title: Biosecurity management overview

authors: Champion, Paul

abstract: Today’s symposium topic is the issue of water weeds in the Rotorua Lakes and their management. I will discuss how and where these weeds came from and how they got into New Zealand. The weeds discussed are only a small sample of potential weeds that could
have additional or even greater impacts on Rotorua and New Zealand as a whole. I will discuss our legislation and how management at the border protects us from future weeds yet to enter this country. Unfortunately, it appears that our legislation has been too
effective at keeping out new plants, with no new aquatic plants legally introduced since the mid 1990’s but over 25% of aquatic plants in the aquarium/pond plant trade appear to have got here illegally. Several prosecutions have resulted from interception of smuggled
plants.
Once inside our border, there are several biosecurity measures initiated that have kept a number of our worst weeds at bay. These include banning the propagation, sale and distribution of 30 aquatic weed species, national and regionally run eradication
programmes for high-risk weeds, with the successful eradication of five species and great progress towards the eradication of around twelve other weeds. However, some of these plants, such as water hyacinth, are still illegally kept by some individuals and several new
infestations have originated from such sources. Despite this, the programmes have successfully kept the volume of deliberate spread for a wide number of aquatic weeds to a trickle.
As previous speakers will have discussed, humans are the major cause of spread of aquatic weeds, with contaminated watercraft and trailers, fishing nets, diggers etc. all contributing to this spread. Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been proactively managing their lakes, identifying which lakes are threatened by which weeds, and then carrying out surveillance in order to detect and manage any new weed incursions. To assist with surveillance, they have designed and constructed weed cordons that effectively net off access points such as boat ramps (the main sites of new weed introduction) and have successfully detected and prevented establishment of new incursions of the weeds hornwort and egeria in Lake Rotoma. Each summer holidays an awareness programme run under the national ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ banner promotes inspection for weeds at boat ramps around the region. Additionally, surveillance of ornamental ponds near to high-value lakes has led to the detection of a number of
potential weeds.

text: Biosecurity management overview Today’s symposium topic is the issue of water weeds in the Rotorua Lakes and their management. I will discuss how and where these weeds came from and how they got into New Zealand. The weeds discussed are only a small sample of potential weeds that could
have additional or even greater impacts on Rotorua and New Zealand as a whole. I will discuss our legislation and how management at the border protects us from future weeds yet to enter this country. Unfortunately, it appears that our legislation has been too
effective at keeping out new plants, with no new aquatic plants legally introduced since the mid 1990’s but over 25% of aquatic plants in the aquarium/pond plant trade appear to have got here illegally. Several prosecutions have resulted from interception of smuggled
plants.
Once inside our border, there are several biosecurity measures initiated that have kept a number of our worst weeds at bay. These include banning the propagation, sale and distribution of 30 aquatic weed species, national and regionally run eradication
programmes for high-risk weeds, with the successful eradication of five species and great progress towards the eradication of around twelve other weeds. However, some of these plants, such as water hyacinth, are still illegally kept by some individuals and several new
infestations have originated from such sources. Despite this, the programmes have successfully kept the volume of deliberate spread for a wide number of aquatic weeds to a trickle.
As previous speakers will have discussed, humans are the major cause of spread of aquatic weeds, with contaminated watercraft and trailers, fishing nets, diggers etc. all contributing to this spread. Bay of Plenty Regional Council have been proactively managing their lakes, identifying which lakes are threatened by which weeds, and then carrying out surveillance in order to detect and manage any new weed incursions. To assist with surveillance, they have designed and constructed weed cordons that effectively net off access points such as boat ramps (the main sites of new weed introduction) and have successfully detected and prevented establishment of new incursions of the weeds hornwort and egeria in Lake Rotoma. Each summer holidays an awareness programme run under the national ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ banner promotes inspection for weeds at boat ramps around the region. Additionally, surveillance of ornamental ponds near to high-value lakes has led to the detection of a number of
potential weeds.

year: 2015

title: Productivity growth of East Asia economies' manufacturing: A decomposition analysis

authors: Liao, Hailin

subjects: East Asian economies

abstract: Applying a stochastic production frontier to sector-level data within manufacturing, this paper examines total factor productivity (TFP) growth for seven East Asian economies during 1963-98, using both single country and cross-country regressions. The analysis focuses on the trend in technological progress (TP) and technical efficiency change (TEC), and the role of productivity change in economic growth. The empirical results reveal that although input factor accumulation is still the main source for East Asian economies' growth, TFP growth is accounting for an increasing and important proportion of output growth, among which the improved TEC plays a crucial role in productivity growth.

text: Productivity growth of East Asia economies' manufacturing: A decomposition analysis Applying a stochastic production frontier to sector-level data within manufacturing, this paper examines total factor productivity (TFP) growth for seven East Asian economies during 1963-98, using both single country and cross-country regressions. The analysis focuses on the trend in technological progress (TP) and technical efficiency change (TEC), and the role of productivity change in economic growth. The empirical results reveal that although input factor accumulation is still the main source for East Asian economies' growth, TFP growth is accounting for an increasing and important proportion of output growth, among which the improved TEC plays a crucial role in productivity growth.

year: 2007

title: Educational leadership and Māori communities’ involvement in their children’s schooling

authors: McMillan, Hoana

subjects: Educational leadership

abstract: The leadership of state primary schools in New Zealand is made up of Board of Trustees (BoT) members and the principal who together, play an important role in addressing take Māori – Māori issues, to enable better outcomes for Māori achievement and empowering relationships with Māori communities.  However not all schools have met their professional responsibilities to provide a learning environment that promotes the success of their Māori students (Education Review Office, 2010) therefore an important question for Māori communities to contemplate is whether they need to take up a more active role in ensuring accountability from these parties, as well as actively contributing to efforts to ensure better outcomes for their children.
The case studies presented in this thesis examine two successful mainstream primary schools identified as doing well in terms of Māori achievement and empowering relationships with their Māori communities.  It explores the knowledge of Māori Board of Trustees Members (MBTMS) and also their perceptions of what Māori communities know regarding school leadership and policies and procedures relating to Māori achievement and Māori communities.  It also explores the knowledge of their school leadership in terms of leadership that works well with Māori communities, and how Māori communities might work alongside school leadership effectively.  The case studies were conducted in a kaupapa Māori framework where the collection and analysis of qualitative data included school documents, observations of Boards of Trustees (BoT) meetings, information about professional development relating to Māori achievement and or Māori communities, and semi-structured interviews with the MBTMS and principals.
The literature review highlighted the relationship between the role of principals and their knowledge of Māori perspectives toward meeting outcomes for Māori achievement and empowering relationships with Māori communities. It also highlighted the role of the BoT and the implications of ethnicity and of legislation toward meeting these outcomes.  Lastly it highlighted the evolution of whānau roles within education, and the ability of whānau to challenge school leadership towards meeting these outcomes.
The findings from the case studies indicate that the knowledge of MBTMS with regards to the roles of school leadership and policies and procedures relating to Māori achievement and Māori communities were consistent with the structure of partnerships within their school leadership.  The knowledge of school leadership across the case studies regarding leadership that works well with Māori communities is consistent with traditional whānau roles within education where there is emphasis on the well-being of Māori, creating the following conditions of school culture and climate within their schools – Whakamana Tangata – Acknowledging People, Whakamana Whānau – Acknowledging Family, Whakamana Tikanga, Acknowledging Protocol, Whakamana Reo – Acknowledging Language, Matauranga Māori – Knowledge of Māori worldviews, Pono – Trust, and Manaaki – Care.
The study suggests further research examining what Māori community members, beyond MTBMS, know about the role of school leadership and of policies and procedures relating to Māori achievement and Māori communities, and how Māori communities might envisage working alongside school leadership.  However, this study does offer a useful point of reflection and discussion for school leadership interested in improving their practice toward better outcomes for Māori.

text: Educational leadership and Māori communities’ involvement in their children’s schooling The leadership of state primary schools in New Zealand is made up of Board of Trustees (BoT) members and the principal who together, play an important role in addressing take Māori – Māori issues, to enable better outcomes for Māori achievement and empowering relationships with Māori communities.  However not all schools have met their professional responsibilities to provide a learning environment that promotes the success of their Māori students (Education Review Office, 2010) therefore an important question for Māori communities to contemplate is whether they need to take up a more active role in ensuring accountability from these parties, as well as actively contributing to efforts to ensure better outcomes for their children.
The case studies presented in this thesis examine two successful mainstream primary schools identified as doing well in terms of Māori achievement and empowering relationships with their Māori communities.  It explores the knowledge of Māori Board of Trustees Members (MBTMS) and also their perceptions of what Māori communities know regarding school leadership and policies and procedures relating to Māori achievement and Māori communities.  It also explores the knowledge of their school leadership in terms of leadership that works well with Māori communities, and how Māori communities might work alongside school leadership effectively.  The case studies were conducted in a kaupapa Māori framework where the collection and analysis of qualitative data included school documents, observations of Boards of Trustees (BoT) meetings, information about professional development relating to Māori achievement and or Māori communities, and semi-structured interviews with the MBTMS and principals.
The literature review highlighted the relationship between the role of principals and their knowledge of Māori perspectives toward meeting outcomes for Māori achievement and empowering relationships with Māori communities. It also highlighted the role of the BoT and the implications of ethnicity and of legislation toward meeting these outcomes.  Lastly it highlighted the evolution of whānau roles within education, and the ability of whānau to challenge school leadership towards meeting these outcomes.
The findings from the case studies indicate that the knowledge of MBTMS with regards to the roles of school leadership and policies and procedures relating to Māori achievement and Māori communities were consistent with the structure of partnerships within their school leadership.  The knowledge of school leadership across the case studies regarding leadership that works well with Māori communities is consistent with traditional whānau roles within education where there is emphasis on the well-being of Māori, creating the following conditions of school culture and climate within their schools – Whakamana Tangata – Acknowledging People, Whakamana Whānau – Acknowledging Family, Whakamana Tikanga, Acknowledging Protocol, Whakamana Reo – Acknowledging Language, Matauranga Māori – Knowledge of Māori worldviews, Pono – Trust, and Manaaki – Care.
The study suggests further research examining what Māori community members, beyond MTBMS, know about the role of school leadership and of policies and procedures relating to Māori achievement and Māori communities, and how Māori communities might envisage working alongside school leadership.  However, this study does offer a useful point of reflection and discussion for school leadership interested in improving their practice toward better outcomes for Māori.

year: 2012