title: A new look at population change and regional development in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Brabyn, Lars

subjects: Demography

abstract: In New Zealand, population change is interlinked with regional development. Places growing in population attract regional investment, while regional investment—or lack thereof—can change migration patterns. However, to determine the appropriate response to population change for a community, it is important to understand that population change involves much more than “just” migration. Specifically, it involves interactions between the three components of population change: natural change (births minus deaths), net migration (international and internal) and population ageing (changing cohort size). For example, migration can be negative, but growth can be positive due to underlying natural increase or growth in cohort size. Responses need to differ, depending on these drivers. The goal of this article is to provide new insights into these interactions using data for 275 cities, towns and rural centres (hereafter “urban places”) in New Zealand for the period 1976 to 2013. The results show that natural change has been consistently positive for most urban places up to the present, although projections indicate that in the future this component will become negative across much of the country. At the same time, net migration shows considerable spatial variation, not only in terms of volume, but also direction (negative or positive), which differs markedly by age. A net gain of people of retirement age can offset a net loss of young adults to deliver overall growth, and vice-versa, but the two have very different implications for longer term growth. An analysis of the drivers of net migration using GIS and machine learning techniques provides an indication of the importance of economic conditions (land-use and access to markets), lifestyle, access to essential services (hospitals and education) and their interaction with age in regional change. The results show that population age is the best predictor of migration. Younger people are moving to cities for tertiary education and work and older people near or in retirement are moving to smaller lifestyle towns but also want to be close to amenities such as hospitals and international airports. The research also shows that natural lifestyle characteristics (landscape and climate), in combination with age are just as important as economic conditions for understanding migration. Regional development, such as infrastructure that helps business (ports and services) is important for the working age population but not necessarily the retirement age group. When regional development, age/life-cycle stage and lifestyle come together, such as in Queenstown and Tauranga, net migration gain is high.

text: A new look at population change and regional development in Aotearoa New Zealand In New Zealand, population change is interlinked with regional development. Places growing in population attract regional investment, while regional investment—or lack thereof—can change migration patterns. However, to determine the appropriate response to population change for a community, it is important to understand that population change involves much more than “just” migration. Specifically, it involves interactions between the three components of population change: natural change (births minus deaths), net migration (international and internal) and population ageing (changing cohort size). For example, migration can be negative, but growth can be positive due to underlying natural increase or growth in cohort size. Responses need to differ, depending on these drivers. The goal of this article is to provide new insights into these interactions using data for 275 cities, towns and rural centres (hereafter “urban places”) in New Zealand for the period 1976 to 2013. The results show that natural change has been consistently positive for most urban places up to the present, although projections indicate that in the future this component will become negative across much of the country. At the same time, net migration shows considerable spatial variation, not only in terms of volume, but also direction (negative or positive), which differs markedly by age. A net gain of people of retirement age can offset a net loss of young adults to deliver overall growth, and vice-versa, but the two have very different implications for longer term growth. An analysis of the drivers of net migration using GIS and machine learning techniques provides an indication of the importance of economic conditions (land-use and access to markets), lifestyle, access to essential services (hospitals and education) and their interaction with age in regional change. The results show that population age is the best predictor of migration. Younger people are moving to cities for tertiary education and work and older people near or in retirement are moving to smaller lifestyle towns but also want to be close to amenities such as hospitals and international airports. The research also shows that natural lifestyle characteristics (landscape and climate), in combination with age are just as important as economic conditions for understanding migration. Regional development, such as infrastructure that helps business (ports and services) is important for the working age population but not necessarily the retirement age group. When regional development, age/life-cycle stage and lifestyle come together, such as in Queenstown and Tauranga, net migration gain is high.

year: 2019

title: Nitrogen fixation in the New Zealand mangrove (Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. var. resinifera (Forst f.) Bakh.)

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

subjects: biology

abstract: Nitrogenase activity in mangrove forests at two locations in the North Island, New Zealand, was measured by acetylene reduction and 15N2 uptake. Nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) in surface sediments 0 to 10 mm deep was highly correlated (r = 0.91, n = 17) with the dry weight of decomposing particulate organic matter in the sediment and was independent of light. The activity was not correlated with the dry weight of roots in the top 10 mm of sediment (r = –0.01, n = 13). Seasonal and sample variation in acetylene reduction rates ranged from 0.4 to 50.0 µmol of C2H4 m–2 h–1 under air, and acetylene reduction was depressed in anaerobic atmospheres. Nitrogen fixation rates of decomposing leaves from the surface measured by 15N2 uptake ranged from 5.1 to 7.8 nmol of N2 g (dry weight)–1 h–1, and the mean molar ratio of acetylene reduced to nitrogen fixed was 4.5:1. Anaerobic conditions depressed the nitrogenase activity in decomposing leaves, which was independent of light. Nitrogenase activity was also found to be associated with pneumatophores. This activity was light dependent and was probably attributable to one or more species of Calothrix present as an epiphyte. Rates of activity were generally between 100 and 500 nmol of C2H4 pneumatophore–1 h–1 in summer, but values up to 1,500 nmol of C2H4 pneumatophore–1 h–1 were obtained.

text: Nitrogen fixation in the New Zealand mangrove (Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. var. resinifera (Forst f.) Bakh.) Nitrogenase activity in mangrove forests at two locations in the North Island, New Zealand, was measured by acetylene reduction and 15N2 uptake. Nitrogenase activity (C2H2 reduction) in surface sediments 0 to 10 mm deep was highly correlated (r = 0.91, n = 17) with the dry weight of decomposing particulate organic matter in the sediment and was independent of light. The activity was not correlated with the dry weight of roots in the top 10 mm of sediment (r = –0.01, n = 13). Seasonal and sample variation in acetylene reduction rates ranged from 0.4 to 50.0 µmol of C2H4 m–2 h–1 under air, and acetylene reduction was depressed in anaerobic atmospheres. Nitrogen fixation rates of decomposing leaves from the surface measured by 15N2 uptake ranged from 5.1 to 7.8 nmol of N2 g (dry weight)–1 h–1, and the mean molar ratio of acetylene reduced to nitrogen fixed was 4.5:1. Anaerobic conditions depressed the nitrogenase activity in decomposing leaves, which was independent of light. Nitrogenase activity was also found to be associated with pneumatophores. This activity was light dependent and was probably attributable to one or more species of Calothrix present as an epiphyte. Rates of activity were generally between 100 and 500 nmol of C2H4 pneumatophore–1 h–1 in summer, but values up to 1,500 nmol of C2H4 pneumatophore–1 h–1 were obtained.

year: 1985

title: An old story, a new voice: Tertiary education in the Bay of Plenty region

authors: Amundsen, Diana Leigh

subjects: Bay of Plenty

abstract: In this article, I first critique neoliberal effects on the Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary education sector and then provide a close-up look at tertiary education in the Bay of Plenty region. Information is based on aspects of my doctoral research which was located across three tertiary education organisations comprising the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership: The University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.  The findings of this research examine connections across the partnership, delving into relevant aspects of universities, polytechnics and wānanga. I evaluate the historical, geographical, political and socio-cultural context of all three institutions. Lastly, I discuss campus connections between the partnership organisations. The emerging picture reveals an old story of expansion and growth with a new voice of tension between collaboration and competition in the face of a neoliberal education context. This article offers timely implications for contemporary and future University of Waikato campus connections and may appeal to academics, graduate students, policymakers and the general public.

text: An old story, a new voice: Tertiary education in the Bay of Plenty region In this article, I first critique neoliberal effects on the Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary education sector and then provide a close-up look at tertiary education in the Bay of Plenty region. Information is based on aspects of my doctoral research which was located across three tertiary education organisations comprising the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership: The University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.  The findings of this research examine connections across the partnership, delving into relevant aspects of universities, polytechnics and wānanga. I evaluate the historical, geographical, political and socio-cultural context of all three institutions. Lastly, I discuss campus connections between the partnership organisations. The emerging picture reveals an old story of expansion and growth with a new voice of tension between collaboration and competition in the face of a neoliberal education context. This article offers timely implications for contemporary and future University of Waikato campus connections and may appeal to academics, graduate students, policymakers and the general public.

year: 2019