title: The effect of sustainability reporting on financial performance: An empirical study using listed companies

authors: Reddy, Krishna

subjects: sustainability

abstract: Purpose - This study investigates the effect sustainability reporting has on companies’ financial performance. Sustainability reports are voluntarily released by companies that provide additional information to the stakeholders regarding the impact their activities have on the environment and society. 
Design/Methodology/Approach: This empirical paper analyses and identifies overlaps, gaps, limitations and flaws in current constructs of sustainability reporting. Using event study method to estimate abnormal returns for a 31 day event window for a sample of 68 listed companies, 17 listed in New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and 51 listed in the Australian Stock exchange (ASX). 
Findings: Results of the empirical study indicate that sustainability reporting is statistically significant in explaining abnormal returns for the Australian companies. The cross-sectional analysis results of the combined dataset for the two countries support the view that the contextual factors of industry type significantly impacts abnormal returns of the reporting companies. In this regard, this study identifies several contextual factors, such as industry and type of sustainability report, that have the potential to impact the relationship. Only the CSR type of sustainability report was significant in explaining the abnormal return of New Zealand companies. 
Practical implications: To underscore the practical implications of the theory, it shows, by reference to the model, how sustainability reporting influences financial performance for companies engaged in industries that have environmental implications. However, the simplistic model may also have many other applications in management and the social sciences.
Originality value: The proposed model is highly original in providing a framework for studying the impact of sustainability reporting in companies that have an environmental impact.

text: The effect of sustainability reporting on financial performance: An empirical study using listed companies Purpose - This study investigates the effect sustainability reporting has on companies’ financial performance. Sustainability reports are voluntarily released by companies that provide additional information to the stakeholders regarding the impact their activities have on the environment and society. 
Design/Methodology/Approach: This empirical paper analyses and identifies overlaps, gaps, limitations and flaws in current constructs of sustainability reporting. Using event study method to estimate abnormal returns for a 31 day event window for a sample of 68 listed companies, 17 listed in New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and 51 listed in the Australian Stock exchange (ASX). 
Findings: Results of the empirical study indicate that sustainability reporting is statistically significant in explaining abnormal returns for the Australian companies. The cross-sectional analysis results of the combined dataset for the two countries support the view that the contextual factors of industry type significantly impacts abnormal returns of the reporting companies. In this regard, this study identifies several contextual factors, such as industry and type of sustainability report, that have the potential to impact the relationship. Only the CSR type of sustainability report was significant in explaining the abnormal return of New Zealand companies. 
Practical implications: To underscore the practical implications of the theory, it shows, by reference to the model, how sustainability reporting influences financial performance for companies engaged in industries that have environmental implications. However, the simplistic model may also have many other applications in management and the social sciences.
Originality value: The proposed model is highly original in providing a framework for studying the impact of sustainability reporting in companies that have an environmental impact.

year: 2010

title: Using groundwater for hydro electric power generation

authors: Bardsley, W. Earl

subjects: groundwater

abstract: Controlled groundwater abstraction could be used to offset the effects of drought by augmenting river discharge for power generation during times of low natural flows, such as occurred in New Zealand during the winter of 1992. Augmenting river discharge with groundwater reduces the impact of a drought by spreading its effect over the recovery time of the aquifer. Groundwater could be introduced as an operational component for hydro generation in various ways. Fast-recovery aquifers might be operated as part of a normal daily hydro electric water storage and release. Existing hydro lakes might have their storage capacity increased by extending horizontal bores into the country from the lake shorelines, or by diverting any lake spillage onto artificial recharge zones. Water from deep pumped bores in vertical transmissive fault or shatter zones could augment mountain rivers for power generation. Flows might be augmented in low-relief regions by extensive fields of standard pumped bores. New kinds of hydro scheme that would allow power generation from sites where ecological or physical constraints prevent the usual forms of hydro development may be feasible. New Zealand localities for possible operational use of groundwater include the Mackenzie Basin and associated headwaters, the Volcanic Plateau, the Taupo region, and Westland. Small stand-alone groundwater power schemes may be possible in Campbell Island, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island and Stewart Island.

text: Using groundwater for hydro electric power generation Controlled groundwater abstraction could be used to offset the effects of drought by augmenting river discharge for power generation during times of low natural flows, such as occurred in New Zealand during the winter of 1992. Augmenting river discharge with groundwater reduces the impact of a drought by spreading its effect over the recovery time of the aquifer. Groundwater could be introduced as an operational component for hydro generation in various ways. Fast-recovery aquifers might be operated as part of a normal daily hydro electric water storage and release. Existing hydro lakes might have their storage capacity increased by extending horizontal bores into the country from the lake shorelines, or by diverting any lake spillage onto artificial recharge zones. Water from deep pumped bores in vertical transmissive fault or shatter zones could augment mountain rivers for power generation. Flows might be augmented in low-relief regions by extensive fields of standard pumped bores. New kinds of hydro scheme that would allow power generation from sites where ecological or physical constraints prevent the usual forms of hydro development may be feasible. New Zealand localities for possible operational use of groundwater include the Mackenzie Basin and associated headwaters, the Volcanic Plateau, the Taupo region, and Westland. Small stand-alone groundwater power schemes may be possible in Campbell Island, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island and Stewart Island.

year: 1995

title: The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact

authors: Niu, Xiaoliang

abstract: Indigenous values are increasingly recognised in helping organisations contribute to wellbeing within and beyond the workplace. Adopting the theoretical lens of Māori economies of wellbeing, this case study examines how The Southern Initiative (TSI), a unit within Auckland Council, incorporates Māori values to co-create place-based solutions and foster whānau (family) wellbeing. Through kōrero (conversations) with three people, a wānanga (collaborative discussion) with TSI members, and analysis of organisational literature, we identified how TSI's organising approach synthesises social innovation and bureaucracy. We found that indigeneity-embedded intrapreneurship, distributed leadership, and whānau-centred design support TSI's innovations. Mana (prestige) emerged as a primary organising principle, sustaining TSI's approach to achieving systemic change. By bridging Indigenous paradigms and conventional managerial practice, this case study demonstrates how Māori values can transform public sector management, elevate social justice, and encourage community resilience. These findings highlight culturally grounded frameworks for delivering social impact and shaping equitable outcomes.

text: The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact Indigenous values are increasingly recognised in helping organisations contribute to wellbeing within and beyond the workplace. Adopting the theoretical lens of Māori economies of wellbeing, this case study examines how The Southern Initiative (TSI), a unit within Auckland Council, incorporates Māori values to co-create place-based solutions and foster whānau (family) wellbeing. Through kōrero (conversations) with three people, a wānanga (collaborative discussion) with TSI members, and analysis of organisational literature, we identified how TSI's organising approach synthesises social innovation and bureaucracy. We found that indigeneity-embedded intrapreneurship, distributed leadership, and whānau-centred design support TSI's innovations. Mana (prestige) emerged as a primary organising principle, sustaining TSI's approach to achieving systemic change. By bridging Indigenous paradigms and conventional managerial practice, this case study demonstrates how Māori values can transform public sector management, elevate social justice, and encourage community resilience. These findings highlight culturally grounded frameworks for delivering social impact and shaping equitable outcomes.

year: 2025