title: Vegetation studies in the Taranaki land district, New Zealand

authors: Clarkson, Bruce D.

abstract: Sampling of the indigenous vegetation of the Taranaki Land District was carried out to describe and explain significant features of vegetational change along environmental gradients. Five major locations were sampled; the three volcanic mountains of Egmont National Park (Egmont, Pouakai and Kaitake), the associated volcanic ring plain and the Taranaki Upland. The sampling which was mainly along altitudinal and moisture gradients involved the collection of both quantitative and semi-quantitative plot data.

Direct and indirect gradient analyses were then carried out on the data; the techniques employed included graphing, ordination and classification. Analysis enabled the definition of the main vegetation types at each of the sampling locations and of the important environmental factors associated with the vegetation pattern. 

Comparison of the results obtained at each of the sampling locations revealed differences in the structure and composition of the vegetation and in the pattern of vegetational change along the gradients. The three volcanic mountains within Egmont National Park show differences in the vegetation consistent with the sequence of volcanic activity (the Taranaki Volcanic Succession). Sectors of Mt Egmont exhibit differences which relate closely to the pattern of recent eruptions particularly the Burrell eruption of 1655 A.D. The vegetation at equivalent altitudes on Pouakai, an older more eroded volcanic remnant, is at a more advanced stage of development. A complex pattern of species (woody species and tree ferns) distribution on the three mountains (Egmont, Pouakai and Kaitake) is outlined and attributed in some instances to the changing availability of habitats on each mountain. This is associated with the sequence of mountain building, erosion and dissection. The vegetation pattern of the Taranaki Upland by contrast more closely reflects the pattern of topography and substrate and the forests are richer in vascular species. Analysis of the distribution of species (woody species and tree ferns) shows that inland Taranaki was the probable source for almost all of the species found in the forests of Egmont National Park. 

Comparisons of the pattern of vegetational change along altitudinal gradients of the mountains of Egmont National Park and some other southern hemisphere mountains reveal certain similarities. With respect to other North Island (New Zealand) volcanic mountains examined the similarities are marked. Like Mt Egmont, Pouakai and Kaitake these mountains all support podocarp-broadleaved forests from which the beech species (Nothofagus spp.) are absent. The forests of Egmont National Park are interpreted as illustrating stages of a landscape and vegetation succession apparent on volcanic mountains throughout the North Island. Features which characterise the present stage of development of the forests of Mt Egmont include the overwhelming dominance of kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa var. racemose), the absence of forest tree species such as quintinia (Quintinia serrata) and the relatively low altitude tree-line.

text: Vegetation studies in the Taranaki land district, New Zealand Sampling of the indigenous vegetation of the Taranaki Land District was carried out to describe and explain significant features of vegetational change along environmental gradients. Five major locations were sampled; the three volcanic mountains of Egmont National Park (Egmont, Pouakai and Kaitake), the associated volcanic ring plain and the Taranaki Upland. The sampling which was mainly along altitudinal and moisture gradients involved the collection of both quantitative and semi-quantitative plot data.

Direct and indirect gradient analyses were then carried out on the data; the techniques employed included graphing, ordination and classification. Analysis enabled the definition of the main vegetation types at each of the sampling locations and of the important environmental factors associated with the vegetation pattern. 

Comparison of the results obtained at each of the sampling locations revealed differences in the structure and composition of the vegetation and in the pattern of vegetational change along the gradients. The three volcanic mountains within Egmont National Park show differences in the vegetation consistent with the sequence of volcanic activity (the Taranaki Volcanic Succession). Sectors of Mt Egmont exhibit differences which relate closely to the pattern of recent eruptions particularly the Burrell eruption of 1655 A.D. The vegetation at equivalent altitudes on Pouakai, an older more eroded volcanic remnant, is at a more advanced stage of development. A complex pattern of species (woody species and tree ferns) distribution on the three mountains (Egmont, Pouakai and Kaitake) is outlined and attributed in some instances to the changing availability of habitats on each mountain. This is associated with the sequence of mountain building, erosion and dissection. The vegetation pattern of the Taranaki Upland by contrast more closely reflects the pattern of topography and substrate and the forests are richer in vascular species. Analysis of the distribution of species (woody species and tree ferns) shows that inland Taranaki was the probable source for almost all of the species found in the forests of Egmont National Park. 

Comparisons of the pattern of vegetational change along altitudinal gradients of the mountains of Egmont National Park and some other southern hemisphere mountains reveal certain similarities. With respect to other North Island (New Zealand) volcanic mountains examined the similarities are marked. Like Mt Egmont, Pouakai and Kaitake these mountains all support podocarp-broadleaved forests from which the beech species (Nothofagus spp.) are absent. The forests of Egmont National Park are interpreted as illustrating stages of a landscape and vegetation succession apparent on volcanic mountains throughout the North Island. Features which characterise the present stage of development of the forests of Mt Egmont include the overwhelming dominance of kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa var. racemose), the absence of forest tree species such as quintinia (Quintinia serrata) and the relatively low altitude tree-line.

year: 1981

title: The induction and professional development of academics

authors: Barbour, Robert H.

subjects: computer science

abstract: This paper makes suggestions for the induction and professional development of staff at the University of Waikato. The context of the University as a community of scholars and administrators is outlined. A number of possible induction strategies are put forward for consideration in text and diagrammatic form.

text: The induction and professional development of academics This paper makes suggestions for the induction and professional development of staff at the University of Waikato. The context of the University as a community of scholars and administrators is outlined. A number of possible induction strategies are put forward for consideration in text and diagrammatic form.

year: 1994-02

title: Unpacking media narratives: Racism and problematic reasonings

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

abstract: In this research brief, we present summaries of four case studies of racism in mainstream and social media in Aotearoa. Through a series of carefully selected datasets sourced from TV episodes (Police TEN 7), print media such as news articles (including Northland checkpoints), and tweets (Three Waters reform), we outline how Māori are represented across these mediums. With an expert in language modelling on our team, we analysed large datasets that give us sufficient statistical power to infer specific Māori discourses on respective platforms. Further, we examined key themes that characterise how Māori are represented in the media and signal the scale of anti-Māori attacks. For instance, we found that the predominant discussion on Three Waters reform on Twitter focused on ‘conflict’ (distrust towards government; 33%) and ‘capability’ (questioning the credibility of the reform; 23%) rather than its core intention of promoting water ‘safety’ (7%). The modelling analysis was supplemented by in-depth qualitative analysis that integrates anti-Māori themes (Moewaka-Barnes et al., 2012) and problematic reasoning tactics (Sturgill, 2021) to elucidate how false, deficit-based rhetoric about Māori is deployed to fuel racism and disinformation. In summary, our findings reinforce Kupu Taea’s call for new media sectors to integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their practices to safeguard Māori and other minoritised groups who are likely to be at the fore of racist attacks.

text: Unpacking media narratives: Racism and problematic reasonings In this research brief, we present summaries of four case studies of racism in mainstream and social media in Aotearoa. Through a series of carefully selected datasets sourced from TV episodes (Police TEN 7), print media such as news articles (including Northland checkpoints), and tweets (Three Waters reform), we outline how Māori are represented across these mediums. With an expert in language modelling on our team, we analysed large datasets that give us sufficient statistical power to infer specific Māori discourses on respective platforms. Further, we examined key themes that characterise how Māori are represented in the media and signal the scale of anti-Māori attacks. For instance, we found that the predominant discussion on Three Waters reform on Twitter focused on ‘conflict’ (distrust towards government; 33%) and ‘capability’ (questioning the credibility of the reform; 23%) rather than its core intention of promoting water ‘safety’ (7%). The modelling analysis was supplemented by in-depth qualitative analysis that integrates anti-Māori themes (Moewaka-Barnes et al., 2012) and problematic reasoning tactics (Sturgill, 2021) to elucidate how false, deficit-based rhetoric about Māori is deployed to fuel racism and disinformation. In summary, our findings reinforce Kupu Taea’s call for new media sectors to integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into their practices to safeguard Māori and other minoritised groups who are likely to be at the fore of racist attacks.

year: 2025