title: Nutrient and sediment dynamics in two coastal plain rivers in the Bay of Plenty

authors: Wilson, Nicholas

abstract: A large amount of literature concerns eutrophication development in lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries. In contrast, literature concerning to the development of eutrophication in flowing waters is more scarce and, in New Zealand, what there is mostly concerns smaller wadable, cobble-bedded streams and not large soft-bottomed lowland rivers. Lowland rivers are at the distal end of the catchment and suffer from accumulated multiple stressors pertaining to the surrounding land use. In New Zealand coastal plain catchments, land is generally high producing pasture, urban development, or other arable practices 
The aim of this study was to develop a better understanding of how two major land-use related contaminants, nitrate, and suspended sediments, vary in two Bay of Plenty rivers, the Kaituna and the Rangitaiki, as they cross the coastal plain.  Key goals were to determine the extent to which contaminant concentrations are attenuated or enhanced during this passage. These are two significant North Island New Zealand river systems, with intensive agricultural activities in the lowland part of the catchment. Longitudinal sampling of the lowland reaches took place between November 2020 to June 2021; additional spring samples were collected in November 2021 and early December 2021. The study included measures of nitrate, suspended sediment, turbidity chlorophyll-a, pH, and dissolved oxygen, and nitrate samples from tributary flows and a limited collection of aquatic macrophytes, to assess other aspects of water quality.
The Rangitaiki and Kaituna Rivers both tended to show increasing nitrate concentration as they flowed across the coastal plain, reaching median concentrations of 0.31 and 0.54 mg/NO₃-N/L respectively. Effects of both groundwater and tributaries were evident. Suspended sediment was at relatively low concentrations within both rivers, and generally showed no substantive increase across the lowland reaches of both rivers. Chlorophyll-a and nitrate showed seasonality, and this was largely due to processes in upstream lakes or reservoirs. Little attenuation or development of phytoplankton in the river was evidenced by changes in chlorophyll concentrations, likely due to the very short residence time of water in this part of the river (<24 h). Furthermore, nitrate and suspended solids behaved differently, and there was no correlation in either river p>0.05 nor between nitrate and chlorophyll-a, p>0.05.
Downstream changes in measured variables in the Rangitaiki and Kaituna rivers could ultimately be related to land use within the lower catchment. The lower Rangitaiki River nitrate concentration is largely dictated by seasonality within Lake Matahina and activities within the upper catchment, likely supplemented by groundwater influx and any minor drains discharging to the lowland river. The Kaituna River nitrate concentration is predominantly a product of the intensive agricultural catchment, with four significant tributary inflows along the lowland reach, all of which are nitrate rich. Nitrogen enrichment was sufficient to support non-native macrophyte growth, but other adverse effects associated with eutrophication were not realised in either river. This is likely due to a combination of the short residence times within both rivers, the abrasive flow preventing macrophytes accumulating sufficiently to block the channel and the turbulent, shallow water allowing ready reaeration. These results do emphasise the need for further study on lowland rivers to assess the effects of nutrient and sediment enrichment, and the extent to which existing guidelines on river are well suited to lowland reaches.

text: Nutrient and sediment dynamics in two coastal plain rivers in the Bay of Plenty A large amount of literature concerns eutrophication development in lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries. In contrast, literature concerning to the development of eutrophication in flowing waters is more scarce and, in New Zealand, what there is mostly concerns smaller wadable, cobble-bedded streams and not large soft-bottomed lowland rivers. Lowland rivers are at the distal end of the catchment and suffer from accumulated multiple stressors pertaining to the surrounding land use. In New Zealand coastal plain catchments, land is generally high producing pasture, urban development, or other arable practices 
The aim of this study was to develop a better understanding of how two major land-use related contaminants, nitrate, and suspended sediments, vary in two Bay of Plenty rivers, the Kaituna and the Rangitaiki, as they cross the coastal plain.  Key goals were to determine the extent to which contaminant concentrations are attenuated or enhanced during this passage. These are two significant North Island New Zealand river systems, with intensive agricultural activities in the lowland part of the catchment. Longitudinal sampling of the lowland reaches took place between November 2020 to June 2021; additional spring samples were collected in November 2021 and early December 2021. The study included measures of nitrate, suspended sediment, turbidity chlorophyll-a, pH, and dissolved oxygen, and nitrate samples from tributary flows and a limited collection of aquatic macrophytes, to assess other aspects of water quality.
The Rangitaiki and Kaituna Rivers both tended to show increasing nitrate concentration as they flowed across the coastal plain, reaching median concentrations of 0.31 and 0.54 mg/NO₃-N/L respectively. Effects of both groundwater and tributaries were evident. Suspended sediment was at relatively low concentrations within both rivers, and generally showed no substantive increase across the lowland reaches of both rivers. Chlorophyll-a and nitrate showed seasonality, and this was largely due to processes in upstream lakes or reservoirs. Little attenuation or development of phytoplankton in the river was evidenced by changes in chlorophyll concentrations, likely due to the very short residence time of water in this part of the river (<24 h). Furthermore, nitrate and suspended solids behaved differently, and there was no correlation in either river p>0.05 nor between nitrate and chlorophyll-a, p>0.05.
Downstream changes in measured variables in the Rangitaiki and Kaituna rivers could ultimately be related to land use within the lower catchment. The lower Rangitaiki River nitrate concentration is largely dictated by seasonality within Lake Matahina and activities within the upper catchment, likely supplemented by groundwater influx and any minor drains discharging to the lowland river. The Kaituna River nitrate concentration is predominantly a product of the intensive agricultural catchment, with four significant tributary inflows along the lowland reach, all of which are nitrate rich. Nitrogen enrichment was sufficient to support non-native macrophyte growth, but other adverse effects associated with eutrophication were not realised in either river. This is likely due to a combination of the short residence times within both rivers, the abrasive flow preventing macrophytes accumulating sufficiently to block the channel and the turbulent, shallow water allowing ready reaeration. These results do emphasise the need for further study on lowland rivers to assess the effects of nutrient and sediment enrichment, and the extent to which existing guidelines on river are well suited to lowland reaches.

year: 2022

title: Contract cheating and academic integrity in higher education: What can universities, governments and quality assurance agencies do to understand, prevent and respond to the challenge?

authors: Williamson, Myra Elsie Jane Bell

subjects: contract cheating

abstract: There is a global challenge to higher education posed by “contract cheating”. “Contract cheating” occurs when a student contracts a third party to create an assignment for them, and then the student submits it as their own work. Usually money changes hands, but not always. This particularly insidious form of cheating has been exacerbated by the commodification of higher education and the increasingly popular “sharing economy”. Contract cheating not only threatens the academic integrity of the individual student’s grades and their degree, it also raises suspicion about all the degrees awarded by an institution. Globally, universities have been struggling to combat contract cheating. This paper defines and describes the problem and then summarizes the findings of recent research and offers a comprehensive set of solutions. New Zealand was one of the first countries to criminalize contract cheating. A legal approach is a solution which every country needs to consider because it directly targets the commercial entities creating the product. A pedagogical approach requires universities to be proactive and there are many things which universities can do to manage the problem. A quality assurance approach can involve national quality assurance agencies working with government departments and tertiary education providers to conduct research and provide guidance to all universities. All three approaches are discussed here. This paper draws on recent research produced by accreditation agencies, individual researchers, and university organizations. It refers to contract cheating research in selected countries-especially New Zealand, Australia and the UK-to counteract contract cheating. The solutions proposed here will be of interest to all universities, quality assurance agencies and governments because contract cheating is a global problem which challenges the academic integrity of every higher education institution.

text: Contract cheating and academic integrity in higher education: What can universities, governments and quality assurance agencies do to understand, prevent and respond to the challenge? There is a global challenge to higher education posed by “contract cheating”. “Contract cheating” occurs when a student contracts a third party to create an assignment for them, and then the student submits it as their own work. Usually money changes hands, but not always. This particularly insidious form of cheating has been exacerbated by the commodification of higher education and the increasingly popular “sharing economy”. Contract cheating not only threatens the academic integrity of the individual student’s grades and their degree, it also raises suspicion about all the degrees awarded by an institution. Globally, universities have been struggling to combat contract cheating. This paper defines and describes the problem and then summarizes the findings of recent research and offers a comprehensive set of solutions. New Zealand was one of the first countries to criminalize contract cheating. A legal approach is a solution which every country needs to consider because it directly targets the commercial entities creating the product. A pedagogical approach requires universities to be proactive and there are many things which universities can do to manage the problem. A quality assurance approach can involve national quality assurance agencies working with government departments and tertiary education providers to conduct research and provide guidance to all universities. All three approaches are discussed here. This paper draws on recent research produced by accreditation agencies, individual researchers, and university organizations. It refers to contract cheating research in selected countries-especially New Zealand, Australia and the UK-to counteract contract cheating. The solutions proposed here will be of interest to all universities, quality assurance agencies and governments because contract cheating is a global problem which challenges the academic integrity of every higher education institution.

year: 2019

title: The display and conservation of taonga Māori - establishing culturally appropriate dislay and conversation facilities: Mahi Māreikura - a work in progress

authors: Whaanga, Hēmi

subjects: Māori art objects

abstract: This paper examines issues relating to the appropriate display and conservation of taonga Māori in the context of a discussion of the establishment of Mahi Māreikura, a room in the University of Waikato library that is dedicated primarily to the display and conservation of the collected taonga and works of the late Dr. Pei te Hurinui Jones and a collection of the work of his colleague and close relative, Professor Bruce Biggs.

text: The display and conservation of taonga Māori - establishing culturally appropriate dislay and conversation facilities: Mahi Māreikura - a work in progress This paper examines issues relating to the appropriate display and conservation of taonga Māori in the context of a discussion of the establishment of Mahi Māreikura, a room in the University of Waikato library that is dedicated primarily to the display and conservation of the collected taonga and works of the late Dr. Pei te Hurinui Jones and a collection of the work of his colleague and close relative, Professor Bruce Biggs.

year: 2006