title: International Tourists' Experiences of the Heritage Buildings in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

authors: Willson, Gregory Brian

subjects: heritage buildings

abstract: There has been increased attention given in the tourism literature to experiential perspectives of tourism. This thesis addresses the lack of attention in previous experiential studies to the relationship between heritage buildings and tourism. Specifically, this thesis explores the influence of heritage buildings in shaping international tourists' experiences of a particular region of New Zealand: Hawke's Bay. This research sought insight into the specific attributes of heritage buildings that influenced the experiences of international tourists visiting the region, and examined the relative importance of heritage buildings for international tourism to Hawke's Bay, as perceived by international tourists visiting the region. In this way, results are assumed in the personal constructs of individual consumers (Beeho  Prentice, 1997; Prentice, Witt  Hamer, 1998; McIntosh  Siggs, 2005). An increased understanding of the relationship between heritage buildings and tourism is essential in strengthening support for preservation, for product development and promotion.  

A mixed-methodology comprising of 50 semi-structured interviews, 66 photograph-supported interviews and 354 structured questionnaires was adopted. Hawke's Bay's heritage buildings were found to have an important influence on tourists' experiences of the region, visually and as part of the narratives of their reported experiences. Attributes of Hawke's Bay's heritage buildings that influenced tourists' experiences of the region included their architecture, exterior and interior design, colour, history and associated stories. Furthermore, the interviews elicited three key experiential themes that emerged from respondents' narratives of their experiences in Hawke's Bay. They are; 'visual appeal', 'personal reflections' and 'engaging experiences'. Specifically, it was found that a townscape is not a passive space. Heritage buildings render the townscape an experiential place filled with emotion, mindfulness, engagement, and imbued with personal meaning. Visitors in effect created their own experiences through their active interaction with the environment; rendering it relevant to a context they were personally interested in, or which held personal significance for them. Analysis of the questionnaires revealed that, as perceived by international tourists, heritage buildings are important to a region; a significant proportion of respondents indicated that they would theoretically be willing to pay some money to ensure the preservation of Hawke's Bay's heritage buildings. This thesis evidences the important relationship between heritage buildings and tourism, and future research is advocated to advance upon the conclusions made in this research.

text: International Tourists' Experiences of the Heritage Buildings in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. There has been increased attention given in the tourism literature to experiential perspectives of tourism. This thesis addresses the lack of attention in previous experiential studies to the relationship between heritage buildings and tourism. Specifically, this thesis explores the influence of heritage buildings in shaping international tourists' experiences of a particular region of New Zealand: Hawke's Bay. This research sought insight into the specific attributes of heritage buildings that influenced the experiences of international tourists visiting the region, and examined the relative importance of heritage buildings for international tourism to Hawke's Bay, as perceived by international tourists visiting the region. In this way, results are assumed in the personal constructs of individual consumers (Beeho  Prentice, 1997; Prentice, Witt  Hamer, 1998; McIntosh  Siggs, 2005). An increased understanding of the relationship between heritage buildings and tourism is essential in strengthening support for preservation, for product development and promotion.  

A mixed-methodology comprising of 50 semi-structured interviews, 66 photograph-supported interviews and 354 structured questionnaires was adopted. Hawke's Bay's heritage buildings were found to have an important influence on tourists' experiences of the region, visually and as part of the narratives of their reported experiences. Attributes of Hawke's Bay's heritage buildings that influenced tourists' experiences of the region included their architecture, exterior and interior design, colour, history and associated stories. Furthermore, the interviews elicited three key experiential themes that emerged from respondents' narratives of their experiences in Hawke's Bay. They are; 'visual appeal', 'personal reflections' and 'engaging experiences'. Specifically, it was found that a townscape is not a passive space. Heritage buildings render the townscape an experiential place filled with emotion, mindfulness, engagement, and imbued with personal meaning. Visitors in effect created their own experiences through their active interaction with the environment; rendering it relevant to a context they were personally interested in, or which held personal significance for them. Analysis of the questionnaires revealed that, as perceived by international tourists, heritage buildings are important to a region; a significant proportion of respondents indicated that they would theoretically be willing to pay some money to ensure the preservation of Hawke's Bay's heritage buildings. This thesis evidences the important relationship between heritage buildings and tourism, and future research is advocated to advance upon the conclusions made in this research.

year: 2006

title: Biases in the metabarcoding of plant pathogens using rust fungi as a model system

authors: Makiola, Andreas

subjects: Cloning

abstract: Plant pathogens such as rust fungi (Pucciniales) are of global economic and ecological importance. This means there is a critical need to reliably and cost‐effectively detect, identify, and monitor these fungi at large scales. We investigated and analyzed the causes of differences between next‐generation sequencing (NGS) metabarcoding approaches and traditional DNA cloning in the detection and quantification of recognized species of rust fungi from environmental samples. We found significant differences between observed and expected numbers of shared rust fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) among different methods. However, there was no significant difference in relative abundance of OTUs that all methods were capable of detecting. Differences among the methods were mainly driven by the method's ability to detect specific OTUs, likely caused by mismatches with the NGS metabarcoding primers to some Puccinia species. Furthermore, detection ability did not seem to be influenced by differences in sequence lengths among methods, the most appropriate bioinformatic pipeline used for each method, or the ability to detect rare species. Our findings are important to future metabarcoding studies, because they highlight the main sources of difference among methods, and rule out several mechanisms that could drive these differences. Furthermore, strong congruity among three fundamentally different and independent methods demonstrates the promising potential of NGS metabarcoding for tracking important taxa such as rust fungi from within larger NGS metabarcoding communities. Our results support the use of NGS metabarcoding for the large‐scale detection and quantification of rust fungi, but not for confirming the absence of species.

text: Biases in the metabarcoding of plant pathogens using rust fungi as a model system Plant pathogens such as rust fungi (Pucciniales) are of global economic and ecological importance. This means there is a critical need to reliably and cost‐effectively detect, identify, and monitor these fungi at large scales. We investigated and analyzed the causes of differences between next‐generation sequencing (NGS) metabarcoding approaches and traditional DNA cloning in the detection and quantification of recognized species of rust fungi from environmental samples. We found significant differences between observed and expected numbers of shared rust fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) among different methods. However, there was no significant difference in relative abundance of OTUs that all methods were capable of detecting. Differences among the methods were mainly driven by the method's ability to detect specific OTUs, likely caused by mismatches with the NGS metabarcoding primers to some Puccinia species. Furthermore, detection ability did not seem to be influenced by differences in sequence lengths among methods, the most appropriate bioinformatic pipeline used for each method, or the ability to detect rare species. Our findings are important to future metabarcoding studies, because they highlight the main sources of difference among methods, and rule out several mechanisms that could drive these differences. Furthermore, strong congruity among three fundamentally different and independent methods demonstrates the promising potential of NGS metabarcoding for tracking important taxa such as rust fungi from within larger NGS metabarcoding communities. Our results support the use of NGS metabarcoding for the large‐scale detection and quantification of rust fungi, but not for confirming the absence of species.

year: 2018

title: Pūrākau, death, and assisted dying: A Māori framework for understanding end-of-life

authors: Karaka-Clarke, Te Hurinui

subjects: Pūrākau, Assisted Dying, Tikanga Māori, Mōair Cosmology, End of Life: Ethics, Mana Motuhake, Wairua, Whakapapa, Relational Autonomy

abstract: This conceptual article addresses several critical gaps in health literature by exploring the ethical, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of assisted dying through the lens of Tikanga Māori and pūrākau (ancestral narratives).  While existing end-of-life policy frameworks often prioritize Western bioethical principles, this article argues for the inclusion of Kaupapa Māori principles such as whakapapa, wairua, mana motuhake, and tapu/ noa as essential components of culturally resonant care.    Drawing upon foundational narratives including the separation of  Ranginui and Papatūānuku, the creation of Hineahuone, the transformation of Hinetītama into Hinenuitepō, and the fatal attempt of Māui to conquer death, we position pūrākau as dynamic ethical texts that guide decision-making.  This article contributes to Indigenous health discourse by offering a whānau-centred, tikanga-informed critique of the End-of-Life Choice Act 2019 and calls for broader recognition of spiritual and relational dimensions in end-of-life care.   We contend that, when under-taken with whānau engagement, spiritual awareness, and cultural integrity, may be ethically compatible with tikanga Māori

text: Pūrākau, death, and assisted dying: A Māori framework for understanding end-of-life This conceptual article addresses several critical gaps in health literature by exploring the ethical, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of assisted dying through the lens of Tikanga Māori and pūrākau (ancestral narratives).  While existing end-of-life policy frameworks often prioritize Western bioethical principles, this article argues for the inclusion of Kaupapa Māori principles such as whakapapa, wairua, mana motuhake, and tapu/ noa as essential components of culturally resonant care.    Drawing upon foundational narratives including the separation of  Ranginui and Papatūānuku, the creation of Hineahuone, the transformation of Hinetītama into Hinenuitepō, and the fatal attempt of Māui to conquer death, we position pūrākau as dynamic ethical texts that guide decision-making.  This article contributes to Indigenous health discourse by offering a whānau-centred, tikanga-informed critique of the End-of-Life Choice Act 2019 and calls for broader recognition of spiritual and relational dimensions in end-of-life care.   We contend that, when under-taken with whānau engagement, spiritual awareness, and cultural integrity, may be ethically compatible with tikanga Māori

year: 2025-09-24