title: The battery company, formed to operate the Firth and Clark Battery at Waiorongomai

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: The Battery Company was a private one, and although there were hints that other shareholders existed, only Josiah Clifton Firth and James McCosh Clark were known to be its owners. Firth was the more prominent of the two, willingly so, as he was never short of opinions and used his links with local and central government to assist his own interests in general and this company in particular.
When constructing the battery at Waiorongomai, Firth posed as a philanthropist aiming to benefit the mining community rather than himself. As the venture was potentially risky, he was praised for his initiative, but his terms for raising capital from mining companies and the charges he imposed soon led to widespread criticism. As time passed and as mining faded, he gained increasing control over the mines, acquiring interests in many of them, some of which were developed with little success.
After celebrations were held for the opening of his battery, the cold water treatment of the first crushing created distrust and suspicion. For years there were loud complaints about the high charges and how mining companies controlled by the company were being exploited simply to keep the battery operating. That so many mines were unprofitable was blamed on the company, and Firth’s policy of working mines as cheaply as possible was criticized. Because of his monopoly, miners wanted other batteries erected, and Firth was accused of discouraging this through his influence on the county council; an influence that was claimed to mean higher tramway charges through his appointing a pawn as tramway manager. 
Despite his constant praise of private enterprise and private initiative, Firth was very ready to seek financial assistance from government, with some success. Genuinely interested in new technology, his successful efforts to, first, improve the battery, and second, to sell his company’s interests to wealthy overseas capitalists were praised. He even planned to construct a low level tunnel traversing most of the field. But despite all their efforts, neither Firth nor Clark benefited financially from their company.

text: The battery company, formed to operate the Firth and Clark Battery at Waiorongomai The Battery Company was a private one, and although there were hints that other shareholders existed, only Josiah Clifton Firth and James McCosh Clark were known to be its owners. Firth was the more prominent of the two, willingly so, as he was never short of opinions and used his links with local and central government to assist his own interests in general and this company in particular.
When constructing the battery at Waiorongomai, Firth posed as a philanthropist aiming to benefit the mining community rather than himself. As the venture was potentially risky, he was praised for his initiative, but his terms for raising capital from mining companies and the charges he imposed soon led to widespread criticism. As time passed and as mining faded, he gained increasing control over the mines, acquiring interests in many of them, some of which were developed with little success.
After celebrations were held for the opening of his battery, the cold water treatment of the first crushing created distrust and suspicion. For years there were loud complaints about the high charges and how mining companies controlled by the company were being exploited simply to keep the battery operating. That so many mines were unprofitable was blamed on the company, and Firth’s policy of working mines as cheaply as possible was criticized. Because of his monopoly, miners wanted other batteries erected, and Firth was accused of discouraging this through his influence on the county council; an influence that was claimed to mean higher tramway charges through his appointing a pawn as tramway manager. 
Despite his constant praise of private enterprise and private initiative, Firth was very ready to seek financial assistance from government, with some success. Genuinely interested in new technology, his successful efforts to, first, improve the battery, and second, to sell his company’s interests to wealthy overseas capitalists were praised. He even planned to construct a low level tunnel traversing most of the field. But despite all their efforts, neither Firth nor Clark benefited financially from their company.

year: 2016

title: Spatial and temporal changes in soil climate and active layer depth in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, 1999-2018

authors: Carshalton, Annette

subjects: Antarctica

abstract: The depth of seasonal thaw (the active layer depth) integrates a range of soil and atmospheric climate variables and has potential to provide a clear signal of a changing climate. Nine soil climate monitoring stations (SCS) were established between 1999 and 2012 and are currently operating in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica. At each monitoring station soil temperature and moisture are measured at a range of depths down to 120 cm. Atmospheric variables measured include; air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and windspeed and direction. Data validation has been carried out through the comparison of multiple sensors and has given confidence in the dataset. The objectives of this thesis were to; describe the active layer, assess the dataset for significant long-term trends, investigate the link between large scale climate systems and permafrost temperature, to test the model of Adlam et al. (2010), and develop a predictive model suitable for modelling all ice free areas in Antarctica.  
Active layer depth (ALD) showed marked between-year variation, and between the SCS establishment and 2018.  The mean ALD was 7.5 cm at Mt Fleming, 38 cm at the Wright Valley South Wall, 37 cm at the Wright Valley North Wall, 23 cm at Victoria Valley, 49 cm at the Wright Valley floor, 50 cm on the coast at Marble Point, 29 cm at Minna Bluff, 33 cm at Scott Base, and >90 cm at Granite Harbour. There were no significant trends of warming or cooling in either ALD or in temperature at top of the permafrost. Relationships between ALD and altitude (R²=0.71), and with latitude (R²= 0.66) were identified. 
Wavelet analysis showed that both global and regional climate systems were significant drivers of de-seasonalised permafrost temperature (p <0.05).  The Southern Annular Mode showed relationships at both annual and biannual timescales; the Southern Oscillation Index had a relationship at a two to three year timescale; and the Amundsen Sea Low had an annual signal and some between season signals with de-seasonalised permafrost temperature, at the Wright Valley Floor, Victoria Valley, Marble Point and at Mt Fleming.
Nineteen potential models were developed using stepwise analysis and compared to the previous work of Adlam et al. (2010). Model 8 (Adj R² = 0.75) accounted for more variation in the data than the Adlam et al. (2010) model (Adj R² = 0.69) and predicted the ALD within ±10 cm at the five low altitude sites, using mean summer air temperature, mean winter air temperature, altitude and mean summer surface temperature. Model 14 (Adj R² = 0.49) was developed using data from all eight SCS sites, and was able to predict the ALD at high altitude sites within < ±11 cm, and the low altitude sites within < ±20 cm. Model 14 did not capture the between year variation with detail.
Future testing of model 8 and 14 is recommended using data from other parts of Antarctica, and both models could also be used to explore the use of satellite remote sensed surface temperature data in predicting ALD.  The database comprises approximately 87,000,000 data points, collected from both soil and atmospheric sensors, and becomes more valuable with time as the record gets longer. This thesis did not use all the available data in the network, and further research is recommended. The SCS network provides a robust baseline to predict future change and understand how Antarctica is impacted by the changing global climate.

text: Spatial and temporal changes in soil climate and active layer depth in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica, 1999-2018 The depth of seasonal thaw (the active layer depth) integrates a range of soil and atmospheric climate variables and has potential to provide a clear signal of a changing climate. Nine soil climate monitoring stations (SCS) were established between 1999 and 2012 and are currently operating in the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica. At each monitoring station soil temperature and moisture are measured at a range of depths down to 120 cm. Atmospheric variables measured include; air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and windspeed and direction. Data validation has been carried out through the comparison of multiple sensors and has given confidence in the dataset. The objectives of this thesis were to; describe the active layer, assess the dataset for significant long-term trends, investigate the link between large scale climate systems and permafrost temperature, to test the model of Adlam et al. (2010), and develop a predictive model suitable for modelling all ice free areas in Antarctica.  
Active layer depth (ALD) showed marked between-year variation, and between the SCS establishment and 2018.  The mean ALD was 7.5 cm at Mt Fleming, 38 cm at the Wright Valley South Wall, 37 cm at the Wright Valley North Wall, 23 cm at Victoria Valley, 49 cm at the Wright Valley floor, 50 cm on the coast at Marble Point, 29 cm at Minna Bluff, 33 cm at Scott Base, and >90 cm at Granite Harbour. There were no significant trends of warming or cooling in either ALD or in temperature at top of the permafrost. Relationships between ALD and altitude (R²=0.71), and with latitude (R²= 0.66) were identified. 
Wavelet analysis showed that both global and regional climate systems were significant drivers of de-seasonalised permafrost temperature (p <0.05).  The Southern Annular Mode showed relationships at both annual and biannual timescales; the Southern Oscillation Index had a relationship at a two to three year timescale; and the Amundsen Sea Low had an annual signal and some between season signals with de-seasonalised permafrost temperature, at the Wright Valley Floor, Victoria Valley, Marble Point and at Mt Fleming.
Nineteen potential models were developed using stepwise analysis and compared to the previous work of Adlam et al. (2010). Model 8 (Adj R² = 0.75) accounted for more variation in the data than the Adlam et al. (2010) model (Adj R² = 0.69) and predicted the ALD within ±10 cm at the five low altitude sites, using mean summer air temperature, mean winter air temperature, altitude and mean summer surface temperature. Model 14 (Adj R² = 0.49) was developed using data from all eight SCS sites, and was able to predict the ALD at high altitude sites within < ±11 cm, and the low altitude sites within < ±20 cm. Model 14 did not capture the between year variation with detail.
Future testing of model 8 and 14 is recommended using data from other parts of Antarctica, and both models could also be used to explore the use of satellite remote sensed surface temperature data in predicting ALD.  The database comprises approximately 87,000,000 data points, collected from both soil and atmospheric sensors, and becomes more valuable with time as the record gets longer. This thesis did not use all the available data in the network, and further research is recommended. The SCS network provides a robust baseline to predict future change and understand how Antarctica is impacted by the changing global climate.

year: 2020

title: Activating belonging: Towards a critcial ensemble pedagogy

authors: Brown, Gaenor

abstract: Contemporary research shows school belonging as a key determinant of learner health and wellbeing. Teachers, and teaching practices, are pivotal in developing safe, supportive communities in which students can learn and thrive, where they can belong. In this thesis the high school drama education ensemble in Aotearoa New Zealand is presented as a site for the exploration and activation of belonging. Framed through a self-study of teacher education practice, using (S-STEP) methodology, the research reimagines ensemble pedagogy for dramatic inquiry process through a lens of critical belonging. The research opens with a contextual review of contemporary scholarship and evolving theories about school belonging and ensemble pedagogy, mapping how both fields are relationally, spatially and temporally situated. The contextual review highlights the importance of drama education and school belonging practices and pedagogies in the generation of transdisciplinary knowledge.

Six principles of practice for drama educators have been developed to support the activation of belonging, relating to Identity, Process, Provocation, Space and Place, Performativity and Reflexivity. These principles are informed by semi-structured interviews with participants experienced in ensemble-based teaching and learning, and by autoethnographic reflective responses prompted by interview dialogues. In this research autoethnography is identified as a form of wayfinding, a traditional Pacific concept, drawing on the mātauranga Māori concepts and values of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, to weave affective, political and socio-ecological belonging into a critical perspective of ensemble practice.

The six principles of practice have been trialled in dramatic inquiry workshops, with pre- service drama educators, in a design incorporating process drama, image theatre and forum theatre. Drama conventions as boundary objects, bridging the fields of drama education and belonging, provide structure to the workshops, further informing development of the principles of practice. Through an ongoing dialogic cycle of workshop enactment, participant feedback and drama educator reflection, the principles are reassessed, redefined and refined.

This research argues for a critical ensemble pedagogy that makes space for the ensemble as both site and practice. The study advocates for a pedagogy which honours indigenous ways of knowing in drama education, catalyses creative expression and activates critical belonging.

text: Activating belonging: Towards a critcial ensemble pedagogy Contemporary research shows school belonging as a key determinant of learner health and wellbeing. Teachers, and teaching practices, are pivotal in developing safe, supportive communities in which students can learn and thrive, where they can belong. In this thesis the high school drama education ensemble in Aotearoa New Zealand is presented as a site for the exploration and activation of belonging. Framed through a self-study of teacher education practice, using (S-STEP) methodology, the research reimagines ensemble pedagogy for dramatic inquiry process through a lens of critical belonging. The research opens with a contextual review of contemporary scholarship and evolving theories about school belonging and ensemble pedagogy, mapping how both fields are relationally, spatially and temporally situated. The contextual review highlights the importance of drama education and school belonging practices and pedagogies in the generation of transdisciplinary knowledge.

Six principles of practice for drama educators have been developed to support the activation of belonging, relating to Identity, Process, Provocation, Space and Place, Performativity and Reflexivity. These principles are informed by semi-structured interviews with participants experienced in ensemble-based teaching and learning, and by autoethnographic reflective responses prompted by interview dialogues. In this research autoethnography is identified as a form of wayfinding, a traditional Pacific concept, drawing on the mātauranga Māori concepts and values of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, to weave affective, political and socio-ecological belonging into a critical perspective of ensemble practice.

The six principles of practice have been trialled in dramatic inquiry workshops, with pre- service drama educators, in a design incorporating process drama, image theatre and forum theatre. Drama conventions as boundary objects, bridging the fields of drama education and belonging, provide structure to the workshops, further informing development of the principles of practice. Through an ongoing dialogic cycle of workshop enactment, participant feedback and drama educator reflection, the principles are reassessed, redefined and refined.

This research argues for a critical ensemble pedagogy that makes space for the ensemble as both site and practice. The study advocates for a pedagogy which honours indigenous ways of knowing in drama education, catalyses creative expression and activates critical belonging.

year: 2025