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Measuring e-government development : the haves and the have-nots
No full textSince 2003, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) continued to measure the e-government development across the world using a range of indices. The UNDESA produces a biannual report that ranks UN member states according to their most recent e-government development indices. These reports are widely used by egovernment officials to benchmark their country’s performance. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether there has been a significant change in the rankings of the 191 countries that participated in both the 2005 and 2016 surveys using quantitative research methods. To meet the research objectives, the study uses correlation analysis and cluster analysis technique. The correlation analysis is used to assess the degree of association between the 2005 and 2016 rankings, while the cluster analysis technique was used to segment countries into groups based on their 2005 and 2016 rankings in order to detect any significant shift in the cluster membership in each country. The results obtained reveal a strong positive correlation between the 2005 and 2016 e-government development indices, indicating a little variation occurred in the overall ranking of the countries during this period. Also, the cluster analysis results revealed that there are three distinct groups of countries/segments: Leaders, Laggards and Average performing countries. The results also disclosed that there was a little change in countries’ cluster-membership between 2005 and 2016 indicating that countries that were ranked high in 2005 survey are still leading in 2016, and the countries that were struggling in 2005 are still struggling today
Overlooked but not forgotten : investigating lichen diversity within the Auckland Region
Get PDFAim:
To develop and test a protocol for sampling lichens within existing permanent biodiversity monitoring plots.
• Utilise existing lichen biodiversity inventory methods used in air pollution monitoring.
• Compare this method with a complete sampling of each plot.
• Utilise some of the 275 existing plots in the Auckland regio
Workbench
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can the User-Centred Design practices inform the development of resources that enhance the creative confidence of professional teams?
ABSTRACT:
This research project is an exploration of how User-Centred design (UCD) practices can inform the development of resources that enhance the creative confidence of professional teams. The project focuses on developing an online platform (called “Workbench”), that aims at enhancing the Creative Confidence of individuals/ teams who work in startups.
Many startups use the Design Thinking process as a framework for their innovation processes. The skills required for individuals and teams to successfully participate in the Design Thinking process are namely; Visual Thinking, Storytelling, Creative Thinking, Prototyping. The objective of this project is to develop an online platform which assists individuals and teams in developing these skills.
Having self-assurance in their creative abilities helps individuals to contribute to the innovation process effectively and also helps them to enhancing their Creative Confidence. To make the user experience more impactful, the online platform has been designed adhering to the‘User-Centric Design (UCD) practices’. The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of using UCD principles in the process of designing a website/app that enhances the Creative Confidence of professional teams.
Workbench has been designed to support a coherent user experience for both the facilitator (primary user) of the workshop and the participants (secondary users). The website acts as the primary platform which contains all the details for the workshops, while the app serves as a means to hold a ‘live’ workshop and provides notes to the facilitator who conducts the workshop
The current state of productivity in the NZ construction industry
No full textThe construction sector in New Zealand is considered to have a continuing low level of productivity. The industry has been contributing less to the National GDP than construction industries in America, Australia and the United Kingdom. This research aimed to determine via document analysis and survey questionnaires, whether New Zealand’s construction industry might accomplish a 20% increase in GDP contribution (ie 5.4% to 6.48% by 2020) as set by the Productivity Partnership in 2012. Publications suggested that the construction industry’s contribution to the National GDP follows the average profit- based productivity trend of four of the NZX listed construction or construction related companies. If true, it is forecasted that the target of a 20% increase will not be reached. Since 2017, the four selected NZX listed construction or construction related companies’ productivity has plateaued, or decreased, over the last eighteen months. A survey was undertaken as well, by 15 selected Auckland based commercial construction related employees focussed on gauging whether the respondents’ companies placed an emphasis on productivity measures and reporting. In addition, the survey responses included the respondents’ perceptions of the influence of productivity inhibitors and enhancers in their own companies and the wider NZ construction industry. The companies and respondents ‘showed their cards’, and their true productivity issues were pinpointed
Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from pasture soils and wetland soils, Kapuka dairy-farm, Watituna catchment
No full textOver the last century, increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane have caused global warming and climate change. Soil, a huge stock of carbon, plays an important role in driving the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases because soil can absorb and release a considerable quantity of carbon. In New Zealand, agricultural soils account for a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the actual magnitude of soil emissions is underestimated due to very limited soil-gas measurement protocols in place for the farming land. This lack of evidence-based data causes uncertainty on the estimates and the trending of greenhouse gas emissions in any given region. Importantly, it fails to effectively inform the future management decisions in adopting strategies to improve soils for reducing the emissions and turning soil carbon sources into carbon sinks. The study investigates the quantity of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) diffusing from pasture soils and wetland soils in a dairyfarm, Kapuka, Waituna catchment. It also assesses the spatial variability of the emissions associated with changes in soil moisture and temperature. Based on results, farm management guidelines have been recommended. The chamber technique and West System portable flux meter were used in the measurements. The monitoring was carried out on the plot of 105 measuring points. At each point, the chamber was placed on the ground surface for the gases diffusing into the instrument and being detected by the sensors. Soil moisture and air parameters were also measured and recorded. The data collected was then processed, analysed, and mapped by using ArcGIS tool. The results show the site is source of CO2 and CH4 emissions. The CO2 flux emits at the average of 17.5 g/m2/day, and the CH4 flux at 0.04 g/m2/day. Compared to the global rate, the study site emits a 120% higher increase in nominal flux. The wetland is a significant source of CO2 and CH4 with very high spatial variability. The highest CH4 flux was recorded at 5.1g/m2/day. Soil moisture, excess nutrients, and shallow water table are the driving factors for the emissions. It is recommended that farm management should focus on improving poorly drained soils, increasing soil organic matter content, and considering riparian planting to reduce nutrient runoff. Future research is recommended to assess the temporal variation of gas emissions and to particularly monitor nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a major component of agriculture gas emissions that come from fertiliser application and manure deposit. Soil gas monitoring in wetlands and farming ‘hot spots’ within the region is also recommende
DISCONNECT to RECONNECT : architectural interruption for individuals addicted to digital activity as opposed to living in the physical world, the here and now
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can architecture facilitate opportunities for rehabilitation of young individuals in New Zealand addicted to digital activity to the extent that it precludes them from living in the physical world, the here and now?
The world has come to the point of time where individuals are so dependent on technology that there now exists a term called Nomophobia (No Mobile Phone Phobia). This clinical term defines people with smartphone addictions. Extreme symptoms include “feelings of panic or desperation when separated from your smartphone, not being able to focus on conversations or work, and constantly checking phones for notifications.”[1] Human advancement of technology has rapidly developed within the years and has deeply amalgamated as a crucial aspect of everyday life.
However, the question lies on whether this has led to humanity becoming trapped in the usage of their personal devices, ultimately leading to the loss of interaction with the surroundings and people. Internet and mobile devices are complementary goods; hence the increased use of mobile devices results in the increased use of the internet. Therefore this proposal will deal with the two issues hand in hand by addressing internet addiction through mobile devices amongst New Zealand teenagers.
According to the latest report[2] conducted by Research New Zealand, a large number of New Zealanders were exposed to portable devices and are at risk of Internet Addiction Disorder (‘IAD’). The report ‘Use of Smartphones and Other Mobile Communication Devices 2015’ presents that “Almost threequarters (72 percent) of all adult New Zealanders now own or have access to a laptop or notebook for their private use (up from 66 percent in 2013)”.[2] This breakthrough in technology has enriched the quality of convenience by being more accessible in everyday lifestyles. Parallel to this achievement, there havealso been many downsides such as one’s ability to be able to form genuinesocial relationships which encompass impassive feelings and raise awarenessof their surroundings. It was found that significant health implications are found in teenagers with IAD and NZ is following the footpaths of other leading countries within the study, to get IAD recognised legally as a mental health condition. This is important to address in our millennial as there is no debate to how dependant our whole generation has become on internet and mobile devices. Yet the side effects of this dependency are instead ignored and when unsupervised, potentially becomes an addiction for young children.
This project will question whether the phenomenological approach in Architecture can provide a remedy to the underlying issues of IAD and provide research into how architecture can facilitate opportunities for young individuals in New Zealand with internet addiction through their electronic devices. Can an impactful embodied experience, established by designed architecture, intervene and aid people to be more empathetic towards social interaction?
A solution proposed is that by detaching from their electronic devices, each person is now able to fully appreciate and experience their real and invaluable surroundings. Architects working within this field have showcased significant examples in which dwellers were able to encounter multi-sensory experiences that invoked their emotions as a result of experiencing specifically designed architecture
Types and other historical specimens of Allan and Richard Cunningham's taxa of Epilobium and Fuchsia (Onagraceae) from New Zealand in the Turczaninow Herbarium at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW).
No full textThirteen historical specimens (including original material, mainly syntypes and isolectotypes) of Allan and Richard Cunningham's taxa of Epilobium and Fuchsia (Onagraceae) from New Zealand recently discovered in the Turczaninow Herbarium (KW-TURCZ) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW) are discussed in comparison with digital images of and data on other relevant specimens from several other herbaria, such as K, BM, WELT, etc. These specimens, collected in New Zealand by Allan Cunningham in 1826 and 1838 and by Richard Cunningham in 1833–1834, represent the following taxa (as outlined by A. Cunningham): Epilobium alsinoides, E. atriplicifolium, E. confertum, E. hirtigerum, E. nerterioides, E. nummulariifolium, E. pedunculare, E. thymifolium, E. virgatum (A.Cunn., non Lam.), and Fuchsia procumbens. It is demonstrated that type designations for some names in Epilobium mentioned above remain problematic; some names appear to be not yet typified effectively. These problems are caused by several factors, such as misplaced original labels or specimens, errors or misinterpretations in curatorial or copied labels, a complicated numbering system applied by A. Cunningham, etc. Critical re-assessment of all available original and other associated specimens of the mentioned names in Epilobium, especially those in K, is needed. Before such re-assessment, we refrain from any nomenclatural actions affecting type designations. The recent discovery in KW-TURCZ of important historical specimens (not only Onagraceae but also many other plant families) collected in New Zealand in the first half of the 19th century by Allan Cunningham, Richard Cunningham, J. Everard Home and some other early explorers is not only interesting from a historical viewpoint but also important for taxonomy, especially for proper application of names validated by A. Cunningha
How does polypharmacy impact on the quality of life of older people in New Zealand?
No full textThe ageing population is increasing all over the world and people are living longer with multiple diseases thanks to the development of pharmaceuticals and other health care facilities. Older people who suffer from multiple diseases require multiple medications to control the severity of the disease. Polypharmacy can lead to the occurrence of adverse outcomes with prolonged usage. In New Zealand, many older people live with multiple diseases and they require multiple medications to control their diseases. Therefore, polypharmacy (using more than five medications) is prevalent among elderly New Zealanders.
METHOD AND DESIGN
The purpose of this research was to investigate how polypharmacy impacts on the quality of life of older people in New Zealand. Participants of the study were 65 years or over and take five or more medications daily. To find out about the quality of life of those who take more than five medications, a validated questionnaire called Living with Medicines Questionnaire version 3 (LMQ3) was used. Out of 41 questions, 19 questions were considered for the study and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) used to measure the level of medication burden. A descriptive statistics method were used to analyse the collected data.
RESULTS
The mean age of 28 participants was 71.33 and 67% of participants were female. Most of the participants were New Zealand Europeans and taking cardiovascular system-related medications. The majority of the participants claimed that polypharmacy affected neither their social life nor driving. Further, many stated that their medication was working well. But most of them stated that they had concerns about the long- term impact of medication. The VAS showed that they experienced minimum medication related burden.
CONCLUSION
According to the findings of other literature which were written about polypharmacy in other countries, polypharmacy has a both positive and negative impact on older persons’ quality of life. However, in this study, polypharmacy did not impact on the quality of participants’ lives
Thought Space Wananga : a kaupapa Māori decolonizing approach to research translation
No full textThis paper discusses an indigenous Maori approach, named Thought Space Wānanga, for sharing knowledge and accelerating the translation of research into practical outcomes through transformational practices, policies, and theory development. In contexts such as New Zealand, there is an increasing demand on all publicly funded researchers to demonstrate the impact of their research and to show pathways for achieving social and economic outcomes from single, focused projects.
Knowledge translation is the most common term used to describe the link between research and impact and the process of turning research into results. While it is highly debatable whether planning for this at the front end of research will necessarily lead to such high-level outcomes being achieved, many indigenous researchers aim for their research to be translated into real world positive outcomes for indigenous communities.
Thought Space Wananga is a facilitated process framed within Māori cultural protocols, designed to help indigenous Maori researchers meet that aspiration
Are we building agile graduate capabilities to meet automotive service industry trends?
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION:
How can we secure the future professional competency of automotive technicians employed in the automotive service industry?
ABSTRACT:
The inexorable use of electronic technology and rising user expectations of motorised transport are quickly moving the service industry towards a rapidly changing environment. To maintain the ability to deal with new and emerging technologies, industry leaders will need to rethink how they will address their staffing strategies. In this research, we found that the New Zealand automotive service industry is markedly different from what it was twenty years ago as technology in vehicles have been increased due to environmental legislation and customer demands. The service industry is going through a technological revolution as new more environmentally friendly vehicles are introduced into the fleet. Further technological complications are added as vehicle safety is improved through automation of vehicles and soon to become common, fully autonomous vehicles. Service technician training programmes must be modified to ensure that the industry is capable of dealing with high technology vehicles when they come up for service or repair