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Reimagining Urban Wastewater Landscapes. A re-examination of wastewater treatment through the use of treatment wetlands within an urban context.
No full textOver the next 50-60 years, much of the world's grey infrastructure will have reached the end of its intended design lifespan. Heavily engineered, highly centralised and typically constructed using non-sustainable materials, there is an opportunity to consider integrating green and grey infrastructures to reduce environmental impacts from grey infrastructure alone.Green infrastructure utilising wetlands has long been an approach used for the treatment and management of sewage. Of the many ecological processes that wetlands have, phytoremediation (using plants to remediate wastewater) is key. Phytoremediaton has many downstream benefits that include enhanced biodiversity both within and between our urban environments, as well as improved public spaces that provide recreational and educational opportunities. All of which contribute to a sense of community and place.Karori in the western part of Wellington is the ideal location for this research. It is serviced by its own wastewater treatment plant that has already reached its original design capacity and is plagued by problems that result in sewage overflows into the local stream. Karori already faces an increasing demand on its wastewater system and anticipates an increase of 7,000 people by 2050.This thesis seeks to address a range of issues from a landscape architecture perspective for reimagining the way urban wastewater is treated. A green infrastructure model that uses decentralised treatment gardens is proposed across Karori. These gardens, based on the principles of treatment wetlands, seek to offer advantages that the current centralised grey infrastructure model cannot. Namely wastewater treatment via phytoremediation processes, enhanced biodiversity leading to improved liveability at a local level facilitated by green streetscape interventions, as well as recycled water suitable for use.Research, field work, analysis and design-led response has been used to investigate and understand how this proposal might transpire. Importantly the development and analysis of typologies has been key in drawing conclusions about the existing landscape and the potentialities it holds.Findings derived from this research have highlighted a need to first, integrate aspects from both green and grey water infrastructure systems to maximise functionality of green infrastructure and minimise the expansion of existing grey infrastructure. Second, to rethink land use. Underutilised suburban berm spaces have been appropriated and have a key role in improving the urban water cycle by utilising specialised plant species that also enhance local biodiversity. By enriching these spaces through small scale interventions, they facilitate an improved sociability and liveability across the suburb.Third, it was found only greywater could be accommodated through these proposed treatment gardens, given their relatively small size and limited amount of suitable street space, while the remaining blackwater would be treated through conventional means.</p
Adaptive Potential of Syzygium maire, a Critically Threatened Habitat Specialist Tree Species in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThe restoration of swampland is vital for the recovery of both biodiversity and cultural values in Aotearoa New Zealand. Syzygium maire, an endemic wetland tree species, is a focus of many wetland restoration efforts. Formerly widespread, extant populations are small, fragmented, and under pressure from myrtle rust. Restoration initiatives may be unknowingly compounding these threats to the species by failing to represent the complete genetic diversity of populations. What genetic diversity remains in remnants and how it is distributed is not known. We therefore aimed to assess the national scale population structure, genetic diversity, and adaptive potential of S. maire to inform species conservation. We identified over 760,000 high-quality single nucleotide variants in 269 reproductive age trees from across the species' range, using low coverage whole genome resequencing. At a national scale, we found five distinct regional-scale genetic clusters, which in turn exhibit local structure and admixture. In the North Island: Northland, Bay of Plenty in the central east, Taranaki in the central west, and Greater Wellington/Manawatū in the south. A single cluster was identified in the South Island, Marlborough. Within-cluster substructure was particularly evident for Greater Wellington/Manawatū. Genetic diversity and fixation indices (FST) were relatively uniform across all clusters, and there was some evidence of north to south increase in kinship and shorter time since radiation. These patterns are likely to reflect glaciation cycles that resulted in complex contractions into local microrefugia and subsequent re-radiations of the species over time. Genotype by environment analysis detected genetic variants potentially contributing to environmental adaptation, notably precipitation seasonality. Restoration and conservation goals would best be served by capturing diversity within regional clusters. Information on the geographic and environmentally structured distribution of this tree's genetic diversity supports conservation and restoration strategies through ensuring the complete extant diversity is captured, identifying regions at most risk of genetic degradation, and facilitating planning regarding the movement of adaptive diversity in a changing environment
Building sustainable relationships with Indigenous communities
No full textOver the past four decades, New Zealand's library and information management sector has shifted from a predominantly Eurocentric focus to one that actively integrates Indigenous knowledge and te reo me ōna tikanga Māori (Māori language and cultural practices). This paper explores the pivotal role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) in shaping this transformation, highlighting how reconciliation efforts between Māori and the Crown (New Zealand government) have driven these changes. It examines the sector's efforts to create inclusive environments that empower mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) through collections, service delivery, and community outreach. By detailing cultural and professional initiatives aimed at fostering strong relationships with Māori communities, the paper underscores the significance of genuine partnership. Concluding with a discussion on evolving political dynamics surrounding Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori rights, the paper considers the implications of these changes for future relationships between library and information institutions and Māori communities
School Leadership Education in Solomon Islands: Relevance Through Deep Contextualization
No full textThis chapter deals with innovation in conception, delivery and outcome in an inservice teacher training program in Solomon Islands. Through a case study of the Graduate Certificate in School Leadership (GCSL), the authors navigate the choppy waters between ‘normal practice’ in donor-aid supported educational initiatives and the results of taking an innovative local, and in this case, island-centred route. As a result, the case study offers a pathway towards a contextualised answer to the question posed early in independent Solomon Islands education, ‘Education for What?’. The chapter begins by offering background information on Solomon Islands land, history and thought. The authors then provide the case study, dealing with institutional matters, delivery, content and outcomes. Finally, a discussion of what can be learned from the case study is given relevant to Solomon Islands, the Pacific region and beyond
Examining the Entrepreneuring Experiences of Opera-workers in Creating Different Forms of Value
No full textStudies on entrepreneurial work in opera are rare, and scholarly interest in the experience of opera-workers has been limited. Yet, in a market economy where opera-workers are producers, audiences are customers, and financial return on investment is limited, understanding how opera-work creates value becomes critical. This research examines the experiences of opera-workers in deploying entrepreneurial practices in value-creating work. Positioned at the novel intersection of arts entrepreneurship with value and opera studies, the study uses social bricolage as a framework for entrepreneurial action and considers multiple forms of value creation. It draws from a set of 50 semi-structured interviews, conducted in three rounds, with seventeen opera-workers based in New Zealand.The research offers two sets of findings. Firstly, it identifies the types of economic, aesthetic and social value created through opera entrepreneuring for the opera-workers themselves, opera audiences and society. Within these broad categories of value, the research also reveals that opera-workers confront contradictions and tensions between aesthetic and economic value, as well as between aesthetic and social value. Secondly, the findings explicate the characteristics of entrepreneurial opera-work, demonstrating that it is not only entrepreneurial by necessity, but that it exhibits the criteria of social bricolage in distinctive ways. The analysis illustrates the six criteria of making do, limitations and constraints, improvisation, social value creation, stakeholder participation, and persuasion. Importantly, it also extends these criteria by offering in-depth contextualisation of their role in opera-work. The thesis contributes to the arts entrepreneurship literature by extending theory on social bricolage and tailoring each of its criteria for entrepreneurial opera-work. It forwards an expanded definition of arts entrepreneurship, which acknowledges the significance of both management and creative work. Simultaneously, the research contributes to the literature on value in the arts industry and proposes a new framework for economic, social and aesthetic value creation through entrepreneurial opera-work. A secondary contribution is made to the opera studies literature by offering a definition for entrepreneurial opera-work which highlights its distinctiveness as a creative and a management practice that is highly relational and multi-levelled. Altogether, this thesis offers new insights as it examines how opera-workers use entrepreneurial methods to create various forms of value that enable opera to flourish in the twenty-first century.</p
Women and Gangs: Perspectives of Club-Connected Mothers
No full textThis research sought to gain a better understanding of the experiences of mothers with connections to a gang/club in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research focused on parenting experiences but also covered a range of other life experiences in relation to their connection to the gang/club. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women who identified as gang/club-connected and as mothers. Smith and colleagues’ (2021) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed throughout the study. Four primary themes were identified as integral to understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by women with children in gang/club contexts: language and labelling; parenting, relationships and family life; community and social services; and, future hopes and goals for the future. This research highlighted that language and labelling could be either a barrier or a bridge to engagement and connection to gang/club communities, and that women in gang/club whānau and communities are most often the dominant caregivers of children, as both mothers, and grandmothers. It was recognised that there is a clear need for accessible options for services and support that are responsive and relatable to gang/club communities, and explored the goals surrounding finances, housing, meaningful education and employment, and recovery from addiction, for both themselves and their children. Three secondary themes were also identified: the role of early life experiences; dynamics of the club; and methamphetamine. The need for tangible policies and services in line with these findings are discussed. Further research should continue to seek perspectives and experiences from the female voice within club contexts.</p
Artificial Voxel Intelligence
No full textVoxel printing offers a previously underexplored depth of detail and materiality within additive manufacturing, allowing for realistic imitations of biological structures in fabricated form. However, this approach is often overlooked due to the vast data requirements and specialised knowledge needed to create complex, meaningful models. This research investigates what new forms of meaning can emerge when machine learning algorithms are used to structure matter, and what occurs when algorithms are given the ability to perceive and respond to three-dimensional form. Using a primarily Research through Design approach, the project evolved through rigorous experimentation and iterative development. Unsupervised machine learning presents an intelligent alternative to manually placing voxels, algorithmically identifying hidden relationships and clustering them accordingly. This research provides insight into how voxel printing can be harnessed to generate form more efficiently, enabling greater detail and nuance in digitally fabricated outcomes.</p
Fearless Automatic Parallelisation
No full textDespite significant advancements in parallel programming techniques, stagnating single-core performance and the increasing prevalence of multi-core processors demand new approaches to automatic parallelisation. Parallelising code using existing approaches often requires significant programmer intervention. In the first part of this thesis, I present Fearless: a new programming language with a novel approach to reference capabilities. Fearless's language design enables safe automatic parallelisation alongside other useful features such as correct caching, strong exception safety, and safe representation invariants. Alongside a formal model for Fearless, I present a prototype compiler for the language.In the second part of this thesis, I present a dedicated library for building flows of computation over data, which can then be parallelised as an unobservable compiler optimisation. Additionally, I present multiple parallelisation strategies and an evaluation of my approaches to automatic parallelisation.</p
TĀNGATA WHAIORA AS NGĀ KAIWHAKATERE – UNDERSTANDING THE EXPERIENCES AND NEEDS OF MĀORI WITH NGĀ MĀUIUI KAI (EATING DISORDERS)
No full textEating disorder research has long been dominated by Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic populations. The same pattern is reflected in Aotearoa (New Zealand), as there is a paucity of research that has sought to understand eating disorders among Māori, the tangata whenua (Indigenous people of the land). Despite this, it is recognised that eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of ethnicity, culture or economic position. To contribute to this small but growing body of knowledge, my thesis explored the experiences and needs of Māori with eating disorders using Kaupapa Māori methodology and qualitative research methods, including interviews and Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Three interconnected studies underpinned this thesis. Study One involved interviews with seven kaumātua (elderly) and pakeke (adult) to explore what a culturally appropriate understanding of eating disorders looks like for Māori. The thematic analysis comprised four themes – Kai like Korowai, Navigating Two Worlds, Te Pō, and Tikanga-Informed Care in a Pākehā System. This study highlighted the shortcomings of Western and Eurocentric conceptualisations of eating disorders in understanding Māori experiences, which overlook Māori experiences of navigating ideals relating to beauty and body image. It also demonstrated that Western perspectives do not capture the multifaceted view of kai and the holistic understanding of wellbeing held within Te Ao Māori (the Māori world). Informed by insights from Study One, Study Two involved interviews with 12 tāngata whaiora (people in search of wellbeing) with lived eating disorder experience. Four themes were constructed – Control Among the Chaos, Separation From Our Rongoā, “But Māori Don’t Get Eating Disorders”, and Whāia Te Ao Mārama. This analysis illuminated the diverse ways tāngata whaiora experience eating disorders. It also demonstrated the unique challenges and experiences faced by tāngata whaiora, such as overcoming social barriers and navigating tikanga (correct procedure, the customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context) with an eating disorder. These challenges often went unaddressed due to the dominance of Western and Eurocentric knowledge and research for understanding, assessing and treating these disorders. Study Three extended the focus to those who practise and research in the field of eating disorders, and involved interviews with five kaimahi (workers) and kairangahau (researchers) Māori. This thematic analysis also comprised four themes – Traversing Insidious Racism, ‘If Not Me, Then Who?’, A System Where I’m an Outlier and Tūngia te uruuru kia tupu whakaritorito to tupu o te harakeke. Study Three showed that kaimahi and kairangahau Māori also faced unique challenges and experiences, including additional responsibilities and navigating power imbalances, highlighting the need for dedicated Māori eating disorder services. Woven together, these three studies illustrated the different ways that Māori understand and experience eating disorders. They also highlighted how tāngata whaiora face numerous barriers to receiving support, and how their experiences are often rendered invisible in research, practice, and broadly, how we understand eating disorders. Despite this, many tāngata whaiora in this research spoke about how they overcame these obstacles, and their pūrākau (story) served as a demonstration of their resilience and strength.The central discussions of my thesis offered several implications and recommendations. These included equity-focused solutions such as developing priority pathways for Māori with eating disorders, investing in resources to improve eating disorder awareness and understanding, and expanding eating disorder curricula in healthcare training programmes. I also suggested possible avenues for prevention and treatment that are embedded within Te Ao Māori. Importantly, I argued that participants’ pūrākau destigmatises individual and collective understandings of eating disorders. Overall, this thesis represented a shift away from the marginalisation of Māori experiences with eating disorders and provided a foundation for further approaches to eating disorders that are culturally grounded.</p
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