title: An evaluation of current and potential technology for the treatment of farm dairy effluent in New Zealand - Assessing the potential to use anaerobic digestion and sequencing batch reactor technology as an alternative method of treatment of  farm dairy effluent

authors: Buchanan, Kendal

subjects: Farm Dairy Effluent

abstract: In order to keep up with social and consumer demands the regulations surrounding nutrient losses from dairy farms in New Zealand are becoming harsher. A way in which dairy farms can reduce the loss of nutrients is to improve the management of farm dairy effluent (FDE). FDE management can be improved by adding a treatment. This treatment may be chemical or biological.
The objective of this research was to develop a method of biological removal of nutrients from farm dairy effluent that enables more efficient management of those nutrients. The system that resulted (BioClean) was a five-stage system including; solids separation, anaerobic digestion, an enhanced biological nutrient removal sequencing batch reactor, sand filtration and UV disinfection.
Modelling of the BioClean system and current methods of FDE handling and treatment, found that BioClean outperformed all current technologies (two pond treatment, land application and ClearTech) in the removal of nitrogen from the liquid fraction (average removal of 98%). The removal of phosphorus and potassium from the liquid fraction were not found to be sufficient for discharge to waterways with average residuals of 13 mg/L and 772 mg/L (Table 32) respectively. Removal of Escherichia coli by BioClean was found to be vary significantly with scenario variation (from a mean of 0 cfu/100ml to 16,260 cfu/100ml).
Analysis of the model found that variation in results could potentially be explained by the model simulation. Therefore, even though scenario and treatment variation were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in most cases, the cause of that variation can not confidently be linked to either the treatment change or variable that changed with regards to scenario differences.
Economic analysis of the addition of the BioClean system to a New Zealand dairy farm found that if the desired levels of nutrient removal could be achieved the addition of the BioClean system to a dairy farm was to be viable. The system was found to reduce daily running costs in comparison to the typical land application system due to pumping only the liquid fraction of FDE after solid separation a short distance.

Future research into the BioClean method through a lab-scale trial was recommended to improve the accuracy of the model and optimise the operating system.

text: An evaluation of current and potential technology for the treatment of farm dairy effluent in New Zealand - Assessing the potential to use anaerobic digestion and sequencing batch reactor technology as an alternative method of treatment of  farm dairy effluent In order to keep up with social and consumer demands the regulations surrounding nutrient losses from dairy farms in New Zealand are becoming harsher. A way in which dairy farms can reduce the loss of nutrients is to improve the management of farm dairy effluent (FDE). FDE management can be improved by adding a treatment. This treatment may be chemical or biological.
The objective of this research was to develop a method of biological removal of nutrients from farm dairy effluent that enables more efficient management of those nutrients. The system that resulted (BioClean) was a five-stage system including; solids separation, anaerobic digestion, an enhanced biological nutrient removal sequencing batch reactor, sand filtration and UV disinfection.
Modelling of the BioClean system and current methods of FDE handling and treatment, found that BioClean outperformed all current technologies (two pond treatment, land application and ClearTech) in the removal of nitrogen from the liquid fraction (average removal of 98%). The removal of phosphorus and potassium from the liquid fraction were not found to be sufficient for discharge to waterways with average residuals of 13 mg/L and 772 mg/L (Table 32) respectively. Removal of Escherichia coli by BioClean was found to be vary significantly with scenario variation (from a mean of 0 cfu/100ml to 16,260 cfu/100ml).
Analysis of the model found that variation in results could potentially be explained by the model simulation. Therefore, even though scenario and treatment variation were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in most cases, the cause of that variation can not confidently be linked to either the treatment change or variable that changed with regards to scenario differences.
Economic analysis of the addition of the BioClean system to a New Zealand dairy farm found that if the desired levels of nutrient removal could be achieved the addition of the BioClean system to a dairy farm was to be viable. The system was found to reduce daily running costs in comparison to the typical land application system due to pumping only the liquid fraction of FDE after solid separation a short distance.

Future research into the BioClean method through a lab-scale trial was recommended to improve the accuracy of the model and optimise the operating system.

year: 2020

title: Experiencing and Learning from Entrepreneurial Failure

authors: Singh, Smita

subjects: venture failure

abstract: Entrepreneurship literature has long focused on stories of entrepreneurial success. However, in recent years consensus has begun to build around the importance of also studying failure in order to develop a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurship. It has been argued that failure can have an impact on entrepreneurial decision-making in subsequent ventures and can be a difficult experience for an entrepreneur to go through. In spite of such speculations and acknowledgements, failure remains a relatively underresearched area, except perhaps from the primary perspective of the reasons behind failure. While this is an important area of investigation − as understanding reasons behind failure can improve the probability of success in subsequent entrepreneurial endeavours – it is equally important to understand the experience of failure.  The primary aim of this thesis is to understand failure from the perspective of entrepreneurs who have experienced it.  Its second aim is to build a theoretical framework of failure based on those experiences.  

The overarching research question for this study is: “How do entrepreneurs experience venture failure and learn from this experience?” The three supporting subquestions are: “What do entrepreneurs experience when their venture fails?”, “How do entrepreneurs stay resilient when the venture fails?”, and “What do the entrepreneurs learn from experiencing venture failure?”  Using the philosophical position of interpretive, phenomenological symbolic interactionism and narrative as a strategy of inquiry, stories of failure as told by 21 entrepreneurs during in-depth interviews are analysed. Using the metaphor of fabric tear and repair, theoretical constructs developed from the findings are integrated into a framework and discussed in the light of relevant literature. The framework highlights that failure leads to considerable challenges for the entrepreneurs and triggers grief. After grief, however, comes resilience. In this journey, resilience came from acceptance and hope, states that shifted the entrepreneurs’ perspective on venture failure from one which saw it as a negative, end-all event to one that framed it as a challenging, survivable event. This resilience fuelled their efforts to adapt to their changed reality. Grief faded as entrepreneurs dealt with the challenges.  From this experience, the entrepreneurs learnt business lessons and transformed in such a way as to become more spiritually inclined.

The study extends the understanding of the phenomenon of failure in entrepreneurship by presenting an empirical evidence-based framework that incorporates failure-related challenges, entrepreneurs’ adaptation to these challenges, and the lessons learnt from this experience. Second, this study illustrates the importance of hope and acceptance in building entrepreneurial resilience, and how entrepreneurs’ social environment and sometimes spiritual beliefs play an important role in nurturing hope and an acceptance of adapting to the challenges. Policy makers, educators, and entrepreneurs can benefit from the findings of this study as it highlights factors leading to failure, the repercussions of it. The study also shows how failure, although an undesirable experience, can be utilised as a springboard to bounce into a satisfying career by tapping into one’s spiritual beliefs, support networks, and resources within the social environment.

text: Experiencing and Learning from Entrepreneurial Failure Entrepreneurship literature has long focused on stories of entrepreneurial success. However, in recent years consensus has begun to build around the importance of also studying failure in order to develop a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurship. It has been argued that failure can have an impact on entrepreneurial decision-making in subsequent ventures and can be a difficult experience for an entrepreneur to go through. In spite of such speculations and acknowledgements, failure remains a relatively underresearched area, except perhaps from the primary perspective of the reasons behind failure. While this is an important area of investigation − as understanding reasons behind failure can improve the probability of success in subsequent entrepreneurial endeavours – it is equally important to understand the experience of failure.  The primary aim of this thesis is to understand failure from the perspective of entrepreneurs who have experienced it.  Its second aim is to build a theoretical framework of failure based on those experiences.  

The overarching research question for this study is: “How do entrepreneurs experience venture failure and learn from this experience?” The three supporting subquestions are: “What do entrepreneurs experience when their venture fails?”, “How do entrepreneurs stay resilient when the venture fails?”, and “What do the entrepreneurs learn from experiencing venture failure?”  Using the philosophical position of interpretive, phenomenological symbolic interactionism and narrative as a strategy of inquiry, stories of failure as told by 21 entrepreneurs during in-depth interviews are analysed. Using the metaphor of fabric tear and repair, theoretical constructs developed from the findings are integrated into a framework and discussed in the light of relevant literature. The framework highlights that failure leads to considerable challenges for the entrepreneurs and triggers grief. After grief, however, comes resilience. In this journey, resilience came from acceptance and hope, states that shifted the entrepreneurs’ perspective on venture failure from one which saw it as a negative, end-all event to one that framed it as a challenging, survivable event. This resilience fuelled their efforts to adapt to their changed reality. Grief faded as entrepreneurs dealt with the challenges.  From this experience, the entrepreneurs learnt business lessons and transformed in such a way as to become more spiritually inclined.

The study extends the understanding of the phenomenon of failure in entrepreneurship by presenting an empirical evidence-based framework that incorporates failure-related challenges, entrepreneurs’ adaptation to these challenges, and the lessons learnt from this experience. Second, this study illustrates the importance of hope and acceptance in building entrepreneurial resilience, and how entrepreneurs’ social environment and sometimes spiritual beliefs play an important role in nurturing hope and an acceptance of adapting to the challenges. Policy makers, educators, and entrepreneurs can benefit from the findings of this study as it highlights factors leading to failure, the repercussions of it. The study also shows how failure, although an undesirable experience, can be utilised as a springboard to bounce into a satisfying career by tapping into one’s spiritual beliefs, support networks, and resources within the social environment.

year: 2011

title: Kaumtua Mana Motuhake: A study protocol for a peer education intervention to help Māori elders work through later-stage life transitions

authors: Oetzel, John G.

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
The Aotearoa/New Zealand population is ageing and numerous studies demonstrate with this phenomenon comes increases in non-communicable diseases, injuries and healthcare costs among other issues. Further, significant inequities exist between Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand) and non-Māori around poor ageing and health. Most research addressing these issues is deficit oriented; however, the current research project takes a strengths-based approach that highlights the potential of kaumātua (elders) by asserting mana motuhake (autonomy, identity and self-actualisation). We believe that the esteem of elders in Māori culture signals transformative potential. Specifically, this project utilises a ‘tuakana-teina’ (older sibling/younger sibling) peer-educator model, where kaumātua work with other kaumātua in relation to health and wellbeing. The objectives of the project are (a) to develop the capacity of kaumātua as peer educators, whilst having positive impacts on their sense of purpose, health and wellbeing; and (b) to enhance the social and health outcomes for kaumātua receiving the intervention.

Methods
The research is grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research, and brings together an Indigenous community of kaumātua, community health researchers, and academic researchers working with two advisory boards. The project intervention involves an orientation programme for tuakana peer educators for other kaumātua (teina). The research design is a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. All participants will complete a baseline assessment of health and wellbeing consistent with Māori worldviews (i.e., holistic model). The tuakana and teina participants will be divided into two groups with the first group completing the intervention during the first half of the project and the second group during the second half of the project. All participants will complete post-test assessments following both interventions allowing comparison of the two groups along with repeated measures over time.

Discussion
The findings will provide an evidence base for the importance and relevancy of kaumātua knowledge to create contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments that facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua. If the model is effective, we will seek to facilitate the dissemination and scalability of the intervention.

Trial registration
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered).

text: Kaumtua Mana Motuhake: A study protocol for a peer education intervention to help Māori elders work through later-stage life transitions Background
The Aotearoa/New Zealand population is ageing and numerous studies demonstrate with this phenomenon comes increases in non-communicable diseases, injuries and healthcare costs among other issues. Further, significant inequities exist between Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand) and non-Māori around poor ageing and health. Most research addressing these issues is deficit oriented; however, the current research project takes a strengths-based approach that highlights the potential of kaumātua (elders) by asserting mana motuhake (autonomy, identity and self-actualisation). We believe that the esteem of elders in Māori culture signals transformative potential. Specifically, this project utilises a ‘tuakana-teina’ (older sibling/younger sibling) peer-educator model, where kaumātua work with other kaumātua in relation to health and wellbeing. The objectives of the project are (a) to develop the capacity of kaumātua as peer educators, whilst having positive impacts on their sense of purpose, health and wellbeing; and (b) to enhance the social and health outcomes for kaumātua receiving the intervention.

Methods
The research is grounded in principles of Kaupapa Māori and community-based participatory research, and brings together an Indigenous community of kaumātua, community health researchers, and academic researchers working with two advisory boards. The project intervention involves an orientation programme for tuakana peer educators for other kaumātua (teina). The research design is a pre- and post-test, clustered staggered design. All participants will complete a baseline assessment of health and wellbeing consistent with Māori worldviews (i.e., holistic model). The tuakana and teina participants will be divided into two groups with the first group completing the intervention during the first half of the project and the second group during the second half of the project. All participants will complete post-test assessments following both interventions allowing comparison of the two groups along with repeated measures over time.

Discussion
The findings will provide an evidence base for the importance and relevancy of kaumātua knowledge to create contextually based and culturally safe age-friendly environments that facilitate engagement and participation by kaumātua for kaumātua. If the model is effective, we will seek to facilitate the dissemination and scalability of the intervention.

Trial registration
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617001396314); Date Registered: 3 October 2017 (retrospectively registered).

year: 2019