Otago University Research Archive
Not a member yet
10699 research outputs found
Sort by
The Role of Fundamentals and Policy in New Zealand’s Carbon Prices
No full textNew Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment (MfE) explicitly recognizes that the New Zealand Units (NZUs) price is set by a flexible unlimited supply of units, as well as demand for units. This thesis explores NZU pricing dynamics driven by the interaction between allowances supply and demand. The empirical results highlight that, firstly, there are two policy associated structural breakpoints in NZU returns over the period of July 1st, 2010- December 31st, 2019. Specifically, in 2013 following a large ban on international units with low environmental integrity and in 2016 following the announcement of a gradual phasing-out one for two ‘transitional’ measure. Secondly, increased carbon activities from the manufacturing and transportation sectors tend to increase NZU prices, while activities from the stationary energy sector put downward pressure on NZU prices. This may be explained by the large stockpile (bank) of unit held by stationary energy sector. Lastly and as expected, the results show that banking and net import negatively affect NZU returns, however, carbon removal entitlements surprisingly positively affect NZU returns
Functional Beverages in Selected Countries of Asia Pacific Region: A Review
No full textFunctional beverages have gained increasing market share over the last decade. As the Asia Pacific region is one of the largest and most important markets for functional foods, it is critical when developing and promoting new products that food manufacturers/marketers have a good understanding of the Asia Pacific market, including the legislative requirements and consumers’ perceptions of functional beverages. A literature review was undertaken to elucidate legislation criteria and consumers’ perceptions of functional beverages in Asia Pacific countries. Topics reviewed included the origin and definitions of functional foods and beverages; the legislative criteria for functional foods and beverages in four representative countries—Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan; and consumers’ perceptions of functional beverages. There was no concrete definition of “functional food” or “functional beverage” region-wide and correspondingly, the legislative terms and regulatory frameworks for functional foods and beverages varied from country to country and showed divergence due to cultural differences. The systematic review of consumer perceptions of functional beverages showed that product acceptance and purchase intention for different functional beverages was heterogeneous among consumers in the Asian Pacific Region, with many factors playing a role including product attributes (e.g., functional attributes, sensory attributes, and product form) and consumer perceptions (e.g., health motivation, trust in food industry, and food neophobia). The findings from this review will help guide product development and inform marketing strategies for functional beverages targeting the Asia Pacific region by providing information on legislation and consumers’ perceptions
Subsistence in the Lapita Homeland
No full textThis thesis presents an analysis of vertebrate fauna remains from two Lapita sites in the Arawe Islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea. Studies of subsistence in Pacific contexts have focussed on how Lapita peoples and their descendants were able to successfully settle the islands of Remote Oceania. Exploitation of existing resources and elements of transported landscapes are prominent themes in such research. However, subsistence in Lapita contexts from Near Oceania has not received the same level of attention. This thesis addresses this imbalance in the current view of Oceanic subsistence by investigating an assemblage from the Bismarck Archipelago, where Lapita is argued to have emerged. The fauna from the sites Adwe and Apalo represent subsistence activities from the Early and Middle Lapita periods. Through zooarchaeological analysis, and interpretation drawing from various areas of research, the Arawe Islands assemblage provides an opportunity to address questions regarding the nature of subsistence during a foundational phase in Oceanic prehistory, as well as to address debates regarding the nature of introduced elements of Lapita subsistence
Fibrous intervention for dissipation and absorption of low force impact
No full textMaterials designed to absorb and dissipate energy play a crucial role in daily activities. An important step in the development of new energy-absorbing materials is measuring their ability to mitigate energy from an impact. The drop-weight impact rig is one such device, which facilitates testing and measuring of energy absorption.
In collaboration with AgResearch yarn lengths were produced, and then tufted to create two different sets of cut-pile fabric. The fabric then underwent drop-weight impact testing to measure its effectiveness at reducing the peak impact force, and peak deceleration. Fabric samples were tested twice in order to detect if deterioration of the structure had occurred after the first impact.
During testing significant reductions in peak force and deceleration were measured. Certain combinations of variables caused more force to be absorbed or dissipated than others. No statistically significant difference in the amount of force absorbed during the repeated impact was detected during the first set of fabrics. This indicates that no deterioration of the structure had occurred. A very slight reduction in the amount of force absorbed during the repeated impact was detected in the second set of fabrics. However, this was attributed to the consistency of the testing procedure, resulting in low standard deviations throughout. Results of the impact testing regime indicated the fabric samples performed at a comparable level to impact attenuating devices such as hip protectors
Investigating consumers’ perception of apple juice as affected by novel and conventional processing technologies
No full textThis work evaluates consumers’ perception of apple juice processed by high pressure processing (HPP) and pulsed electric field (PEF) compared with thermal processing. As a case study, young Chinese immi grants living in New Zealand were selected. Targeting a broad understanding of process impact, three industrially relevant apple cultivars (New Zealand Jazz, Rose and Granny Smith) were chosen. The con sumer study was performed using napping with ultra-flash profiling technique (n = 38). The process impact on sensory perception seems to vary among the investigated apple cultivars. For Jazz and Granny Smith apple cultivars, PEF- and HPP-treated juices are perceived as fresh, natural, sweet and balanced flavour. For Rose apple cultivar, however PEF-processed juices appear to be perceived as fresh flavour in comparison with HPP and thermally treated juices. Moreover, thermal processing caused cooked flavour. With respect to colour, immediately after processing, HPP retains the natural apple juice colour compared with other treatments
Spatial and temporal genetic structuring in yellow-eyed penguins
No full textImproving our understanding of the forces driving population decline and the processes that affect the dynamics of threatened populations is central to the success of conservation management. The application of genetic tools,
including our ability to examine ancient DNA, has now revolutionised our ability to investigate these processes. The recent human settlement of the Pacific, particularly in New Zealand, provides a unique, accessible system for
revealing anthropogenic impacts on native biota. In this thesis I use genetic analyses from modern, historic and subfossil DNA to investigate temporal and spatial genetic structuring of the endangered yellow-eyed penguin
(Megadyptes antipodes), and use these analyses to answer questions related to the conservation of this species.
The yellow-eyed penguin is endemic to the New Zealand region and currently breeds on the subantarctic Auckland and Campbell Islands and the southeast coast of the South Island. The current total population size is estimated
around 6000-7000 individuals, of which more than 60% inhabit the subantarctic. Despite intensive conservation measures by governmental and local community agencies, population sizes have remained highly unstable
with strong fluctuations in numbers on the South Island. The species was believed to be more widespread and abundant before human colonisation of New Zealand, thus current management assumed the mainland population to be a declining remnant of a larger prehistoric population.
Genetic and morphological analyses of subfossil, historic and modern penguin samples revealed an unexpected pattern of penguin extinction and expansion. Only in the last few hundred years did M. antipodes expand its
range from the subantarctic to the New Zealand mainland. This range expansion was apparently facilitated by the extinction of M. antipodes' previously unrecognised sister species, M. waitaha, following Polynesian settlement in New Zealand. The demise of M. waitaha is the only known human-mediated extinction of a penguin species.
Despite M. antipodes' recent range expansion, genetic analyses of microsatellite markers reveal two genetically and geographically distinct assemblages: South Island versus subantarctic populations. We detected only two first generation migrants that had dispersed from the subantarctic to the South Island, suggesting a migration rate of less than 2%. Moreover, the South Island population has low genetic variability compared to the subantarctic population. Temporal genetic analyses of historic and modern penguin specimens further revealed that the harmonic mean effective population size of the M. antipodes South Island population is low ( <200). These findings suggest that the South Island population was founded by only a small number of individuals, and that subsequent levels of gene flow have remained low.
Finally, we present a novel approach to detect errors in historic museum specimen data in cases where a priori suspicion is absent. Museum specimens provide an invaluable resource for biological research, but the scientific value of specimens is compromised by the presence of errors in collection data. Using individual-based genetic analysis of contemporary and historic microsatellite data we detected eight yellow-eyed penguin specimens
with what appear to be fraudulently labelled collection locations. This finding suggests errors in locality data may be more common than previously suspected, and serves as a warning to all who use archive specimens to invest time in the verification of specimen data.
Overall, yellow-eyed penguins have a remarkable dynamic history of recent expansion, which has resulted in two demographically independent populations. These results reveal that anthropogenic impacts may be far more complex than previously appreciated
The diet of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) in southern New Zealand
No full textI used information from 574 scats and 56 regurgitants to investigate diet of New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri) in southern New Zealand between June 1995 and March 1997. The five study sites were: Long Reef at Martin's Bay in northern Fiordland, Solander Island, Codfish Island, and Bench Island in the Foveaux Strait area, and The Snares. In total, identifiable remains from 38 prey taxa (identified to family, genus, or species) were found, representing about 178 kg of prey. Eighteen prey taxa not previously recorded in the diet of fur seals in the New Zealand region were found, including four squids, 14 fish, and one diving petrel. Of these species six were recorded at more than one study site, highlighting the necessity of collecting data on the diet of New Zealand fur seals throughout their range.
Fur seals fed mainly on mesopelagic schooling prey over the outer shelf and upper slope. Octopus (Octopus maorum) was the only benthic prey item important in diet. Fur seals consumed a wide variety of prey taxa, taking
advantage of seasonally and locally abundant prey species. Substantial seasonal and regional variation in prey composition was apparent. Arrow squid (Nototodarus sloanii) were an important component of prey at Long Reef in
summer, Codfish Island in winter and summer, and Bench Island in summer and spring. The lanternfish Lampanyctodes hectoris was recorded in at least one season at all study sites, and was the most numerous prey item over the whole study (49% of total number of prey items). Hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae) were important prey at Long Reef, in autumn and spring. Mackerel (Trachurus sp. probably T. murphyi) were important prey in winter at all study sites. Barracouta (Thyrsites atun) were important prey at Codfish Island and Bench Island in spring. Octopus were important prey at Codfish Island in winter and autumn, and at Bench Island in autumn.
The size of squid represented in scats was significantly smaller than those from regurgitants. Fish remains including vertebrae of barracouta and large otoliths from hoki were also found in regurgitants. The importance of arrow squid as a prey item and the presence of remains from large fish prey emphasises the need to collect regurgitants as well as scats. Composition of diet by number of prey items was substantially different to that determined from prey mass.
Results from this study were consistent with previous studies of diet using information from scats and regurgitates. Information on diet and foraging indicates that New Zealand fur seals do not compete with inshore commercial or
recreational fisheries. Overlap occurs with two of New Zealand's largest offshore fisheries, for hoki and arrow squid. Whether this constitutes significant competition is difficult to demonstrate, partly because of uncertainties about seals (e.g. abundance), but more because the consumption of fisheries species by other predators is unquantified
ENTOMOPHAGY Understanding New Zealand Consumers’ Attitudes Toward Eating Insects
No full textWhile the ecological, economic, and social benefits of entomophagy are well documented, adoption of this food source in many Western countries has been slow. Understanding consumers’ attitudes towards entomophagy is important in determining if and how edible insects will be accepted as a food product in the future. This research determined the dominant discourses that exist towards entomophagy in New Zealand. Q methodology, which provides both a technique and philosophical principles for studying individuals’ judgments, attitudes, and points of view about a topic, was used to identify dominant consumer discourses. The objective of the study was to describe representations of different dominant participant viewpoints. Thirty-four participants living in Dunedin sorted a set of statements about entomophagy. The comparison of sorts across participants in a factor analysis enabled the identification of statistically similar participant viewpoints, which were then interpreted using the rich qualitative data obtained in interviews after card-sorting. Five different discourses were identified: ‘Enthusiastic adventurers’, ‘Benefit seekers’, ‘Disgusted disavowals’, ‘Tolerable but restrained’, and ‘Secure resolute’. In addition to practical insights about how insects could be positioned in the marketplace, the identification of these discourses adds to a limited literature on entomophagy attitudes. Future research that measures the prevalence of these discourses via a nation-wide representative survey would allow researchers to determine who holds these viewpoints, which would have useful implications for developing an insect industry
Effect of information on Chinese consumers’ acceptance of thermal and non-thermal treated apple juices: A study of young Chinese immigrants in New Zealand
No full textThis study examined the effects of technology information on Chinese consumers’ acceptance of thermaland non-thermal treated apple juices. Apple juice was treated using thermal, high hydrostatic pressureprocessing and pulsed-electric field processing methods and compared to untreated apple juice. The fourjuices were evaluated by 118 Chinese consumers in three testing conditions: (a) blind (rating acceptanceof the apple juices without any information), (b) label (rating acceptance of the apple juice labels contain-ing different technology information without tasting the juices), and (c) informed (rating acceptance ofthe apple juices by tasting the juices and observing the labels containing different technology informa-tion). Results showed that technology information had the strongest positive influence on consumers’acceptance for untreated and high hydrostatic pressure processed apple juices. No effect of technologyinformation on the acceptance of pulsed-electric field treated apple juice was observed. Acceptance was lower for thermal treated apple juice, but its sensory characteristics were good enough to minimize the negative effect of technology information on acceptability. The findings of this study help manufacturers understand how technology information affect Chinese consumers’ acceptance of apple juices. When marketing non-thermal processed beverages, especially high hydrostatic pressure processed ones, to young and educated Chinese consumers, food manufacturers are recommended to focus on technology information as a selling point as this information strongly influences expectations and acceptance of the product. However, it should be noted that sensory characteristics are also important factors driving consumer acceptance and hence repeated consumption
Vitamin C status of patients with chronic wounds.
No full textBACKGROUND: Vitamin C has long been one of the most significant and debated, and even controversial, vitamins. Increased vitamin C intake, from limited studies, has shown benefits from lowering the risk of cardiovascular events, gestational diabetes mellitus, to improving brain function. There is an increasing body of knowledge suggesting that vitamin C might be beneficial in wound healing through pleiotropic mechanisms. However, the association between vitamin C and wound healing is still unclear, and this is particularly the case with chronic, slow healing wounds. Are there predictable variations of vitamin C levels in patients with chronic wounds? What is the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in patients with chronic wounds? This study assessed these questions.
AIM: This study investigated the vitamin C status of patients with chronic wounds living in the community of Canterbury, New Zealand. The main research objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis C (vitamin C deficient [i.e. < 23 μmol/L] and severely deficient [i.e. < 11 μmol/L]) in patients with chronic wounds.
METHODS: Within a cross-sectional study, the plasma vitamin C concentration of 54 chronic wound patients under the care of a specialty wound clinic was collected and analyzed. The plasma vitamin C results were compared to reference values to calculate the prevalence of hypovitaminosis C. Additionally, these values were compared against demographic data, smoking status, and wound characteristics. Finally, associations between these variables were statistically analyzed.
RESULTS: The study found that 26.9% of the cohort had hypovitaminosis C, with 19.2% deficient (i.e. <23 μmol/L), and 7.7% severely deficient (i.e. <11 μmol/L) in vitamin C. There was no correlation between age, gender, smoking status, or wound characteristics (i.e. wound age, wound exudates, wound area) with plasma vitamin C concentrations. However, an increased BMI was found to be associated with low plasma vitamin C concentrations. Obese participants (i.e. ≥ 30 kg/m2) were found to have lower plasma vitamin C concentrations when compared to participants with normal BMI measure (i.e. 18.50–24.99 kg/m2), p = 0.0002. Overweight participants (i.e. 25.00–29.99 kg/m2) also had lower plasma vitamin C concentrations than those with a normal BMI, p = 0.01.
CONCLUSION: Chronic wound patients, particularly with venous leg ulcers, were found to have vitamin C deficiency. The reduced plasma vitamin C concentrations were likely due to chronic inflammation, oxidative burden, which increase the vitamin C demand and turnover. As vitamin C might impact wound healing, further investigation is therefore recommended to investigate potential benefits of vitamin C in treating chronic wound healing