Rangahau Aranga: AUT Graduate Review
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Aroturuki te takutai moana mai i te rangi: Using satellite and UAV imagery to map the dynamics of the coast at sites with anthropogenic debris in Southland, New Zealand
Get PDFThe coast is a naturally active margin that forms an important barrier system subjected to the forces of both the terrestrial and marine environment. Coastal erosion has become a problem where infrastructure and debris along the shore are being consumed by the ocean. The overall aim of the study is to evaluate and generate effective monitoring and management of the changing coast at sites with anthropogenic debris. This study investigates four sites along the southern coast of the South Island, New Zealand. The sites investigated are Monkey Island, Colac Bay, Fortrose, and Porpoise Bay. Historic satellite imagery is used to investigate coastal dynamics by extracting the rate and magnitude of change occurring from past shorelines. 3D imagery was collected using a drone to collect volumetric change. Each site has shown a range of dynamics along the coast that can be defined into four different patterns. These patterns are stable, unstable, eroding and accreting. Sites without human intervention show constant signs of erosion. Human intervention from reinforcement prevents the coastline from retreating. This is seen at Colac Bay and Fortrose. Porpoise Bay has an unstable coastline and new houses are being built along the beach where the soil underneath them is just sand. The overall results will aid in predicting future shorelines and monitoring and managing coastal change
Are muscle knots causing my hip tightness and weakness?
Get PDFIn this presentation, I will present the role of trigger points (TrPs) in chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP). Travell and Simons define a TrP as “a hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band” (Simons et al., 1999, p. 5). Active and latent TrPs are proposed to cause restricted range of movement (ROM) and muscle weakness. Simons and Travell pioneered TrP research with their publications of “The Trigger Point Manuals” (1983 & 1992); subsequently research into TrPs has informed knowledge of musculoskeletal disorders. The prevalence of TrPs in people with CNSLBP is high; especially in the gluteus medius (GMed) muscles. CNSLBP is a complex and costly condition; with which treatment is not always successful. In this population, decreased hip ROM and hip muscle weakness are common findings. This study investigated if the presence of active TrPs was associated with these deficits in the hips, when compared with participants with latent TrPs and zero TrPs. Forty-two participants with CNSLBP underwent hip passive ROM and hip muscle strength testing; with palpation of their GMed muscles to identify the presence and type of TrPs. Analysis showed varying results regarding hip ROM and TrP status. There was an association between hip strength and TrP status. Participants with zero TrPs were the strongest and those with TrPs were weaker. In general, those with latent TrPs were the weakest. This study adds knowledge to the role that TrPs play in muscle strength and the characteristics of TrPs. This is significant for the treatment of CNSLBP and the development of more effective treatment of this multi-factorial condition
Partnerships for tourism and recreation in protected areas: Interdisciplinary perspectives on governance, management, and biodiversity financing
Get PDFProtected Areas (PAs) receive billions of visitors every year, principally for nature-based tourism (Balmford et al., 2015). However, the increasing numbers of visitors, the multifaceted objectives, and variety of stakeholders, have made the management of PA tourism progressively more difficult. PA agencies are increasingly involving stakeholders such as local people, the private sector, and non-governmental organisations, in managing recreation and tourism. This research investigates governance arrangements for tourism in PAs and explores collaborative partnerships between tourism stakeholders. The research aim is to investigate PA tourism partnerships to improve the understandings, performance, and outcomes of protected area tourism. The research aims to find out how the governance and management of protected area tourism can be improved. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the research will integrate perspectives related to PA tourism management, governance, collaborative governance, and project evaluation. The expected outcome of this research is to develop criteria, a methodology, and performance indicators for evaluating PA tourism partnerships to improve governance, management, and evaluation processes. Tourism partnerships will be investigated through the lens of the Theory of Change, a methodological approach for investigating and evaluating social problems and providing applicable solutions. The study will follow the philosophy of pragmatism as its research paradigm. It will employ a qualitative research approach and a case study research design. Qualitative data will be obtained from semi-structured interviews that will be analysed by employing a thematic technique using NVivo software. In this presentation, I aim to present the research goal, questions, gap in knowledge and the methodology that will be used in this study. I will talk about protected areas tourism, it’s positive and negative impacts, and the collaborative multi-stakeholder’s governance and partnership models for managing tourism in PAs
The role of intimate partner relationships on suicide risk among men in the construction industry in New Zealand
Get PDFMy research is investigating suicide prevention among men within the NZ construction industry, with a focus on relationship breakdown which is a predominant theme preceding suicide by men in the industry. The proposed research will investigate the interface between family life and working in the construction industry and how these factors may potentially impact on mentalhealth and suicide risk
The engagement between social media influencers and their followers on Instagram: A case study of #StopAsianHate
Get PDFWith the ongoing growth of social media, social media influencers are starting to play a critical role in the marketing plans of organisations. While most companies are keen to employ influencers to generate profits and gain market share, only a few studies have discussed how social media influencers can contribute to non-profits or social activities (Park & Cho, 2015). This inspires the present study to explore the mechanism of online influencers endorsing social problem campaigns. This research has two main objectives: 1) to examine which impression management tactics have been utilised by social media influencers; 2) to identify consumers’ responses to those tactics. This research used a qualitative case study approach with Asian hate as the case. Content analysis was adopted to analyse the Instagram posts of eight social media influencers and the comments of their followers in relation to those posts. I have found two dominant tactics, which are Solution and Campaign-promotion, and two supplement tactics, including Supplication and Association. In accordance with these tactics, the Instagram audience comments revealed five themes of responses: Educated, Feelings, Support, Resonance and Seeking reasons. The analysis revealed Solution as one of the leading tactics that will trigger people to feel educated and be supportive of the campaign posts, while Campaign-promotion will provoke Resonance, Reasons seeking and feeling Educated. The findings of this dissertation enrich the knowledge of impression management theory and tactics. It also encourages policymakers and social marketers to formulate appropriate policies to deal with social problems and adopt influencers as a tool to promote social causes. In this presentation, I will introduce the impression management tactics used by social media influencers as well as followers’ responses triggered by those tactics in the context of the #StopAsianHate movement
He Pounamu Ko Āu: Celebrating a mana wahine Māori narrative
Get PDF“He wāhine, he whenua, e ngaro ai te tangata.”
"By women and land, men are lost ‐ also refers to the essential nourishing roles that women and land fulfil, without which humanity would be lost." (Mikaere, 1994)
My master's is a kaupapa Māori creative, practice-led study that explores my wahine Māori identity. I expound on my journey through moving image, mōteatea (traditional Māori chant, sung poetry), ambient sound, and installation, sharing my healing process of overcoming the adversity of colonisation and the impacts it has had on me as a wāhine Māori. On an artistic level, my research showcases the wahine Māori worldview through film. I use my maternal whakapapa (genealogy) to celebrate intergenerational wāhine talent. As a finale, I honour my Māori creativity through an exhibition: an immersive experience installation at St Paul's Gallery at Auckland University of Technology. Delving deeper into my research, I explore the application of a mana wāhine Māori paradigm, drawing knowledge from whakapapa, whakawhānaungatanga (process of establishing relationships) and wairuatanga (spirituality). My understanding is supplemented with personal experiences, empowering my wāhine Māori pūrākau (stories). Moreover, applying a conceptual identity framework of a pounamu (jade, nephrite) pūrākau methodology (developed by my mother, Dr Alvina Jean Edwards) reinforces my Te Ao Māori worldview understanding and ways of knowing. Further, the pounamu pūrākau methodology provides a valuable lens to review my experimental and explorative moving-image practice. It guided me to my whenua in Te Waipounamu (South Island), activating my art-making process. Finally, Papatūānuku (mother earth) is my atua (god) who is chosen for her healing character and represents a central mana wahine figure within my wahine Māori pūrākau. In this presentation, I will discuss the pounamu pūrākau methodology and the creative methods I took to create all the components for the final exhibition He Pounamu Ko Āu. 
Relational and supportive interventions for residents living with dementia who like to walk
Get PDFIn this presentation, I will be providing the background, aims and potential benefits of my doctoral study. Globally, the rate of people diagnosed with dementia is increasing at an alarming rate. The World Health Organization has declared dementia a public health priority. As part of the progression of this condition, there are numerous behavioural changes, which often include a period of excessive walking, commonly referred to as wandering. International studies have found that the use of antipsychotic medications to manage this walking behaviour is widespread in many aged care facilities. This pharmacologic intervention is not in line with best practice. These medications have adverse effects on residents causing over-sedation, increased risks of falls and stroke, hospitalisations and even deaths. Hence, I am carrying out this study focussing on four aims: 1) to investigate the first interventions staff provide for residents who like to walk; 2) to find out from all participants, including the residents themselves, their perspectives on the meaning of the walking behaviour; 3) to examine the impact of built environment on the walking behaviour and 4) to explore participants’ understanding of person-centred care. This qualitative study uses a social constructionist methodology and critical ethnography to answer the research question. I have used purposive sampling technique to recruit participants from three aged residential care facilities who met selection criteria. To date, I have collected data in two facilities from staff, family members who hold enduring powers of attorneys, and residents, using observations and in-depth interviews, following the five stages recommended by Carspecken (1996). Data analysis is underway. On completion, I will make recommendations based on the findings which I hope will benefit various stakeholders, reinforce best practice, influence policies, contribute to nursing education. My goal is to support inclusivity and remove the stigmatised label of ‘wandering’
Long-Range Air Pollution Monitoring
Get PDFAir pollution in major cities worldwide today has become an important topic due to its adverse effects on human health and the environment. This research aims to monitor particulate matter (PM) at different sizes, i.e., less than 1 μm (PM1), 2.5 μm (PM2.5), 4 μm (PM4), and 10 μm (PM10), and that the concentration of particulate matter changes with location and time. Also, particulate matter is one of the primary pollutants in the air, which affects the environment and the risk of human mortality and morbidity of respiratory disease. This research presents the design and development of a low-cost network using LoRa (short for long-range), a spread spectrum modulation technique derived from Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) technology. Semtech’s LoRa is a long-range, low power wireless platform that has become the de-facto wireless platform of the Internet of Things (IoT). For detecting particulate matter levels, a commercially available Sensirion sensor (SPS30) was purchased and used. The developed and the deployed network has these sensors connected to LoRa modules (senor nodes) with an ESP32 microcontroller programmed to collect and send data to a gateway using the 915 MHz frequency band. The gateway then sends the data to ‘The Things Network (TTN)’, where a developed cloud-based dashboard reads the data. Several sensor nodes collect the measured values in the air at different elevations at the monitoring location. The proposed network design has been implemented at a specified location in Auckland City Centre, New Zealand. The designed network system allows the users to access a developed online dashboard, which shows the different concentration levels of particulate matter in the air in real-time
Rock With Lots Of Holes
Get PDFWe perceive our surroundings differently when fully engaged with them. Interactions with spaces begin to define our experience of the world. This research is a modern story of matter and philosophy, investigating the rock Scoria to produce a series of public architectural spaces that uniquely engage with the beholder. By taking part in the Material Imaginaries Research Collective - AUT Spatial Design department - I ask the following: 'What is our world made of? How might an expanded sense of 'material' and a focus on meaning, provenance, story, and performance recast how we make space?' With an imaginary read on the rock Scoria, the research explores both abstract and tangible ways to unfold a narrative of matter. Engaging with geographical, cultural, and social aspects that define the scoriaceous element and its connection to the “Tamaki Makaurau Volcanic landscape” (Tūpuna Maunga Authority). The exploration of Scoria's materiality becomes the driving aspect of the study, bridging learning and processes into practice-led research to uncover the existing history of the volcanic rock, challenging conventional methods and developing Le Mappe Del Mondo, Lavoro Manuale, and Il Giornale as a creative alternative to organize the various tools and techniques that shape the creative practice. The choice to incorporate Italian terminology becomes a playful way to acknowledge my background through the research. The project wishes to provide a set of interventions that engage with the geographical heritage features of Tāmaki Makarau in shaping a collection of public gathering spaces that activate unfurnished and unutilized areas around the territory. By celebrating the Tūpuna Maunga to showcase the heritage values associated with preserving those sites and considering the broader landscape's role in supporting our growth as a society. By providing a range of public spaces for the collective, such as gatherings and recreation, the designer considers all the components to ensure “sustainable” (Project for Public Spaces) city life engagement
Iti noa ana, he pito mata: A critical analysis of educational success through a Māori lens and two case studies of whānau within Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Get PDFThe educational success of Māori students is of high national interest and priority in New Zealand. A plethora of educational research exists on how to lift student achievement and the need for indigenous views in transforming outcomes for Māori (Macfarlane, 2015). This presentation shines a spotlight on Māori whānau (families’) perspectives of the challenges and barriers to academic success they encountered on their educational journey in mainstream schooling. Insights yielded from this doctoral research by Māori whānau offer an opportunity to rethink the overall role and purpose of educational success for future generations of Māori whānau. The research draws upon Western theories merged with Indigenous methodologies, such as Kaupapa Māori Theory (Smith, 2012) and Pūrakau (story telling) (Lee, 2009), to unravel the narratives of the past and present. Two case studies of whānau from Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa provided insight into the interconnected relationship between cultural trauma and educational success. Interviews with these whānau uncover themes that informed the creation of a model called ‘He rere pepepe ki te anuhe Framework’ – Transforming pathways for whānau through educational success. This model offers restorative solutions that offer optimism for a new future. It is a critical response to the issues facing Māori in New Zealand’s education system within the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The research findings affirm that systemic bias exists in New Zealand’s education system and has had a detrimental impact on the educational success of tamariki Māori (Māori children) and whānau across many successive generations. A major finding identified from the two case studies is that Māori have not recovered from colonisation, particularly the impact of 204 years of historical and cultural trauma experienced across successive generations of whānau that has resulted in the loss of language, culture and identity