title: Assessment of microbranding as an alternative marking technique for long-term identification of New Zealand lizards

authors: Hitchmough, Rodney

subjects: marking mortality

abstract: ‘Microbranding’, a system for individually identifying reptiles and amphibians based on a numbered code of spot brands applied to the body and limbs, was tested on New Zealand skinks and geckos. Common geckos (Woodworthia maculata) and copper skinks (Oligosoma aeneum) were used as test animals. Brands applied in autumn took 3 months or more to heal. There was no evidence of brand-related mortality or increased parasite loads in branded animals. However, after healing the brands faded very rapidly in the skinks to become totally unreadable in all surviving branded skinks after 2.5 years and not accurately readable in most geckos after 3 years. We therefore consider the technique unsuitable as a standard marking procedure for New Zealand lizards.

text: Assessment of microbranding as an alternative marking technique for long-term identification of New Zealand lizards ‘Microbranding’, a system for individually identifying reptiles and amphibians based on a numbered code of spot brands applied to the body and limbs, was tested on New Zealand skinks and geckos. Common geckos (Woodworthia maculata) and copper skinks (Oligosoma aeneum) were used as test animals. Brands applied in autumn took 3 months or more to heal. There was no evidence of brand-related mortality or increased parasite loads in branded animals. However, after healing the brands faded very rapidly in the skinks to become totally unreadable in all surviving branded skinks after 2.5 years and not accurately readable in most geckos after 3 years. We therefore consider the technique unsuitable as a standard marking procedure for New Zealand lizards.

year: 2012

title: Rapid dissipation in a current sheet driven by footpoints motions

authors: Fruit, G.

subjects: Magnetohydrodynamics

abstract: Context.Wave energy dissipation by viscous and resistive damping in magnetic coronal plasmas is addressed. A two and one half dimensional, line-tied magnetic channel is considered whose footpoints are disturbed by buffeting motions of the photosphere.
Aims.The aim of the analysis is to determine how effectively shear Alfvén waves, driven by footpoint motions and resonating in the channel, can be damped by visco-resistive friction.
Methods.The problem is analyzed using a mixture of numerical and analytic techniques. Dynamic simulations, based on a cyclic footpoint driver, show that phase mixing resulting from variations in the magnetic field of the channel is instrumental in setting up a permanent "resonance regime" for the system. Analytic methods are used to analyze the resonance regime and to develop scaling laws for the rate of energy dissipation.
Results.We show that in the general case where the Alfvén velocity profile may be linearized around the resonance, the dissipation rate is "fast" in that it is not limited by small damping coefficients. Although large energies can accumulate within the channel in the limit of very small damping, we show that by tuning the driver to low frequencies, both the energy level and the dissipation rate can be made insensitive to the level of the damping.

text: Rapid dissipation in a current sheet driven by footpoints motions Context.Wave energy dissipation by viscous and resistive damping in magnetic coronal plasmas is addressed. A two and one half dimensional, line-tied magnetic channel is considered whose footpoints are disturbed by buffeting motions of the photosphere.
Aims.The aim of the analysis is to determine how effectively shear Alfvén waves, driven by footpoint motions and resonating in the channel, can be damped by visco-resistive friction.
Methods.The problem is analyzed using a mixture of numerical and analytic techniques. Dynamic simulations, based on a cyclic footpoint driver, show that phase mixing resulting from variations in the magnetic field of the channel is instrumental in setting up a permanent "resonance regime" for the system. Analytic methods are used to analyze the resonance regime and to develop scaling laws for the rate of energy dissipation.
Results.We show that in the general case where the Alfvén velocity profile may be linearized around the resonance, the dissipation rate is "fast" in that it is not limited by small damping coefficients. Although large energies can accumulate within the channel in the limit of very small damping, we show that by tuning the driver to low frequencies, both the energy level and the dissipation rate can be made insensitive to the level of the damping.

year: 2006

title: The Oral Transmission of Mātauranga Māori in regard to Traditional Hokianga Stories and the Revitalization of Significant Place Names.

authors: Barnes, Maria

subjects: Hokianga

abstract: This thesis researched the oral transmission of mātauranga Māori from one generation to another with a particular focus on the significance of place names in the Hokianga area from Waimamaku through to Opononi. It also sought to understand the stories and history that accompany this area. Our oral traditions are critical in helping to define our identity as Māori, and our relationship with the land.

This thesis begins by looking at the ways in which we as Māori are connected to the land and some of our traditional values regarding cultural practices and the way our tūpuna lived.  It also shares an example of the way in which our oral traditions and histories were preserved and taught.  There is then a detailed section regarding the significance of Hokianga place names within the Waimamaku, Omapere and Opononi area of Hokianga.  This information has been provided orally from the generosity of kaumātua of our area.  Following this I have concluded by providing an overall statement about the significance of findings and outcomes of my research.

This kaupapa is important as more and more of these place names and their histories will continue to be lost if records are not kept and shared with future generations.  I also understand the importance of protecting this knowledge.  Through colonisation and over time the use of our traditional educational practices and our place names and their histories have been forgotten, watered down, and sometimes lost.  Our learning methods, histories and whakapapa constitute important elements of who we are as Māori. They recognise the past, help us to understand today and guide us into the future. 

The research strategy used in my thesis is collaborative storying co-constructed between myself the researcher and local kaumātua deemed to hold traditional knowledge of our area.  This has provided the opportunity to find out significant place names and our local histories. Prior to working on this thesis only a few names were known and understood.  However in the end we are able to get a more detailed picture of our history.  There are still plenty more place names to be found and understood.


We live and come from a beautiful place.

text: The Oral Transmission of Mātauranga Māori in regard to Traditional Hokianga Stories and the Revitalization of Significant Place Names. This thesis researched the oral transmission of mātauranga Māori from one generation to another with a particular focus on the significance of place names in the Hokianga area from Waimamaku through to Opononi. It also sought to understand the stories and history that accompany this area. Our oral traditions are critical in helping to define our identity as Māori, and our relationship with the land.

This thesis begins by looking at the ways in which we as Māori are connected to the land and some of our traditional values regarding cultural practices and the way our tūpuna lived.  It also shares an example of the way in which our oral traditions and histories were preserved and taught.  There is then a detailed section regarding the significance of Hokianga place names within the Waimamaku, Omapere and Opononi area of Hokianga.  This information has been provided orally from the generosity of kaumātua of our area.  Following this I have concluded by providing an overall statement about the significance of findings and outcomes of my research.

This kaupapa is important as more and more of these place names and their histories will continue to be lost if records are not kept and shared with future generations.  I also understand the importance of protecting this knowledge.  Through colonisation and over time the use of our traditional educational practices and our place names and their histories have been forgotten, watered down, and sometimes lost.  Our learning methods, histories and whakapapa constitute important elements of who we are as Māori. They recognise the past, help us to understand today and guide us into the future. 

The research strategy used in my thesis is collaborative storying co-constructed between myself the researcher and local kaumātua deemed to hold traditional knowledge of our area.  This has provided the opportunity to find out significant place names and our local histories. Prior to working on this thesis only a few names were known and understood.  However in the end we are able to get a more detailed picture of our history.  There are still plenty more place names to be found and understood.


We live and come from a beautiful place.

year: 2010