title: Modelling of restoration scenarios for Lake Ngaroto

authors: Paul, Wendy J.

abstract: Waipa District Council is investigating restoration options for Lake Ngaroto, a shallow lake that has become hypertrophic through high external (catchment) nutrient loading from its catchment, which is associated with land use that is predominantly dairy farming. Shallow lakes like Lake Ngaroto, which have high external loading, typically have high internal nutrient loading, which may also need to be addressed to gain immediate improvements in water quality. By contrast, reduction of external nutrients is more likely to be associated with gradual and long-lasting effects on water quality.

This report is a culmination of data collection and analysis, and model development and simulation of restoration scenarios for Lake Ngaroto. Data were gathered on flow, nutrient concentrations,  temperature, dissolved oxygen, suspended sediments, meteorological variables and the lake morphology for the lake and its catchment. These data were used to produce a water balance and input files for DYRESM-CAEDYM, a one dimensional, coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model. Once calibrated, using the measured lake data (ammonium (NH4-N), nitrate (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4-P), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll a (Chl a), suspended solids (SS), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO)) as a means of comparison for modelled data, a number of scenarios were carried out to simulate outcomes of lake restoration measures.

text: Modelling of restoration scenarios for Lake Ngaroto Waipa District Council is investigating restoration options for Lake Ngaroto, a shallow lake that has become hypertrophic through high external (catchment) nutrient loading from its catchment, which is associated with land use that is predominantly dairy farming. Shallow lakes like Lake Ngaroto, which have high external loading, typically have high internal nutrient loading, which may also need to be addressed to gain immediate improvements in water quality. By contrast, reduction of external nutrients is more likely to be associated with gradual and long-lasting effects on water quality.

This report is a culmination of data collection and analysis, and model development and simulation of restoration scenarios for Lake Ngaroto. Data were gathered on flow, nutrient concentrations,  temperature, dissolved oxygen, suspended sediments, meteorological variables and the lake morphology for the lake and its catchment. These data were used to produce a water balance and input files for DYRESM-CAEDYM, a one dimensional, coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model. Once calibrated, using the measured lake data (ammonium (NH4-N), nitrate (NO3-N), phosphate (PO4-P), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll a (Chl a), suspended solids (SS), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO)) as a means of comparison for modelled data, a number of scenarios were carried out to simulate outcomes of lake restoration measures.

year: 2008-08

title: Motivations for Corporate Social Reporting and Non-Reporting in Malaysia: An Exploratory Study From a Public Relations Perspective

authors: Tee, Keng Kok

subjects: Corporate Social Reporting

abstract: Corporate social reporting, embracing the triple bottom line reporting concept, entails
the reporting of economic, social and environmental performance as opposed to the
more narrow focus on conventional financial reporting. Many corporations are now
engaging in environmental and social reporting in an effort to communicate the social
and environmental effects of organisations‟ operations to particular interest groups
within society.
The main objective of this thesis is to examine corporate motivations and hesitations
to undertake social reporting in Malaysia. Most studies have so far applied
quantitative method on themes identification to determine rationales for corporate
social reporting. Little attention has been given to in-depth primary and secondary
data to understand rationales for corporate social reporting in a national context. In
addition to motivation, this study fills the gap in the literature by investigating
corporate reluctance for social reporting.
A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. A mixed method of data
collection, consisting of both semi-structured interviews and corporate social reports,
was used. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with representatives of six
reporting and six non-reporting corporations, and eight non-corporate respondents
representing the Malaysian political and social sectors. In addition to primary data,
corporate social information in annual reports and corporate websites of six reporting
corporations was also collected to support the interviews. Thematic analysis was
applied to identify salient themes to explain both corporate motivation and hesitation
for social reporting. The analysis was divided into two levels: corporation and
society.
At the corporate level, results identify public relations as the central motivation for
social reporting. More specifically, the concepts of image and identity, issues
management, two-way symmetrical and asymmetrical communication, autocommunication,
and publicity are used to explain the adoption of social reporting.
Image and identity and issues management were also among the concepts applied to
explain corporate hesitation for social reporting. However, the results also support
stockholder theory and reveal the lack of public relations understanding to be the
cause of the low acceptance of social reporting. In-depth analysis revealed
organisational legitimacy as the main reason to explain both motivation and
hesitation for social reporting.
Corporations require stakeholder support for their continual existence. At the societal
level analysis, the concept of political economy was applied to explain the limited
social reporting practice in the Malaysian context. Finally, the implications for both
practising as well as neglecting social reporting are discussed using the concept of the
risk society.

text: Motivations for Corporate Social Reporting and Non-Reporting in Malaysia: An Exploratory Study From a Public Relations Perspective Corporate social reporting, embracing the triple bottom line reporting concept, entails
the reporting of economic, social and environmental performance as opposed to the
more narrow focus on conventional financial reporting. Many corporations are now
engaging in environmental and social reporting in an effort to communicate the social
and environmental effects of organisations‟ operations to particular interest groups
within society.
The main objective of this thesis is to examine corporate motivations and hesitations
to undertake social reporting in Malaysia. Most studies have so far applied
quantitative method on themes identification to determine rationales for corporate
social reporting. Little attention has been given to in-depth primary and secondary
data to understand rationales for corporate social reporting in a national context. In
addition to motivation, this study fills the gap in the literature by investigating
corporate reluctance for social reporting.
A qualitative approach was adopted for this study. A mixed method of data
collection, consisting of both semi-structured interviews and corporate social reports,
was used. A total of 20 interviews were conducted with representatives of six
reporting and six non-reporting corporations, and eight non-corporate respondents
representing the Malaysian political and social sectors. In addition to primary data,
corporate social information in annual reports and corporate websites of six reporting
corporations was also collected to support the interviews. Thematic analysis was
applied to identify salient themes to explain both corporate motivation and hesitation
for social reporting. The analysis was divided into two levels: corporation and
society.
At the corporate level, results identify public relations as the central motivation for
social reporting. More specifically, the concepts of image and identity, issues
management, two-way symmetrical and asymmetrical communication, autocommunication,
and publicity are used to explain the adoption of social reporting.
Image and identity and issues management were also among the concepts applied to
explain corporate hesitation for social reporting. However, the results also support
stockholder theory and reveal the lack of public relations understanding to be the
cause of the low acceptance of social reporting. In-depth analysis revealed
organisational legitimacy as the main reason to explain both motivation and
hesitation for social reporting.
Corporations require stakeholder support for their continual existence. At the societal
level analysis, the concept of political economy was applied to explain the limited
social reporting practice in the Malaysian context. Finally, the implications for both
practising as well as neglecting social reporting are discussed using the concept of the
risk society.

year: 2009

title: Ki te kapu o takau ringa - In the Hollow of my Hand: Wānanga based Photographic Approaches to Place Representation

authors: Hill, Rodrigo

abstract: Ka matakitaki iho au ki te riu o Waikato
 Ano nei hei kapo kau ake maaku; 
Ki te kapu o taku ringa, 
“I look down on the valley of Waikato, 
As though to hold it  
In the hollow of my hand.
 The words above are from Māori King Tawhiao’s maioha (song poem), a representation of his love for his homelands of the Waikato and the region known today as the King Country. Now imagine a large-scale photograph: a close-up of cupped hands, holding an object carefully. The phrase above informs Professor Tom Roa and Dr. Rodrigo Hill’s current research project titled ‘Te Nehenehenui - The Ancient Enduring Beauty in the Great Forest of the King Country’. With this project still in its early stages the research team will present early and ongoing creative practice developments, discussions and ideas about photography practice, wānanga, and place representation. The project promotes the use of wānanga (forums and meetings of focus groups through which knowledge - mātauranga - is discussed and passed on) and other reflective practices, engaging with and led by mana whenua (guardians of the land) providing a thread which will guide the construction of the photographic images. The research fuses wānanga, that is Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge), and photography practice in novel ways, aiming to move away and challenge core photographic conventions and Eurocentric modes of place representation. Roa and Hill understand wānanga as a fluid practice of engagement which can be with mana whenua or with the taiao - the environment - either by itself or with the mana whenua. This is the essence of Kaupapa Māori Research.

text: Ki te kapu o takau ringa - In the Hollow of my Hand: Wānanga based Photographic Approaches to Place Representation Ka matakitaki iho au ki te riu o Waikato
 Ano nei hei kapo kau ake maaku; 
Ki te kapu o taku ringa, 
“I look down on the valley of Waikato, 
As though to hold it  
In the hollow of my hand.
 The words above are from Māori King Tawhiao’s maioha (song poem), a representation of his love for his homelands of the Waikato and the region known today as the King Country. Now imagine a large-scale photograph: a close-up of cupped hands, holding an object carefully. The phrase above informs Professor Tom Roa and Dr. Rodrigo Hill’s current research project titled ‘Te Nehenehenui - The Ancient Enduring Beauty in the Great Forest of the King Country’. With this project still in its early stages the research team will present early and ongoing creative practice developments, discussions and ideas about photography practice, wānanga, and place representation. The project promotes the use of wānanga (forums and meetings of focus groups through which knowledge - mātauranga - is discussed and passed on) and other reflective practices, engaging with and led by mana whenua (guardians of the land) providing a thread which will guide the construction of the photographic images. The research fuses wānanga, that is Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge), and photography practice in novel ways, aiming to move away and challenge core photographic conventions and Eurocentric modes of place representation. Roa and Hill understand wānanga as a fluid practice of engagement which can be with mana whenua or with the taiao - the environment - either by itself or with the mana whenua. This is the essence of Kaupapa Māori Research.

year: 2023-10-25