title: Technology, culture and location in a recent New Zealand sonic art project

authors: Whalley, Ian

subjects: music

abstract: The HIEMPA (Hybrid Instruments from Electroacoustic Manipulation And Models of Pütorino and Aquascape) project combined a team of people with technical, artistic, environmental and cultural expertise toward the artistic outcome of extending the New Zealand sonic art tradition. The project involved collecting audio samples from the aquascape of the Ruakuri Caves and Nature Reserve in Waitomo, South Waikato, New Zealand; and samples of a variety of Pütorino – a New Zealand Mäori wind instrument. Following a machine learning analysis of this audio material and an analysis of the performance material, hybrid digital instruments were built and mapped to suitable hardware triggers. The new instruments are playable in real-time, along with the electroacoustic manipulation of Pütorino performances. The project takes into account the environmental and cultural significance of the source material, with the results to be released as a set of compositions. This paper discusses the research process.

text: Technology, culture and location in a recent New Zealand sonic art project The HIEMPA (Hybrid Instruments from Electroacoustic Manipulation And Models of Pütorino and Aquascape) project combined a team of people with technical, artistic, environmental and cultural expertise toward the artistic outcome of extending the New Zealand sonic art tradition. The project involved collecting audio samples from the aquascape of the Ruakuri Caves and Nature Reserve in Waitomo, South Waikato, New Zealand; and samples of a variety of Pütorino – a New Zealand Mäori wind instrument. Following a machine learning analysis of this audio material and an analysis of the performance material, hybrid digital instruments were built and mapped to suitable hardware triggers. The new instruments are playable in real-time, along with the electroacoustic manipulation of Pütorino performances. The project takes into account the environmental and cultural significance of the source material, with the results to be released as a set of compositions. This paper discusses the research process.

year: 2008

title: Assessment of effects of proposed treated wastewater discharge to the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua)

authors: Dada, Ayokunle Christopher

abstract: After 2019, irrigation operations at the Land Treatment System (LTS) in the Whakarewarewa Forest are scheduled to cease. A number of options and locations have been considered for the discharge of the treated wastewater when the current discharge consent ceases. Following consultations and technical assessments, the preferred option of Rotorua Lakes Council is to upgrade the existing plant to a full Membrane Bioreactor Plant with the addition of an Ultraviolet Disinfection System (or alternative treatment to achieve an equivalent performance in terms of treated wastewater quality). Under this arrangement, wastewater would be subjected to biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, and the treated wastewater discharged through Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel to Sulphur Bay. Rotorua Lakes Council is thus undertaking an environmental impact assessment study to determine the effects of discharging treated wastewater to the thermal channel and Puarenga Bay (Lake Rotorua), with particular reference to aesthetic, water quality and ecological considerations. These considerations include potential effects related to faecal indicator bacteria, nutrient concentrations, metals, dissolved oxygen, and taonga species (native species of cultural significance).
The assessment focused on:
(i)	The projected treated wastewater characteristics;

(ii)	Existing conditions of the receiving water;

(iii)	The sensitivity of the receiving water and the impact of the proposed discharge on water quality and taonga species (native species of cultural significance) in Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay.

The main techniques used to inform the assessment in this study were:
1) Analysis of historical water quality data, 2011-2014;
2) Collection of additional water quality data at Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay and along a transect to quantify spatial variability (sampling in 2016 and 2017);
3) Mass balance dilution modelling to predict water quality in the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua), at a site outside of the assumed mixing zone;
4) Lake ecosystem modelling conducted by Abell et al. (2015) to assess effects related to eutrophication;
5) Background review of biological information and field investigations for taonga species at Sulphur Bay and Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel (2017).

text: Assessment of effects of proposed treated wastewater discharge to the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua) After 2019, irrigation operations at the Land Treatment System (LTS) in the Whakarewarewa Forest are scheduled to cease. A number of options and locations have been considered for the discharge of the treated wastewater when the current discharge consent ceases. Following consultations and technical assessments, the preferred option of Rotorua Lakes Council is to upgrade the existing plant to a full Membrane Bioreactor Plant with the addition of an Ultraviolet Disinfection System (or alternative treatment to achieve an equivalent performance in terms of treated wastewater quality). Under this arrangement, wastewater would be subjected to biological, chemical and physical treatment processes, and the treated wastewater discharged through Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel to Sulphur Bay. Rotorua Lakes Council is thus undertaking an environmental impact assessment study to determine the effects of discharging treated wastewater to the thermal channel and Puarenga Bay (Lake Rotorua), with particular reference to aesthetic, water quality and ecological considerations. These considerations include potential effects related to faecal indicator bacteria, nutrient concentrations, metals, dissolved oxygen, and taonga species (native species of cultural significance).
The assessment focused on:
(i)	The projected treated wastewater characteristics;

(ii)	Existing conditions of the receiving water;

(iii)	The sensitivity of the receiving water and the impact of the proposed discharge on water quality and taonga species (native species of cultural significance) in Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay.

The main techniques used to inform the assessment in this study were:
1) Analysis of historical water quality data, 2011-2014;
2) Collection of additional water quality data at Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay and along a transect to quantify spatial variability (sampling in 2016 and 2017);
3) Mass balance dilution modelling to predict water quality in the Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel and Sulphur Bay (Lake Rotorua), at a site outside of the assumed mixing zone;
4) Lake ecosystem modelling conducted by Abell et al. (2015) to assess effects related to eutrophication;
5) Background review of biological information and field investigations for taonga species at Sulphur Bay and Te Arikiroa Thermal Channel (2017).

year: 2018

title: "It's about community" - Finding Local Solutions to Local Problems: Exploring Responses to the Social Problem of Youth Unemployment

authors: Whitham, Michael Philip

subjects: Youth

abstract: The purpose of this research is to explore the policies and practices associated with the social „problem‟ of youth unemployment. A major focus of this research is a case study of the employment programme being utilised in Otorohanga to address this problem. This is an initiative consisting of 11 key projects to reduce youth unemployment. The projects have consistently created a situation in Otorohanga where nobody under the age of 25 is registered with Work and Income New Zealand as unemployed. This outcome has been achieved by ensuring that local youth are either in local training programmes, in employment or in apprenticeships. The research project uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods and provides a thematic analysis, from a labour studies perspective, of both literature and empirical findings from a range of interviews. In order to undertake this research, the thesis firstly provides a review of the literature on youth, unemployment, engagement and policies. Secondly, it highlights the employment policies utilised within New Zealand from the late 1990s through to 2011 and in order to examine the changes in political ideology between the Labour-led and National-led central government policies. Thirdly, the study incorporates interviews with a selection of key stakeholders involved in the successes of the Otorohanga projects.

The central arguments in this thesis are: 1) that youth are a significant and poorly understood demographic; and that youth unemployment is perceived to be a social problem due to the economic and social disadvantages for youth which are exacerbated by structural inequalities; 2) that the current policies for dealing with youth unemployment, especially the emphasis on education and the impact of neo-liberal ideologies only have limited success in dealing with the issue of youth unemployment; 3) that no current policy understands or addresses the needs of youth specifically, therefore the social problem of youth unemployment will continue to be perpetuated; and, 4) that policies which draw on local, community driven solutions, grounded in labour market realities can be successful.

On this basis, the research provides good practice solutions which highlight the importance of incorporating community support, passionate leadership and employment-led training options in projects designed to address youth unemployment. By identifying these good practice solutions the policy aspects that led to the success of the Otorohanga projects can be shared with other regional initiatives in New Zealand. Should this occur, the thesis aims of contributing towards reducing youth unemployment in New Zealand can be achieved and have the potential to reduce youth unemployment in other centres.

text: "It's about community" - Finding Local Solutions to Local Problems: Exploring Responses to the Social Problem of Youth Unemployment The purpose of this research is to explore the policies and practices associated with the social „problem‟ of youth unemployment. A major focus of this research is a case study of the employment programme being utilised in Otorohanga to address this problem. This is an initiative consisting of 11 key projects to reduce youth unemployment. The projects have consistently created a situation in Otorohanga where nobody under the age of 25 is registered with Work and Income New Zealand as unemployed. This outcome has been achieved by ensuring that local youth are either in local training programmes, in employment or in apprenticeships. The research project uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods and provides a thematic analysis, from a labour studies perspective, of both literature and empirical findings from a range of interviews. In order to undertake this research, the thesis firstly provides a review of the literature on youth, unemployment, engagement and policies. Secondly, it highlights the employment policies utilised within New Zealand from the late 1990s through to 2011 and in order to examine the changes in political ideology between the Labour-led and National-led central government policies. Thirdly, the study incorporates interviews with a selection of key stakeholders involved in the successes of the Otorohanga projects.

The central arguments in this thesis are: 1) that youth are a significant and poorly understood demographic; and that youth unemployment is perceived to be a social problem due to the economic and social disadvantages for youth which are exacerbated by structural inequalities; 2) that the current policies for dealing with youth unemployment, especially the emphasis on education and the impact of neo-liberal ideologies only have limited success in dealing with the issue of youth unemployment; 3) that no current policy understands or addresses the needs of youth specifically, therefore the social problem of youth unemployment will continue to be perpetuated; and, 4) that policies which draw on local, community driven solutions, grounded in labour market realities can be successful.

On this basis, the research provides good practice solutions which highlight the importance of incorporating community support, passionate leadership and employment-led training options in projects designed to address youth unemployment. By identifying these good practice solutions the policy aspects that led to the success of the Otorohanga projects can be shared with other regional initiatives in New Zealand. Should this occur, the thesis aims of contributing towards reducing youth unemployment in New Zealand can be achieved and have the potential to reduce youth unemployment in other centres.

year: 2012