title: Molecular genetic tools for environmental monitoring of New Zealand's aquatic habitats, past, present and the future

authors: Wood, Susanna A.

subjects: automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis

abstract: The assessment of biological samples is critical for measuring the health of New Zealand aquatic environments. Analysis of these samples commonly requires species identification and enumeration, which usually involves microscopy or microbiological methods. These techniques can be time-consuming, laborious, and are dependent on taxonomic expertise. Recent advances in molecular methods provide promising tools for assessing environmental samples. A range of molecular techniques are now used in New Zealand including: fluorescent in situ hybridisation; automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; and, most recently, next-generation sequencing. The organisms (or targets) and environments monitored are equally diverse, ranging from cyanobacteria, rotifers and invasive fish in lakes, to macroinvertebrates, and biofilm communities in rivers, to bacteria, micro-and macro-algae and invertebrates in marine ecosystems. Despite research and validation demonstrating their potential, the application of these tools by monitoring agencies has been limited. Legislative requirements, costs, and a reluctance to change methodologies, are the most likely reasons for this. This review examines molecular tools that have been previously or are currently used for monitoring aquatic environments in New Zealand, and explores how these, and new techniques, may be applied in the future.

text: Molecular genetic tools for environmental monitoring of New Zealand's aquatic habitats, past, present and the future The assessment of biological samples is critical for measuring the health of New Zealand aquatic environments. Analysis of these samples commonly requires species identification and enumeration, which usually involves microscopy or microbiological methods. These techniques can be time-consuming, laborious, and are dependent on taxonomic expertise. Recent advances in molecular methods provide promising tools for assessing environmental samples. A range of molecular techniques are now used in New Zealand including: fluorescent in situ hybridisation; automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis; quantitative polymerase chain reaction; and, most recently, next-generation sequencing. The organisms (or targets) and environments monitored are equally diverse, ranging from cyanobacteria, rotifers and invasive fish in lakes, to macroinvertebrates, and biofilm communities in rivers, to bacteria, micro-and macro-algae and invertebrates in marine ecosystems. Despite research and validation demonstrating their potential, the application of these tools by monitoring agencies has been limited. Legislative requirements, costs, and a reluctance to change methodologies, are the most likely reasons for this. This review examines molecular tools that have been previously or are currently used for monitoring aquatic environments in New Zealand, and explores how these, and new techniques, may be applied in the future.

year: 2013

title: Use of motion sensors for autonomous monitoring of hydraulic environments

authors: Kularatna, Nihal

subjects: commercial-off-the-shelf motion sensors

abstract: Low cost, miniaturized, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) motion sensors, collectively with processors, an energy source and other electronic circuitry can be packaged into very small volumes for autonomous operation. If such a system operates over short periods of time, or data acquisitions occur at a very low frequency, processor resources should be sufficient to manage offsets and errors. The paper analyzes a typical set of COTS accelerometers and gyroscopes, to indicate how best these can be used in hydraulic environments. Application examples such as river bed sediment monitoring, milk vat monitoring etc. are briefly discussed, with application oriented design approaches. Minimizing the power consumption to introduce a novel, rechargeable power supply design is briefly outlined.

text: Use of motion sensors for autonomous monitoring of hydraulic environments Low cost, miniaturized, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) motion sensors, collectively with processors, an energy source and other electronic circuitry can be packaged into very small volumes for autonomous operation. If such a system operates over short periods of time, or data acquisitions occur at a very low frequency, processor resources should be sufficient to manage offsets and errors. The paper analyzes a typical set of COTS accelerometers and gyroscopes, to indicate how best these can be used in hydraulic environments. Application examples such as river bed sediment monitoring, milk vat monitoring etc. are briefly discussed, with application oriented design approaches. Minimizing the power consumption to introduce a novel, rechargeable power supply design is briefly outlined.

year: 2008

title: Proposing a Kaupapa Tuku Iho informed Māori model for practice to enhance cultural competence and foster kaimahi flourishing within health and social service providers

authors: Winiata, Rangimarie

subjects: Kaupapa Tuku Iho

abstract: Kaupapa Tuku Iho are Māori values that have been used across various social institutions to inform culturally competent practices with those accessing services. This thesis set out to promote the use Kaupapa Tuku Iho to not only enhance cultural competence and culturally appropriate services, but to take a step further and explore factors that foster the flourishing of kaimahi (workers) who deliver those services. There is research that suggests kaimahi in health and social services are overworked, burdened by stressed and approaching a state of compassion fatigue. This is detrimental for those both delivering and accessing services. This study will explore factors that foster kaimahi flourishing and enable kaimahi to practice Kaupapa Tuku Iho, along with factors that stand as barriers to achieving flourishing and culturally competent practice.
Furthermore, I have developed Ngā Kākano, which is a values-based model informed by Kaupapa Tuku Iho that aims to foster kaimahi flourishing and achieve culturally competent practice within health and social service providers. Ngā Kākano has been aligned to various psychological disciplines, including Community Psychology, Industrial-Organisational Psychology and Indigenous Psychology.
Data concerning the exploration of barriers and enablers kaimahi experienced was collected using a Kaupapa Māori research approach consisting of focus group structures combined with Wānanga as a Kaupapa Māori research methodology. The data was analysed using processes of thematic analysis, where themes were identified and presented in association with the relevant stages of Ngā Kākano.
	The findings of this study saw the organisation stood as a prominent barrier to kaimahi practising Kaupapa Tuku Iho and achieving flourishing. This reflected a need for the organisation to make improvements to support kaimahi in all necessary forms that enable them to achieve flourishing as reflected in positive states of being. It became apparent that most kaimahi were able to achieve flourishing through the practice of Kaupapa Tuku Iho between, amongst and across all kaimahi throughout the organisation irrespective of direct support from the organisation.

text: Proposing a Kaupapa Tuku Iho informed Māori model for practice to enhance cultural competence and foster kaimahi flourishing within health and social service providers Kaupapa Tuku Iho are Māori values that have been used across various social institutions to inform culturally competent practices with those accessing services. This thesis set out to promote the use Kaupapa Tuku Iho to not only enhance cultural competence and culturally appropriate services, but to take a step further and explore factors that foster the flourishing of kaimahi (workers) who deliver those services. There is research that suggests kaimahi in health and social services are overworked, burdened by stressed and approaching a state of compassion fatigue. This is detrimental for those both delivering and accessing services. This study will explore factors that foster kaimahi flourishing and enable kaimahi to practice Kaupapa Tuku Iho, along with factors that stand as barriers to achieving flourishing and culturally competent practice.
Furthermore, I have developed Ngā Kākano, which is a values-based model informed by Kaupapa Tuku Iho that aims to foster kaimahi flourishing and achieve culturally competent practice within health and social service providers. Ngā Kākano has been aligned to various psychological disciplines, including Community Psychology, Industrial-Organisational Psychology and Indigenous Psychology.
Data concerning the exploration of barriers and enablers kaimahi experienced was collected using a Kaupapa Māori research approach consisting of focus group structures combined with Wānanga as a Kaupapa Māori research methodology. The data was analysed using processes of thematic analysis, where themes were identified and presented in association with the relevant stages of Ngā Kākano.
	The findings of this study saw the organisation stood as a prominent barrier to kaimahi practising Kaupapa Tuku Iho and achieving flourishing. This reflected a need for the organisation to make improvements to support kaimahi in all necessary forms that enable them to achieve flourishing as reflected in positive states of being. It became apparent that most kaimahi were able to achieve flourishing through the practice of Kaupapa Tuku Iho between, amongst and across all kaimahi throughout the organisation irrespective of direct support from the organisation.

year: 2022