title: Simulation of alternative dairy farm pollution abatement policies

authors: Ramilan, Thiagarajah

subjects: Whole Farm Model

abstract: New Zealand dairy farmers face a tradeoff between profit maximisation and environmental performance. The integrated simulation model presented here enables assessment of the economic and environmental impact of dairy farming with a focus on nitrogen pollution at the catchment level. Our approach extends the value of the DairyNZ Whole Farm Model (Beukes et al., 2005) as an environmental policy tool by building and integrating nitrogen discharge functions for specific soil types and topography using a metamodelling technique. A hybrid model is created by merging the merits of differential evolution and non-linear optimisation to expedite policy simulations, in which farm profits and nitrogen discharges obtained from the differential evolution optimisation process are assembled to form a profit–pollution frontier. This frontier is then subject to constrained optimisation based on non-linear optimisation in order to predict producer responses to alternative pollution control policies. We apply this framework to derive marginal abatement costs for heterogeneous farm types and find that abatement costs for intensive farms are lower than for moderate and extensive farming systems. We further conclude that abatement can be achieved more cheaply using a compulsory standard or threshold tax than using a standard emissions tax.

text: Simulation of alternative dairy farm pollution abatement policies New Zealand dairy farmers face a tradeoff between profit maximisation and environmental performance. The integrated simulation model presented here enables assessment of the economic and environmental impact of dairy farming with a focus on nitrogen pollution at the catchment level. Our approach extends the value of the DairyNZ Whole Farm Model (Beukes et al., 2005) as an environmental policy tool by building and integrating nitrogen discharge functions for specific soil types and topography using a metamodelling technique. A hybrid model is created by merging the merits of differential evolution and non-linear optimisation to expedite policy simulations, in which farm profits and nitrogen discharges obtained from the differential evolution optimisation process are assembled to form a profit–pollution frontier. This frontier is then subject to constrained optimisation based on non-linear optimisation in order to predict producer responses to alternative pollution control policies. We apply this framework to derive marginal abatement costs for heterogeneous farm types and find that abatement costs for intensive farms are lower than for moderate and extensive farming systems. We further conclude that abatement can be achieved more cheaply using a compulsory standard or threshold tax than using a standard emissions tax.

year: 2010

title: Strengthening belonging and identity of refugee and immigrant children through early childhood education

authors: Mitchell, Linda

abstract: This project explored the role of early childhood education (ECE) and pedagogical strategies in supporting a sense of belonging and identity for refugee and immigrant children and families in Aotearoa New Zealand. We used a design-based research methodology in four culturally diverse ECE settings to develop and trial theories and strategies about how ECE can deliberately encourage refugee and immigrant children to connect with their home countries, sustain their cultural identity, and simultaneously live within and contribute to Aotearoa New Zealand. We analysed the affordances of drawing, storytelling and play, and of teacher engagement with children, parents, and whānau, for constructing pathways to belonging in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research focus was on the potential of early childhood services to be sites for social justice for refugee and immigrant children and families, laying a foundation for a confident transition to a bicultural Aotearoa, additional to their own culture. Through the research, we wanted to develop practice strategies and theories of bicultural belonging and participatory democracy that can be strengthened through early childhood education.

text: Strengthening belonging and identity of refugee and immigrant children through early childhood education This project explored the role of early childhood education (ECE) and pedagogical strategies in supporting a sense of belonging and identity for refugee and immigrant children and families in Aotearoa New Zealand. We used a design-based research methodology in four culturally diverse ECE settings to develop and trial theories and strategies about how ECE can deliberately encourage refugee and immigrant children to connect with their home countries, sustain their cultural identity, and simultaneously live within and contribute to Aotearoa New Zealand. We analysed the affordances of drawing, storytelling and play, and of teacher engagement with children, parents, and whānau, for constructing pathways to belonging in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research focus was on the potential of early childhood services to be sites for social justice for refugee and immigrant children and families, laying a foundation for a confident transition to a bicultural Aotearoa, additional to their own culture. Through the research, we wanted to develop practice strategies and theories of bicultural belonging and participatory democracy that can be strengthened through early childhood education.

year: 2020

title: "He taketake, he hurumanu te moana i rōhia ai": Mā te Māori ngā toronga o te motu ki whenua kē e taurima?

authors: Dewes, Kaneihana

subjects: Iwi taketake

abstract: Kai te tino ia o te tuhinga rangahau nei, he whakatōmene i te āhua kaiārahi o te Māori i ngā tūāhua hono ki ahurea kē. Mā konei e whakatau ai, e whakatūwherahia rānei ngā āhuatanga e mea ana mā te Māori ngā toronga o te motu ki whenua kē e taurima. He momo tēnei nā te Māori, i takea mai i ngā mahi pokai moana, me ngā waka i whakaterea i ngā rohenga moana o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, ā, puta noa. Waihoki, he taonga tonu wā tātau kai ngā tauira o ngā tūhononga ahurea o ngā iwi taketake o te ao; he taonga anō kai waenganui i a tātau ngā whenua maha i pakanga ki rāwāhi, he tohu nui nā te ‘price of citizenship’. He momo nā te Māori te tātaki i ngā mahi whakarauora reo, waihoki, he rite tonu te noho tahi ki whenua kē i roto i te kōingo ki te whakatipu i te reo o te whenua. Mā konei, ka marohi ai te hiranga o Te Reo Māori me ngā Tikanga Māori, tēnei hiranga e tohu ana i te hua o ngā hononga ahurea ki ngā iwi taketake huri noa, kia whai hua mō Niu Tireni i ngā toronga ki whenua kē.

text: "He taketake, he hurumanu te moana i rōhia ai": Mā te Māori ngā toronga o te motu ki whenua kē e taurima? Kai te tino ia o te tuhinga rangahau nei, he whakatōmene i te āhua kaiārahi o te Māori i ngā tūāhua hono ki ahurea kē. Mā konei e whakatau ai, e whakatūwherahia rānei ngā āhuatanga e mea ana mā te Māori ngā toronga o te motu ki whenua kē e taurima. He momo tēnei nā te Māori, i takea mai i ngā mahi pokai moana, me ngā waka i whakaterea i ngā rohenga moana o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, ā, puta noa. Waihoki, he taonga tonu wā tātau kai ngā tauira o ngā tūhononga ahurea o ngā iwi taketake o te ao; he taonga anō kai waenganui i a tātau ngā whenua maha i pakanga ki rāwāhi, he tohu nui nā te ‘price of citizenship’. He momo nā te Māori te tātaki i ngā mahi whakarauora reo, waihoki, he rite tonu te noho tahi ki whenua kē i roto i te kōingo ki te whakatipu i te reo o te whenua. Mā konei, ka marohi ai te hiranga o Te Reo Māori me ngā Tikanga Māori, tēnei hiranga e tohu ana i te hua o ngā hononga ahurea ki ngā iwi taketake huri noa, kia whai hua mō Niu Tireni i ngā toronga ki whenua kē.

year: 2022