title: Anticipating subnational depopulation: Policy responses and strategic interventions to regional decline

authors: McMillan, Rachael Christina

subjects: Depopulation

abstract: Population growth has already ended in a number of countries around the world. Significant demographic trends are transforming the global population, with record low fertility across the globe, increasing longevity and increasingly mobile populations. Depopulation is multifaceted and has major flow on effects for the allocation of resources, the provision of services and the viability of communities isolated from the economic powerhouses. 
This thesis studied the drivers of depopulation, the policy responses to population decline and the spectrum of interventions available to address population decline from a number of OECD countries. It also looked at whether population decline could be slowed or reversed through studying the demographic and distance challenges of peripheral towns in the Waikato Region in New Zealand. 
There is a strong relationship between depth and length of depopulation and the response to depopulation.  Responses to population decline vary from country to country based on historical, cultural, political, institutional arrangements, issues to be addressed and resource availability. 
The literature proposes that there are only three possible policy responses to population decline, non-intervention, countering and accepting.  It was found that successful ‘countering’ strategies were dependent on the location, economic and demographic context of each community and primarily slowed decline rather than reversing it.  None of the ‘accepting’ strategies that were identified were able to stop population decline.  It is easier to achieve improved quality of life than to slow population decline.  The research showed that in the context of zero or low national population growth peripheral towns are unlikely to gain population. Outmigration is even more significant in peripheral communities in nationally declining countries.
What became apparent through this research was that towns are like businesses – they need to keep reinventing themselves in the global marketplace to remain competitive.  However, some communities do not have the functional elements to succeed.  
It will be many years before New Zealand is depopulating at a national level, so there may still be opportunity to slow down population decline in peripheral locations.  The Waikato case study showed that this would be a challenging proposition for some Territorial Authorities on the periphery.  At the very least New Zealand can adapt to ageing population structure and increase the quality of life for those that inhabit small declining towns.  As more regional areas shift towards natural decline with low fertility rates and ageing populations and many enter permanent zero growth or decline, it is important that there are policies which are fit for purpose.

text: Anticipating subnational depopulation: Policy responses and strategic interventions to regional decline Population growth has already ended in a number of countries around the world. Significant demographic trends are transforming the global population, with record low fertility across the globe, increasing longevity and increasingly mobile populations. Depopulation is multifaceted and has major flow on effects for the allocation of resources, the provision of services and the viability of communities isolated from the economic powerhouses. 
This thesis studied the drivers of depopulation, the policy responses to population decline and the spectrum of interventions available to address population decline from a number of OECD countries. It also looked at whether population decline could be slowed or reversed through studying the demographic and distance challenges of peripheral towns in the Waikato Region in New Zealand. 
There is a strong relationship between depth and length of depopulation and the response to depopulation.  Responses to population decline vary from country to country based on historical, cultural, political, institutional arrangements, issues to be addressed and resource availability. 
The literature proposes that there are only three possible policy responses to population decline, non-intervention, countering and accepting.  It was found that successful ‘countering’ strategies were dependent on the location, economic and demographic context of each community and primarily slowed decline rather than reversing it.  None of the ‘accepting’ strategies that were identified were able to stop population decline.  It is easier to achieve improved quality of life than to slow population decline.  The research showed that in the context of zero or low national population growth peripheral towns are unlikely to gain population. Outmigration is even more significant in peripheral communities in nationally declining countries.
What became apparent through this research was that towns are like businesses – they need to keep reinventing themselves in the global marketplace to remain competitive.  However, some communities do not have the functional elements to succeed.  
It will be many years before New Zealand is depopulating at a national level, so there may still be opportunity to slow down population decline in peripheral locations.  The Waikato case study showed that this would be a challenging proposition for some Territorial Authorities on the periphery.  At the very least New Zealand can adapt to ageing population structure and increase the quality of life for those that inhabit small declining towns.  As more regional areas shift towards natural decline with low fertility rates and ageing populations and many enter permanent zero growth or decline, it is important that there are policies which are fit for purpose.

year: 2015

title: A Study on Supported Metal Catalysts Prepared from Colloidal Precursors

authors: Jaine, Jacob Evan

subjects: catalyst

abstract: When metal nanoparticles are supported on the surface of an inert carrier, the resulting materials can become powerful heterogeneous catalysts capable of accelerating a diverse range of chemical reactions. Though there are a wide variety of synthetic routes by which these materials can be prepared, many offer little control over the textural properties of the resulting catalyst. Conversely, methods using pre-formed colloidal nanoparticles as a metal source offer the potential for precise control of properties like particle size and shape. This is both a topical class of syntheses, and the subject of the current body of work. Three different types of colloids were therefore prepared using different stabilising agents, and subsequently used to produce an array of different catalysts.

As support materials for the catalysts, a series of four commercially available materials were obtained, including silica, alumina, hydroxyapatite, and microcrystalline cellulose. Four novel analogues were also obtained, including halloysite, perlite, bioapatite, and macrofibrillar cellulose. In order to understand their physicochemical properties, they were characterised by a combination of Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy, solid-state ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁷Al, ²⁹Si, and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, laser diffraction analysis, and zeta potential measurements. Additional experiments were performed to investigate the wetting properties of the materials using the Washburn capillary rise method, which was shown to be a valuable method for rationalising solvent choice for reactions involving these materials.

An initial batch of catalysts was produced by immobilising electrostatically-stabilised rhodium, palladium, and platinum colloids onto these support materials. Instrumental characterisation of the catalysts showed no major perturbation to the chemistry of the materials following the immobilisation, though some subtle surface effects were observed. These catalysts were tested in the hydrogenation of several olefins, and were found to have excellent catalytic activity, up to 64,400 hr⁻¹, under standard conditions. 
A second batch of catalysts was produced by immobilising polymer-stabilised metal colloids onto the supports. Characterisation of the materials showed the polymers and the nanoparticles they contained were associated strongly with the support materials, though the spatial distribution varied significantly between systems. Activation of the catalysts by calcination was shown to initiate their thermal decomposition and oxidation, which in turn affected their catalytic activity. The catalysts containing supported rhodium or platinum were inactive, while those containing supported palladium showed good activity, up to 41,900 hr⁻¹.
A third batch of catalysts was produced by immobilising solvent-stabilised metal colloids onto the supports. Amide-type solvents were shown to be the most effective for this purpose, though spectroscopic evidence suggested the samples contained residual solvent and related decomposition products. These catalysts displayed modest activities of up to 8,100 hr⁻¹.
Finally, a method was developed for quantifying the amount of metal in the catalysts using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. A series of matrix-matched standards were prepared, and their elemental compositions measured accurately using neutron activation analysis. The method was shown to be rapid and inexpensive to implement, with linearity up to 2.0 wt% metal and a precision of over 95%.

text: A Study on Supported Metal Catalysts Prepared from Colloidal Precursors When metal nanoparticles are supported on the surface of an inert carrier, the resulting materials can become powerful heterogeneous catalysts capable of accelerating a diverse range of chemical reactions. Though there are a wide variety of synthetic routes by which these materials can be prepared, many offer little control over the textural properties of the resulting catalyst. Conversely, methods using pre-formed colloidal nanoparticles as a metal source offer the potential for precise control of properties like particle size and shape. This is both a topical class of syntheses, and the subject of the current body of work. Three different types of colloids were therefore prepared using different stabilising agents, and subsequently used to produce an array of different catalysts.

As support materials for the catalysts, a series of four commercially available materials were obtained, including silica, alumina, hydroxyapatite, and microcrystalline cellulose. Four novel analogues were also obtained, including halloysite, perlite, bioapatite, and macrofibrillar cellulose. In order to understand their physicochemical properties, they were characterised by a combination of Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy, solid-state ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁷Al, ²⁹Si, and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, laser diffraction analysis, and zeta potential measurements. Additional experiments were performed to investigate the wetting properties of the materials using the Washburn capillary rise method, which was shown to be a valuable method for rationalising solvent choice for reactions involving these materials.

An initial batch of catalysts was produced by immobilising electrostatically-stabilised rhodium, palladium, and platinum colloids onto these support materials. Instrumental characterisation of the catalysts showed no major perturbation to the chemistry of the materials following the immobilisation, though some subtle surface effects were observed. These catalysts were tested in the hydrogenation of several olefins, and were found to have excellent catalytic activity, up to 64,400 hr⁻¹, under standard conditions. 
A second batch of catalysts was produced by immobilising polymer-stabilised metal colloids onto the supports. Characterisation of the materials showed the polymers and the nanoparticles they contained were associated strongly with the support materials, though the spatial distribution varied significantly between systems. Activation of the catalysts by calcination was shown to initiate their thermal decomposition and oxidation, which in turn affected their catalytic activity. The catalysts containing supported rhodium or platinum were inactive, while those containing supported palladium showed good activity, up to 41,900 hr⁻¹.
A third batch of catalysts was produced by immobilising solvent-stabilised metal colloids onto the supports. Amide-type solvents were shown to be the most effective for this purpose, though spectroscopic evidence suggested the samples contained residual solvent and related decomposition products. These catalysts displayed modest activities of up to 8,100 hr⁻¹.
Finally, a method was developed for quantifying the amount of metal in the catalysts using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. A series of matrix-matched standards were prepared, and their elemental compositions measured accurately using neutron activation analysis. The method was shown to be rapid and inexpensive to implement, with linearity up to 2.0 wt% metal and a precision of over 95%.

year: 2016

title: An Evaluation of an Impaired Driver Treatment Programme Facilitated by Tūhoe Hauora

authors: Waru, Nicole Arihia

subjects: Tuhoe Hauora

abstract: Driving while impaired is a substantial issue in Aotearoa.  It has the potential to result in loss of life and cause significant health and economic strain on society.  Recidivist impaired drivers are major contributors to this problem.  Countermeasures of impaired driving have previously included liquor licencing, drinking age restrictions, health promotion campaigns and health rehabilitation therapies.  The Ministry of Health offer an Impaired Driving therapy throughout Aotearoa as countermeasure to this issue.  The programme is administered through the funder-contract system. Participation is compulsory for those mandated by court order.  
This study evaluates an Impaired Driver programme facilitated by Tūhoe Hauora; a kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction provider based in Taneatua, Eastern Bay of Plenty.  The course is delivered once weekly over a period of ten weeks to a group of twelve or less recidivist impaired drivers or first time offenders who were convicted of driving with excessive levels of breath alcohol.    
The evaluation draws from a community psychology paradigm in exploration of the lived experiences of programme participants, in the context of course 2 of the 2014 Tūhoe Hauora Impaired Driving course.  
The experiences of five individuals were explored using in-depth face to face interviews and presented using a case-by-case approach.  Participant observation, document review, evaluation visits and participant surveys were used as supplement methods of inquiry.  The findings illustrated that Tūhoe Hauora met contract requirements by addressing impaired driving recidivism to date of interview.  The evaluation also found the course actualising the mission of Tūhoe Hauora which was to address the holistic well-being of programme participants.  The research did present areas in the programme that could be improved particularly pertaining to the referral process and a need for agency collaboration.  Recommendations were formulated in attempt to address the programme gaps and discussion is offered in addressing the multi-layered oppression that was experienced throughout the evaluation process by both Tūhoe Hauora and the evaluation participants.

text: An Evaluation of an Impaired Driver Treatment Programme Facilitated by Tūhoe Hauora Driving while impaired is a substantial issue in Aotearoa.  It has the potential to result in loss of life and cause significant health and economic strain on society.  Recidivist impaired drivers are major contributors to this problem.  Countermeasures of impaired driving have previously included liquor licencing, drinking age restrictions, health promotion campaigns and health rehabilitation therapies.  The Ministry of Health offer an Impaired Driving therapy throughout Aotearoa as countermeasure to this issue.  The programme is administered through the funder-contract system. Participation is compulsory for those mandated by court order.  
This study evaluates an Impaired Driver programme facilitated by Tūhoe Hauora; a kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction provider based in Taneatua, Eastern Bay of Plenty.  The course is delivered once weekly over a period of ten weeks to a group of twelve or less recidivist impaired drivers or first time offenders who were convicted of driving with excessive levels of breath alcohol.    
The evaluation draws from a community psychology paradigm in exploration of the lived experiences of programme participants, in the context of course 2 of the 2014 Tūhoe Hauora Impaired Driving course.  
The experiences of five individuals were explored using in-depth face to face interviews and presented using a case-by-case approach.  Participant observation, document review, evaluation visits and participant surveys were used as supplement methods of inquiry.  The findings illustrated that Tūhoe Hauora met contract requirements by addressing impaired driving recidivism to date of interview.  The evaluation also found the course actualising the mission of Tūhoe Hauora which was to address the holistic well-being of programme participants.  The research did present areas in the programme that could be improved particularly pertaining to the referral process and a need for agency collaboration.  Recommendations were formulated in attempt to address the programme gaps and discussion is offered in addressing the multi-layered oppression that was experienced throughout the evaluation process by both Tūhoe Hauora and the evaluation participants.

year: 2016