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Psychological impacts and self-management by responders to emergency and disaster events involving animals: findings from a cross-sectional international survey
No full textAims: To examine the self-reported psychological impacts for professional and volunteer responders associated with attending animal-related emergencies and disasters, focusing on their experience and self-reported management.
Methods: An online survey of professional and volunteer responders to animal-related emergencies was shared via social media and international response organisations. Questions addressed demographic, training and event-related factors, perceptions of effects on well-being and post-event management recovery techniques. A particular event was recalled in free-text, and respondents indicated how they had been affected using free-text reflection and Likert scale assessment. The revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) was used to identify evidence of possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Factors associated with the self-assessed binary outcome of compromised mental well-being (yes or no) were evaluated using single-predictor and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Of 227 responses deemed sufficiently complete for analysis, participants’ rescue experience ranged from 1–60 years; 67% identified as female. Most respondents (57%; 129/227) reported that the incident described affected their mental well-being. A multivariable model found female responders more likely than males to report compromised well-being (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.25–4.57; p = 0.009). The presence of an animal injury (OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.44–5.75; p = 0.003), injuries to a member of the public (OR = 3.73, 95% CI = 1.68–8.99; p = 0.002), or a team member (OR = 8.65 95% CI 2.25–57.67; p = 0.006), increased the odds of self-reported adverse mental health outcomes. Six per cent (13/227) of respondents had an IES-R score for which partial PTSD may be a clinical concern, and 3% (7/227) had a score indicative of possible PTSD, including four with a score that has been associated with PTSD and long-term health consequences. Of those who tried well-being support techniques, 95% (187/197) ranked talking with friends, family or teammates as effective. Debriefing with the team or mentor was also effective (95%; 187/197). Socialising was effective for 88% (119/135), and mindfulness or meditation for 87% (91/105).
Conclusion and clinical relevance: Responders to emergencies involving animals are at risk of psychological trauma associated with these events, potentially leading to the compromise of mental well-being. Psychosocial supports self-identified as helpful for recovery include talking with others, socialising, physical or recreational activity, debriefing, and mindfulness or meditation, but their effectiveness requires objective evaluation so that education on mitigation and recovery strategies is well-informed.fals
Pedagogies of plurality : education, cultural resilience, and well-being in indigenous Chiapas : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of International Development, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University
No full textCopyright holders of any copyrighted images are invited to use the Take Down Request link below to request their removal.Indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico, have faced centuries of exclusion through colonialism, state assimilation policies, and global economic inequalities. Education has often served as a tool of this exclusion, undermining Indigenous languages, knowledge systems, and communal ways of life. In 1994, the Zapatista movement declared autonomy and began establishing its own schools as part of a broader struggle for dignity, self-determination, and justice for the Indigenous communities of Chiapas. This inspired other Indigenous communities in Chiapas to establish their own schools with a similar focus on autonomy and cultural preservation. These autonomous schools reject the logic of Western development, re-centring education within Indigenous knowledge, communal decision-making, and traditional cultural practices. This thesis explores how the Indigenous autonomous education movement of Chiapas contributes to social well-being when understood through the lens of buen vivir, a framework that recognises the interdependence of social, cultural, ecological, and spiritual life. Drawing on desk-based research and semi-structured interviews with individuals associated with the Zapatista movement and connected Indigenous communities, this study examines how education in Chiapas fosters five key areas: language, identity, and cultural resilience; environmental awareness, agriculture, and food sovereignty; social and physical infrastructure; educational sovereignty and intellectual liberation; and collective ethics. The findings reveal that well-being does not arise from isolated schooling initiatives but from embedding education into the social fabric of the community and resisting external models that compartmentalise daily life. While challenges remain, such as funding shortages, cultural tensions, and ongoing pressures from State aggression, organised crime, and globalisation, the Zapatistas and other Indigenous communities of Chiapas exemplify how Indigenous-led education can generate resilience, cultural strength, and collective dignity. This study demonstrates that education, when reimagined from below, can become a practice of resistance and renewal, contributing to a broader vision of post-development grounded in Indigenous autonomy and hope
Gender equality discourse: a Japanese context
No full textPurpose
This review paper aims to critically examine the discourse on gender equality in Japan, focusing on its socio-cultural, economic and political dimensions. By synthesising existing literature, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and barriers that influence the gender equality debate in Japan, while identifying gaps and opportunities for future research and specifying where practice can be recoupled to policy.
Design/methodology/approach
An integrative literature review was conducted across four key institutional domains – markets, government/public sector, families and education – analysed at the macro, meso and micro levels. The synthesis is integrative rather than exhaustive, prioritising analytic coverage over completeness.
Findings
The dynamic relationship between institutional pressures and cultural norms reinforces traditional gender roles across domains. While global pressures and progressive policies have catalysed some change, entrenched routines and weak enforcement often constrain substantive transformation. Decoupling is concentrated at two interfaces: macro to meso (policy to organisation) and meso to micro (organisation to household).
Originality/value
This study integrates institutional multiplicity with the three-cycle social innovation lens to demonstrate how Japan’s competing logics sustain policy–practice decoupling and to identify where recoupling can begin. It specifies two actionable interfaces (macro to meso and meso to micro), aligns practical levers to each and proposes illustrative indicators that make early recoupling observable for internal monitoring and public reporting, providing usable guidance for policymakers and organisations.fals
A novel frameshift variant in ALS2 associated with segmental axonopathy in Merino sheep
No full textBackground: Segmental axonopathy is a recessively inherited neurodegenerative disorder that has affected Merino sheep since the early 1930s. Despite its long-standing recognition, the genetic basis of the condition remained unknown. This study aimed to identify the genetic cause of segmental axonopathy and confirm its pathological features to improve diagnostic accuracy and inform breeding strategies.
Results: Whole genome sequencing and genotyping of affected and unaffected Merino sheep identified a novel homozygous frameshift variant in the ALS2 gene that segregated with disease. RNA sequencing of cerebellar peduncle tissue confirmed the nonsense consequence on the ALS2 transcript. Histological analysis highlighted the hallmarks of the disease as large, foamy eosinophilic axonal swellings predominantly in the trigeminal ganglia, with additional degenerative changes in both the brain and spinal cord. These findings support the value of targeted sampling of sensory roots of the trigeminal nerve, spinal cord tracts, and dorsal nerve rootlets to enhance diagnostic accuracy. The same ALS2 variant was found across multiple unrelated flocks in both Australia and New Zealand, indicating a broader presence within the fine-wool Merino sheep population.
Conclusions: This study identifies a novel ALS2 frameshift variant associated with segmental axonopathy in Merino sheep and provides both genetic and histological evidence supporting its role in disease pathology. The development of a DNA diagnostic test will enable more informed breeding decisions, reduce the prevalence of this condition, and improve animal welfare and productivity in the Merino industry. Moreover, the findings offer a potential large-animal model for exploring early-onset forms of human motor neuron diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in which ALS2 variants are implicated.fals
Asymmetric catalysis via spatially separated chiral and catalytic motifs in multicomponent metal-organic frameworks : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
No full textListed in 2025 Dean's List of Exceptional ThesesModern life without catalysis is inconceivable. Asymmetric catalysts are a special type of catalyst that preferentially produce one of two possible enantiomers over the other. The ability to selectively obtain exclusively one of the possible enantiomers is of highest importance for modern synthetic chemistry. To enable the transfer of chiral information from the catalyst to the reaction substrates, asymmetric catalysts must be chiral. In conventional asymmetric catalysts, the catalytic and chiral motifs are held close together within one single molecule.
In this work, we break the design limitation of conventional asymmetric catalysts with a strategy we call ‘remote asymmetric induction’ (RAI). In RAI catalysts, the catalytic and chiral motifs are independent of each other in their design and synthesis. To achieve this, we use the multicomponent metal-organic framework MUF-77 (MUF = Massey University Framework). MUF-77 consists of three chemically distinct linkers that each occupy a specific position in the framework without disorder or randomness. To create RAI catalysts, the catalytic and chiral motifs are individually anchored to the different building blocks of MUF-77. By virtue of the MUF-77 structure, the catalytic and chiral motifs are in close proximity to one another in a catalytic pore, which creates an active site. This enables the transfer of chiral information to the reaction participants.
Initially the reaction scope of the RAI catalyst was expanded by screening a variety of RAI-MOFs incorporating different catalytic and chiral functionalities across a range of model reactions. A promising catalyst for one model reaction was identified and investigated in depth. Through systematic modification of important reaction variables, the variation in enantioselectivity of this system was explored. After parameter optimisation, very good to excellent enantioselectivity was achieved. Control experiments confirmed that the origin of enantioselectivity arises from remote cooperative interactions between the functionalities in the active site. The catalysts were then tested for classical performance metrics and a hypothetical transition state within the MOF pore was proposed. This work establishes RAI as an alternative platform to develop high-performing asymmetric catalysts
From experience to innovation : educator and trainee voices on research-driven and culturally responsive university-based EMDR training in Aotearoa : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textEye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) training programmes are rarely delivered within university settings, with the University of Otago among the first institutions to establish a competency-based, research-informed model. Despite growing demand for EMDR-trained clinicians, no existing studies have explored how university-based training is experienced by trainees and educators. This study qualitatively explored participants’ motivations, expectations, challenges, and feedback to support programme development. Using Thomas’s (2006) General Inductive Method, themes were developed from interviews and focus groups with trainees, educators, and the course administrator. Findings highlight how prior clinical experience shaped engagement, the central role of experiential learning, and the need for stronger safeguards to support emotional safety. Participants emphasised the value of inclusive design, peer connection, and supplementary supervision access. Feedback included suggestions around improvements relating to practicum preparation, course structure, and integration of cultural content. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable, context-responsive EMDR training models. Future research should examine clinical outcomes, supervision models, and trainee preparedness across diverse training environments
The materialised temporality of dust: developing a biodesign methodology to spatialise time and temporalise space.
No full textThe paper uses the material and conceptual figure of dust and matter out of place to amplify more-than-human perspectives of time, to trace the changing orientations and ethos of a site. Dust contains a complex mixture of inorganic and organic material, made up of an exuberance of microbial life such as Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium and around 20 other fungal sources. We are interested in dust as a material and metaphorical device to situate and critique temporality and the way we narrate and investigate the past and future, from a non-human, microbial point of view. Dust implies residual matter, a contradiction to order often associated with dirt. It indicates something that needs to be removed, or rearranged, something that is “out of place,” an element that does not fit. Dust also indicates time and space and signals movement and life: dust hosts a medley of non-human particles and microbial communities that engage in their own worldmaking practices. The paper brings together methods of “un-cleaning” with archival research and spatial methods of 3D scanning, modelling and mapping, as an opportunity to decentre human hubris and explore the ways in which non-humans have and continue to inhabit “our” spaces.fals
Not All Birds of the Same Feather: A Systematic Review of Ecosystem Services and Disservices in Horticulture
No full textWild birds can provide essential benefits and cause significant harm in food production systems, commonly framed as ecosystem services and disservices, respectively. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on avian ecosystem services and disservices in horticultural systems, analysing 251 studies published between 1912 and 2023. Species richness and abundance were the most commonly used metrics. A total of 128 studies investigated ecosystem services, 109 addressed disservices, and only 22 considered both. Pest control (137 occurrences) and crop damage (120) were the dominant subjects within ecosystem services and disservices, respectively. However, crop damage was frequently reported without assessment, suggesting a confirmation bias towards birds as pests. The methods used to assess services and disservices were diverse, including species identification, damage and yield surveys, landscape analysis, experiments, published data, social surveys, laboratory techniques, and economic or ecological modelling. Despite this methodological diversity, most studies used only one or two approaches. Studies incorporating human-wildlife conflict were rare, despite their relevance for both conservation and horticultural management. This review reveals a bias towards studying avian contributions that are more easily measurable, such as pest control and crop damage, while more complex or less visible effects, such as pollination, disease control, or herbivore release, remain underexplored. As a result, birds' roles in horticultural systems are often understood in fragmented terms, potentially leading to ineffective or unjustified management decisions. A more holistic, species-focused, and integrative approach is needed to fully understand the trade-offs between ecosystem services and disservices. Such understanding is critical not only for enhancing the sustainability and productivity of food systems, but also for conserving wild birds in increasingly intensified agricultural landscapes.fals
The night garden : pet memorialisation through the application of skilled craft : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
No full textCopyright holders of any copyrighted images may use the Take Down Request link below to request their removal.Pet owners will experience the loss of their beloved pet. Unlike human loss, pet loss can be compounded by its repeated experience throughout a person’s life. Pets contribute precious moments and facilitate emotional connections, but unlike our human family, they leave little behind by way of tangible objects, limiting our opportunity for memory provocation through physical reminders of their lives. My creative practice investigates how memories attributed to objects can offer an evocative mode of connection between emotional experiences and tangible souvenirs of our pets’ lives. The final design, a playful sculptural reliquary, incorporates visual and tactile storytelling mechanisms; it explores optical effects to enhance the physical engagement with the object and its associative memory. Drawing on my background as a toy maker together with pop surrealist aesthetics, the research explores skilled craft as a strategy for deepening memorialisation. The design investigates the relationship between the care taken in fashioning highly crafted objects as an amplification of the importance that we place on our pets as a non-human family. The design process adopts a personal introspective methodology, whereby outcomes are driven by contextual, research-led reflective practice, through iterative methods of drawing and physical prototyping. I argue that by creating memorial objects that ‘eulogise’ our pet grief as personal touchstones, an acceptance of pet mourning as a growing social evolution is better understood. The resolved design is a storytelling device that reveals through ritual engagement, exploring mnemonic objects that enshrine memories of deceased pets, and the role of such objects as memory devices in the maintenance of their memory
Economic viability of yield monitoring systems in potato farming : a comparative study between New Zealand and India : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agribusiness at Massey University, School of Agriculture and Environment, Palmerston North, New Zealand
No full textIndia is one of the largest global producers of potatoes by volume. At the same time, New Zealand, with its significantly smaller land area and farming population, consistently achieves higher yields, better produce quality, and greater per-hectare productivity. This study investigates the economic viability of adopting Yield Monitoring Systems (YMS) in potato farming across both countries to determine whether such precision agriculture technologies can enhance profitability and efficiency in India. The research draws on secondary data from official sources, including Potato New Zealand and the Government of India, covering regional potato yields in Canterbury, Pukekohe, and Manawatu (NZ), and six Indian states. Using economic evaluation metrics—Return on Investment (ROI), Payback Period (PP), and Cost-Benefit Ratio (CBR)—the study compares outcomes across two adoption models: individual farmer-based adoption and service-based adoption via contractors or Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Findings reveal that while YMS significantly improves farm-level profitability and efficiency in New Zealand due to larger landholdings and advanced mechanisation, direct replication of this model in India is economically unfeasible for smallholder farmers. The high initial investment, lack of economies of scale, post-harvest losses, and limited access to institutional credit act as significant barriers. The study concludes that for YMS to be viable in India, adaptation is essential—either through modular integration of YMS into existing machinery or via collective access through FPOs and Custom Hiring Centres. This comparative analysis offers a pathway for scalable YMS adoption in India, promoting precision agriculture not by direct transfer but through context-specific adaptation, institutional support, and strategic policy reallocation