title: The need to reconfigure consistency and variability to best manage changing flood risks in Aotearoa-New Zealand

authors: Serrao-Neumann, Silvia

abstract: Flooding is Aotearoa-New Zealand’s most frequent natural hazard, and there is high confidence that climate change is making extreme rainfall events more frequent and intense. Additionally, there are significant development pressures which could both increase the number of people and assets at risk and the flood hazard. To date, there is no publicly available consistent approach to accurately determine flood risk on a national scale, nor for how this may be changing; although there is a growing legislative requirement to provide quality information over multiple spatial scales. This paper draws on empirical data to gain insights on how to best manage changing flood risks in Aotearoa-New Zealand from the perspective of centrally organised entities. Findings confirm the need for a nationally consistent approach to flood risk management, better understanding of Aotearoa’s communities and their vulnerability to floods, equitable access to quality information and decision-support tools, and better understanding of the economic impacts on differing communities, regions and places. The paper concludes that to achieve a flood-resilient Aotearoa, flood governance needs to be reconfigured to achieve national consistency in flood risk management whilst enabling targeted variability at the local scale.

text: The need to reconfigure consistency and variability to best manage changing flood risks in Aotearoa-New Zealand Flooding is Aotearoa-New Zealand’s most frequent natural hazard, and there is high confidence that climate change is making extreme rainfall events more frequent and intense. Additionally, there are significant development pressures which could both increase the number of people and assets at risk and the flood hazard. To date, there is no publicly available consistent approach to accurately determine flood risk on a national scale, nor for how this may be changing; although there is a growing legislative requirement to provide quality information over multiple spatial scales. This paper draws on empirical data to gain insights on how to best manage changing flood risks in Aotearoa-New Zealand from the perspective of centrally organised entities. Findings confirm the need for a nationally consistent approach to flood risk management, better understanding of Aotearoa’s communities and their vulnerability to floods, equitable access to quality information and decision-support tools, and better understanding of the economic impacts on differing communities, regions and places. The paper concludes that to achieve a flood-resilient Aotearoa, flood governance needs to be reconfigured to achieve national consistency in flood risk management whilst enabling targeted variability at the local scale.

year: 2023-01-01

title: Do‐it‐yourself continuous glucose monitoring in people aged 16 to 69 years with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative study

authors: Sehgal, Shekhar

abstract: Aims: In many countries, real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt- CGM) is not funded, and cost presents a barrier to access. A do-it-yourself conversion of intermittently scanned  CGM  (DIY-  CGM)  is a  cheaper alternative.  This qualitative study aimed to explore user experiences with DIY- CGM in people aged 16 to 69 years with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Methods: Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants for semi-structured virtual interviews exploring experiences of DIY- CGM use. Participants were recruited after completing the intervention arm of a crossover randomised controlled trial that evaluated  DIY-  CGM  versus intermittently scanned  CGM  (isCGM).  Participants were previously naive to  DIY-  CGM  and rt-  CGM  but not isCGM. The DIY- CGM intervention consisted of a Bluetooth bridge connected to isCGM, adding rt- CGM functionality over 8 weeks. Interviews were transcribed, then thematic analysis was performed.
Results: Interviews were with  12  people aged  16  to  65  years,  with  T1D:  mean age ± SD  43 ±14 years; baseline mean HbA1c ± SD  60 mmol/mol ± 9.9  (7.6 ± 0.9%) and time in range 59.8% ±   14.8%. Participants perceived that using DIY- CGM improved both glycaemic control and aspects of quality of life.  Alarm and trend functionality allowed participants to perceive reduced glycaemic variability overnight and following meals. The addition of a smartwatch increased discrete access to glucose information.  There was a  high degree of trust in  DIY-  CGM.  Challenges while using DIY- CGM included signal loss during vigorous exercise, alarm fatigue and short battery life. 
Conclusions: This study suggests that for users, DIY- CGM appears to be an acceptable alternative method of rt- CGM.

text: Do‐it‐yourself continuous glucose monitoring in people aged 16 to 69 years with type 1 diabetes: A qualitative study Aims: In many countries, real-time continuous glucose monitoring (rt- CGM) is not funded, and cost presents a barrier to access. A do-it-yourself conversion of intermittently scanned  CGM  (DIY-  CGM)  is a  cheaper alternative.  This qualitative study aimed to explore user experiences with DIY- CGM in people aged 16 to 69 years with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Methods: Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants for semi-structured virtual interviews exploring experiences of DIY- CGM use. Participants were recruited after completing the intervention arm of a crossover randomised controlled trial that evaluated  DIY-  CGM  versus intermittently scanned  CGM  (isCGM).  Participants were previously naive to  DIY-  CGM  and rt-  CGM  but not isCGM. The DIY- CGM intervention consisted of a Bluetooth bridge connected to isCGM, adding rt- CGM functionality over 8 weeks. Interviews were transcribed, then thematic analysis was performed.
Results: Interviews were with  12  people aged  16  to  65  years,  with  T1D:  mean age ± SD  43 ±14 years; baseline mean HbA1c ± SD  60 mmol/mol ± 9.9  (7.6 ± 0.9%) and time in range 59.8% ±   14.8%. Participants perceived that using DIY- CGM improved both glycaemic control and aspects of quality of life.  Alarm and trend functionality allowed participants to perceive reduced glycaemic variability overnight and following meals. The addition of a smartwatch increased discrete access to glucose information.  There was a  high degree of trust in  DIY-  CGM.  Challenges while using DIY- CGM included signal loss during vigorous exercise, alarm fatigue and short battery life. 
Conclusions: This study suggests that for users, DIY- CGM appears to be an acceptable alternative method of rt- CGM.

year: 2023-06-18

title: Te Tarata

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: This composition placed second in the Haka Composition Section. Te Tarata this composition commemorates the battle of Te Tarata in Te Whakatōhea 15 October 1865. This was the aftermath of the killing of the missionary Rev Carl Sylvius Volkner on the 2 March 1865. At the battle of Te Tarata it is recorded as the only calvary charge in the New Zealand Land Wars. Te Whakatōhea ingeniously wove around the palisade walls tī kouka (Cordyline australis) or cabbage tree. When the canon ball hit the palisades the tī kouka absorbed the force of the canon ball and rebounded the ball. 20 Te Whakatohea were killed and a number of others were wounded. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition 2015.

text: Te Tarata This composition placed second in the Haka Composition Section. Te Tarata this composition commemorates the battle of Te Tarata in Te Whakatōhea 15 October 1865. This was the aftermath of the killing of the missionary Rev Carl Sylvius Volkner on the 2 March 1865. At the battle of Te Tarata it is recorded as the only calvary charge in the New Zealand Land Wars. Te Whakatōhea ingeniously wove around the palisade walls tī kouka (Cordyline australis) or cabbage tree. When the canon ball hit the palisades the tī kouka absorbed the force of the canon ball and rebounded the ball. 20 Te Whakatohea were killed and a number of others were wounded. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti at the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition 2015.

year: 2014-10-10