title: Assessing the Diversity of New Zealand's Freshwater Copepods (Crustacea:Copepoda) using Mitochondrial DNA (COI) Sequences

authors: Watson, Nathan Thomas Noble

subjects: Copepods

abstract: The diversity of New Zealand’s freshwater copepods has been largely understudied. In order to enhance our understanding of this taxon, I used the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one (COI) gene sequences to examine the diversity of two orders of New Zealand’s freshwater copepods; Cyclopoida and Harpacticoida. Where possible, I also assessed the global affinities of taxa using available sequences from global databases (e.g. GenBank, BOLD). Specimens were collected from several sites across both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. From these, DNA was extracted from 246 individuals, of which COI sequences were successfully obtained from 84 (a success rate of 34%). Sequences represented 17 species of freshwater copepod; nine species of cyclopoid and eight species of harpacticoid; all species were clearly delineated by the COI gene. Intraspecific sequence divergences were generally <1% whereas interspecific divergences usually exceeded 13%. For the cyclopoid copepods, three taxa (two distinct species of Eucyclops cf. ‘serrulatus’  and Acanthocyclops americanus) showed close molecular affinities to Northern Hemisphere populations (<1% divergent in all cases); and are likely to represent recent human-mediated introductions to New Zealand. Additionally, Mesocyclops ‘leuckarti’ was <1% divergent to an undescribed cyclopoid species from South Australia, likely Mesocyclops australiensis. For the harpacticoids, specimens of Elaphoidella bidens and two geographically distinct populations of Bryocamptus pygmaeus showed high levels of intraspecific diversity (>12% and >18% divergent respectively), suggesting the presence of cryptic taxa. These results suggest that the diversity of New Zealand’s freshwater cyclopoid and harpacticoid copepods is underestimated and several non-indigenous taxa may be present among the New Zealand copepod fauna. I conclude that the COI gene will be a useful tool in assessing New Zealand’s native copepod biodiversity and also in identifying invasive species.

text: Assessing the Diversity of New Zealand's Freshwater Copepods (Crustacea:Copepoda) using Mitochondrial DNA (COI) Sequences The diversity of New Zealand’s freshwater copepods has been largely understudied. In order to enhance our understanding of this taxon, I used the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit one (COI) gene sequences to examine the diversity of two orders of New Zealand’s freshwater copepods; Cyclopoida and Harpacticoida. Where possible, I also assessed the global affinities of taxa using available sequences from global databases (e.g. GenBank, BOLD). Specimens were collected from several sites across both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. From these, DNA was extracted from 246 individuals, of which COI sequences were successfully obtained from 84 (a success rate of 34%). Sequences represented 17 species of freshwater copepod; nine species of cyclopoid and eight species of harpacticoid; all species were clearly delineated by the COI gene. Intraspecific sequence divergences were generally <1% whereas interspecific divergences usually exceeded 13%. For the cyclopoid copepods, three taxa (two distinct species of Eucyclops cf. ‘serrulatus’  and Acanthocyclops americanus) showed close molecular affinities to Northern Hemisphere populations (<1% divergent in all cases); and are likely to represent recent human-mediated introductions to New Zealand. Additionally, Mesocyclops ‘leuckarti’ was <1% divergent to an undescribed cyclopoid species from South Australia, likely Mesocyclops australiensis. For the harpacticoids, specimens of Elaphoidella bidens and two geographically distinct populations of Bryocamptus pygmaeus showed high levels of intraspecific diversity (>12% and >18% divergent respectively), suggesting the presence of cryptic taxa. These results suggest that the diversity of New Zealand’s freshwater cyclopoid and harpacticoid copepods is underestimated and several non-indigenous taxa may be present among the New Zealand copepod fauna. I conclude that the COI gene will be a useful tool in assessing New Zealand’s native copepod biodiversity and also in identifying invasive species.

year: 2014

title: Enhancing regulatory compliance by using artificial intelligence text mining to identify penalty clauses in legislation

authors: Goltz, Nachshon (Sean)

subjects: Regulatory compliance

abstract: As regulatory compliance (or compliance governance) becomes ever more challenging, attempts to engage IT solutions and especially artificial intelligence (AI) are on the rise. This paper suggest that regulatory compliance can be enhanced by employing an AI model trained to identify penalty clauses in the regulations. The paper provides the theoretical basis of machine learning for text classification and presents a two stage experiment of (1) training multiple models and selecting the best one; and (2) employing a sliding window detection in order to identify penalty clauses in regulation. Results benchmarked using an algorithm based penalties API suggests further development is needed.

text: Enhancing regulatory compliance by using artificial intelligence text mining to identify penalty clauses in legislation As regulatory compliance (or compliance governance) becomes ever more challenging, attempts to engage IT solutions and especially artificial intelligence (AI) are on the rise. This paper suggest that regulatory compliance can be enhanced by employing an AI model trained to identify penalty clauses in the regulations. The paper provides the theoretical basis of machine learning for text classification and presents a two stage experiment of (1) training multiple models and selecting the best one; and (2) employing a sliding window detection in order to identify penalty clauses in regulation. Results benchmarked using an algorithm based penalties API suggests further development is needed.

year: 2017

title: What are the perceptions of Māori bilingual-educated families towards growing up and learning the Māori language?

authors: Hill, Richard Kenneth

abstract: The Māori language occupies an important place as New Zealand’s indigenous language. This is despite over a century  of attempts  to wipe it out. The revitalisation movement from the 1980s has made a significant contribution to raise its profile and ensure younger generations of primarily Māori students can grow up learning the Māori language through school. However, significant issues still exist, as low numbers of families take advantage of bilingual education options, and remain there to develop high levels of proficiency.


Attitudes of both Māori and non-Māori (Pākehā) populations towards the Māori language have been steadily improving in recent decades. There are increasing calls to make it a compulsory subject in all New Zealand schools. Whilst these are positive signs, the long term health of the Māori language is still precarious. Using the findings of recent studies into Māori bilingual school transitions, including Hill, Rameka and Skerrett (2017) and Hill (2014, 2016, 2017), this presentation seeks to unpack the perceptions of Māori students and their families from a range of programmes towards their languages (Māori and English) and their lives. The findings will illustrate that families within the Māori bilingual education context are enthusiastic about  Māori language learning and being educated bilingually. They are also resolute that bilingual education will help to prepare their children  for their world. However,  families often differ in the extent to which they commit to high immersion programmes, thus affecting the potential success of the Māori language revitalisation aim.

text: What are the perceptions of Māori bilingual-educated families towards growing up and learning the Māori language? The Māori language occupies an important place as New Zealand’s indigenous language. This is despite over a century  of attempts  to wipe it out. The revitalisation movement from the 1980s has made a significant contribution to raise its profile and ensure younger generations of primarily Māori students can grow up learning the Māori language through school. However, significant issues still exist, as low numbers of families take advantage of bilingual education options, and remain there to develop high levels of proficiency.


Attitudes of both Māori and non-Māori (Pākehā) populations towards the Māori language have been steadily improving in recent decades. There are increasing calls to make it a compulsory subject in all New Zealand schools. Whilst these are positive signs, the long term health of the Māori language is still precarious. Using the findings of recent studies into Māori bilingual school transitions, including Hill, Rameka and Skerrett (2017) and Hill (2014, 2016, 2017), this presentation seeks to unpack the perceptions of Māori students and their families from a range of programmes towards their languages (Māori and English) and their lives. The findings will illustrate that families within the Māori bilingual education context are enthusiastic about  Māori language learning and being educated bilingually. They are also resolute that bilingual education will help to prepare their children  for their world. However,  families often differ in the extent to which they commit to high immersion programmes, thus affecting the potential success of the Māori language revitalisation aim.

year: 2018