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Urban and post-photographic fragments: An assemblage in the digital city
No full textUnreliable Landscapes’ is an interdisciplinary forum (web and print) for the presentation and discussion of art centred on the possibilities of imagining the digital poetics of city living. Congruently Unreliable Landscapes—Downtown Auckland is the title of David Cowlard’s aerial assemblage, a constellation of overlapping Google Earth ‘snapshots’ timestamped—viewing the progress of the construction of the City Rail Link, and the consequent demise of The Downtown Shopping Centre,Hobson Street Auckland, paired with an evocative sound recording of squealing metal-on-metal rail recording. Are the audio recordings future focused (assemblage) or indeed those of the current state: readers slip seamlessly between both modes: unsure. Visual memories past and the audio future focused. One greets the works as an aerial flâneur-photographers moving through the landscape / city scape
Measuring ramp use in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)
No full textTo investigate the utility of ramps as enrichment and as a method for establishing demand for commodities, the latency to climb a ramp of increasing slope to obtain food was measured in four guinea pigs. The average height where guinea pigs failed to climb was 29.1 cm (slope 14.2 degrees). In addition, the increasing slope altered climbing behavior; when climbing speed was tested using the same slope for all trials within a single session, the guinea pigs maintained their climbing speed as the gradient increased across sessions. In comparison, when the slope was increased with each successful climb within a session, climbing speed was not maintained. Installing the maximum slope climbed can promote increased exercise and foraging but avoid physical harm or barriers to resources. Furthermore, these results indicate that climbing, a simple behavior with measurable differences as a function of slope and thus, effort, could be used as a method for testing the demand for commodities, such as food type or enrichment items, to be included in the husbandry of guinea pigs to improve welfare of the small cavy
Improving power systems stability using reactive power compensation
No full textIntroduction to angle stability
Example of steady state instability
Methodology, the theory, examples
Simulation: Python Code results
Simulation: Circuit without midpoint compensation
Multisim simulation
Simulation: No midpoint compensation
Validation: Power Lab Bench test
Angle differences compariso
An Entrepreneurial Journey
No full textMy Master of Professional Practice thesis, named ‘An Entrepreneurial Journey,’ examines the key success elements that are characteristic of female entrepreneurs in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). It offers useful information for aspiring business owners, those already on their entrepreneurial journey, and stakeholders who are decision-makers for entrepreneurship.
There has been a lot of interest in the study of entrepreneurship from academic and professional groups due to its broad and dynamic nature. Entrepreneurship is a vital component of the business landscape and understanding the success factors that enable, specifically female entrepreneurs, to launch, maintain, and grow their businesses in NZ is important to contribute to economic growth. Therefore, I aimed to answer the question, “What are the key success elements involved in starting and growing female-led businesses in New Zealand?”
A multifaceted methodology was used that combined a pragmatic philosophy with a qualitative research methodology using thematic content analysis and inductive reasoning to investigate and comprehend the research question. The methods included action research, surveys, and a literature review which received ethical approval from the College of Work-Based Learning Ethics Committee. The research was divided into two parts: one being a practical real-life business startup and product development project, which included a feasibility survey and journal, and the second being a survey of six successful NZ female entrepreneurs that contained 16 open-ended questions.
The practical project covered several entrepreneurial process stages, including opportunity identification, business startup, and product development, as well as project management, budgeting, and risk analysis. Knowledge was gained through taking practical action and learning from the process and outcomes. The survey results provided insightful information on the participants’ organizations from their founding to their growth. The combined literature review, practical project, and survey identified four main categories with twelve success factors:
Personal Factors:
Motivation
Characteristics
Mastery
Startup Factors:
Opportunities
Startup
Business Factors:
Operations
Money
Risk Management
Marketing
Growth
Challenges
External Factors:
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Under personal factors, motivation was a primary success factor, comprising passion-driven and purpose-driven product development based on the entrepreneur’s ‘why.’ Entrepreneurial characteristics portrayed an entrepreneurial mindset and skill mastery was also a dominant theme. The startup factors included products or services aligned with the entrepreneurs ‘why’ and passion, as well as a robust business plan. The business factors incorporated funding and investment, a great team, planning, quality equipment, cashflow management, risk management, customer-centric marketing, branding, and experience in the industry. The external factors included the entrepreneurial ecosystem consisting of mentors, investors, government funding, and training.
Conclusions and recommendations of this thesis aim to: advance the field of entrepreneurship; guide aspiring entrepreneurs to get clarity on their ‘why’; encourage schools and tertiary institutes to establish a strong foundation in entrepreneurship; promote further development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in NZ including starting an innovation hub for product development; and provide access to female entrepreneurship statistical information.
The ‘entrepreneur is the business’ and without the entrepreneur, the business would not exist. Entrepreneurship is a life-changing adventure, and entrepreneurs embrace the journey to fulfil their vision
Katamari Kart: A serious and hilarious sub/urban game for more serendipitous, playful and friendly public art
No full textThe article presents the sub/urban game-method Katamari Kart, where people roam industrial and suburban areas collecting waste materials and progressively building a large and mobile public sculpture. This game-method departs from established concepts and practice in neighbourhood improvement as it tries to evade capital expenditure and embraces uncertainty and friction in bringing together various stakeholders, does not aim to look stylish or even be useful, decelerates daily life, promotes self-sufficiency in cultural life, and creates long-term wellbeing through play. That is, it is a degrowth approach to neighbourhood improvement. Rumen Rachev positions the Katamari Kart game-method as an expression of the ‘Kiwi way’ and discusses the role it can play in making our future neighbourhoods more serendipitous, playful and friendly, and a ref lection of the diverse people and things that reside there – all without capital expenditure or the support of the authorities. Finally, Alex Bonham, author of the book Play and the City: How to Create Places and Spaces to Help Us Thrive, discusses the Katamari Kart game-method in the context of adult play, our settler history, keeping up appearances, the Be a Tidy Kiwi campaign, play and wellbeing, and conflicting responses to frugality
Impact of e-Communication on Digital Media of Swimwear Brands in New Zealand
No full textPurpose - This research aims to explore the impact of e-communication on social and digital media on swimwear brands in New Zealand. Social and digital media have become strategic mediums for brands to obtain great economic benefits and project brand recognition. Worldwide, users join different social media platforms daily to search for products or services.
Methodology - Qualitative ethnography research was conducted, gathering data from seven managers and directors of swimwear companies in New Zealand. The data was analysed through a thematic analysis.
Results and findings - Findings indicated that New Zealand swimwear companies communicate with their users and consumers through different channels. Swimwear brands see digital channels as one of the most important means to promote their products, invest in ads, and obtain sales.
Interpretations and conclusions - Findings show that swimwear brands use different digital channels to reveal brand identity when sharing publications related to their philosophy. Also, brands achieve a large number of sales from social media, and they achieve this by connecting their digital channels with the company's website.
Recommendations - Companies should establish a monthly content grid by scheduling the content that will be posted on social media based on digital channel analytics, thus; guaranteeing consistency and constancy. Company managers should consider market research to determine what type of social media their target group uses to determine the ideal digital medium to communicate with their followers
Young Women’s Perception of Sustainable Fashion in Invercargill
No full textThis research project explores the knowledge and attitudes of high school female students towards sustainable fashion. The study aims to address the knowledge gap and promote sustainable fashion practices among young women.
The study follows a pragmatic research philosophy and employs an exploratory approach through an intervention and mixed-method design. Data collection is conducted through questionnaires and focus groups, allowing for quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
The findings reveal a significant disparity in awareness levels among the participants, with a considerable portion lacking knowledge or comprehension of sustainable fashion. The research highlights the need for intervention within the educational framework to integrate sustainability education, including sustainable fashion, into school curricula. It emphasizes the role of education in shaping sustainable behaviours and attitudes among high school students.
The study also uncovers the complex relationship between individuals and clothing, showcasing the influence of self-perception, social identity, and consumer behaviour on sustainable fashion consumption. It identifies barriers, such as the perception that sustainable clothing lacks style and variety.
The research recommends implementing a conscientisation campaign targeting youth to raise awareness about the fashion industry's environmental and social ramifications. It suggests integrating innovative marketing strategies and immersive experiences to engage and educate young people about sustainable fashion. Collaboration with educational institutions, industry experts, and sustainable fashion brands is recommended to enhance the credibility and practicality of educational initiatives
Azolla rubra R.Br. (Salviniaceae) on Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island
No full textAzolla rubra (Salviniaceae) is reported from the Chatham Islands for the first time based on chance finds made in February and April 2023 from two lakes in the north-eastern portion of Rēkohu / Wharekauri / Chatham Island (hereafter Rēkohu). The biostatus of Azolla on the islands is reviewed and it is believed that plants are more likely to have arrived naturally via fragments bought to the islands by waterfowl from Aotearoa / New Zealand than by other means, so should be treated as indigenous. We advise that the impact of Azolla on the most sheltered, shallow, freshwater bodies of the islands should be monitored, as hitherto the islands waterbodies have been mostly devoid of free-floating aquatic plants
Collaborative design and delivery of integrated design and construct projects is value-adding for the client really? how?
No full textThis session aims to share the potential and benefits of collaborative working practices that could provide value-added outcomes for the client, the project, the design and construct project team – now and for future projects – facilitated from a design practitioner and academic researcher’s perspective
Outnumbered: Male student engagement rates with school counsellors
No full textFocus question for phase one
How do male student engagement statistics compare with female students? Data, Schools, Findings
Focus question for phase two
What are the unique barriers, constraints and facilitative factors experienced or perceived by students who identify as male in coeducational secondary schools in Aotearoa, New Zealand?
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