title: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Perspectives of Te Rau Puawai bursars

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori students

abstract: The Te Rau Puawai programme is an attempt to change the nature of the Maori
mental health workforce. To do this, Maori with aspirations to work, or to continue to
work in the mental health workforce, are supported, financially and academically, to
complete a tertiary qualification relevant to the field.
To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
The evaluation team set out to gather the experiences and perspectives of recipients of
Te Rau Puawai services by asking all bursars to complete a questionnaire and
volunteer for follow up interviews or focus groups. Sixty two bursars responded to
our questionnaire, and we complete focus group or individual follow up interviews
with 19 bursars.

text: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Perspectives of Te Rau Puawai bursars The Te Rau Puawai programme is an attempt to change the nature of the Maori
mental health workforce. To do this, Maori with aspirations to work, or to continue to
work in the mental health workforce, are supported, financially and academically, to
complete a tertiary qualification relevant to the field.
To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
The evaluation team set out to gather the experiences and perspectives of recipients of
Te Rau Puawai services by asking all bursars to complete a questionnaire and
volunteer for follow up interviews or focus groups. Sixty two bursars responded to
our questionnaire, and we complete focus group or individual follow up interviews
with 19 bursars.

year: 2002-05-01

title: Lake weed and the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes then and now

authors: Burton, Tracy

abstract: This afternoon we will be looking beneath the surface of the Rotorua
Te Arawa lakes at the submerged aquatic plants that grow within them – the good the bad and the ugly. We will have a look at the special native aquatic plants that occur naturally in the lakes, familiarise ourselves with the weed species that have invaded them and look at how these weeds have (and are) changed the natural condition of the lakes. We will also look at how submerged plants are being used to report on the condition of our lakes and what these plant communities can tell us about the state of the lakes yesterday and today.

text: Lake weed and the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes then and now This afternoon we will be looking beneath the surface of the Rotorua
Te Arawa lakes at the submerged aquatic plants that grow within them – the good the bad and the ugly. We will have a look at the special native aquatic plants that occur naturally in the lakes, familiarise ourselves with the weed species that have invaded them and look at how these weeds have (and are) changed the natural condition of the lakes. We will also look at how submerged plants are being used to report on the condition of our lakes and what these plant communities can tell us about the state of the lakes yesterday and today.

year: 2017

title: The Continental Shelf as a Site for Dredged Material Disposal, Northeast New Zealand

authors: Flaim, Bryna K.

subjects: dredged material

abstract: Disposal of dredged material has been an on-going problem in the Auckland Coastal Marine Area (CMA) since the early 1980s in New Zealand.  Many disposal grounds have been established and used, but public concern over adverse effects resulted in their ultimate closure.  Presently, dredged material is disposed off-shore at a site simultaneously accessed by the Royal New Zealand Navy for disposal of WWII munitions recovered from coastal areas.  As early as the mid-1990s, parliamentary focus groups established the need for a more suitable disposal option for dredged material.  Establishment of a disposal site north of Cuvier Island in waters deeper than 100 m was one of the key recommendations presented by these groups.  The need for a new site was compounded after the establishment of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in 2000.  Taking up the majority of the Auckland CMA this culturally significant Park makes the consent for open water disposal a complex process.

A site east of Great Barrier Island in 140 m of water has been identified as a potential suitable site for disposal of dredged material.  The main goal of the present study is to determine the suitability of this site and provide the necessary information required by enforcing authorities for permit submission. 

Investigations to determine the suitability of the site were undertaken in several ways.  An extensive literature review of previous studies was carried out to gain insight into the physical and biological characteristics of the northeast coast and shelf.  The main hydrodynamic features of the region and the observed behaviours were determined.  Attentions were then directed at determining the more specific site characteristics.  Analytical calculations were undertaken using known site parameters to estimate the potential for transport of sediment away from the site after disposal.  Through analysis of known wave and current measurements it was estimated that only rarely would sediment be entrained off the seafloor.  Samples were then collected from the site in November 2007, which were used for sediment textural analysis and benthic identification.  It was determined that the main textural component of the site sediments is muddy/sand.  Diversity of benthic species is relatively high, but abundance is low.  Polychaetes were the most diverse and abundant taxon identified at sample locations across the site.  Next, the 3DD model was used to numerically simulate 2-dimensional tidal currents.  Depth-averaged spring tidal currents at the site were predicted to be less than 0.2 ms-1.  The derived bottom velocity for such a current is 0.08 ms-1, which is much less than the velocity required for initiation of sediment movement in this case.  The numerical simulation also showed that residual spring tidal flow is directed to the southeast.  Finally, an assessment of potential impacts was done by reviewing previous studies of ecological impacts caused by disposal of dredged material.  Based on the preliminary studies summarised above, the review of potential impacts indicates that there will only be minimal effects at and surrounding the proposed site.  The result of this study is an encouraging step toward establishment of a new disposal option, but further research is required to confidently declare that the site is suitable for disposal operations.

text: The Continental Shelf as a Site for Dredged Material Disposal, Northeast New Zealand Disposal of dredged material has been an on-going problem in the Auckland Coastal Marine Area (CMA) since the early 1980s in New Zealand.  Many disposal grounds have been established and used, but public concern over adverse effects resulted in their ultimate closure.  Presently, dredged material is disposed off-shore at a site simultaneously accessed by the Royal New Zealand Navy for disposal of WWII munitions recovered from coastal areas.  As early as the mid-1990s, parliamentary focus groups established the need for a more suitable disposal option for dredged material.  Establishment of a disposal site north of Cuvier Island in waters deeper than 100 m was one of the key recommendations presented by these groups.  The need for a new site was compounded after the establishment of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in 2000.  Taking up the majority of the Auckland CMA this culturally significant Park makes the consent for open water disposal a complex process.

A site east of Great Barrier Island in 140 m of water has been identified as a potential suitable site for disposal of dredged material.  The main goal of the present study is to determine the suitability of this site and provide the necessary information required by enforcing authorities for permit submission. 

Investigations to determine the suitability of the site were undertaken in several ways.  An extensive literature review of previous studies was carried out to gain insight into the physical and biological characteristics of the northeast coast and shelf.  The main hydrodynamic features of the region and the observed behaviours were determined.  Attentions were then directed at determining the more specific site characteristics.  Analytical calculations were undertaken using known site parameters to estimate the potential for transport of sediment away from the site after disposal.  Through analysis of known wave and current measurements it was estimated that only rarely would sediment be entrained off the seafloor.  Samples were then collected from the site in November 2007, which were used for sediment textural analysis and benthic identification.  It was determined that the main textural component of the site sediments is muddy/sand.  Diversity of benthic species is relatively high, but abundance is low.  Polychaetes were the most diverse and abundant taxon identified at sample locations across the site.  Next, the 3DD model was used to numerically simulate 2-dimensional tidal currents.  Depth-averaged spring tidal currents at the site were predicted to be less than 0.2 ms-1.  The derived bottom velocity for such a current is 0.08 ms-1, which is much less than the velocity required for initiation of sediment movement in this case.  The numerical simulation also showed that residual spring tidal flow is directed to the southeast.  Finally, an assessment of potential impacts was done by reviewing previous studies of ecological impacts caused by disposal of dredged material.  Based on the preliminary studies summarised above, the review of potential impacts indicates that there will only be minimal effects at and surrounding the proposed site.  The result of this study is an encouraging step toward establishment of a new disposal option, but further research is required to confidently declare that the site is suitable for disposal operations.

year: 2008