title: The measurement of training opportunities course outcomes: an effective policy tool?

authors: Stolte, Ottilie Emma Elisabeth

abstract: Training Opportunities is an active labour market policy initiative, and part of a response to the entrenched problems of unemployment in Aotearoa New Zealand. The funding and implementation of Training Opportunities are determined in part by a particular system for measuring course outcomes. This paper argues that this measuring system should not be used for policy development, due to measurement errors and problems assigning causality to the intervention. Consequently, various disincentives arise that contradict the objectives of Training Opportunities. While accountability is important, the over-reliance on the narrowly defined Training Opportunities outcomes undermines the ability of providers to assist the unemployed, and thereby contribute to the policy goals of reducing unemployment and labour market disadvantage in New Zealand.

text: The measurement of training opportunities course outcomes: an effective policy tool? Training Opportunities is an active labour market policy initiative, and part of a response to the entrenched problems of unemployment in Aotearoa New Zealand. The funding and implementation of Training Opportunities are determined in part by a particular system for measuring course outcomes. This paper argues that this measuring system should not be used for policy development, due to measurement errors and problems assigning causality to the intervention. Consequently, various disincentives arise that contradict the objectives of Training Opportunities. While accountability is important, the over-reliance on the narrowly defined Training Opportunities outcomes undermines the ability of providers to assist the unemployed, and thereby contribute to the policy goals of reducing unemployment and labour market disadvantage in New Zealand.

year: 2004

title: Variability of blue carbon stocks in restored saltmarsh wetlands: Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Visser, Jade Skye

abstract: As anthropogenic pressures including urbanisation and climate change continue to pressure the natural environment, there is a great need to focus on solutions that both increase ecosystem resilience and mitigate climate change. Coastal wetlands are a “powerhouse” environment that have the potential to achieve this and much more. Among the variety of coastal wetlands, saltmarsh habitats are one of the most degraded environments globally, with a mere <10% estimated to remain in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many saltmarshes have been lost  due to factors such as,  conversion to pasture, and/or environmental degradation. As part of the conversation around saltmarsh restoration, nature-based solutions are a tool that is being increasingly considered when it comes to climate change mitigation and adaptation,  due to the large potential saltmarshes possess to sequester CO2 alongside adapting to sea level rise such as by providing a space for flood water and for vegetation to slow down storm surges, alongside other environmental and societal benefits.

This study investigates the blue carbon dynamics in restored and control saltmarsh habitats in the Bay of Plenty Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on bulk density, concentration of carbon (%), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Sediment Accumulation Rates (SAR), and Carbon Accumulation Rates (CAR). We focus on changes in blue carbon with time since saltmarsh restoration. Bulk density analysis revealed minimal variability among sites, with Matua Saltmarsh exhibiting the largest standard error (0.765 ± 0.057g cm3) and Wainui River Saltmarsh the lowest mean bulk density (0.633 ± 0.032g cm3). Carbon concentration was generally highly variable across sites, with Matua Saltmarsh exhibiting the highest mean concentration (5.83 ± 1.151%) and Wainui Repo Whenua the lowest (2.91 ± 0.26%). Total organic carbon stock decreased with depth across sites, with Matua Saltmarsh having the highest total organic carbon stock (1.21 ± 0.005g cm3 or 121.42 ± 0.534t ha-1) and Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi the lowest (0.69 ± 0.004g cm3 or 68.66 ± 0.401t ha-1). Carbon accumulation rates generally increased with restoration age, with Wainui River Saltmarsh exhibiting the highest sediment accumulation rate (11.57mm yr-1) and Matua Saltmarsh the highest carbon accumulation rate (161.87g m-2 yr-1 over the last 20 years). While no distinct trends in blue carbon stocks and concentration emerged between the restored and control environments, it is notable that restored saltmarshes consistently exhibited substantial carbon stocks compared to controls and global standards. Moreover, there were higher mean TOC figures within the first ~30 years post-restoration. These results align with expectations from previous studies, emphasizing the efficacy of saltmarsh restoration efforts in enhancing future carbon storage potential in Aotearoa. 

These findings underscore the need for comprehensive investigations into the roles of vegetation, sedimentation rates, microbial processes, alongside catchment hydrological conditions history. This thesis also highlights that long-term monitoring beyond the initial 20- 30 years post-restoration is crucial to comprehensively understand the trajectory of blue carbon dynamics. In addition, comparative studies accounting for diverse restoration techniques and assessments of broader ecosystem services delivered by saltmarsh restoration are essential. Addressing these factors will deepen our understanding of the specific mechanisms influencing blue carbon dynamics in Aotearoa's restored saltmarshes.

text: Variability of blue carbon stocks in restored saltmarsh wetlands: Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa New Zealand As anthropogenic pressures including urbanisation and climate change continue to pressure the natural environment, there is a great need to focus on solutions that both increase ecosystem resilience and mitigate climate change. Coastal wetlands are a “powerhouse” environment that have the potential to achieve this and much more. Among the variety of coastal wetlands, saltmarsh habitats are one of the most degraded environments globally, with a mere <10% estimated to remain in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many saltmarshes have been lost  due to factors such as,  conversion to pasture, and/or environmental degradation. As part of the conversation around saltmarsh restoration, nature-based solutions are a tool that is being increasingly considered when it comes to climate change mitigation and adaptation,  due to the large potential saltmarshes possess to sequester CO2 alongside adapting to sea level rise such as by providing a space for flood water and for vegetation to slow down storm surges, alongside other environmental and societal benefits.

This study investigates the blue carbon dynamics in restored and control saltmarsh habitats in the Bay of Plenty Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on bulk density, concentration of carbon (%), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Sediment Accumulation Rates (SAR), and Carbon Accumulation Rates (CAR). We focus on changes in blue carbon with time since saltmarsh restoration. Bulk density analysis revealed minimal variability among sites, with Matua Saltmarsh exhibiting the largest standard error (0.765 ± 0.057g cm3) and Wainui River Saltmarsh the lowest mean bulk density (0.633 ± 0.032g cm3). Carbon concentration was generally highly variable across sites, with Matua Saltmarsh exhibiting the highest mean concentration (5.83 ± 1.151%) and Wainui Repo Whenua the lowest (2.91 ± 0.26%). Total organic carbon stock decreased with depth across sites, with Matua Saltmarsh having the highest total organic carbon stock (1.21 ± 0.005g cm3 or 121.42 ± 0.534t ha-1) and Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi the lowest (0.69 ± 0.004g cm3 or 68.66 ± 0.401t ha-1). Carbon accumulation rates generally increased with restoration age, with Wainui River Saltmarsh exhibiting the highest sediment accumulation rate (11.57mm yr-1) and Matua Saltmarsh the highest carbon accumulation rate (161.87g m-2 yr-1 over the last 20 years). While no distinct trends in blue carbon stocks and concentration emerged between the restored and control environments, it is notable that restored saltmarshes consistently exhibited substantial carbon stocks compared to controls and global standards. Moreover, there were higher mean TOC figures within the first ~30 years post-restoration. These results align with expectations from previous studies, emphasizing the efficacy of saltmarsh restoration efforts in enhancing future carbon storage potential in Aotearoa. 

These findings underscore the need for comprehensive investigations into the roles of vegetation, sedimentation rates, microbial processes, alongside catchment hydrological conditions history. This thesis also highlights that long-term monitoring beyond the initial 20- 30 years post-restoration is crucial to comprehensively understand the trajectory of blue carbon dynamics. In addition, comparative studies accounting for diverse restoration techniques and assessments of broader ecosystem services delivered by saltmarsh restoration are essential. Addressing these factors will deepen our understanding of the specific mechanisms influencing blue carbon dynamics in Aotearoa's restored saltmarshes.

year: 2023-12-24

title: The arguing genre and the explaining genre: A comparison in terms of discourse relational analyses of texts written in English and texts written in Māori

authors: Crombie, Winifred

subjects: Māori linguistics

abstract: There is a commonly held belief that those who are immersed in indigenous cultures have a tendency, when constructing academic texts, to avoid sequential, deductive argumentation. We report here on a comparison of two groups of texts exhibiting two different genres - 'explaining' and 'arguing'. One group of texts was written in Māori by indigenous authors, the other group was written in English by non-indigenous authors. Our findings are that although the percentage use of logico-deductive relationships is roughly equivalent for both groups of texts/ writers in the case of the explaining genre, the Māori texts/ writers use almost twice the percentage of logico-deductive relationships as do the English texts/ writers.

text: The arguing genre and the explaining genre: A comparison in terms of discourse relational analyses of texts written in English and texts written in Māori There is a commonly held belief that those who are immersed in indigenous cultures have a tendency, when constructing academic texts, to avoid sequential, deductive argumentation. We report here on a comparison of two groups of texts exhibiting two different genres - 'explaining' and 'arguing'. One group of texts was written in Māori by indigenous authors, the other group was written in English by non-indigenous authors. Our findings are that although the percentage use of logico-deductive relationships is roughly equivalent for both groups of texts/ writers in the case of the explaining genre, the Māori texts/ writers use almost twice the percentage of logico-deductive relationships as do the English texts/ writers.

year: 2005-02