title: Stability and change at FPTL: An Institutional perspective

authors: Sharma, Umesh Prasad

abstract: Once institutionalised, routines are a force for stability and resistance to change. This creates a problem for institutional theorists in explaining changes in accounting practice. This paper attempts to illustrate that institutional theory can encompass a processual explanation of change, through a case study of Fiji Posts and Telecommunications Limited (FPTL). We illustrate how institutional contradictions or inconsistencies were an impetus to institutional change in the organisation. Institutional entrepreneurs were instrumental in abandoning the existing routines and introducing new commercial ones. The commercial business norms were stabilised by the management team through the process of enactment, reproduction and routinisation.

text: Stability and change at FPTL: An Institutional perspective Once institutionalised, routines are a force for stability and resistance to change. This creates a problem for institutional theorists in explaining changes in accounting practice. This paper attempts to illustrate that institutional theory can encompass a processual explanation of change, through a case study of Fiji Posts and Telecommunications Limited (FPTL). We illustrate how institutional contradictions or inconsistencies were an impetus to institutional change in the organisation. Institutional entrepreneurs were instrumental in abandoning the existing routines and introducing new commercial ones. The commercial business norms were stabilised by the management team through the process of enactment, reproduction and routinisation.

year: 2008

title: Long term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall

authors: Long, Lauren M.

subjects: bioreactor

abstract: Nitrogen (N) inputs to groundwater are one of the most widespread environmental problems globally. However, as N is important for crop production to support the current global population, it is difficult to limit N input to an extent where groundwater contamination is completely avoided. Researchers have been testing new ways to remove N (in the form of nitrate (NO3-)) from groundwater, primarily through enhancing microbial denitrification. One technology utilizing this microbial process is a denitrification wall, which is an inexpensive, low-maintenance technology compared to other options to treat NO3--contaminated groundwater. Denitrification walls have been shown to be effective for removing NO3- from groundwater through denitrification for seven years in New Zealand, nine years in Iowa, and 15 years in Canada; however, long-term data on the efficacy of denitrification walls remain limited. In order to understand how these systems function in the long term, the performance of a New Zealand denitrification wall installed in 1996 was examined. Field sampling was carried out during the winter of 2010 at the denitrification wall at Bardowie Farm in Cambridge, New Zealand. This farm had received relatively high N inputs from spray-irrigation of effluent from the nearby Hautapu Dairy Factory for over 30 years. The denitrification wall was originally constructed by mixing 40 m3 Pinus radiata sawdust with soil down to a depth of 1.5 m where it intercepted groundwater flow. Groundwater samples were collected from wells installed upslope and within the wall and samples were analyzed for NO3- concentrations on five occasions. Soil samples were collected on four occasions from below the water table and analyzed for denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), total carbon (C), available C, and microbial biomass C. Results were compared to previous measurements. Groundwater NO3- concentrations entering the wall averaged 2.6 mg N L-1, which was a decrease from 2002 where NO3- entered the wall at an average of 9 mg N L-1. Despite this decrease, NO3- concentrations within the wall averaged 0.2 mg N L-1, which corresponded to 92% NO3- removal. DEA rates in the wall were nearly as high as the first year of construction. In contrast, total C and microbial biomass C had decreased by half, while available C remained the same as measured two years after construction. Denitrification in the wall remained NO3- limited suggesting that C was still sufficiently available to the denitrifiers. These data indicated that the denitrification wall was still effective after 14 years. To predict denitrification wall longevity, a first-order decay curve was fitted to the total C data through time (R2 = 0.92; p < 0.05). The decay curve was used to predict the time until total C reached 0.1%, although it is unclear at what %C denitrification will become C limited. Using this decay curve, it was estimated that C in the wall would not be depleted for 66 years, although it is possible that C will become limiting to denitrifiers before that time. This long-term study suggested that denitrification walls are cost-effective solutions to removing NO3- from groundwater as they can be effective for a number of years without any maintenance.

text: Long term nitrate removal in a denitrification wall Nitrogen (N) inputs to groundwater are one of the most widespread environmental problems globally. However, as N is important for crop production to support the current global population, it is difficult to limit N input to an extent where groundwater contamination is completely avoided. Researchers have been testing new ways to remove N (in the form of nitrate (NO3-)) from groundwater, primarily through enhancing microbial denitrification. One technology utilizing this microbial process is a denitrification wall, which is an inexpensive, low-maintenance technology compared to other options to treat NO3--contaminated groundwater. Denitrification walls have been shown to be effective for removing NO3- from groundwater through denitrification for seven years in New Zealand, nine years in Iowa, and 15 years in Canada; however, long-term data on the efficacy of denitrification walls remain limited. In order to understand how these systems function in the long term, the performance of a New Zealand denitrification wall installed in 1996 was examined. Field sampling was carried out during the winter of 2010 at the denitrification wall at Bardowie Farm in Cambridge, New Zealand. This farm had received relatively high N inputs from spray-irrigation of effluent from the nearby Hautapu Dairy Factory for over 30 years. The denitrification wall was originally constructed by mixing 40 m3 Pinus radiata sawdust with soil down to a depth of 1.5 m where it intercepted groundwater flow. Groundwater samples were collected from wells installed upslope and within the wall and samples were analyzed for NO3- concentrations on five occasions. Soil samples were collected on four occasions from below the water table and analyzed for denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA), total carbon (C), available C, and microbial biomass C. Results were compared to previous measurements. Groundwater NO3- concentrations entering the wall averaged 2.6 mg N L-1, which was a decrease from 2002 where NO3- entered the wall at an average of 9 mg N L-1. Despite this decrease, NO3- concentrations within the wall averaged 0.2 mg N L-1, which corresponded to 92% NO3- removal. DEA rates in the wall were nearly as high as the first year of construction. In contrast, total C and microbial biomass C had decreased by half, while available C remained the same as measured two years after construction. Denitrification in the wall remained NO3- limited suggesting that C was still sufficiently available to the denitrifiers. These data indicated that the denitrification wall was still effective after 14 years. To predict denitrification wall longevity, a first-order decay curve was fitted to the total C data through time (R2 = 0.92; p < 0.05). The decay curve was used to predict the time until total C reached 0.1%, although it is unclear at what %C denitrification will become C limited. Using this decay curve, it was estimated that C in the wall would not be depleted for 66 years, although it is possible that C will become limiting to denitrifiers before that time. This long-term study suggested that denitrification walls are cost-effective solutions to removing NO3- from groundwater as they can be effective for a number of years without any maintenance.

year: 2011

title: Supervision as cultural partnership: Contributions to dialogue

authors: Crocket, Kathie

abstract: The term cultural supervision has been coined as part of a strategy that implicates supervision in the support and development of culturally appropriate therapeutic practice. In Aotearoa New Zealand particular focus has been given to supervision where the client is Māori and the practitioner is a member of the dominant Pākehā culture particularly, or of other non-Māori cultures. However, while the phrase cultural supervision has entered common professional parlance, the practice has had little research attention in counselling/psychotherapy in New Zealand. Cultural supervision appears to encompass a range of understandings, and there is no clear agreement about practice implications. It is unclear what alignment there is between aspirations, regulations, and practice. This article reports on an exploratory qualitative study that investigated how supervision might work in supporting culturally appropriate counselling practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study’s findings are presented as a multi-voiced dialogue. This arts-based representational practice enacts the uncertainties of post-colonial experience. Its intention is to make assumptions, ideas, and practices available for discussion. Its contribution is to join current dialogue about supervision and culture, and to raise further questions about how supervision and culturally appropriate practice come together.

text: Supervision as cultural partnership: Contributions to dialogue The term cultural supervision has been coined as part of a strategy that implicates supervision in the support and development of culturally appropriate therapeutic practice. In Aotearoa New Zealand particular focus has been given to supervision where the client is Māori and the practitioner is a member of the dominant Pākehā culture particularly, or of other non-Māori cultures. However, while the phrase cultural supervision has entered common professional parlance, the practice has had little research attention in counselling/psychotherapy in New Zealand. Cultural supervision appears to encompass a range of understandings, and there is no clear agreement about practice implications. It is unclear what alignment there is between aspirations, regulations, and practice. This article reports on an exploratory qualitative study that investigated how supervision might work in supporting culturally appropriate counselling practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study’s findings are presented as a multi-voiced dialogue. This arts-based representational practice enacts the uncertainties of post-colonial experience. Its intention is to make assumptions, ideas, and practices available for discussion. Its contribution is to join current dialogue about supervision and culture, and to raise further questions about how supervision and culturally appropriate practice come together.

year: 2015