title: English language teaching in New Zealand: Against all odds?

authors: Johnson, Diane

subjects: ELT

abstract: English language teaching (ELT) is a multi-billion dollar sector of the New Zealand education system. This system, in spite of a high level of international respect, has been ambivalent to the teaching and learning of additional languages. EL T is viewed by many who are not centrally involved in the sector as an educational revenue stream, a perspective which, nationally, has important implications for the provision of quality programmes for international students. Add to this mix, the lack of a national languages policy, a rapidly changing ethnic profile and the delicate politics surrounding the revitalisation of a fragile indigenous language and the situation becomes one which is extremely complex to navigate. However, in spite of a number of potential barriers, the ELT sector is thriving but there are clearly a number of issues and challenges which will need to be fully addressed if the sector is to continue to flourish and grow in the future.

text: English language teaching in New Zealand: Against all odds? English language teaching (ELT) is a multi-billion dollar sector of the New Zealand education system. This system, in spite of a high level of international respect, has been ambivalent to the teaching and learning of additional languages. EL T is viewed by many who are not centrally involved in the sector as an educational revenue stream, a perspective which, nationally, has important implications for the provision of quality programmes for international students. Add to this mix, the lack of a national languages policy, a rapidly changing ethnic profile and the delicate politics surrounding the revitalisation of a fragile indigenous language and the situation becomes one which is extremely complex to navigate. However, in spite of a number of potential barriers, the ELT sector is thriving but there are clearly a number of issues and challenges which will need to be fully addressed if the sector is to continue to flourish and grow in the future.

year: 2015

title: Geology, History and Stratigraphy of Hydrothermal Eruptions in the Rotorua Geothermal Field

authors: Cody, Ashley Douglas

subjects: Geothermal Hydrothermal eruptions Rotorua

abstract: The study area is the Rotorua geothermal field (RGF), which is located in the southern end of the Rotorua caldera. Distribution of surface geothermal activity, hydrothermal eruption (HE) deposits and craters have been mapped. HE deposits formed in geological, historical and modern times were studied to record and describe their distribution, composition, petrography, lithology and stratigraphy.

Locations of all identified HE sites in the RGF have been plotted and shown on accompanying maps. At Ohinemutu and Sulphur Bay, HE breccias have been preserved only where deposits were subsequently silicified by hot spring outflows. At Whakarewarewa two HE breccias outcrop over about 0.5 km² and are up to 23 m thick. Study of stratigraphic relationships with tephras of known ages has determined one as Holocene (c. 20 ka) and one of Late Pleistocene age (c. 65 ka).

Four HE breccias were studied in detail. The mineral composition, physical description, field characteristics and spatial distribution of HE breccias are described and mapped. Clasts and matrix were examined by XRD analyses of whole (67) and clay fraction separates (16). Silica crystallinity indices (14) were determined by XRD to identify devitrification rates of opaline mineral species. The petrography of 67 breccia clasts and matrix samples were studied, and polished sections showed the only sulphide to be pyrite. Geothermal alteration of all prehistorical HE deposits was of advanced argillic to argillic and one modern day deposit was of sub propylitic epithermal alteration.

Study of a HE deposit formed in Kuirau Park on 26 January 2001 allowed properties and mineral composition to be examined and recorded before rapid oxidation and weathering destroyed its physical and mineral composition. Study of this and other twentieth century HE events confirms that these rapidly decompose to leave little or no recognisable deposit in the geological record.

Descriptions and all known historical records of HEs in the RGF have been collated to provide a comprehensive inventory of maps and appendices of these events. This information will greatly assist statutory authorities with mitigation of risk to lives and property from geothermal hazards as well as aid appropriate land use and emergency services planning.

Hydrothermal eruptions are ongoing in the RGF through time and produce craters 2 - 110m diameter with erupted deposit volumes of 1 - 500,000 m³ that have distributed over <5 m² to >0.5 km². These have occurred throughout at least Late Pleistocene to Holocene times and appear to have been triggered by such events as volcanic eruptions from the adjacent Okataina Volcanic Centre and related abrupt changes to the waterlevels of Lake Rotorua. Frequency and spatial distribution of HEs in historical times suggest human interference with the geothermal system is also a significant influence.

This study has brought together all records of known hydrothermal eruptions and other unusual geothermal disturbances in the Rotorua geothermal field. The information has plotted into GIS for use by statutory authorities and others. Two prehistorical HE deposits in Rotorua city have also been recognised and described for the first time, together with identification of their likely vent locations and possible eruption initiating events.

text: Geology, History and Stratigraphy of Hydrothermal Eruptions in the Rotorua Geothermal Field The study area is the Rotorua geothermal field (RGF), which is located in the southern end of the Rotorua caldera. Distribution of surface geothermal activity, hydrothermal eruption (HE) deposits and craters have been mapped. HE deposits formed in geological, historical and modern times were studied to record and describe their distribution, composition, petrography, lithology and stratigraphy.

Locations of all identified HE sites in the RGF have been plotted and shown on accompanying maps. At Ohinemutu and Sulphur Bay, HE breccias have been preserved only where deposits were subsequently silicified by hot spring outflows. At Whakarewarewa two HE breccias outcrop over about 0.5 km² and are up to 23 m thick. Study of stratigraphic relationships with tephras of known ages has determined one as Holocene (c. 20 ka) and one of Late Pleistocene age (c. 65 ka).

Four HE breccias were studied in detail. The mineral composition, physical description, field characteristics and spatial distribution of HE breccias are described and mapped. Clasts and matrix were examined by XRD analyses of whole (67) and clay fraction separates (16). Silica crystallinity indices (14) were determined by XRD to identify devitrification rates of opaline mineral species. The petrography of 67 breccia clasts and matrix samples were studied, and polished sections showed the only sulphide to be pyrite. Geothermal alteration of all prehistorical HE deposits was of advanced argillic to argillic and one modern day deposit was of sub propylitic epithermal alteration.

Study of a HE deposit formed in Kuirau Park on 26 January 2001 allowed properties and mineral composition to be examined and recorded before rapid oxidation and weathering destroyed its physical and mineral composition. Study of this and other twentieth century HE events confirms that these rapidly decompose to leave little or no recognisable deposit in the geological record.

Descriptions and all known historical records of HEs in the RGF have been collated to provide a comprehensive inventory of maps and appendices of these events. This information will greatly assist statutory authorities with mitigation of risk to lives and property from geothermal hazards as well as aid appropriate land use and emergency services planning.

Hydrothermal eruptions are ongoing in the RGF through time and produce craters 2 - 110m diameter with erupted deposit volumes of 1 - 500,000 m³ that have distributed over <5 m² to >0.5 km². These have occurred throughout at least Late Pleistocene to Holocene times and appear to have been triggered by such events as volcanic eruptions from the adjacent Okataina Volcanic Centre and related abrupt changes to the waterlevels of Lake Rotorua. Frequency and spatial distribution of HEs in historical times suggest human interference with the geothermal system is also a significant influence.

This study has brought together all records of known hydrothermal eruptions and other unusual geothermal disturbances in the Rotorua geothermal field. The information has plotted into GIS for use by statutory authorities and others. Two prehistorical HE deposits in Rotorua city have also been recognised and described for the first time, together with identification of their likely vent locations and possible eruption initiating events.

year: 2003

title: Research and development absorptive capacity: a Māori perspective

authors: Ruckstuhl, Katharina

subjects: computer science

abstract: This paper presents a view of research and development absorptive capacity from a Māori perspective. The assessment is part of a case study of a longitudinal programme – Science for Technological Innovation: Kia kotahi mai – Te Ao Putaiao me te Ao Hanagarau that aims to increase Aotearoa New Zealand’s capacity to use sci-tech for economic benefit. The paper finds that while Aotearoa New Zealand’s macro policy and meso institutional levels have become more responsive to Māori research and development demands, at the micro level of the individual or the firm there are still constraints given the small numbers of Māori in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In response to this, a novel model of Māori sci-tech capacity is under development that considers not only research and development technical capacities, but also the human and relational capacities required to accelerate absorptive capacity to respond to Māori social and economic aspirations.

text: Research and development absorptive capacity: a Māori perspective This paper presents a view of research and development absorptive capacity from a Māori perspective. The assessment is part of a case study of a longitudinal programme – Science for Technological Innovation: Kia kotahi mai – Te Ao Putaiao me te Ao Hanagarau that aims to increase Aotearoa New Zealand’s capacity to use sci-tech for economic benefit. The paper finds that while Aotearoa New Zealand’s macro policy and meso institutional levels have become more responsive to Māori research and development demands, at the micro level of the individual or the firm there are still constraints given the small numbers of Māori in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In response to this, a novel model of Māori sci-tech capacity is under development that considers not only research and development technical capacities, but also the human and relational capacities required to accelerate absorptive capacity to respond to Māori social and economic aspirations.

year: 2019