title: Love on the line: The social dynamics involved with people meeting other people using New Zealand online dating sites

authors: Marsh, Maureen Margaret

subjects: online dating; online infidelity; sexual experimentation; 'difference'

abstract: The intention of this thesis is to explore whether New Zealand trends in online dating parallel those identified by overseas studies, or whether patterns are emerging that are unique to New Zealand society.  The Internet Windows Messenger instant messenger service (MSN) was used to interview 32 subjects about their experiences with online dating, covering areas such as motivation for using online dating; types of relationships sought; barriers to online dating; online rapport and offline chemistry; online infidelity; and managing 'difference'.  Drawing on these responses, this thesis presents findings pertaining to a diverse group of New Zealanders' attitudes towards and uses of online dating.  Some of the key findings show that online rapport does not guarantee offline chemistry; that there are gender differences in attitudes towards appearance, age, and receiving sexually explicit material online; and that sexual experimentation and infidelity are being facilitated through online dating.  

The issue of 'difference' as it relates to online dating has been largely neglected by overseas researchers, and for this reason was extensively included in this research.  Key findings relating to 'difference' show that there is a clear split between those interviewees whose 'difference' impacted positively on their online dating experience (those with sexual 'difference' falling into this category), and those whose 'difference' impacted negatively (those with physical or mental 'difference'). In addition, those interviewees with a sexual 'difference' have been able to connect with other like-minded people through online dating, contributing to the 'normalization' of previously considered deviant behaviours. 

Based on the research presented in this thesis, it appears that New Zealand online dating activities are consistent with overseas trends, although there are indications that some behaviour may be more specific to New Zealand society, such as gender differences in relation to bisexuality, and covert same-sex encounters involving men who are either married or who state in their profiles that they are 'straight' or heterosexual.

text: Love on the line: The social dynamics involved with people meeting other people using New Zealand online dating sites The intention of this thesis is to explore whether New Zealand trends in online dating parallel those identified by overseas studies, or whether patterns are emerging that are unique to New Zealand society.  The Internet Windows Messenger instant messenger service (MSN) was used to interview 32 subjects about their experiences with online dating, covering areas such as motivation for using online dating; types of relationships sought; barriers to online dating; online rapport and offline chemistry; online infidelity; and managing 'difference'.  Drawing on these responses, this thesis presents findings pertaining to a diverse group of New Zealanders' attitudes towards and uses of online dating.  Some of the key findings show that online rapport does not guarantee offline chemistry; that there are gender differences in attitudes towards appearance, age, and receiving sexually explicit material online; and that sexual experimentation and infidelity are being facilitated through online dating.  

The issue of 'difference' as it relates to online dating has been largely neglected by overseas researchers, and for this reason was extensively included in this research.  Key findings relating to 'difference' show that there is a clear split between those interviewees whose 'difference' impacted positively on their online dating experience (those with sexual 'difference' falling into this category), and those whose 'difference' impacted negatively (those with physical or mental 'difference'). In addition, those interviewees with a sexual 'difference' have been able to connect with other like-minded people through online dating, contributing to the 'normalization' of previously considered deviant behaviours. 

Based on the research presented in this thesis, it appears that New Zealand online dating activities are consistent with overseas trends, although there are indications that some behaviour may be more specific to New Zealand society, such as gender differences in relation to bisexuality, and covert same-sex encounters involving men who are either married or who state in their profiles that they are 'straight' or heterosexual.

year: 2007

title: Environmental Assessment of the Effects of Leachate Irrigation and Seepage from the Paokahu Landfill, Gisborne, New Zealand.

authors: Joblin, Mark Hugh

subjects: Landfill

abstract: Paokahu landfill operated near Gisborne from 1977 to 2002. About 1 million cubic metres of mixed domestic and industrial (predominantly food processing) wastes were disposed of at the site.  The Paokahu landfill is located on the Poverty Bay Flats on low lying flat ground, which was originally the base of a tidal lagoon.  A 300m wide band of costal dunes separates the landfill from the Poverty Bay coast.  The landfill covers an area of approximately 20 Ha and is unlined but fully capped.  Leachate is collected in a cut-off drain which surrounds three quarters of the landfill.  Disposal of the leachate is by spray irrigation onto the landfill cap with 13,000 - 15,000 m3 of leachate irrigated annually.  The site is currently used for grazing sheep. 

The overall aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the effect that Paokahu landfill is having on the environment and to determine if the current management practices are sustainable.  Specific objectives were to collate and review all the groundwater and leachate monitoring data held by Gisborne District Council to determine if the landfill was affecting the local groundwater and to investigate the effect of leachate irrigation on the landfill cap's soil and vegetation.

The groundwater monitoring data showed the local groundwater was generally affected by salt water intrusions giving the groundwater high anion and cation concentrations.   There was no evidence of a leachate plume originating from the landfill and no conclusive evidence of leachate contamination in any of the groundwater monitoring bores. 

The leachate had a high electrical conductivity (mean = 9350  Scm-1) and high soluble salts content (mean values, Na = 845 gm-3, K= 496 gm-3, Ca = 240 gm-3, Mg = 127 gm-3, Cl =1346 gm-3).  Heavy metals were present in low concentrations and Semi Volatile Organic Compounds were no longer present in the leachate.  Cation and anion concentrations were generally higher in the groundwater than in the leachate.  The main risk to groundwater quality from leachate contamination was from ammonical nitrogen and nitrate.

The leachate irrigation had caused an increase in soil cation concentrations particularly Na in the landfill cap.  However, the soil Exchangeable Sodium Percentage of 1.5 - 2.9, leachate Sodium Adsorption Ratio (6.5) and Electrical Conductivity of (4317  S cm-1) and silty soil material of the landfill cap indicated that soil swelling and dispersion was unlikely to occur in irrigated areas of the landfill cap.  Dispersion index testing supported this conclusion with no significant increase in aggregate dispersion under the irrigated areas of the landfill compared to the non-irrigated areas.  Soil metal concentrations were low and there was no significant difference in soil heavy metal concentrations between the irrigated and non-irrigated areas of the landfill cap.  Leachate Mn concentrations (mean = 1.39 g m-3) were high enough to be potentially toxic to plants, but the soil pH (7.4) and Ca (46.7 me/100g) content mean that Mn toxicity is unlikely to occur.  Leachate irrigation appears sustainable under current conditions.

text: Environmental Assessment of the Effects of Leachate Irrigation and Seepage from the Paokahu Landfill, Gisborne, New Zealand. Paokahu landfill operated near Gisborne from 1977 to 2002. About 1 million cubic metres of mixed domestic and industrial (predominantly food processing) wastes were disposed of at the site.  The Paokahu landfill is located on the Poverty Bay Flats on low lying flat ground, which was originally the base of a tidal lagoon.  A 300m wide band of costal dunes separates the landfill from the Poverty Bay coast.  The landfill covers an area of approximately 20 Ha and is unlined but fully capped.  Leachate is collected in a cut-off drain which surrounds three quarters of the landfill.  Disposal of the leachate is by spray irrigation onto the landfill cap with 13,000 - 15,000 m3 of leachate irrigated annually.  The site is currently used for grazing sheep. 

The overall aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the effect that Paokahu landfill is having on the environment and to determine if the current management practices are sustainable.  Specific objectives were to collate and review all the groundwater and leachate monitoring data held by Gisborne District Council to determine if the landfill was affecting the local groundwater and to investigate the effect of leachate irrigation on the landfill cap's soil and vegetation.

The groundwater monitoring data showed the local groundwater was generally affected by salt water intrusions giving the groundwater high anion and cation concentrations.   There was no evidence of a leachate plume originating from the landfill and no conclusive evidence of leachate contamination in any of the groundwater monitoring bores. 

The leachate had a high electrical conductivity (mean = 9350  Scm-1) and high soluble salts content (mean values, Na = 845 gm-3, K= 496 gm-3, Ca = 240 gm-3, Mg = 127 gm-3, Cl =1346 gm-3).  Heavy metals were present in low concentrations and Semi Volatile Organic Compounds were no longer present in the leachate.  Cation and anion concentrations were generally higher in the groundwater than in the leachate.  The main risk to groundwater quality from leachate contamination was from ammonical nitrogen and nitrate.

The leachate irrigation had caused an increase in soil cation concentrations particularly Na in the landfill cap.  However, the soil Exchangeable Sodium Percentage of 1.5 - 2.9, leachate Sodium Adsorption Ratio (6.5) and Electrical Conductivity of (4317  S cm-1) and silty soil material of the landfill cap indicated that soil swelling and dispersion was unlikely to occur in irrigated areas of the landfill cap.  Dispersion index testing supported this conclusion with no significant increase in aggregate dispersion under the irrigated areas of the landfill compared to the non-irrigated areas.  Soil metal concentrations were low and there was no significant difference in soil heavy metal concentrations between the irrigated and non-irrigated areas of the landfill cap.  Leachate Mn concentrations (mean = 1.39 g m-3) were high enough to be potentially toxic to plants, but the soil pH (7.4) and Ca (46.7 me/100g) content mean that Mn toxicity is unlikely to occur.  Leachate irrigation appears sustainable under current conditions.

year: 2010

title: Exploring te ao Māori: The role of museums

authors: Clarkin-Phillips, Jeanette

subjects: museum

abstract: Museums offer many opportunities for developing knowledge of the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. This article reports on research involving a kindergarten located in a national museum. It discusses children’s growing understanding of te ao Māori (the world of Māori) through their regular visits to the collections and exhibits in the museum and suggests teachers in early childhood centres may find connecting with their local museum a valuable resource for enhancing bicultural practice.

text: Exploring te ao Māori: The role of museums Museums offer many opportunities for developing knowledge of the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. This article reports on research involving a kindergarten located in a national museum. It discusses children’s growing understanding of te ao Māori (the world of Māori) through their regular visits to the collections and exhibits in the museum and suggests teachers in early childhood centres may find connecting with their local museum a valuable resource for enhancing bicultural practice.

year: 2012