstrates a disjointed approach to blue–green infrastructure-related projects, and a missed opportunity for a more transformative response to the climate crisis and human health emergencies.

text: Green or grey pandemic recovery? Revealing the blue–green infrastructure influences in Aotearoa-New Zealand’s “Shovel Ready” Covid-19 response This paper analyses Aotearoa-New Zealand’s “shovel-ready fund” to assess if, and how, blue–green infrastructure systems were present in bids from its largest city regions. Findings indicate a greater prevalence in areas with existing spatial plans, and while there was some consideration of climate resilience, there was no real acknowledgement of the pandemic or human health. More positively, there was some evidence of unique indigenous influences that have potential to develop more inclusive and holistic blue–green infrastructure initiatives. The overall response, however, demonstrates a disjointed approach to blue–green infrastructure-related projects, and a missed opportunity for a more transformative response to the climate crisis and human health emergencies.

year: 2022