title: Politics and Charity

authors: Chevalier-Watts, Juliet

subjects: politics

abstract: This article considers the turbulent relationship of charities and politics and debates whether there is a judicial move towards creating a more harmonious relationship between the two objects. The issues are considered in light of the Charities Act 2006 (England and Wales) and the recent publication by the Charity commission for England and Wales of guidance on campaigning and political activity by charities. The article suggests that there is scant authority for the current approach of the common law and that clear guidance is necessary. The article concludes that although the intentions of the Charity Commission may be honourable, the results are inconclusive, and are unlikely to clarify many of the issues.

text: Politics and Charity This article considers the turbulent relationship of charities and politics and debates whether there is a judicial move towards creating a more harmonious relationship between the two objects. The issues are considered in light of the Charities Act 2006 (England and Wales) and the recent publication by the Charity commission for England and Wales of guidance on campaigning and political activity by charities. The article suggests that there is scant authority for the current approach of the common law and that clear guidance is necessary. The article concludes that although the intentions of the Charity Commission may be honourable, the results are inconclusive, and are unlikely to clarify many of the issues.

year: 2009-03

title: 3D Shape Measurement of Moving Objects for Industrial Applications

authors: Charleston, Sean Andrew

subjects: Time-of-flight

abstract: Three dimensional (3D) cameras provide distance measurements to objects, allowing computers and instruments to interact with their environment. The applications are wide-ranging, from human gesture control to industrial processing. Time-offlight cameras measure the distance to the scene by measuring the flight time of a modulated light source. Sequential captures are required to produce the depth map, hence time-of-flight cameras are vulnerable to depth errors from motion blur in dynamic scenes. This is a major hindrance for industrial applications, where accurate results are required when reconstructing objects. The fruit grading industry is of particular interest for this work, where significant advancements can be made using 3D cameras. The produce moves at a constant velocity, providing an ideal case for initial work into industrial motion correction.

The SR4000 from Mesa Imaging is an industrial grade time-of-flight camera with a high quality factory calibration, and is used throughout this work. When applying custom algorithms (such as motion correction), the camera is run in ‘raw mode’ where the sequential captures can be individually manipulated, however the factory calibration set is lost. The first part of this work investigates calibrations in time-of-flight cameras, where the factory calibration set in the SR4000 is extracted from the camera to be used on the ‘raw mode’ data in custom algorithms. The factory calibrated data is compared to both the ‘raw mode’ data, as well as data acquired using the extracted calibration set. The key results show a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 62.4 mm for ‘raw mode’ data, while using the extracted calibrations shows an RMSE of 6.1 mm.

The effects of motion blur on time-of-flight cameras are then investigated. The technique from Hussmann et al. (2011) provides a good first attempt at motion correction, however fails to implement a number of calibrations. The improvements presented in this thesis on the motion correction technique manipulates the demodulation of time-of-flight cameras so that these additional calibrations are incorporated, resulting in a more robust motion correction algorithm. To test these improvements, a controlled experiment is setup to image a moving spherical object, and a stationary reference image of the same object is captured for comparison. Without motion correction the RMSE is 75.9 mm. Using the naive correction technique from Hussmann et al. (2011) gives an RMSE of 58.7 mm, and finally applying the suggested improvements reduces the RMSE to 4.3 mm.

text: 3D Shape Measurement of Moving Objects for Industrial Applications Three dimensional (3D) cameras provide distance measurements to objects, allowing computers and instruments to interact with their environment. The applications are wide-ranging, from human gesture control to industrial processing. Time-offlight cameras measure the distance to the scene by measuring the flight time of a modulated light source. Sequential captures are required to produce the depth map, hence time-of-flight cameras are vulnerable to depth errors from motion blur in dynamic scenes. This is a major hindrance for industrial applications, where accurate results are required when reconstructing objects. The fruit grading industry is of particular interest for this work, where significant advancements can be made using 3D cameras. The produce moves at a constant velocity, providing an ideal case for initial work into industrial motion correction.

The SR4000 from Mesa Imaging is an industrial grade time-of-flight camera with a high quality factory calibration, and is used throughout this work. When applying custom algorithms (such as motion correction), the camera is run in ‘raw mode’ where the sequential captures can be individually manipulated, however the factory calibration set is lost. The first part of this work investigates calibrations in time-of-flight cameras, where the factory calibration set in the SR4000 is extracted from the camera to be used on the ‘raw mode’ data in custom algorithms. The factory calibrated data is compared to both the ‘raw mode’ data, as well as data acquired using the extracted calibration set. The key results show a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 62.4 mm for ‘raw mode’ data, while using the extracted calibrations shows an RMSE of 6.1 mm.

The effects of motion blur on time-of-flight cameras are then investigated. The technique from Hussmann et al. (2011) provides a good first attempt at motion correction, however fails to implement a number of calibrations. The improvements presented in this thesis on the motion correction technique manipulates the demodulation of time-of-flight cameras so that these additional calibrations are incorporated, resulting in a more robust motion correction algorithm. To test these improvements, a controlled experiment is setup to image a moving spherical object, and a stationary reference image of the same object is captured for comparison. Without motion correction the RMSE is 75.9 mm. Using the naive correction technique from Hussmann et al. (2011) gives an RMSE of 58.7 mm, and finally applying the suggested improvements reduces the RMSE to 4.3 mm.

year: 2015

title: Exploring the experiences of young Māori mothers

authors: Shepherd, Cindy-Joe Theresa Aroha

subjects: Young Māori mothers

abstract: This thesis explores the lived experiences of three young Māori mothers (aged 16 
years old) in Aotearoa, New Zealand, focusing on their strengths, challenges, and resilience. 
By employing a Kaupapa Māori methodological framework, the research aims to reframe 
narratives about young Māori mothers towards a strengths-based perspective, advocating for 
protection and nurturing Māori whakapapa. Using qualitative methods, the study explores the 
pūrākau (stories) of three young Māori mothers attending a teen parent unit in Waikato. 
The study highlights how, by living within both individualistic and collective realms, 
these young mothers actively challenge stigma, assert their worth, and develop unique 
underlying strengths. The findings, structured around emergent themes from their collective 
experiences, reveal a dichotomy: these young mothers must navigate the individualistic 
pressures and high expectations of motherhood while also drawing strength from collective 
responsibilities upheld within their whānau and supportive community services. Despite 
facing significant societal stigma and systemic barriers, the mothers demonstrate immense 
strength. Their resilience is grounded in whānau connections, proactive self-care, and 
engagement with taiao, wairua, and tino rangatiratanga—processes that also support 
intergenerational healing. 
This research underscores the importance of culturally responsive support systems 
that honour Indigenous knowledge and collective well-being. It offers insights for reorienting 
policy and practice to empower young Māori mothers, recognising their tino rangatiratanga 
and transformative agency by embracing their multifaceted realities.

text: Exploring the experiences of young Māori mothers This thesis explores the lived experiences of three young Māori mothers (aged 16 
years old) in Aotearoa, New Zealand, focusing on their strengths, challenges, and resilience. 
By employing a Kaupapa Māori methodological framework, the research aims to reframe 
narratives about young Māori mothers towards a strengths-based perspective, advocating for 
protection and nurturing Māori whakapapa. Using qualitative methods, the study explores the 
pūrākau (stories) of three young Māori mothers attending a teen parent unit in Waikato. 
The study highlights how, by living within both individualistic and collective realms, 
these young mothers actively challenge stigma, assert their worth, and develop unique 
underlying strengths. The findings, structured around emergent themes from their collective 
experiences, reveal a dichotomy: these young mothers must navigate the individualistic 
pressures and high expectations of motherhood while also drawing strength from collective 
responsibilities upheld within their whānau and supportive community services. Despite 
facing significant societal stigma and systemic barriers, the mothers demonstrate immense 
strength. Their resilience is grounded in whānau connections, proactive self-care, and 
engagement with taiao, wairua, and tino rangatiratanga—processes that also support 
intergenerational healing. 
This research underscores the importance of culturally responsive support systems 
that honour Indigenous knowledge and collective well-being. It offers insights for reorienting 
policy and practice to empower young Māori mothers, recognising their tino rangatiratanga 
and transformative agency by embracing their multifaceted realities.

year: 2024-06-23