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Insideout: Proposing an alternative, support based approach to women's incarceration in Aotearoa
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION
How can Aotearoa’s correctional facility typologies be revised to positively support women and improve their long term outcomes?
ABSTRACT
Our women’s prison system is failing both prisoners and the public alike. The recidivism rate for female offenders in Aotearoa is 33 percent; this rate increases to 48 percent for those who are re-incarcerated. The more times someone has been to prison, the more likely they are to return. While women make up just six point four percent of Aotearoa’s prisons, 66 percent of those women are Māori, highlighting the significant disadvantage that the judicial system inflicts on our indigenous population. The intergenerational damage caused by incarceration means the problem of prison is self-perpetuating.
Crime impacts the broader population at many levels. While some are unfortunate enough to be directly harmed by crime, everybody pays for it in the reduction of public spending that would otherwise be available for different public sector services. Incarceration is expensive. According to the Department of Corrections 2023 Annual Report, the Department’s total operating expenditure for the 2022-2023 financial year was two billion dollars. The average daily cost per convicted prisoner was 452; in contrast, the daily cost per person serving a community sentence was $72.
It is in the public interest to find a better way to address crime than incarceration. The invisibility of women’s prisons and the cost to facilitate them is intrinsically linked to society’s willingness to support custodial sentences and tough-on-crime politics despite any evidence that this approach is effective. Women, in particular, are more adversely affected by the blunt correctional tools of incarceration and solitary confinement. The Department of Justice’s statistics reflect the success of community based rehabilitation programs over incarceration-based sentencing. Most notably, the 2022 community-based Women’s Short Rehabilitation Programme substantially reduced recidivism rates of all sentence types. The issue identified in this research is the need for more community based facilities available to run support programs, especially for women experiencing housing insecurity.
There is a clear gap between the extremity of forensic healthcare facilities and prison versus community sentencing. Prison provides on-site skills based training and temporary relief from financial pressures but lacks fundamental emotional empathy, social connection, and real-life context. Community sentencing provides home context but can exasperate financial pressures and does not provide consistent therapeutic support programs. This project seeks to discover a place in between the damaging environments of incarceration and the unsupported space of community sentences. A safe space where therapeutic support can lead toward restorative justice outcomes.
Aided by precedents and trauma-informed design approaches, the project design outcome seeks to define what a supportive justice community architecture may look like. The architecture of incarceration is counter-intuitive to fostering communities; instead, it removes people from neighbourhoods. The architecture of progressive mental health institutions assists in the context of applying trauma-informed design principles, but the buildings do not mimic domestic life; the architecture still contains and controls. The scale, spatial planning principles, and intent of Papakāinga and Co-housing developments provide the best precedent for evolving the architecture of urban community-based support facilities and accommodation. This project seeks to build on the architectural precedent that co-housing provides in creating communities, by adding layers of insight from trauma-informed design principles, Te Aranga Principles, and Biophilic design. The resulting urban community-based support and accommodation hub architectural outcome is a step toward a future typology where communities can be involved in helping reduce crime through direct support and connection with justice-involved women.
SITE: Great South Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland, New Zealan
The litterbox: The smelly war no one signed up for
No full textManaging a litter box for an indoor cat is arguably one of the most annoying tasks for a guardian. But regular maintenance is important to mitigate the development of behavioural and physiological problems associated with toileting and general welfare. Feline toileting is a combination of a series of complex behaviours. If these are not completed adequately by the cat, it could result in a persistence of behaviour performed at the litterbox. In turn, this might cause a deficit in normal behaviour and the outcome, such as increased mess, can be an inconvenience for the owner. In the cattery environment, a new sustainable coconut coir litter of a dirt consistency, and a pelletized wood litter was offered to individually-housed cats over a four-day period. Motion-detection video recordings were collected when the cats were offered both the litter and coir, and each type of substrate individually. The behaviour was coded using an ethogram. The coconut coir litter was found to reduce inappropriate elimination behaviours such as extended interacting (scratching at the litter and surrounding areas) and lingering (sniffing in and around the litter and defecation or urination) within a few days. In comparison, prolonged behaviour outside of toileting was observed for the basic pelletised wood litter indicating it may not provide an ideal toileting environment. While the coir improved the opportunity for appropriate behaviour for the cat it produced more mess and increased maintenance workload for cattery staff. To ensure a long and positive relationship between owner and cat the substrate of the litterbox needs to be acceptable to the cat and not encourage undesired behaviour, and to the owner for ease of management. The next experiment will test the utility of a pelletised coconut coir product to minimise inconvenience for owners and offering cats a product that allows for the opportunity to perform appropriate toileting behaviours
Enhancing forthcoming trend estimation in trading platform based on multiphase combination of sentiment analysis and LSTM
No full textSince its inception, the stock market has piqued the curiosity of researchers, and several attempts have been made to forecast its future patterns. The market is dynamic, and the value of an organisation’s stock price is influenced by a variety of elements, including previous stock data and public attitudes and opinions. Researchers have shown that the "public sentiment" which split them into two factions, one in favor and the other against is the most prevalent of these characteristics. It got simpler to analyse the relationship between them as Artificial Intelligence (AI) advanced and strong Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) algorithms were introduced.
The number of outlets where the public can express their opinions has grown exponentially as the world entered the internet era. The researchers have experimented with several data sources, such as social networking websites, financial news websites, online global newsrooms, Yahoo finance websites, and other forums for exchanging opinions, in order to gather information about investor and public feelings as well as stock historical data. The forecasts have become more accurate over time as a result of testing various algorithms. Most of these studies have focused on larger stock markets, such as those in the USA, India, China, Japan, and Europe. Comparatively smaller stock markets cannot use the same strategies since they are virtually independent and heavily influenced by local news and public opinion, which might differ greatly from those of the rest of the globe.
In this research, this gap has been addressed and focus has been made on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX). This thesis explores the field of stock market forecasting with a particular emphasis on the NZX, a market that has received relatively little attention due to its distinct architecture and autonomous operations. In order to improve Future Trend estimation in trading platforms, this dissertation makes use of a multiphase machine learning and deep learning methods. The suggested method combines sentiment analysis with historical stock data from Yahoo Finance and financial news data from "sharechat.co.nz". Five of the largest New Zealand organisations stock data sets has been obtained. These companies has been selected because the textual data had more mentions of them than of others, which allows the sentiment scores to accurately reflect changes in the company.
In this research, Future Trend prediction models are built employing deep learning techniques, specifically Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, and five different subprocesses. Across various sub-processes, the impact of sentiment news and stock history data on Future Trend estimates is examined. Furthermore, feature selection strategies are used to reduce the possibility of overfitting.
A thorough literature analysis, a thorough explanation of the research methods, and the nuances of data collecting and pre-processing have all been included in the thesis format. It goes on to explain how the suggested prediction model was put together and clarifies the ramifications of the study’s findings.
Therefore, the principal contributions of this thesis are outlined as follows: 1) development of an innovative multiphase framework for Future Trend prediction for NZX by integrating sentiment analysis data from regional news with historical stock data; 2) deployment and comparative evaluation of both LSTM and machine learning models namely RF and SVM throughout five sub-processes, showcasing their efficacy in forecasting future patterns for five well-known New Zealand businesses and insights into how well they work and how they could potentially leveraged for boosting the accuracy of stock market trend predictions; 3) analysis of the special characteristics of the NZX, emphasising how sensitive it is to regional news and public opinion in contrast to other markets; 4) demonstration of how pre-processing methods like feature selection and data normalisation enhanced the predictive models accuracy and effectiveness; 5) recognising the difficulties and developments in acquiring and applying highquality financial news data for NZ; 6) highlighting how the prediction framework aid in improving accuracy for Future Trend prediction being used for the same goal at various sub-processes
Lightweight CNN-RNN model for tomato leaf disease detection
No full textThis research employs a hybrid lightweight model combining Convolutional Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural Networks to detect tomato plant diseases from leaf images. Traditional image classification models often require substantial computational resources to achieve high accuracy, limiting their practical application. The primary goal of this study is to develop a lightweight model that can be easily implemented on low-cost Internet of Things devices while maintaining high accuracy with real-world images, thereby making tomato disease detection more practical for real-world use. Additionally, this research aims to deepen the understanding of hybrid Convolutional Neural Networks - Recurrent Neural Networks models, investigate the applicability of Liquid Time-Constant networks - or liquid neural networks - in hybrid techniques, and enhance model generalization through augmentation techniques that mimic real-life conditions.
The methodology leverages the strengths of Convolutional Neural Networks for extracting high-level image features and Recurrent Neural Networks for capturing temporal relationships, thereby improving model performance and accuracy. The proposed model incorporates Closed-form Continuous-time Neural Network, a lightweight variant of Liquid Time-Constant networks, which was recently developed to effectively capture complex temporal patterns with greater expressivity than other Recurrent Neural Networks. The integration of the Neural Circuit Policy helps capture long-term dependencies in image patterns while maintaining stability and sensitivity to short-term causality, thereby reducing overfitting. Additionally, random rotation and brightness and contrast adjustments are applied to the training data to reflect real-world conditions, further enhancing model generalization.
The results show that the hybrid models outperform their single Convolutional Neural Networks counterparts in both accuracy and computational cost. The designed model utilizing Closed-form Continuous-time with Neural Circuit Policy achieved the highest performance with 97.15% accuracy on the test set, compared to around 94% for pre-trained Convolutional Neural Networks models. The designed model also demonstrated nearly the lowest computational cost among the models tested. Furthermore, training the models on augmented data improved their accuracy and generalization capabilities.
In conclusion, this research provides solid evidence that the hybrid Convolutional Neural Networks - Recurrent Neural Networks model is an effective approach to improving accuracy without increasing computational cost. The study also highlights the enhanced performance of using liquid neural networks in this hybrid approach, an area not extensively explored in previous research, thereby expanding the application value of liquid neural networks. This approach has broader implications, suggesting that similar methods could be applied and validated in other fields, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and environmental monitoring
Sporulation and spore viability in Nephrolepisexaltata (L.) Schott, Nephrolepidaceae, collected from a naturalised population (Oratia, Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, Aotearoa / New Zealand)
No full textThis paper examines fertile material of Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott grown in cultivation, but originally obtained from a naturalised population in Oratia, Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, Aotearoa / New Zealand. Spore viability is assessed, with material showing c.40–50% spore abnormality. The presence of spores with a more regular morphology are recorded. However, viability assessed with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) is low to negligible
New Zealand Lithothelium (Pyrenulaceae): Description of a new species Lithothelium kiritea sp. nov., with notes on L. australe
No full textLithothelium kiritea A.J. Marshall, Aptroot, de Lange & Blanchon sp. nov. (Pyrenulaceae) is described from Aotearoa / New Zealand. The new species has a mainly coastal and mostly westerly distribution in Aotearoa / New Zealand and is thus far known only from the bark of living Cordyline australis (Asparagaceae). The new species is separated from Litho thelium australe (treated here as endemic to the Chatham Islands), by its corticolous, rather than saxicolous habit, white to pale buff (when fresh) thallus and large ascospores (measuring 32−40 × 12−15 μm). Lithothelium kiritea is easily recognised and usually abundant in the locations where it has been found, yet it seems to have not been collected until 1973 when it was sampled once and then not collected again until 2018. Currently, specimens matching L. kiritea have not been reported from Australia, so we recommend it be searched for there. Within Aotearoa / New Zealand, we propose that the species be assessed as ‘Not Threatened’ using the New Zealand Threat Classification System
The Final Frontier: A Pasifika perspective of the transition gaps from adolescent to young adults in state care
No full textRESEARCH AIM:
• To explore the experiences of young Pasifika men (aged 16-25) who participate in a transition to adulthood programme (TTA) on exit from state care.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What were the background histories and prior experiences of the young Pasifika men, with their families and state care before entering the TTA programme?
2. What was the effect of the TTA programme in supporting the research participants to transition from state care to independent living?
3. What are participants' experiences with key elements of the TTA programme (the values, rites of passage, roles, and responsibilities)?
ABSTRACT
In New Zealand leaving statutory care (state care) to live independently occurs when a young person turns 18. Many ‘state leavers’ make up an unseen population who lack adequate preparation for this journey into independence and adulthood. This research examines state care leavers who have participated in a culturally responsive Transition to Adulthood (TTA) programme with a well-established Pasifika and Māori youth mentoring programme in West Auckland. The ten research participants were young Pasifika men aged 16-25 years.
Data collected for the research was through Talanoa – the art of the spoken word via audio recordings that were transcribed and thematically analysed. The Talanoa conversations draw out and tell the participants’ stories and identify key aspects of their experience before participating in the programme. The research highlights the state leavers' backgrounds, the extent of their state care and their lack of social and emotional preparation for transition. Risk factors such as peer pressure, exclusions, incarceration, drugs, and alcohol were acknowledged by the participants to be additional barriers to their integration into society.
While the participants experienced the mentoring programme as holistic, supportive, and nurturing the TTA programme is constantly challenged to meet the needs of the state leavers. This research recognises professionals such as youth workers, social workers, and agencies like schools and Pasifika organisations, must engage in a significant preparatory role with young Pasifika males, before and after their exit, to help prevent them from returning to the ‘system’ through other agencies e.g., prison or ongoing welfare dependency. The recommendations from this research emphasise the importance of culturally responsive mentoring to include family support and reciprocity, a (re)balanced life, and continuing personal development
Beyond dark: 明暗 [Míng-Àn]
No full textRESEARCH QUESTION
How can the adaptive reuse of a heritage site inform the public about the past and drive new perceptions of the place? (a case study of Mt Eden Prison)
ABSTRACT
Throughout history, distinctive buildings become part of a cultures-built heritage, these buildings inherit values and meanings over time. These inherited meanings serve as a living anchor that influences and shapes modern values. However, not all heritage places represent positive meanings or values; some heritage buildings are associated with negative emotions and/or represent a dark episode in the history of a particular group. The Mount Eden Prison is an example of this.
Mt Eden Prison is nationally significant and listed as a “historic place category one” by Heritage New Zealand. This means the building is recognised with the highest heritage value and status. However, the building has been uninhabited since 2011. Although it has been subject to continuing maintenance, as concluded by Archifact, implementing the accepted preservation strategy has been unsuccessful so far, and has significantly deteriorated and damaged the historic fabric.
Twelve years later, there has yet to be an official update regarding the future use of this building. The building is in urgent need of a new programme. Through adaptation and reuse, this project could offer opportunities to promote understanding, tolerance, and empathy rather than the building being left with the associations of death, horror, and hate.
This project intends to reframe the narrative of Mt Eden Prison as something that can be learned from and not forgotten. Historical events associated with the heritage site will be researched and ultimately developed into narrative-based architectural interventions to reframe the difficult past. The project will ultimately offer a museum where the public can learn about the cultural memories of a collective past and offer opportunities for them to think about how it continues to inform the present.
明是什么，暗又是什么？[What is light, what is dark?]
"Freedom, it ain’t on the other side of those concrete brick walls or those cages. It’s found inside of us. It’s a choice. I’m thirty something years old and just realising now it’s a choice. I found it and the truth is I found it in jail" -- “Songs from the Inside,” March 7, 2012"
"Songs from the Inside" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzzEie50s0Y&ab_channel=WhakaataM%C4%81ori
A parametric analysis of a solar humidification/dehumidification desalination system using a bio-inspired cascade humidifier.
No full textWater scarcity is a significant challenge for a growing world’s population, particularly in remote locations where solar energy is plentiful. Of the existing solutions, the Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) desalination technique can work effectively with low-grade energy sources, such as solar. However, HDH desalination systems often have a low yield, leading to a focus on ever-more complex humidification systems. This work aims to examine the performance of a novel bioinspired humidifier as a low-cost and effective solution to increase the yield of small-scale HDH desalination systems. To this end, an HDH desalination system using a cascade humidifier was conceptually developed and parametrically modelled. It was shown that the evaporation rate in the humidifier could be increased by increasing both the air and water flow rates. It was also found that an evaporation rate of 0.91 × 10−3 kg/s could be achieved for an evaporation area of 0.36 m2. Considering the entire desalination system, it was noted that increasing the water flow rate reduced the water temperature entering the humidifier and thus reduced production. Conversely, increasing the airflow rate enhanced the production rate. More importantly, it was shown that under appropriate conditions this novel desalination system can have a production of 10.2 litre/day/m2