title: At the eye of the storm: Researching schools and their communities enacting National Standards. 2013 Herbison Lecture

authors: Thrupp, Martin

abstract: It is with enormous pleasure that I deliver the 24th Herbison Lecture. I thank the NZARE Council for inviting me and I acknowledge those in the audience who have previously given the Herbison. Today I'm talking about my research and academic activism around National Standards and there's a nice circularity about giving this lecture in the South Island. It was at the NZARE conference in Christchurch back in 2007 that I gave my first conference paper on the National Standards, little knowing that responding to this policy would consume me for the next six years. But the RAINS project has been a high point of my career and as they say down here in the Mainland - "good things take time”. The paper I gave back in 2007 was called "The proposed National Standards for New Zealand's primary and intermediate pupils: Any better than national testing?" (Thrupp, 2007). It's a question we now have a few answers to I think. 

In my lecture today I'm interested in developing the metaphor of the "eye of the storm" as a kind of refuge, a quiet place where you can get on and do some good work despite the academic and political storm that swirls around. So I offer a case study of someone trying to muddle through various academic issues and dealing with the difficult politics of doing policy-relevant research. I also want to get to the substantive findings of the final RAINS report that we are launching after my lecture today.

text: At the eye of the storm: Researching schools and their communities enacting National Standards. 2013 Herbison Lecture It is with enormous pleasure that I deliver the 24th Herbison Lecture. I thank the NZARE Council for inviting me and I acknowledge those in the audience who have previously given the Herbison. Today I'm talking about my research and academic activism around National Standards and there's a nice circularity about giving this lecture in the South Island. It was at the NZARE conference in Christchurch back in 2007 that I gave my first conference paper on the National Standards, little knowing that responding to this policy would consume me for the next six years. But the RAINS project has been a high point of my career and as they say down here in the Mainland - "good things take time”. The paper I gave back in 2007 was called "The proposed National Standards for New Zealand's primary and intermediate pupils: Any better than national testing?" (Thrupp, 2007). It's a question we now have a few answers to I think. 

In my lecture today I'm interested in developing the metaphor of the "eye of the storm" as a kind of refuge, a quiet place where you can get on and do some good work despite the academic and political storm that swirls around. So I offer a case study of someone trying to muddle through various academic issues and dealing with the difficult politics of doing policy-relevant research. I also want to get to the substantive findings of the final RAINS report that we are launching after my lecture today.

year: 2014

title: The ecology of bivalves on Centre Bank, Tauranga Harbour

authors: Hull, Penelope Jane

subjects: Tauranga Harbour

abstract: An investigation into the ecology of bivalve molluscs on Centre Bank, the flood tidal delta of Tauranga Harbour was undertaken over the period December 1994 - March 1996. The primary purpose of which was to gather quantitative data on bivalve diversity, spatial patterns of distribution, abundance, and population size structure of bivalves present on Centre Bank. Experiments were conducted to assess the burrowing behaviour of the bivalve Paphies australis. It was intended that information obtained be such that it could be used as a base for future investigations into changes in the ecology of Centre Bank.
Two broad scale benthic surveys of 27 sites on Centre Bank, conducted 6 months apart resulted in a total of 31 bivalve taxa being identified. Temporal and spatial variation in abundance was prominent for all species. Three species Paphies australis, Tawera spissa and Ruditapes largillierti occurred in far greater abundances than any others. Distribution of bivalves in both surveys was patchy with some species showing strong associations with particular sites.
Small scale abundance patterns of P. australis was examined in detail by systematic sampling of a 50 m x 15 m grid. The grid was monitored at 2- monthly intervals from March 1995 to November 1995. Abundances at sites in the northern half of the grid were found to be very dense (up to 1400 m², mean shell length=55-65 mm), while densities at the southern end were noticeably lower. Through time densities across the grid appeared to decrease evenly in a constant north-west direction. The smothering effect of mobile sand ridges was speculated to be the cause of these density decreases.
Experiments examining the burrowing behaviour of the infaunal bivalve Paphies australis were conducted both in the field and in the laboratory. The ability of P. australis to bury into the sediment if left exposed on the sediment surface was examined in the field. It appeared that P. australis were able to bury relatively quickly with the majority of experimental animals reburying within 40 minutes. Laboratory experiments showed P. australis to be capable of burrowing to the sediment surface after being inundated with sediment to a depth of 10 cm.

text: The ecology of bivalves on Centre Bank, Tauranga Harbour An investigation into the ecology of bivalve molluscs on Centre Bank, the flood tidal delta of Tauranga Harbour was undertaken over the period December 1994 - March 1996. The primary purpose of which was to gather quantitative data on bivalve diversity, spatial patterns of distribution, abundance, and population size structure of bivalves present on Centre Bank. Experiments were conducted to assess the burrowing behaviour of the bivalve Paphies australis. It was intended that information obtained be such that it could be used as a base for future investigations into changes in the ecology of Centre Bank.
Two broad scale benthic surveys of 27 sites on Centre Bank, conducted 6 months apart resulted in a total of 31 bivalve taxa being identified. Temporal and spatial variation in abundance was prominent for all species. Three species Paphies australis, Tawera spissa and Ruditapes largillierti occurred in far greater abundances than any others. Distribution of bivalves in both surveys was patchy with some species showing strong associations with particular sites.
Small scale abundance patterns of P. australis was examined in detail by systematic sampling of a 50 m x 15 m grid. The grid was monitored at 2- monthly intervals from March 1995 to November 1995. Abundances at sites in the northern half of the grid were found to be very dense (up to 1400 m², mean shell length=55-65 mm), while densities at the southern end were noticeably lower. Through time densities across the grid appeared to decrease evenly in a constant north-west direction. The smothering effect of mobile sand ridges was speculated to be the cause of these density decreases.
Experiments examining the burrowing behaviour of the infaunal bivalve Paphies australis were conducted both in the field and in the laboratory. The ability of P. australis to bury into the sediment if left exposed on the sediment surface was examined in the field. It appeared that P. australis were able to bury relatively quickly with the majority of experimental animals reburying within 40 minutes. Laboratory experiments showed P. australis to be capable of burrowing to the sediment surface after being inundated with sediment to a depth of 10 cm.

year: 1996

title: Matariki: The star of the year by Rangi Matamua [Book Review]

authors: Keegan, Te Taka Adrian Gregory

abstract: This article reviews the book “Matariki: The star of the year by Rangi Matamua", by Matamua, Rangi.

text: Matariki: The star of the year by Rangi Matamua [Book Review] This article reviews the book “Matariki: The star of the year by Rangi Matamua", by Matamua, Rangi.

year: 2017