title: Travel and  commuting before and after COVID-19

authors: Thomas, Francene Maree Feraband

subjects: Pandemic

abstract: Major life events such as COVID-19 have the potential to change how people think about their transport choices. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a threat to health and created an extended period of disruption in people’s lives which could result in long-term changes towards travel attitudes and use of transport services. Research on changes towards travel attitudes and use of domestic travel modes as a result of previous pandemics was very limited with most studies focused on international travel. This study aimed to investigate how COVID-19 has influenced attitudes towards travel and intention to use transport modes in New Zealand and Australia. A survey was created and completed by 787 respondents (New Zealand n = 506, Australia n = 281). The results showed attitudes towards travel were negatively affected, particularly towards air travel and public transport and showed decreases in intentions to use these modes of transport. These changes in attitudes and intentions were more prominent in the Australian sample which reported less positive attitudes and larger decreases in intentions to use domestic transport modes. Further, international air travel attitudes and intentions were similar between the New Zealand and Australian sample. Age, gender, and perceived risk scores were also examined, with some significant but small effects. This information is useful to understand how the demand for transport services might change, particularly as New Zealand and Australia are ahead of many other countries in the pandemic cycle.

text: Travel and  commuting before and after COVID-19 Major life events such as COVID-19 have the potential to change how people think about their transport choices. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a threat to health and created an extended period of disruption in people’s lives which could result in long-term changes towards travel attitudes and use of transport services. Research on changes towards travel attitudes and use of domestic travel modes as a result of previous pandemics was very limited with most studies focused on international travel. This study aimed to investigate how COVID-19 has influenced attitudes towards travel and intention to use transport modes in New Zealand and Australia. A survey was created and completed by 787 respondents (New Zealand n = 506, Australia n = 281). The results showed attitudes towards travel were negatively affected, particularly towards air travel and public transport and showed decreases in intentions to use these modes of transport. These changes in attitudes and intentions were more prominent in the Australian sample which reported less positive attitudes and larger decreases in intentions to use domestic transport modes. Further, international air travel attitudes and intentions were similar between the New Zealand and Australian sample. Age, gender, and perceived risk scores were also examined, with some significant but small effects. This information is useful to understand how the demand for transport services might change, particularly as New Zealand and Australia are ahead of many other countries in the pandemic cycle.

year: 2021

title: Functional group‐dependent responses of forest bird communities to invasive predator control and habitat fragmentation

authors: Morgan, Shaun

abstract: Aim
Mounting global pressure on bird populations from invasive predators and habitat loss has driven a rapid growth in restoration and conservation action around the world, yet the efficacy of such actions is still not well understood. We investigated the relative and interactive effects of invasive predator control and habitat fragmentation on the abundance of native birds and invasive mammalian predators in native forest fragments.

Location
Waikato region, New Zealand.

Methods
We sampled invasive mammalian predator and native bird abundances using camera traps and bird counts at 26 sites in 15 forest fragments across New Zealand's Waikato region. Fragment area, shape complexity and surrounding land cover of exotic and native forest were determined in ArcMap. We further created two composite gradients reflecting predator control intensity and temporal distribution of control based on seven quantitative variables recorded in each of the 5 years preceding data collection. Finally, we estimated the relative influence of these drivers on invasive mammals and functional groups of native birds using model averaging.

Results
Both the intensity and temporal distribution of invasive predator control significantly affected invasive predator abundance. Landscape and fragment structure were often equally important drivers of invasive predator abundances, but responses varied among invasive mammal species. Both invasive predator control intensity and fragment structure were similarly important drivers of native bird abundance, though bird community responses varied markedly between functional groups.

Main conclusions
Our findings suggest that spatial extent of invasive predator control and fragment area constrain invasive predator numbers and enhance bird abundance, especially for small insectivorous species, whilst other aspects of habitat fragmentation are less important for invasive mammals but at least as important for native bird communities. Consequently, both drivers should be given strong consideration when undertaking landscape-scale conservation and restoration of bird communities in human-altered landscapes threatened by invasive predators.

text: Functional group‐dependent responses of forest bird communities to invasive predator control and habitat fragmentation Aim
Mounting global pressure on bird populations from invasive predators and habitat loss has driven a rapid growth in restoration and conservation action around the world, yet the efficacy of such actions is still not well understood. We investigated the relative and interactive effects of invasive predator control and habitat fragmentation on the abundance of native birds and invasive mammalian predators in native forest fragments.

Location
Waikato region, New Zealand.

Methods
We sampled invasive mammalian predator and native bird abundances using camera traps and bird counts at 26 sites in 15 forest fragments across New Zealand's Waikato region. Fragment area, shape complexity and surrounding land cover of exotic and native forest were determined in ArcMap. We further created two composite gradients reflecting predator control intensity and temporal distribution of control based on seven quantitative variables recorded in each of the 5 years preceding data collection. Finally, we estimated the relative influence of these drivers on invasive mammals and functional groups of native birds using model averaging.

Results
Both the intensity and temporal distribution of invasive predator control significantly affected invasive predator abundance. Landscape and fragment structure were often equally important drivers of invasive predator abundances, but responses varied among invasive mammal species. Both invasive predator control intensity and fragment structure were similarly important drivers of native bird abundance, though bird community responses varied markedly between functional groups.

Main conclusions
Our findings suggest that spatial extent of invasive predator control and fragment area constrain invasive predator numbers and enhance bird abundance, especially for small insectivorous species, whilst other aspects of habitat fragmentation are less important for invasive mammals but at least as important for native bird communities. Consequently, both drivers should be given strong consideration when undertaking landscape-scale conservation and restoration of bird communities in human-altered landscapes threatened by invasive predators.

year: 2022

title: “I learned quite a lot of the Maths stuff now that I think of it”: Māori Medium Students reflecting on their Initial Teacher Education

authors: Hawera, Ngārewa

subjects: initial teacher education

abstract: Research involving preservice or initial teacher education (ITE) indicates that mathematics education is a vital component of study. Little is known however, of indigenous student views of their compulsory mathematics education courses for a teaching degree. This research contributes to that knowledge space as it explores Māori medium ITE students’ perceptions of mathematics education in Aotearoa New Zealand. A thematic and qualitative analysis of a focused group discussion provides insights into key factors that students reported as significant links between their university and practicum experiences (teaching practice in schools). Some suggestions for strengthening that programme were also expressed. Findings indicate that factors linked to teacher ‘cultural competencies’, including an ethic of care, respectful relationships, revision of content knowledge, language learning, assessment practices, exposure to different ideas and planning and pedagogy were important. Navigating student-mentor teacher tensions as well as clarifying the significance of ideas in texts were highlighted as areas for strengthening. Mathematics educators preparing students for indigenous primary school settings may find this study useful.

text: “I learned quite a lot of the Maths stuff now that I think of it”: Māori Medium Students reflecting on their Initial Teacher Education Research involving preservice or initial teacher education (ITE) indicates that mathematics education is a vital component of study. Little is known however, of indigenous student views of their compulsory mathematics education courses for a teaching degree. This research contributes to that knowledge space as it explores Māori medium ITE students’ perceptions of mathematics education in Aotearoa New Zealand. A thematic and qualitative analysis of a focused group discussion provides insights into key factors that students reported as significant links between their university and practicum experiences (teaching practice in schools). Some suggestions for strengthening that programme were also expressed. Findings indicate that factors linked to teacher ‘cultural competencies’, including an ethic of care, respectful relationships, revision of content knowledge, language learning, assessment practices, exposure to different ideas and planning and pedagogy were important. Navigating student-mentor teacher tensions as well as clarifying the significance of ideas in texts were highlighted as areas for strengthening. Mathematics educators preparing students for indigenous primary school settings may find this study useful.

year: 2017