title: Sustainability Vs Profitable Dependable Supply: A Case Study of Institutional Constraints on the Adoption of New Sustainable Technology

authors: Given, Tim

subjects: sustainability

abstract: This thesis examines policy tensions arising from the emergence of sustainable technologies and the institutional barriers to their adoption. Its starting point is an analysis of conflict over electricity pricing between Wellington City Council and Wellington Electricity, sparked by Wellington City Council’s proposal to replace all existing street lighting with Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology.  The thesis analyses key policy documents informing the position of Wellington City Council and Wellington Electricity, to identify the ideational and related institutional drivers of this conflict.  The idea of holistic sustainability has been a key driver of policy at the local government level, and the idea of profitable dependable supply informs central government legislation that sets the terms of reference for Wellington Electricity.  The idea of profitable dependable supply is expressed in institutions which constrain flexibility and limit policy options for addressing sustainable energy use.  The intention to embrace change, shown in the concern for integration and future focus on the part of the Wellington City Council, stands in contrast to the focus and constraint of profitable dependable supply which restrains the capacity to engage with change to more efficient and effective technology.  The limitations imposed by existing electricity generation and supply institutions create policy rigidity at a time when more responsive approaches to the challenges of sustainability are needed.

text: Sustainability Vs Profitable Dependable Supply: A Case Study of Institutional Constraints on the Adoption of New Sustainable Technology This thesis examines policy tensions arising from the emergence of sustainable technologies and the institutional barriers to their adoption. Its starting point is an analysis of conflict over electricity pricing between Wellington City Council and Wellington Electricity, sparked by Wellington City Council’s proposal to replace all existing street lighting with Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology.  The thesis analyses key policy documents informing the position of Wellington City Council and Wellington Electricity, to identify the ideational and related institutional drivers of this conflict.  The idea of holistic sustainability has been a key driver of policy at the local government level, and the idea of profitable dependable supply informs central government legislation that sets the terms of reference for Wellington Electricity.  The idea of profitable dependable supply is expressed in institutions which constrain flexibility and limit policy options for addressing sustainable energy use.  The intention to embrace change, shown in the concern for integration and future focus on the part of the Wellington City Council, stands in contrast to the focus and constraint of profitable dependable supply which restrains the capacity to engage with change to more efficient and effective technology.  The limitations imposed by existing electricity generation and supply institutions create policy rigidity at a time when more responsive approaches to the challenges of sustainability are needed.

year: 2016

title: Advantages of 3D time-of-flight range imaging cameras in machine vision applications

authors: Dorrington, Adrian A.

subjects: range imaging

abstract: Machine vision using image processing of traditional intensity images is in wide spread use. In many situations environmental conditions or object colours or shades cannot be controlled, leading to difficulties in correctly processing the images and requiring complicated processing algorithms. Many of these complications can be avoided by using range image data, instead of intensity data. This is because range image data represents the physical properties of object location and shape, practically independently of object colour or shading. The advantages of range image processing are presented, along with three example applications that show how robust machine vision results can be obtained with relatively simple range image processing in real-time applications.

text: Advantages of 3D time-of-flight range imaging cameras in machine vision applications Machine vision using image processing of traditional intensity images is in wide spread use. In many situations environmental conditions or object colours or shades cannot be controlled, leading to difficulties in correctly processing the images and requiring complicated processing algorithms. Many of these complications can be avoided by using range image data, instead of intensity data. This is because range image data represents the physical properties of object location and shape, practically independently of object colour or shading. The advantages of range image processing are presented, along with three example applications that show how robust machine vision results can be obtained with relatively simple range image processing in real-time applications.

year: 2009

title: Teaching Māori in English-medium schools in New Zealand: Teacher responses to aspects of the curriculum guidelines for te reo Māori in English-medium school settings

authors: Takurua, Nātana

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Opinions are divided about how the content of language courses should be specified and whether educational authorities should include specifications/ suggestions about language content in national curriculum documents. Issues associated with language content are, however, not ones that can be avoided, particularly as teachers are expected to prepare students for national examinations at the upper levels of schooling and these examinations are necessarily predicated on general expectations about proficiency achievements and more specific expectations about the types of language with which students will be familiar. In this article, we explore the complex nature of some of the issues involved and the ways in which the New Zealand Ministry of Education has sought/ is seeking to resolve them in the case of the curriculum for Māori in English-medium schools. We also report on the responses of a sample of teachers of Māori in secondary schools in New Zealand to the omission of language examples from the final version of the curriculum guidelines document.

text: Teaching Māori in English-medium schools in New Zealand: Teacher responses to aspects of the curriculum guidelines for te reo Māori in English-medium school settings Opinions are divided about how the content of language courses should be specified and whether educational authorities should include specifications/ suggestions about language content in national curriculum documents. Issues associated with language content are, however, not ones that can be avoided, particularly as teachers are expected to prepare students for national examinations at the upper levels of schooling and these examinations are necessarily predicated on general expectations about proficiency achievements and more specific expectations about the types of language with which students will be familiar. In this article, we explore the complex nature of some of the issues involved and the ways in which the New Zealand Ministry of Education has sought/ is seeking to resolve them in the case of the curriculum for Māori in English-medium schools. We also report on the responses of a sample of teachers of Māori in secondary schools in New Zealand to the omission of language examples from the final version of the curriculum guidelines document.

year: 2009-09