title: Sea-level change and storm surges in the context of climate change

authors: Bell, Robert G.

subjects: sea-level rise

abstract: This paper reviews the latest research in New Zealand surrounding the issues of sea-level rise and extreme sea levels in the context of global warming and variability in the Pacific-wide El Nino– Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Past records of climate, sea level (excluding tides) and sea and air temperatures have shown that they are continuously fluctuating over various long-term timescales of years, decades and centuries. This has made it very difficult to determine whether the anthropogenic
effects such as increased levels of “greenhouse” gases are having an accelerating effect on global sea levels or an increased incidence of extreme storms. Over the past century, global sea level has risen by 10–25 cm, and is in line with the rise in relative sea level at New Zealand’s main ports of +1.7 mm yr –1. What has become very clear is the need to better understand interannual (year-to-year) and decadal variability in sea-level, as these larger signals of the order of 5–15 cm in annual-mean sea level have a significant “flow-on” effect on the long-term trend in sea level. The paper describes sea level variability in northern New Zealand—both long- and short-term—involved in assessing the regional trends in sea level. The paper also discusses the relative contributions of tides, barometric pressure and wind set-up in causing extreme sea levels during storm surges. Some recent research also looked at a related question—Is there any sign of increased storminess, and hence storm surge, in northern New Zealand due to climate change? The paper concludes that, while no one can be completely sure how sea-level and the degree of storminess will respond in the near future, what is clear is that interannual and decadal variability in sea level is
inextricably linked with Pacific-wide ENSO response and longer inter-decadal shifts in the Pacific climate regime, such as the latest shift in 1976.

text: Sea-level change and storm surges in the context of climate change This paper reviews the latest research in New Zealand surrounding the issues of sea-level rise and extreme sea levels in the context of global warming and variability in the Pacific-wide El Nino– Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Past records of climate, sea level (excluding tides) and sea and air temperatures have shown that they are continuously fluctuating over various long-term timescales of years, decades and centuries. This has made it very difficult to determine whether the anthropogenic
effects such as increased levels of “greenhouse” gases are having an accelerating effect on global sea levels or an increased incidence of extreme storms. Over the past century, global sea level has risen by 10–25 cm, and is in line with the rise in relative sea level at New Zealand’s main ports of +1.7 mm yr –1. What has become very clear is the need to better understand interannual (year-to-year) and decadal variability in sea-level, as these larger signals of the order of 5–15 cm in annual-mean sea level have a significant “flow-on” effect on the long-term trend in sea level. The paper describes sea level variability in northern New Zealand—both long- and short-term—involved in assessing the regional trends in sea level. The paper also discusses the relative contributions of tides, barometric pressure and wind set-up in causing extreme sea levels during storm surges. Some recent research also looked at a related question—Is there any sign of increased storminess, and hence storm surge, in northern New Zealand due to climate change? The paper concludes that, while no one can be completely sure how sea-level and the degree of storminess will respond in the near future, what is clear is that interannual and decadal variability in sea level is
inextricably linked with Pacific-wide ENSO response and longer inter-decadal shifts in the Pacific climate regime, such as the latest shift in 1976.

year: 2000

title: Indonesia’s quest for peace and stability in South East Asia: a study of informal diplomacy in the second half of the Soeharto era (1985-1998)

authors: Faizasyah, Teuku

abstract: This study examines Indonesia’s use of informal diplomacy between 1985-1998, to further its interests for peace and stability in Southeast Asia. This study argues that the adoption of informal diplomacy was in response to the structural limitation of ASEAN, the nature of the problems of regional conflicts and disputes, and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s desire to increase its leverage in foreign policy making and implementation within the Indonesian political system which promoted inter-elites competition. At the same time, internal dynamics within the Ministry from the late-1960s - internal consolidation and the development of a new cadre of trained diplomats - made the adoption of informal diplomacy possible.

This study develops an analytical framework derived from the principles articulated by various scholars and practitioners of Track Two diplomacy and on the conception of bureaucratic politics. The main purpose of this study is to outline and analyse the adoption and application of informal diplomacy in Indonesia’s diplomatic activities from the mid-1980s onward, and also to test a number of hypotheses derived from the literature on informal diplomacy. This study examines three cases where Indonesia used informal diplomacy as part of the overall diplomatic initiatives: in dealing with conflicts in Cambodia and in the southernpart of the Philippines, and in seeking to prevent armed conflicts revolving around territorial disputes in the South China Sea. 

The assessment of research materials and interviews during the fieldwork show that in the Indonesian context adherence to informal diplomacy principles was subject to the circumstances during the meetings, time pressures, and the availability of resources as well as the notion of bureaucratic politics. Overall, the interest of President Soeharto in the informal diplomacy process increased the status of the diplomatic endeavours, an important feature of conflict resolution approaches within the Asian setting. 

This study makes extensive use of documents filed in Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and insights from interviews with theorists and practitioners at the time.

text: Indonesia’s quest for peace and stability in South East Asia: a study of informal diplomacy in the second half of the Soeharto era (1985-1998) This study examines Indonesia’s use of informal diplomacy between 1985-1998, to further its interests for peace and stability in Southeast Asia. This study argues that the adoption of informal diplomacy was in response to the structural limitation of ASEAN, the nature of the problems of regional conflicts and disputes, and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s desire to increase its leverage in foreign policy making and implementation within the Indonesian political system which promoted inter-elites competition. At the same time, internal dynamics within the Ministry from the late-1960s - internal consolidation and the development of a new cadre of trained diplomats - made the adoption of informal diplomacy possible.

This study develops an analytical framework derived from the principles articulated by various scholars and practitioners of Track Two diplomacy and on the conception of bureaucratic politics. The main purpose of this study is to outline and analyse the adoption and application of informal diplomacy in Indonesia’s diplomatic activities from the mid-1980s onward, and also to test a number of hypotheses derived from the literature on informal diplomacy. This study examines three cases where Indonesia used informal diplomacy as part of the overall diplomatic initiatives: in dealing with conflicts in Cambodia and in the southernpart of the Philippines, and in seeking to prevent armed conflicts revolving around territorial disputes in the South China Sea. 

The assessment of research materials and interviews during the fieldwork show that in the Indonesian context adherence to informal diplomacy principles was subject to the circumstances during the meetings, time pressures, and the availability of resources as well as the notion of bureaucratic politics. Overall, the interest of President Soeharto in the informal diplomacy process increased the status of the diplomatic endeavours, an important feature of conflict resolution approaches within the Asian setting. 

This study makes extensive use of documents filed in Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and insights from interviews with theorists and practitioners at the time.

year: 2003

title: Wāhine Māori entrepreneurs and business growth: The power of social and cultural capital

authors: MacDonald, Tui

subjects: Māori enterprise

abstract: This paper examines how social and cultural capital support wāhine Māori entrepreneurs as founders to grow their businesses. The findings are based on the first of three rounds of interviews with 10 wāhine Māori entrepreneurs in Aotearoa New Zealand who have or are undergoing business growth. The results extend on previous Indigenous entrepreneurship research 
showing the benefits of social and cultural capital. This research highlights how wāhine Māori entrepreneurs can pursue business growth while maintaining their community and cultural identity. 
This topic has been selected as part of a broader doctoral study examining wāhine Māori entrepreneurs 
and business growth, which focuses on the cultural, social, and economic enablers and challenges.

text: Wāhine Māori entrepreneurs and business growth: The power of social and cultural capital This paper examines how social and cultural capital support wāhine Māori entrepreneurs as founders to grow their businesses. The findings are based on the first of three rounds of interviews with 10 wāhine Māori entrepreneurs in Aotearoa New Zealand who have or are undergoing business growth. The results extend on previous Indigenous entrepreneurship research 
showing the benefits of social and cultural capital. This research highlights how wāhine Māori entrepreneurs can pursue business growth while maintaining their community and cultural identity. 
This topic has been selected as part of a broader doctoral study examining wāhine Māori entrepreneurs 
and business growth, which focuses on the cultural, social, and economic enablers and challenges.

year: 2024