Research Bank
Not a member yet
5195 research outputs found
Sort by
Embracing tradition: Classical Studio in 2022
No full textThe year 2022 saw the return of Classical Studio the Unitec | Te Pūkenga School of Architecture after a ten-year hiatus. In Classical Studio, the goal isn’t necessarily to teach how to design a classical building, but to give third- and fourth-year students a deeper understanding of proportional and compositional principles, and a way to generate and evaluate with traditional design methodology. This time the studio was offered to second-year students, presenting new pedagogical opportunities. The criteria for the second-year studio are outlined, as well as how a classical approach to architectural design is aligned with these criteria. The brief was found in a 101-year-old issue of N.Z. Building Progress, in an architectural competition conceived and judged by Reginald Ford, the founding member of Gummer and Ford, perhaps New Zealand’s most influential architectural practice. In a departure from the traditional Unitec Classical Studio, the students were required to present their final designs with CAD instead of watercolour, the opportunities and challenges of which are discussed. This article explains the design process behind the studio, how the brief was interrogated and developed, and what steps the students took to learn how to design a classical building. But more importantly, what lessons were learned from following this process, and how a sampling of classical instruction can fit into a modern architectural education
Macartney Embassy and the transmission of "Higho Highau" in Europe and America
No full text北运河船工所唱的《白河船工曲》是迄今可见最早在欧美流传的中国劳工号子。与“中国 最早流传到西方”的民歌《茉莉花》一样，它在欧美也经历了传播、流变和接受的过程—从18 世纪 末英国马戛尔尼使团目击者笔录，到欧洲时尚阶层厅堂中茶余饭后消遣弹奏的“中国风”沙龙键盘小曲， 再到作为世界各民族音乐学教学资料被引入欧美大学讲堂。虽然《白河船工曲》没有像《茉莉花》那样， 在港澳回归、奥运会颁奖仪式及上海世博会开幕式上被拿来当作具有象征意义的背景音乐演奏，但即使 在今天的欧美，《白河船工曲》作为中国民族音乐的代表，仍在城市及大学的音乐厅中唱响。本文拟通过 对18 世纪末叶以来欧美出版的与《白河船工曲》有关的文献分析，来追溯《白河船工曲》在欧美的传播、 流变及接受的过程
Transformations in learning spaces: Impact of mobile technologies on student learning.
No full textAs a result of innovation in technology, social media and mobile devices have changed the face of teaching and learning. The use of tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and Short Messaging Services (SMS) are continuing to grow with informal learning taking place outside formal educational settings. This paper draws on research conducted at a private tertiary institute and presents findings from the study. The focus of this study was to determine the learning that occurs through informal learning networks and how these support and enhance learning and wellbeing, particularly amongst international students. The research considers the implications of how teaching and learning are impacted by social and informal networking in the digital world
Advancing inclusive prostate cancer care: Extending the reach of mobile PSMA-PET/CT to local, regional, and remote communities across Aotearoa/New Zealand
No full textOBJECTIVES
To discuss the extension of PSMA-PET/CT services to diverse communities across Aotearoa/New Zealand
Highlight the importance of equitable access to advanced diagnostic technologie
Estimating emissions from tyre tread wear of motor vehicles in New Zealand
No full textOver 5.6 million road vehicles are registered in New Zealand, with a wide range of contaminants released as a result of their operation. The material wearing out from tyre tread has previously been identified as a contaminant of potential concern (COPC) in New Zealand, but its amount has not been quantified. Numerous studies confirm that the wear rate of a tyre depends on multiple factors and can vary significantly, even for the same type of vehicle with the same tyres installed. Such factors have already been classified and weighted; therefore, they were not the subject of the current research. The aim of this study is to estimate the total amount of material released into the environment in New Zealand due to the tread wear of tyres.
In this research, the New Zealand motor vehicle fleet was divided into categories according to the available statistical data. The estimation of the amount of the tyre material released into the environment was done separately in each category of vehicle, using the three-point method (Low, Medium and High). The calculation was performed using the statistical average annual distances driven by vehicles, and the tyre abrasion rates, also called emission factors (mg/km). The emission factors were adopted through a thorough review of the available studies of tyre abrasion rates in different countries.
The three-point estimate shows that every year roughly 6.5 to 15.5 thousand tonnes of material from tyre tread wear is released into the environment in New Zealand, which gives between 1.26 and 2.97 kg when converted per capita. Such quantification is an important step in understanding the impacts of this contaminant on New Zealand ecosystems. Further research of tyre tread wear material is needed with regard to its emission factors; deposition, migration and concentrations in environmental compartments; accumulation and degradation paths; effects on living organisms and human health
The role of real estate agents and digital media to first home buyers in the North Island of New Zealand
No full textThe first home buyers' journey in the North Island of New Zealand is a complex and multifaceted process influenced by various factors, including the role of real estate agents and digital media. This research explores the role of these two factors and their impact on the decision making process of first home buyers.
Data was gathered using a mixed methods approach that combined surveys and interviews to examine the experiences and challenges that first home buyers encountered when utilising real estate agents and digital media during the home buying process.
The findings revealed the interrelated role of real estate agents and digital media in the first home buying journey. Real estate agents act as information resource, and advisory role. They are trusted experts who provide first home buyers with valuable information, market insights, and negotiation support that help them make informed decisions. At the same time, digital media helps first home buyers by triggering home search, providing access to vast amounts of information, easing house searches, give valuable visual content, and helping in the overall decision making process. First home buyers are better able to navigate the real estate market and make informed decisions regarding their first home purchased when digital media is used properly. Combining the support of real estate agents and digital media creates an optimal environment for aspiring first home buyers, facilitating well-informed decisions throughout their first home buying journey. However, challenges such as difficulty in finding the right house, understanding the home buying process, complete transparency, and accuracy of information pose hurdles for first home buyers. By understanding these dynamics, stakeholders in the real estate industry can better support first home buyers and enhance their overall first home buying experience
Teacher educators as researchers: Crossing boundaries, developing bi-cultural habits of mind
No full textRecent research by Smith and Assunção-Flores (2021) argued that specialised professional development for teacher–educators rarely occurs. Therefore, teacher–educators’ professional knowledge is mainly acquired through experience. This presentation reports on our experiences and the knowledge we are acquiring working as a cross-cultural research team in diverse early childhood education settings.
In the words of Karen Barad (2003), ‘We are not outside observers of the world. Nor are we simply located at particular places in the world; rather, we are part of the world in its ongoing intra-activity’ (p. 29). Similarly, as teacher–educators we remain located within the context of early childhood education. Not only are we researching within the bicultural context of the early childhood education curriculum Te Whāriki He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum (Ministry of Education New Zealand, 2017), we are maintaining professional relationships with teams of teachers who are allies in initial teacher education preparation and potentially fostering wider community relationships between centres and whānau. As early childhood education teachers, it is our experience that we draw on to understand the complexities of the research terrain.
This qualitative study employs an interpretivist paradigm underpinned by bioecological and sociocultural theories, including Kaupapa Māori theory. These theories recognise that knowledge is constructed and is influenced by a complex web of contextual influences including relationships and interactions, cultural values, and beliefs and history.
The methodological framework for this study included narrative inquiry to seek the stories of early childhood teachers and communities and their experiences with inquiry-based work with children. Narrative inquiry was selected for its potential to support understanding of how peoples’ experiences are shaped by and within the social, cultural, familial, linguistic and institutional narratives surrounding them (Clandinin & Connelly, 2014). To gather data, various methods including observations, interviews and focus groups have been employed in centres. During the analysis of the data, a team of seven early childhood education teacher educators-as-researchers met to wānanga, reflect on, discuss and interpret their observations of the data gathered.
Leavy (2015) argued that the process of storying and re-storying can ‘reveal multidimensional meanings and present an authentic and compelling rendering of the data’ (p. 46). In this project, storying and re-storying occurs through the wānanga process. As teacher–educators, we have found that this research is engaging us more deeply in the Māori concepts contained within Te Whāriki as we work to rethink our initial assumptions and interpretations of our observations. The bicultural context of Te Whāriki is creating opportunities to develop bicultural habits of mind within our research team, which we are interested in exploring further
Bridging the visualization gap in time series analysis through spatialization
No full textThis paper introduces a new method based on spatialization to bridge the visualization gap for time-oriented data. We first develop a 2D time-based framework using linear, cyclic, and branching concepts of time, which allows all time elements to be directly utilized for data visualization and analysis. This framework is then used to integrate attribute data, such as exchange rates, adding a third dimension to create a 3D map. We use the AUDNZD exchange rate for testing, and our results highlight the potential of the proposed method to enhance both the visualization and analysis of time-oriented data
Comparative Study on Cultural Dimensions of Organisational Change in India and New Zealand IT Industry
No full textImplementing and sustaining organisational change is challenging and often impossible for many organisations. Most transformation initiatives fail to achieve their objectives, especially during the planning and implementation stages. Policies and procedures must be closely tied to the organisation's culture for effective change implementation. When change and culture are aligned, organisations can integrate change into daily operations, ensuring long-term success and minimising resistance. This research focuses on identifying key drivers and barriers to organisational change, aiming to manage both the promoters and detractors efficiently, thereby reducing the likelihood of failure. There is considerable debate among scholars about bottom-up versus top-down resistance to change. As a result, this research emphasises change leadership and communication, exploring these aspects through various change models in detail.
Organisations recognise that change is crucial and see it as a critical factor in their development and success. This research profoundly explores the cultural aspects used by Hofstede’s cultural dimension framework to understand the cultural differences between the Information Technology industries in India and New Zealand. The research aimed to align organisational change with culture by uniquely integrating Hofstede’s cultural dimensions with Lewin’s change model, assessing each cultural dimension across the three stages of change: before, during, and after. Research on cross-cultural collaboration is advancing significantly, and understanding culture across borders is increasingly crucial, driven by the availability of cost-effective skilled labour, technology, and efficient change and cultural processes. This research aimed to merge the analysis of organisational change and culture and to apply these findings collaboratively between two countries. By working with promoters, the research identified critical cultural factors around which strategies can be developed to introduce them into the economies of India and New Zealand, aiming to impact the Information Technology industry in both countries positively.
The research highlights technological advancements, process improvements, and growth opportunities as critical drivers of change. On the other hand, forces like organizational politics, poor timing, and lack of resources act as barriers. The analysis shows that New Zealand is more sensitive to these findings. Culturally, there is a noticeable difference between the two countries regarding Collectivism and Individualism: India leans towards a more collective mindset, while New Zealand is more individualistic. Regarding planning, India tends to focus on the long term, while New Zealand prioritizes short-term objectives before shifting to long-term goals after changes are made. The study also emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural factors in managing change at every stage. These include self-motivation, teamwork, addressing managers by their first names, and valuing income over personal relationships
Guidelines to ensure Māori Data Sovereignty in the ICT sector of Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThis research examined Māori Data Sovereignty within Aotearoa New Zealand’s Information and Communication Technology sector, specifically investigating its perception, implementation challenges, and existing gaps. Māori Data Sovereignty is rooted in Māori self-determination and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, advocating for Māori control over data related to their identity, culture, and intellectual property rights. The findings indicate that while awareness of Māori Data Sovereignty is increasing, its practical application remains inadequate. Current data governance models often fail to incorporate Māori values, resulting in insufficient Māori control, data misrepresentation, continued systemic inequities, and the potential misuse of culturally significant data. Key barriers identified include a lack of Māori involvement in decision-making processes and limited representation in leadership positions within the Information and Communication Technology sector, further marginalising Māori voices in critical discussions. To address identified challenges, such as insufficient Māori control, data misrepresentation, and systemic inequities, the research recommends practical guidelines to integrate Māori cultural values into data governance, ensuring alignment with Māori Data Sovereignty principles. Recommendations include enhancing consultation with Māori communities to centre their perspectives in decision-making, increasing Māori representation in Information and Communication Technology leadership roles, establishing formal structures for Māori oversight, and providing targeted education for Information and Communication Technology professionals on Māori Data Sovereignty principles. Together, these actions are essential for creating an equitable and culturally respectful digital environment, ensuring Māori communities gain greater control and sovereignty over their data in the future