title: Good mothering in precarity: The societal expectations of solo mothers in Aotearoa - an exploration of the food sourcing, providing and preparing practices or three low-income solo mothers.

authors: McKinnon, Caroline Anne

abstract: This thesis examines the intersection of food insecurity and solo motherhood in Aotearoa New Zealand, focussing on how low-income solo mothers navigate the challenges of food sourcing, preparing, and providing for themselves and their children, with particular attention to the role of the school or ECE lunchbox. Using a qualitative case study methodology, grounded in social and feminist constructionism, this research explores the lived experiences of three solo mothers, Helen, Constance and Melissa, through semi-structured interviews, photo-elicitation, and shop-along interviews.
The findings of this research suggest that food insecurity for solo mothers represents just one layer of broader precarity. In each of the cases, systemic barriers related to welfare, employment and housing significantly shaped their food providing practices. Beyond financial constraints, societal expectations of intensive mothering and the nuclear family unit further compounded their experiences. The pervasive nature of these ideals created conditions of unattainable self-sacrificial parenting that negatively contributed towards the solo mothers’ abilities to thrive.
This research underscores the importance of examining the broader social, cultural and economic contexts of solo mothers in Aotearoa New Zealand when exploring food insecurity and marginalisation for solo mothers.

text: Good mothering in precarity: The societal expectations of solo mothers in Aotearoa - an exploration of the food sourcing, providing and preparing practices or three low-income solo mothers. This thesis examines the intersection of food insecurity and solo motherhood in Aotearoa New Zealand, focussing on how low-income solo mothers navigate the challenges of food sourcing, preparing, and providing for themselves and their children, with particular attention to the role of the school or ECE lunchbox. Using a qualitative case study methodology, grounded in social and feminist constructionism, this research explores the lived experiences of three solo mothers, Helen, Constance and Melissa, through semi-structured interviews, photo-elicitation, and shop-along interviews.
The findings of this research suggest that food insecurity for solo mothers represents just one layer of broader precarity. In each of the cases, systemic barriers related to welfare, employment and housing significantly shaped their food providing practices. Beyond financial constraints, societal expectations of intensive mothering and the nuclear family unit further compounded their experiences. The pervasive nature of these ideals created conditions of unattainable self-sacrificial parenting that negatively contributed towards the solo mothers’ abilities to thrive.
This research underscores the importance of examining the broader social, cultural and economic contexts of solo mothers in Aotearoa New Zealand when exploring food insecurity and marginalisation for solo mothers.

year: 2024

title: Effect of microwave sintering parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of pure Ti and blended elemental Ti alloys

authors: Raynova, Stiliana (Stella) Rousseva

subjects: Microwave sintering

abstract: Microwave sintering (MWS) was used to consolidate hydride de-hydride Ti powder and blended elemental Ti6Al4V, Ti5Fe and Ti5Al5Mo5V3Cr (Ti5553) powder mixtures. The amount of powders used to prepare the powder compacts was scaled up to 500g.The effect of the MWS conditions on the relative density, porosity distribution, microstructure and tensile properties were studied. Furthermore, uniformity in distribution of the alloying elements was checked. For most of the materials considered, a combinations of sintering temperature of 1200ºC and 1300ºC and holding time of 5 to 30 min resulted in significantly improved density. Nevertheless sintering temperature of at least 1300ºC was required for pore coalescence and high tensile properties.

text: Effect of microwave sintering parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of pure Ti and blended elemental Ti alloys Microwave sintering (MWS) was used to consolidate hydride de-hydride Ti powder and blended elemental Ti6Al4V, Ti5Fe and Ti5Al5Mo5V3Cr (Ti5553) powder mixtures. The amount of powders used to prepare the powder compacts was scaled up to 500g.The effect of the MWS conditions on the relative density, porosity distribution, microstructure and tensile properties were studied. Furthermore, uniformity in distribution of the alloying elements was checked. For most of the materials considered, a combinations of sintering temperature of 1200ºC and 1300ºC and holding time of 5 to 30 min resulted in significantly improved density. Nevertheless sintering temperature of at least 1300ºC was required for pore coalescence and high tensile properties.

year: 2018

title: The Effects of Contaminated Rena Sediments on Juvenile Paua (Haliotis iris)

authors: McSweeney, Caleb S.

subjects: contamiant

abstract: The grounding of the MV Rena on Otaiti resulted in the release of heavy fuel oil and container debris contaminants into the surrounding environments including the rocky shores of the adjacent Mōtītī Island. This is the habitat where significant populations of benthic paua reside. Paua (Haliotis iris) are a staple and consistent food source for Mōtītī Island. Being an offshore island with no amenities, Mōtītī Island residents are reliant on the ocean as a pataka kai (food cupboard) and are therefore acutely aware of environmental influences to the harvest of kaimoana.
This thesis aimed to address concerns relating to the effects of contaminated boundary layer water emanating from contaminated ‘Rena’ sediment on juvenile paua. Research was focused in two areas: 1) the sublethal behavioural effects of contaminated Rena sediment to Paua and 2) the accumulation of trace metals in the edible tissue and viscera mass. The experiments were carried out with the use of a close circuit aquaria in a laboratory environment, followed by a field experiment.
In all experiments, paua in control treatments were healthy by comparison to paua exposed to treatments with Rena contaminated sediments and copper as judged by survivorship and behaviour. The most likely cause of of behavioural aberrations and mortality observed was deemed to be copper as demonstrated by Diffusive Gradient in thin film (DGT) and ambient water analyses in both experiments. Copper that is bioavailable can increase quickly in the edible tissue and viscera mass as was identified as the visceral mass of Rena and copper exposed paua had a higher mean concentration of this and other trace metals.
On Otaiti, the effects to paua from the Rena ship wreck and lost container contents, know to include a medly of metals and other contaminants, is not likely to be limited to copper alone. Results demosntrate the relevance of examining the effects of water borne contaminated plumes emanating from complex mixtures of contaminants. This is rarely done in ecotoxicological studies which tend to focus on individual contaminant compounds.

text: The Effects of Contaminated Rena Sediments on Juvenile Paua (Haliotis iris) The grounding of the MV Rena on Otaiti resulted in the release of heavy fuel oil and container debris contaminants into the surrounding environments including the rocky shores of the adjacent Mōtītī Island. This is the habitat where significant populations of benthic paua reside. Paua (Haliotis iris) are a staple and consistent food source for Mōtītī Island. Being an offshore island with no amenities, Mōtītī Island residents are reliant on the ocean as a pataka kai (food cupboard) and are therefore acutely aware of environmental influences to the harvest of kaimoana.
This thesis aimed to address concerns relating to the effects of contaminated boundary layer water emanating from contaminated ‘Rena’ sediment on juvenile paua. Research was focused in two areas: 1) the sublethal behavioural effects of contaminated Rena sediment to Paua and 2) the accumulation of trace metals in the edible tissue and viscera mass. The experiments were carried out with the use of a close circuit aquaria in a laboratory environment, followed by a field experiment.
In all experiments, paua in control treatments were healthy by comparison to paua exposed to treatments with Rena contaminated sediments and copper as judged by survivorship and behaviour. The most likely cause of of behavioural aberrations and mortality observed was deemed to be copper as demonstrated by Diffusive Gradient in thin film (DGT) and ambient water analyses in both experiments. Copper that is bioavailable can increase quickly in the edible tissue and viscera mass as was identified as the visceral mass of Rena and copper exposed paua had a higher mean concentration of this and other trace metals.
On Otaiti, the effects to paua from the Rena ship wreck and lost container contents, know to include a medly of metals and other contaminants, is not likely to be limited to copper alone. Results demosntrate the relevance of examining the effects of water borne contaminated plumes emanating from complex mixtures of contaminants. This is rarely done in ecotoxicological studies which tend to focus on individual contaminant compounds.

year: 2015