title: Estimating patterns and rates of coastal cliff retreat around Tauranga Harbour

authors: Garae, Camillia Pauline

subjects: rate of coastal cliff retreat

abstract: Cliffs are common around the shores of Tauranga Harbour, including in the urban areas. The existence of cliffs indicates a potential hazard to people living close to the cliff edge, as they imply both a tendency for the upper surfaces to erode, and for the debris to fall onto lower areas. To identify the relative risk around the harbour shoreline, it is useful to determine the rates and patterns of shoreline erosion.

This study initially determined the shoreline changes between 1943, 1982 and 2011 using a combination of aerial photograph analysis using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), airborne LiDAR data and Laser scan data. Long term rate of retreat was determined for the study area with the use of digitised aerial photographs and DSAS applications. Cliff locations are often difficult to determine from aerial photographs due to shadows and vegetation obscuring the ground surface. Hence, LiDAR data were used to initially identify the cliff edge positions in 2011. These results were compared to the 2011 aerial photograph to assess how easily the cliff edge can be identified with the photographs. The inferred cliff edge from the 2011 aerial photograph was digitised in GIS, and the corresponding cliff edge for 1943 was also determined and digitised using stereopairs to aid cliff edge identification. The 1982 aerial photograph was scanned, georeferenced and shoreline digitised. Using the DSAS software, the rates were computed. However, this was also compared to other methods using the intersection points generated from DSAS. Laser scan surveys were conducted to determine surface volume changes to acquire short term rate of retreat at the cliff face. This analysis involved surveys carried out within a period from May 2014, July 2014 – November 2014. The data collected was compared to earlier laser scan data from September 2012 – July 2013 and LiDAR data from September 2011.

Several approaches were used to determine the best estimate of rate of retreat from the DSAS analyses. It was identified that the buffer end-point rate produced the best rate cliff retreat in the study area. The range of rate of retreat using this method was -0.2 ± 0.16 to 0.07 ± 0.16 m.y-1. It was also identified that the Matua Subgroup had the highest rate of erosion within the study area located at South west Matakana Island. The rate was lowest at East Pahoia Peninsula. Although laser scans were conducted only over a short period of time, comparing the dataset to earlier laser scan data a range of rates were obtained -0.01 to 0.02 m.y-1. Although rates were determined for both methods the errors were large and need to be considered.

text: Estimating patterns and rates of coastal cliff retreat around Tauranga Harbour Cliffs are common around the shores of Tauranga Harbour, including in the urban areas. The existence of cliffs indicates a potential hazard to people living close to the cliff edge, as they imply both a tendency for the upper surfaces to erode, and for the debris to fall onto lower areas. To identify the relative risk around the harbour shoreline, it is useful to determine the rates and patterns of shoreline erosion.

This study initially determined the shoreline changes between 1943, 1982 and 2011 using a combination of aerial photograph analysis using Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), airborne LiDAR data and Laser scan data. Long term rate of retreat was determined for the study area with the use of digitised aerial photographs and DSAS applications. Cliff locations are often difficult to determine from aerial photographs due to shadows and vegetation obscuring the ground surface. Hence, LiDAR data were used to initially identify the cliff edge positions in 2011. These results were compared to the 2011 aerial photograph to assess how easily the cliff edge can be identified with the photographs. The inferred cliff edge from the 2011 aerial photograph was digitised in GIS, and the corresponding cliff edge for 1943 was also determined and digitised using stereopairs to aid cliff edge identification. The 1982 aerial photograph was scanned, georeferenced and shoreline digitised. Using the DSAS software, the rates were computed. However, this was also compared to other methods using the intersection points generated from DSAS. Laser scan surveys were conducted to determine surface volume changes to acquire short term rate of retreat at the cliff face. This analysis involved surveys carried out within a period from May 2014, July 2014 – November 2014. The data collected was compared to earlier laser scan data from September 2012 – July 2013 and LiDAR data from September 2011.

Several approaches were used to determine the best estimate of rate of retreat from the DSAS analyses. It was identified that the buffer end-point rate produced the best rate cliff retreat in the study area. The range of rate of retreat using this method was -0.2 ± 0.16 to 0.07 ± 0.16 m.y-1. It was also identified that the Matua Subgroup had the highest rate of erosion within the study area located at South west Matakana Island. The rate was lowest at East Pahoia Peninsula. Although laser scans were conducted only over a short period of time, comparing the dataset to earlier laser scan data a range of rates were obtained -0.01 to 0.02 m.y-1. Although rates were determined for both methods the errors were large and need to be considered.

year: 2015

title: Self as one and many narratives

authors: Ulatowski, Joseph W.

abstract: There are different approaches to the narrative self. I limit myself to one approach that argues narratives have an important role to play in our lives without it being true that a narrative constitutes and creates the self. My own position is broadly sympathetic with that view, but my interest lies with the question of whether there is truth in the claim that to create one’s self-narrative is to create oneself. I argue that a self-narrative may be multiply realised by the inner self—impressions and emotions—and the outer self—roles in work and life. I take an optimistic attitude to the idea that narrative provides a metaphor that may stimulate insight into the nature of self if we accept a plurality of narrative selves. This paper mines a vein of research on narratives for insights into selves without being bewitched into accepting implausible conclusions.

text: Self as one and many narratives There are different approaches to the narrative self. I limit myself to one approach that argues narratives have an important role to play in our lives without it being true that a narrative constitutes and creates the self. My own position is broadly sympathetic with that view, but my interest lies with the question of whether there is truth in the claim that to create one’s self-narrative is to create oneself. I argue that a self-narrative may be multiply realised by the inner self—impressions and emotions—and the outer self—roles in work and life. I take an optimistic attitude to the idea that narrative provides a metaphor that may stimulate insight into the nature of self if we accept a plurality of narrative selves. This paper mines a vein of research on narratives for insights into selves without being bewitched into accepting implausible conclusions.

year: 2021

title: Whānau aspirations, extracurricular activity  and positive youth development:  The leisure activity patterns and narratives of successful young Māori men and how they might inform  urban whānau raising tamatāne.

authors: Clarke, Gloria Hinemoa

subjects: Leisure

abstract: The purpose of this research is to offer parents and whānau (extended family groups) insight about the kinds of leisure activities that might make a positive contribution to their boys’ development. Focused on the positive developmental benefits of leisure participation in relation to Māori boys, and employing a kaupapa Māori framework and qualitative methods, this study represents a foray into new territory. 
	Conducted ‘by, with, and for’ Māori (the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand), and guided by the question ‘How might the leisure activity patterns and narratives of successful young Māori men inform urban whānau raising tamatāne (Māori boys/sons)?’ the three-phase research design was strengths-based, collaborative, and both retrospective and prospective. In phase one, a group of 11 parents participated in focus group hui (gatherings) in which they established the criteria for ‘successful young Māori men’ (SYMM) based on their aspirations for their primary-school aged boys. In phase two, this whānau of interest then selected six SYMM from a pool of eight volunteers, who, along with one or both of their parents participated in one-off semi-structured interviews. In these interviews, we co-constructed life and leisure maps, and discussed how their childhood leisure activities and experiences contributed to their development and who they are today. In phase three, a selection of raw data from these interviews was prepared for a group analysis, during which the whānau of interest made three key observations: (1) As children and youth, these SYMM had participated in a number and range of organised and informal leisure activities including sport, kapa haka (Māori cultural performance), music, art, and for three of them, faith-based activities; (2) they were “connected” to their parent(s) and whānau; and (3) their leisure activities had brought them into contact with positive male role models. Consequently, the whānau of interest talked about increasing the number and variety of their boys’ leisure activities; how they could further support their boys’ leisure participation; and bringing more male role models into their boys’ lives. 
	The findings of this study support the current literature regarding extracurricular activity participation in relation to positive youth development, but also highlight some methodological issues and cultural and contextual nuances. The research supports international and local studies in which high-performing students participated in a number and combination of extracurricular activities. In contrast, however, the experiences and reflections of the SYMM in this study highlight the limitations of combining all sports and all arts into broad activity categories. The research participants’ leisure activities also point to the relevance and applicability of the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of health and wellbeing. Their involvement in kapa haka contrasts with the (North American) literature in which males are a minority in the performing arts, and while some studies indicate that participation in music making declines in high school, these young men began playing musical instruments in high school. Moreover, the salience and significance of the research participants’ casual leisure activities challenges the tendency to cast informal leisure as the antithesis of extracurricular activity participation. These findings raise questions about the applicability of using international activity categories in Aotearoa New Zealand research, and consequently the need to conduct our own leisure and positive youth development studies. 
Other topics raised in this thesis include rugby and masculinity, spirituality, and the tensions involved in building and honouring our children’s rangatiratanga (independence). The short answer to the research question is that a variety and balance of leisure activities has the potential to make positive contributions to boys’ lives. Implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

text: Whānau aspirations, extracurricular activity  and positive youth development:  The leisure activity patterns and narratives of successful young Māori men and how they might inform  urban whānau raising tamatāne. The purpose of this research is to offer parents and whānau (extended family groups) insight about the kinds of leisure activities that might make a positive contribution to their boys’ development. Focused on the positive developmental benefits of leisure participation in relation to Māori boys, and employing a kaupapa Māori framework and qualitative methods, this study represents a foray into new territory. 
	Conducted ‘by, with, and for’ Māori (the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand), and guided by the question ‘How might the leisure activity patterns and narratives of successful young Māori men inform urban whānau raising tamatāne (Māori boys/sons)?’ the three-phase research design was strengths-based, collaborative, and both retrospective and prospective. In phase one, a group of 11 parents participated in focus group hui (gatherings) in which they established the criteria for ‘successful young Māori men’ (SYMM) based on their aspirations for their primary-school aged boys. In phase two, this whānau of interest then selected six SYMM from a pool of eight volunteers, who, along with one or both of their parents participated in one-off semi-structured interviews. In these interviews, we co-constructed life and leisure maps, and discussed how their childhood leisure activities and experiences contributed to their development and who they are today. In phase three, a selection of raw data from these interviews was prepared for a group analysis, during which the whānau of interest made three key observations: (1) As children and youth, these SYMM had participated in a number and range of organised and informal leisure activities including sport, kapa haka (Māori cultural performance), music, art, and for three of them, faith-based activities; (2) they were “connected” to their parent(s) and whānau; and (3) their leisure activities had brought them into contact with positive male role models. Consequently, the whānau of interest talked about increasing the number and variety of their boys’ leisure activities; how they could further support their boys’ leisure participation; and bringing more male role models into their boys’ lives. 
	The findings of this study support the current literature regarding extracurricular activity participation in relation to positive youth development, but also highlight some methodological issues and cultural and contextual nuances. The research supports international and local studies in which high-performing students participated in a number and combination of extracurricular activities. In contrast, however, the experiences and reflections of the SYMM in this study highlight the limitations of combining all sports and all arts into broad activity categories. The research participants’ leisure activities also point to the relevance and applicability of the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of health and wellbeing. Their involvement in kapa haka contrasts with the (North American) literature in which males are a minority in the performing arts, and while some studies indicate that participation in music making declines in high school, these young men began playing musical instruments in high school. Moreover, the salience and significance of the research participants’ casual leisure activities challenges the tendency to cast informal leisure as the antithesis of extracurricular activity participation. These findings raise questions about the applicability of using international activity categories in Aotearoa New Zealand research, and consequently the need to conduct our own leisure and positive youth development studies. 
Other topics raised in this thesis include rugby and masculinity, spirituality, and the tensions involved in building and honouring our children’s rangatiratanga (independence). The short answer to the research question is that a variety and balance of leisure activities has the potential to make positive contributions to boys’ lives. Implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

year: 2020