title: Managing soil biodiversity: The New Zealand experience

authors: Morad, Munir

subjects: Soil biodiversity

abstract: Species diversity is a very important component of a healthy soil ecosystem, and a necessary condition for long-term sustainable development. However, it is widely recognised that soil degradation and species extinction are on the increase in New Zealand, as land resources come under pressure from urban expansion and modern agribusiness. New Zealand's soils, flora and fauna have evolved many unique elements during their long isolation from other land masses. Habitat destruction and introduced plants and animals have, therefore, had increasingly detrimental effects on indigenous biodiversity. New Zealand must conserve what remains.

text: Managing soil biodiversity: The New Zealand experience Species diversity is a very important component of a healthy soil ecosystem, and a necessary condition for long-term sustainable development. However, it is widely recognised that soil degradation and species extinction are on the increase in New Zealand, as land resources come under pressure from urban expansion and modern agribusiness. New Zealand's soils, flora and fauna have evolved many unique elements during their long isolation from other land masses. Habitat destruction and introduced plants and animals have, therefore, had increasingly detrimental effects on indigenous biodiversity. New Zealand must conserve what remains.

year: 2004

title: Cost and Performance Comparison of a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Plant and a Bardenpho Plant for Wastewater Treatment

authors: Rachmani, Asaf

abstract: Rotorua District Council constructed a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system to work in parallel with the existing Bardenpho system, to improve the overall capacity and removal efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant. The aim of this research was to examine and compare the performance of the MBR and the Bardenpho systems, as well as the operating costs and the net present value. The MBR showed a higher removal rate of TKN, TSS, COD, DRP and organic nitrogen than the Bardenpho system, with average removal efficiencies of 94.52%, 99.05%, 94.04%, 67.43% and 92.75% respectively. These removal rates were shown to be 0.62%, 15.47%, 8.51%, 5.72% and14.74 % better than the Bardenpho system. Furthermore, the MBR removal rate remained stable over a range of flows, while the Bardenpho removal rate fluctuated with a change in flow. The total energy consumption of the treated wastewater in the MBR and the Bardenpho systems were 0.53 kWh/m3 and 0.25 kWh/m3 respectively. Major contributors to the total operational costs were the disposal cost of sludge, the cost of ethanol and aeration. In the MBR, the cost percentage of sludge disposal was 22.11%, and the total aeration cost was 20.25%, while the cost of disposal of sludge was 45.15% and aeration 7.22% in the Bardenpho. The capital cost to construct the MBR and the Bardenpho systems was calculated to be similar when the cost of land is not taken into account, however, the size of the Bardenpho required to treat the same volume of wastewater is found to be 2.2 times bigger than a MBR system. It was concluded that from a cost point of view, the Bardenpho system is more economical; however, the low cost of running the Bardenpho comes with lower removal efficiencies in comparison to the MBR.

text: Cost and Performance Comparison of a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) Plant and a Bardenpho Plant for Wastewater Treatment Rotorua District Council constructed a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system to work in parallel with the existing Bardenpho system, to improve the overall capacity and removal efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant. The aim of this research was to examine and compare the performance of the MBR and the Bardenpho systems, as well as the operating costs and the net present value. The MBR showed a higher removal rate of TKN, TSS, COD, DRP and organic nitrogen than the Bardenpho system, with average removal efficiencies of 94.52%, 99.05%, 94.04%, 67.43% and 92.75% respectively. These removal rates were shown to be 0.62%, 15.47%, 8.51%, 5.72% and14.74 % better than the Bardenpho system. Furthermore, the MBR removal rate remained stable over a range of flows, while the Bardenpho removal rate fluctuated with a change in flow. The total energy consumption of the treated wastewater in the MBR and the Bardenpho systems were 0.53 kWh/m3 and 0.25 kWh/m3 respectively. Major contributors to the total operational costs were the disposal cost of sludge, the cost of ethanol and aeration. In the MBR, the cost percentage of sludge disposal was 22.11%, and the total aeration cost was 20.25%, while the cost of disposal of sludge was 45.15% and aeration 7.22% in the Bardenpho. The capital cost to construct the MBR and the Bardenpho systems was calculated to be similar when the cost of land is not taken into account, however, the size of the Bardenpho required to treat the same volume of wastewater is found to be 2.2 times bigger than a MBR system. It was concluded that from a cost point of view, the Bardenpho system is more economical; however, the low cost of running the Bardenpho comes with lower removal efficiencies in comparison to the MBR.

year: 2013

title: Grounding the state of exception in New Zealand: A case study of racial segregation in Pukekohe, Whiteness and the Carceral State

authors: Martin, Jessica

subjects: State of exception

abstract: Indigenous scholars in settler-colonial contexts have highlighted the hyper-imprisonment of Indigenous people, locating it as an extension of the colonial project. Although research on this issue in New Zealand is emerging, there is a notable gap in understanding how the carceral state has developed within this particular context. This study aims to address the following research question: How does the historical context of racial segregation in Pukekohe contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of the carceral state in New Zealand?
To thoroughly examine the hyper-imprisonment of Māori, it is essential to unpack the historical origins of state violence. Despite existing research establishing a link between Māori over-representation in prisons and the enduring effects of colonisation, there is a lack of studies exploring the complex interplay among the carceral state, whiteness, policy, policing, and law, which collectively shape the current landscape of incarceration. This study focuses on the racial segregation in Pukekohe between 1920 and 1960 and utilises reflexive thematic analysis within a case study framework, drawing on the insights offered by Robert Bartholomew's book, No Māori Allowed (2020). The analysis centres on the theoretical concept of the state of exception, shedding light on how power was wielded by the white racial polity. Thus, providing a unique perspective on the carceral state and state-sanctioned violence.
The findings highlight the interconnectedness of various systemic control mechanisms employed by the carceral state. Housing, policing, and whiteness emerge as crucial factors in the control and confinement of Māori in Pukekohe. By emphasising the role of whiteness in suppressing this history, this study underscores the need for critical examination and recognition of white cultural imperialism as a fundamental pillar of the carceral state. Overall, this research offers significant insights into the construction of a targeted population and the enduring consequences of state-sanctioned violence, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive examination of New Zealand's racialised history in discussions on the hyper-imprisonment of Māori.

text: Grounding the state of exception in New Zealand: A case study of racial segregation in Pukekohe, Whiteness and the Carceral State Indigenous scholars in settler-colonial contexts have highlighted the hyper-imprisonment of Indigenous people, locating it as an extension of the colonial project. Although research on this issue in New Zealand is emerging, there is a notable gap in understanding how the carceral state has developed within this particular context. This study aims to address the following research question: How does the historical context of racial segregation in Pukekohe contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of the carceral state in New Zealand?
To thoroughly examine the hyper-imprisonment of Māori, it is essential to unpack the historical origins of state violence. Despite existing research establishing a link between Māori over-representation in prisons and the enduring effects of colonisation, there is a lack of studies exploring the complex interplay among the carceral state, whiteness, policy, policing, and law, which collectively shape the current landscape of incarceration. This study focuses on the racial segregation in Pukekohe between 1920 and 1960 and utilises reflexive thematic analysis within a case study framework, drawing on the insights offered by Robert Bartholomew's book, No Māori Allowed (2020). The analysis centres on the theoretical concept of the state of exception, shedding light on how power was wielded by the white racial polity. Thus, providing a unique perspective on the carceral state and state-sanctioned violence.
The findings highlight the interconnectedness of various systemic control mechanisms employed by the carceral state. Housing, policing, and whiteness emerge as crucial factors in the control and confinement of Māori in Pukekohe. By emphasising the role of whiteness in suppressing this history, this study underscores the need for critical examination and recognition of white cultural imperialism as a fundamental pillar of the carceral state. Overall, this research offers significant insights into the construction of a targeted population and the enduring consequences of state-sanctioned violence, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive examination of New Zealand's racialised history in discussions on the hyper-imprisonment of Māori.

year: 2024