title: Asynchronous communication technology: an organisational perspective on efficacy and use

authors: Wellington, Robert James

abstract: This thesis begins with a statement that the literature has suggested great promise for Asynchronous Communication Technologies (ACT’s) such as electronic mail and related technologies. An ideology of democracy is made explicit in this research in both its content and research process. The research participants were overtly and covertly encouraged to direct the process and topic of the research to enable theory grounded in practice to emerge. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) method was employed that bordered on ethnography and that incorporated an interpretive philosophy. Informed by educational PAR studies, this thesis is written in the first person to represent the learning and the interpretations of the author. 

The suggested measures of the quality of this work are that it improves the process of practice, communicates the improvements of practice for continuance and further reflection by other practitioners, and that it helps to develop the theory of Asynchronous Communication Technology use. 

This research found that email was used for many purposes and was seen as a very effective form of communication. Email occupied such a variety of uses that explanations were sought that could explain the ability of individuals to comprehend unwritten intentions and behaviours. It was found that email occupied many media spaces, and these can be thought of as media genre. Rather than fundamentally change the way we interact, as was first thought on the initiation of this research project, email and other ACT’s may simply be more convenient, faster, and more efficient than other forms of communication that the research participants had access to. The technological tools that were employed may have had the potential for changing social dynamics over a long period of time, but these tools were shown to be undemocratic in their construction, therefore suggesting that a democratic end may not be in sight for business related ACT’s. 

Specifically, email did not change the decision making behaviour of the participants, except to allow more freedom and access to information from other staff at the initial stages of the decision making process and to allow for mediation at the end to gain decision acceptance.

text: Asynchronous communication technology: an organisational perspective on efficacy and use This thesis begins with a statement that the literature has suggested great promise for Asynchronous Communication Technologies (ACT’s) such as electronic mail and related technologies. An ideology of democracy is made explicit in this research in both its content and research process. The research participants were overtly and covertly encouraged to direct the process and topic of the research to enable theory grounded in practice to emerge. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) method was employed that bordered on ethnography and that incorporated an interpretive philosophy. Informed by educational PAR studies, this thesis is written in the first person to represent the learning and the interpretations of the author. 

The suggested measures of the quality of this work are that it improves the process of practice, communicates the improvements of practice for continuance and further reflection by other practitioners, and that it helps to develop the theory of Asynchronous Communication Technology use. 

This research found that email was used for many purposes and was seen as a very effective form of communication. Email occupied such a variety of uses that explanations were sought that could explain the ability of individuals to comprehend unwritten intentions and behaviours. It was found that email occupied many media spaces, and these can be thought of as media genre. Rather than fundamentally change the way we interact, as was first thought on the initiation of this research project, email and other ACT’s may simply be more convenient, faster, and more efficient than other forms of communication that the research participants had access to. The technological tools that were employed may have had the potential for changing social dynamics over a long period of time, but these tools were shown to be undemocratic in their construction, therefore suggesting that a democratic end may not be in sight for business related ACT’s. 

Specifically, email did not change the decision making behaviour of the participants, except to allow more freedom and access to information from other staff at the initial stages of the decision making process and to allow for mediation at the end to gain decision acceptance.

year: 2003

title: Stratigraphy and development of c. 17 000 year old Lake Maratoto, North Island, New Zealand, with some inferences about postglacial climatic change

authors: Green, John D.

subjects: paleolimnology

abstract: The stratigraphy and geomorphology of Lake Maratoto and its surrounds were investigated as part of a programme of paleolimnological studies based on sediment cores from lakes in northern North Island. Changes in the lake and catchment were inferred from variations in sediment character, the correlation and timing being determined from distinctive tephra layers in the sediments and by radiocarbon dating. Nineteen new C-l4 dates, on gyttja or peat, are reported (old T½, years B.P,): 11 on tephras (Mamaku Ash 6830 ±90. Wk227; Rotoma Ash 8370 ± 90, Wk522; 8350 ± 100, Wk523; Opepe Tephra 9370 ± 210, Wk230; Mangamate Tephra 9700 ± 140, Wk23l; 10000 ± 120, Wk232; Waiohau Ash 12 200 ± 230, Wk233; 12500 ± 190, Wk234; 12450 ± 200, Wk5l5; 12300 ± 190,Wk516; RotoruaAsh 13450 ± 120, Wk511); 5 on the deposition of Hinuera Formation alluvium (16 300 ± 250, Wk239; 16 900 ± 470, Wk240; 17050 ± 200, Wk358; 16200 +360 -340, Wk509; 15 850 ± 130, Wk510); and 3 on basal peat of the Rukuhia bog (10 250 ± 90, Wk114; 15200 ± 130, Wk534; 10600 ± 90, Wk553).
Lake Maratoto originated c. 17 000 years ago when a small valley was dammed by volcanogenic alluvium (Hinuera Formation). From c. 17 000 to c. 14 000 years ago the lake was about 2 m deep with clear water. Marginal peat first developed at c. 15000 years ago, reducing the area of the lake by about one-half by c. 13 000 years ago. Lake area then expanded, possibly because of marginal erosion and/or oxidation of the peat, to its maximum size at the present day. The adjacent Rukuhia peat bog grew rapidly from c. 11 000 years ago and is now 8 m thick immediately to the west of the lake. As a result of this growth, the lake became dystrophic and deepened (3.5 m at c. 7000 years ago, 6.4 m at c. 2000 years ago, and 7. 1 m today).
The developmental history suggests that net precipitation increased at c. 15 000 years ago, increased further at c. 11 000 years ago, remaining high to c. 7000 years ago at least, but with a decline at or before c. 2000 years ago. There may have been a distinctly wetter or windier period from c. 10 000 to 9000 years ago.
This interpretation is consistent with other reconstructions of postglacial climate in the Southern Hemisphere.

text: Stratigraphy and development of c. 17 000 year old Lake Maratoto, North Island, New Zealand, with some inferences about postglacial climatic change The stratigraphy and geomorphology of Lake Maratoto and its surrounds were investigated as part of a programme of paleolimnological studies based on sediment cores from lakes in northern North Island. Changes in the lake and catchment were inferred from variations in sediment character, the correlation and timing being determined from distinctive tephra layers in the sediments and by radiocarbon dating. Nineteen new C-l4 dates, on gyttja or peat, are reported (old T½, years B.P,): 11 on tephras (Mamaku Ash 6830 ±90. Wk227; Rotoma Ash 8370 ± 90, Wk522; 8350 ± 100, Wk523; Opepe Tephra 9370 ± 210, Wk230; Mangamate Tephra 9700 ± 140, Wk23l; 10000 ± 120, Wk232; Waiohau Ash 12 200 ± 230, Wk233; 12500 ± 190, Wk234; 12450 ± 200, Wk5l5; 12300 ± 190,Wk516; RotoruaAsh 13450 ± 120, Wk511); 5 on the deposition of Hinuera Formation alluvium (16 300 ± 250, Wk239; 16 900 ± 470, Wk240; 17050 ± 200, Wk358; 16200 +360 -340, Wk509; 15 850 ± 130, Wk510); and 3 on basal peat of the Rukuhia bog (10 250 ± 90, Wk114; 15200 ± 130, Wk534; 10600 ± 90, Wk553).
Lake Maratoto originated c. 17 000 years ago when a small valley was dammed by volcanogenic alluvium (Hinuera Formation). From c. 17 000 to c. 14 000 years ago the lake was about 2 m deep with clear water. Marginal peat first developed at c. 15000 years ago, reducing the area of the lake by about one-half by c. 13 000 years ago. Lake area then expanded, possibly because of marginal erosion and/or oxidation of the peat, to its maximum size at the present day. The adjacent Rukuhia peat bog grew rapidly from c. 11 000 years ago and is now 8 m thick immediately to the west of the lake. As a result of this growth, the lake became dystrophic and deepened (3.5 m at c. 7000 years ago, 6.4 m at c. 2000 years ago, and 7. 1 m today).
The developmental history suggests that net precipitation increased at c. 15 000 years ago, increased further at c. 11 000 years ago, remaining high to c. 7000 years ago at least, but with a decline at or before c. 2000 years ago. There may have been a distinctly wetter or windier period from c. 10 000 to 9000 years ago.
This interpretation is consistent with other reconstructions of postglacial climate in the Southern Hemisphere.

year: 1985

title: Understanding the potential exposure of coastal marae and urupā in Aotearoa New Zealand to sea level rise

authors: Bailey-Winiata, Akuhata Patrick Stephen

subjects: Marae

abstract: In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori are Indigenous and have inhabited these islands for the past 700 years. They have an intricate physical and spiritual connection to places and the environment. This is reflected in the Māori creation story, where Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (Earth mother) are the ancestral parents of Māori. Between these two gods is the marae, the Māori meeting house. Marae are where the domestic life of Māori traditionally ran its course, with marae being an overarching term to illustrate multiple buildings which each have a specific role to play within the community. Often, marae have an associated urupā (burial ground). Historically, marae and their associated urupā are positioned along the low-lying coast, providing easy access to kaimoana (sea food), transport and trade. However, coastal marae and urupā are at an increasing threat of inundation and erosion from sea level rise, and will also be impacted by other effects of climate change such as drought and other changes to weather patterns such as storms.
Many coastal marae and urupā are already experiencing the impacts of coastal flooding and erosion, however, little is known about the exposure of coastal marae and urupā to sea level rise nationally. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis is to explore the potential exposure of coastal marae nationally, with a particular focus on the Bay of Plenty coastal marae including coastal urupā. This aim was achieved by addressing three objectives. The first of which was to investigate the potential national exposure of coastal marae to a 100 year annual recurrence interval extreme sea level event, with the addition of sea level rise. Second, I conducted a nationally-focused assessment of the local coastal geomorphology surrounding coastal marae to determine the potential response of the coast to sea level rise. I also undertook a case study on the BOP which included a more detailed assessment of the geomorphology around the coastal marae and urupā in this region. Third, findings from these two objectives are brought together to consider the next steps to determine how to move forward with planning to manage coastal marae and urupā with sea level rise.
A spatial mapping approach using Arc GIS and existing datasets was used to address these aims, combining the Coastlines and Islands polygon, marae and urupā locational data and the Aotearoa New Zealand coastal hydrosystem classification system proposed by Hume in 2016. This showed that 191 marae around Aotearoa New Zealand are within 1 km of the coast and in the Bay of Plenty 41 urupā are within 1 km. I then used the bathtub modelling approach to get a national first-pass assessment of the potential exposure of these marae and urupā to a 100 year extreme sea level event at current mean sea level, with 10 cm increments of sea level rise up to 3 m. Six coastal marae were potentially exposed to a 100 year extreme sea level event at current mean sea level, with 41 coastal marae are potentially exposed to a 100 year extreme sea level event with a 3 m rise in mean sea level. The most common type of coastal geomorphology nationally and in the Bay of Plenty was shallow drowned valleys, with 72 coastal marae in this category. The response of these systems to sea level rise manifests as changes in the tidal regime and sediment transport dynamics which will affect inundation and erosion of low-lying areas, where many coastal marae and urupā are positioned.
Thus, it is clear that marae and urupā are nationally at risk to sea level rise, and their responses will be highly variable with geomorphology. But what are the next steps? There are many legislative documents such as the coastal climate change and hazards report by the Ministry for the Environment which suggests that the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways strategy to address the uncertainty surrounding climate change, recommended as a method for future planning. Another is the pending reform of the Resource Management Act which will introduce a climate change adaptation act where support for managed retreat will be made available. However, any management strategies for marae, hapū and iwi will need to be cognisant of the tapū and māna that these places hold, and there will be no one size fits all approach.

text: Understanding the potential exposure of coastal marae and urupā in Aotearoa New Zealand to sea level rise In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori are Indigenous and have inhabited these islands for the past 700 years. They have an intricate physical and spiritual connection to places and the environment. This is reflected in the Māori creation story, where Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (Earth mother) are the ancestral parents of Māori. Between these two gods is the marae, the Māori meeting house. Marae are where the domestic life of Māori traditionally ran its course, with marae being an overarching term to illustrate multiple buildings which each have a specific role to play within the community. Often, marae have an associated urupā (burial ground). Historically, marae and their associated urupā are positioned along the low-lying coast, providing easy access to kaimoana (sea food), transport and trade. However, coastal marae and urupā are at an increasing threat of inundation and erosion from sea level rise, and will also be impacted by other effects of climate change such as drought and other changes to weather patterns such as storms.
Many coastal marae and urupā are already experiencing the impacts of coastal flooding and erosion, however, little is known about the exposure of coastal marae and urupā to sea level rise nationally. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis is to explore the potential exposure of coastal marae nationally, with a particular focus on the Bay of Plenty coastal marae including coastal urupā. This aim was achieved by addressing three objectives. The first of which was to investigate the potential national exposure of coastal marae to a 100 year annual recurrence interval extreme sea level event, with the addition of sea level rise. Second, I conducted a nationally-focused assessment of the local coastal geomorphology surrounding coastal marae to determine the potential response of the coast to sea level rise. I also undertook a case study on the BOP which included a more detailed assessment of the geomorphology around the coastal marae and urupā in this region. Third, findings from these two objectives are brought together to consider the next steps to determine how to move forward with planning to manage coastal marae and urupā with sea level rise.
A spatial mapping approach using Arc GIS and existing datasets was used to address these aims, combining the Coastlines and Islands polygon, marae and urupā locational data and the Aotearoa New Zealand coastal hydrosystem classification system proposed by Hume in 2016. This showed that 191 marae around Aotearoa New Zealand are within 1 km of the coast and in the Bay of Plenty 41 urupā are within 1 km. I then used the bathtub modelling approach to get a national first-pass assessment of the potential exposure of these marae and urupā to a 100 year extreme sea level event at current mean sea level, with 10 cm increments of sea level rise up to 3 m. Six coastal marae were potentially exposed to a 100 year extreme sea level event at current mean sea level, with 41 coastal marae are potentially exposed to a 100 year extreme sea level event with a 3 m rise in mean sea level. The most common type of coastal geomorphology nationally and in the Bay of Plenty was shallow drowned valleys, with 72 coastal marae in this category. The response of these systems to sea level rise manifests as changes in the tidal regime and sediment transport dynamics which will affect inundation and erosion of low-lying areas, where many coastal marae and urupā are positioned.
Thus, it is clear that marae and urupā are nationally at risk to sea level rise, and their responses will be highly variable with geomorphology. But what are the next steps? There are many legislative documents such as the coastal climate change and hazards report by the Ministry for the Environment which suggests that the Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways strategy to address the uncertainty surrounding climate change, recommended as a method for future planning. Another is the pending reform of the Resource Management Act which will introduce a climate change adaptation act where support for managed retreat will be made available. However, any management strategies for marae, hapū and iwi will need to be cognisant of the tapū and māna that these places hold, and there will be no one size fits all approach.

year: 2021