title: A stress-test for democracy: Analysing the New Zealand government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic from a constitutional perspective

authors: Williamson, Myra Elsie Jane Bell

subjects: COVID-19 coronavirus, New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements, freedom of expression and COVID-19, the role of the media and COVID-19, national state of emergency and COVID-19, the Epidemic Response Committee, parliamentary oversight of the executive, COVID-19 investigatory body

abstract: This article explores the New Zealand Government’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic through a legal and constitutional lens. It adopts an essentially doctrinal analysis in describing the response but intertwines a comparative law thread, to draw selected comparisons with how other governments have responded. It offers some political, demographical and historical insights to provide background information for non-New Zealand readers. The article aims to provide a comprehensive view of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements and how they have impacted on the Government’s response to COVID-19 as well as a critical analysis of that response by assessing the effectiveness of various measures adopted by the New Zealand Government. The article consists of six sections. Section one provides an introduction to New Zealand’s constitutional framework including some demographic information for non-New Zealand readers. Section two describes the New Zealand Government’s overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Section three discusses the declaration of a national state of emergency. Section four examines the Parliamentary oversight mechanism known as the “Epidemic Response Committee”. Section five explores the role of the media and the importance of upholding the right to freedom of expression when responding to the pandemic. Finally, section six draws out some overall recommendations for New Zealand and other countries to consider when moving forward and preparing for the next pandemic

text: A stress-test for democracy: Analysing the New Zealand government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic from a constitutional perspective This article explores the New Zealand Government’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic through a legal and constitutional lens. It adopts an essentially doctrinal analysis in describing the response but intertwines a comparative law thread, to draw selected comparisons with how other governments have responded. It offers some political, demographical and historical insights to provide background information for non-New Zealand readers. The article aims to provide a comprehensive view of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements and how they have impacted on the Government’s response to COVID-19 as well as a critical analysis of that response by assessing the effectiveness of various measures adopted by the New Zealand Government. The article consists of six sections. Section one provides an introduction to New Zealand’s constitutional framework including some demographic information for non-New Zealand readers. Section two describes the New Zealand Government’s overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Section three discusses the declaration of a national state of emergency. Section four examines the Parliamentary oversight mechanism known as the “Epidemic Response Committee”. Section five explores the role of the media and the importance of upholding the right to freedom of expression when responding to the pandemic. Finally, section six draws out some overall recommendations for New Zealand and other countries to consider when moving forward and preparing for the next pandemic

year: 2020

title: Methane emission hotspots from a drained peat soil under dairy grazing

authors: Hamill, Jacob

subjects: Methane

abstract: Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that is emitted from natural peatland ecosystems due to their high water tables. However, large areas of natural peatlands have been drained for agricultural purposes, resulting in a reduction in overall methane emissions. However, where soil is saturated, such as within or adjacent to drainage ditches, methane emission can remain high. The aim of this research was to determine the magnitude of soil- and drainage ditch-derived methane emissions from a drained Waikato peatland under dairy grazing and where and when these emissions occur.

Gamma Farm is a pastoral dairy farm located on the remnants of the Moanatuatua peatland and drained by shallow surface “spinner” drains that discharge into deeper field-border drains. The paddocks were classified into four different landforms based on the location and hydrology of the drainage features. These landforms are crown, slope, ditch edge and drainage ditch. To adequately determine the spatial and temporal variation in methane fluxes chamber measurements of methane fluxes were undertaken along a transect across the width of the study site, approximately perpendicular to the border drains. A campaign approach was used, with chamber measurements being undertaken from autumn through to winter to capture methane fluxes under different environmental conditions. To measure seasonal and annual-scale methane emissions an eddy covariance flux tower was used.
Based on chamber measurements drainage ditches were shown to have average methane emissions of 0.071 ± 0.005 mg CH4 m-2 h-1 . Conversely, the soil of the crown, slope and ditch edges were shown to be a net methane sink, with average net methane oxidation of ‒0.019 ± 0.006, ‒0.01 ± 0.008 and ‒0.023 ± 0.006 mg CH4 m-2 h-1 respectively. Weighting the chamber measurements by landform area it was concluded that the study site was primarily a minor net methane sink. However, eddy covariance measurements indicated that the study site was a net source of methane with annual emissions of 44.72 kg CH4 ha-1 yr-1 . This large discrepancy between the chamber and eddy covariance measurements is likely caused by the large spatial and temporal scale differences between the two measurement techniques.

In addition, it was found that there was no relationship between soil methane fluxes and the soil temperature, Olsen-P, and nitrate concentration. However, methane fluxes were shown to decrease as the ammonium concentration and depth to the water table increased. In addition, methane fluxes decreased as volumetric moisture content (VMC) decreased, but at low VMCs (<40%) methane fluxes tended towards zero. For the water-borne methane fluxes there was no relationship found between methane fluxes and any measured variable (pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, water temperature, water depth, nitrate concentration or dissolved phosphorus). However, at longer time scales such as monthly averages of eddy covariance measurements, methane fluxes were positively correlated with soil temperature and air temperature. Additionally, both seasonal and diurnal cycles in the eddy covariance methane fluxes were observed.

text: Methane emission hotspots from a drained peat soil under dairy grazing Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that is emitted from natural peatland ecosystems due to their high water tables. However, large areas of natural peatlands have been drained for agricultural purposes, resulting in a reduction in overall methane emissions. However, where soil is saturated, such as within or adjacent to drainage ditches, methane emission can remain high. The aim of this research was to determine the magnitude of soil- and drainage ditch-derived methane emissions from a drained Waikato peatland under dairy grazing and where and when these emissions occur.

Gamma Farm is a pastoral dairy farm located on the remnants of the Moanatuatua peatland and drained by shallow surface “spinner” drains that discharge into deeper field-border drains. The paddocks were classified into four different landforms based on the location and hydrology of the drainage features. These landforms are crown, slope, ditch edge and drainage ditch. To adequately determine the spatial and temporal variation in methane fluxes chamber measurements of methane fluxes were undertaken along a transect across the width of the study site, approximately perpendicular to the border drains. A campaign approach was used, with chamber measurements being undertaken from autumn through to winter to capture methane fluxes under different environmental conditions. To measure seasonal and annual-scale methane emissions an eddy covariance flux tower was used.
Based on chamber measurements drainage ditches were shown to have average methane emissions of 0.071 ± 0.005 mg CH4 m-2 h-1 . Conversely, the soil of the crown, slope and ditch edges were shown to be a net methane sink, with average net methane oxidation of ‒0.019 ± 0.006, ‒0.01 ± 0.008 and ‒0.023 ± 0.006 mg CH4 m-2 h-1 respectively. Weighting the chamber measurements by landform area it was concluded that the study site was primarily a minor net methane sink. However, eddy covariance measurements indicated that the study site was a net source of methane with annual emissions of 44.72 kg CH4 ha-1 yr-1 . This large discrepancy between the chamber and eddy covariance measurements is likely caused by the large spatial and temporal scale differences between the two measurement techniques.

In addition, it was found that there was no relationship between soil methane fluxes and the soil temperature, Olsen-P, and nitrate concentration. However, methane fluxes were shown to decrease as the ammonium concentration and depth to the water table increased. In addition, methane fluxes decreased as volumetric moisture content (VMC) decreased, but at low VMCs (<40%) methane fluxes tended towards zero. For the water-borne methane fluxes there was no relationship found between methane fluxes and any measured variable (pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, water temperature, water depth, nitrate concentration or dissolved phosphorus). However, at longer time scales such as monthly averages of eddy covariance measurements, methane fluxes were positively correlated with soil temperature and air temperature. Additionally, both seasonal and diurnal cycles in the eddy covariance methane fluxes were observed.

year: 2019

title: Te Arawa – Kaitiaki of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes

authors: Curtis, Sir Toby

abstract: I start this morning by reciting what we call a patere talking about Te Arawa's interest and relationship to the lakes and the water. Matawhaura is our mountain on Lake Rotoiti. When I went to school in Auckland we travelled on the New Zealand Road Service
transport bus, returning for the holidays along the Mamaku ranges. Those that came from Lake Rotoiti always looked out to see the lake and the mountain Matawhaura. As soon as we saw it a little touch of emotion welled up in our hearts. Mataatua people living in Whakatane felt the same thing when they travelled back home, descending the Rotoma hill, they looked out for Putauaki (Mt Edgecumbe). It gave them the same feeling of emotion.

text: Te Arawa – Kaitiaki of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes I start this morning by reciting what we call a patere talking about Te Arawa's interest and relationship to the lakes and the water. Matawhaura is our mountain on Lake Rotoiti. When I went to school in Auckland we travelled on the New Zealand Road Service
transport bus, returning for the holidays along the Mamaku ranges. Those that came from Lake Rotoiti always looked out to see the lake and the mountain Matawhaura. As soon as we saw it a little touch of emotion welled up in our hearts. Mataatua people living in Whakatane felt the same thing when they travelled back home, descending the Rotoma hill, they looked out for Putauaki (Mt Edgecumbe). It gave them the same feeling of emotion.

year: 2017