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The chronology of Waikato pā: A spatio-temporal investigation of pā in the middle Waikato basin
No full textThis study considers the chronology of pā construction, proliferation, and development within the
Middle Waikato Basin through a spatio-temporal investigation of palisade construction activity as
identified at six pā (fortified places). The chronological approach applied in this thesis uses 14C
wiggle-match dating to provide an accurate and precise calendar date for the felling of a tree
(Felling Date) used to construct a palisade defence at a pā. These Felling Dates are interpreted using
the theory of time perspectivism, focusing on three distinct scales of analysis: Event, Local, and
Regional. The event scale of analysis successfully produced twenty high-precision felling dates on
posts recovered from Lake Mangakaware 1 (MA1), Lake Mangakaware 2 (MA2), Lake Mangahia
(MGA), Taraheke Pā (TAR), Te Uapata Pā (TEU) and Lake Rotokauri (ROT). The local scale
analysis utilised these felling dates to track the development of the identified palisade defences
over time, identifying multiple palisade construction phases, representing construction, repair and
redevelopment episodes at MA1, MA2, MGA, TAR and TEU. Finally, the regional scale analysis
integrated this evidence into a broader chronological framework, identifying shared episodes of
palisade construction activity within the Middle Waikato Basin. This analysis highlights three
critical periods of proposed socio-political stress and stability between the late fifteenth and early
nineteenth centuries, related to hypothesised influential variables from the broader cultural and
archaeological landscape that are proposed to be responsible for the emergence, proliferation and
development of pā over time
Hyperspectral imaging and machine learning to identify epicuticular wax loss in Masena Blueberries for post-harvest freshness
No full textBlueberries harvested using mechanical harvesting techniques, like over-the-row (OTR) harvesters, are not suitable for the fresh market due to high damage rates. Assisted harvesting (AH) techniques using hand-held shakers offer a new approach which shows promise in increasing harvesting rates without compromising fruit quality. Epicuticular wax is one of the fruit qualities needing to be preserved during harvesting. This paper investigates the effectiveness of hyperspectral imaging techniques and machine learning to construct a model to identify epicuticular wax rapidly and non-destructively. The best performing model produced was a linear SVM, and had an F1-score of 98.6%. Additionally, this model was used to show that blueberries harvested using hand-held shakers retain more epicuticular wax than traditional hand-harvesting (HH) techniques, a result that shows promise of potentially increased fruit quality using automated methods
Entrepreneurial orientation and export performance in emerging market SMEs: The role of absorptive capacity, explorative and exploitative learning and networking
No full textThe export performance (EP) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in emerging markets is shaped by a complex interplay of contextual, firm-level, and individual, factors. At the individual level, entrepreneurial orientation (EO)—reflecting the strategic posture of SME owners and managers—has been recognised as a key driver of internationalisation. At the firm level, the ability of SMEs to compete globally is frequently constrained by limited resources and capabilities. At the contextual level, emerging markets present institutional and infrastructural challenges that further hinder international expansion. While EO has been widely studied, gaps remain in understanding how its individual dimensions function in resource-constrained environments, and how firm-level mechanisms such as learning and networking enhance its effectiveness in driving EP.
Further, there remains a gap in understanding how the dimensions of EO function individually and collectively in the SME context, especially in resource-constrained emerging context environments like Sri Lanka. Moreover, the role of learning and networking in enhancing EP is not yet fully understood and needs more research. Specifically, how different types of learning (such as learning from own experience or learning from others’ experience) and networking (whether through formal strategically formed business channels or informal connections) help improve the international success of SMEs is still unclear. Therefore, this thesis will explore how these learning and networking activities act as bridges, helping EO lead to better export outcomes. Since SMEs in these markets face significant resource constraints, learning from others’ experiences—also known as vicarious learning—can be a cost-effective and vital strategy that remains an underexplored area in the literature. This thesis also explores how a firm’s absorptive capacity, or its ability to internalise and apply knowledge gained through social learning, can enhance EP. This thesis is based on data collected from 365 SME owners and managers in Sri Lanka through a structured questionnaire. Adopting a postpositivist paradigm, the research seeks to answer the overarching question: How do SMEs in emerging markets leverage EO to enhance their EP? The thesis is divided into three manuscripts.
The primary focus of the study is on the EO–EP relationship, where EO is a widely recognised yet multifaceted construct that is often defined and measured inconsistently. To address this issue, the first manuscript of the thesis aims to clarify the construct of EO and provide a more consistent framework for its measurement. The second manuscript addresses the research questions: How does each dimension of EO individually and collectively impact the EP of SMEs in emerging markets? and how do SMEs simultaneously utilise different exploratory and exploitative types of learning (experiential and vicarious) and networking activities (formal and informal) to enhance EO and improve their EP? Building on two key theories—ambidexterity theory and the resource-based view—the second manuscript examines how the various dimensions of EO (innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy) contribute to EP. It argues that not all dimensions need to be maximised equally for SMEs in emerging markets. Furthermore, the manuscript introduces a novel theoretical framework, emphasising the need to balance both explorative and exploitative learning and networking activities. This framework links EO, experiential and vicarious learning, and formal and informal networking with EP, while empirically validating the model. The results found that proactiveness is the most critical EO dimension for EP, while innovativeness and risk-taking are the least significant in the context of resource-constrained emerging markets. Collectively, EO has a positive impact on EP. Further, both experiential and vicarious learning significantly mediate the EO–EP link. While only formal networking plays a crucial mediating role, informal networking does not significantly influence EP in this context.
The third manuscript focuses on addressing the research question: How does the absorptive capacity of a firm, including both potential and realised absorptive capacities, strengthen the learning processes of SMEs and contribute to improved EP? It discusses the specific impact of vicarious learning, arguing that SMEs in emerging markets can significantly benefit from learning through the experiences of others. It further highlights the critical role of a firm's absorptive capacity in effectively internalising and applying this socially acquired knowledge, enhancing its ability to improve EP. The results confirm that vicarious learning mediates the EO–EP relationship, with the process being conditioned by both potential and realised absorptive capacities affirming that firms with higher absorptive capacities are better able to convert knowledge gained from others into actionable strategies, thereby enhancing EP.
This research makes several significant contributions to the field of international entrepreneurship, particularly concerning SMEs in emerging markets. This study contributes to the theoretical debate between Miller's (1983) unidimensional conceptualisation and Lumpkin and Dess' (1996) multidimensional conceptualisation of EO, providing empirical evidence that supports the multidimensional perspective. It advances the understanding of the individual dimensions of EO, clarifying the optimal levels to be maintained within the context of emerging markets. The research theorises and empirically validates the importance of explorative and exploitative learning and networking activities for successful internationalisation, proposing a novel framework while also offering context-specific insights that challenge the assumption of the universal applicability of EO constructs. Finally, by integrating social learning theory and the knowledge-based view of the firm, this study developed and empirically validated a framework to understand how EO drives EP through vicarious learning, thus highlighting the importance of developing the firm's absorptive capacities
A systematic review of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder research: Taking a behavioural approach
No full textRestrictive eating disorders (EDs) are a category of disorders, defined broadly here by including any range of repeated behaviours which result in an individual significantly restricting their nutritional intake. Although the rate of diagnosed eating disorders in the general population is relatively low (Demmler et al., 2020), restrictive EDs have the highest mortality rate of any other mental disorder (Fichter & Quadflieg, 2016, Smirk et al., 2012, Steinhausen, 2002), and while EDs typically develop during the transition to adulthood, they can persist into adulthood if they go untreated (Potterton et al., 2020). The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of this literature using PRISMA guidelines, on the treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder using three established psychological interventions (cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and behavioural therapy).
This thesis reconceptualised understandings of restrictive EDs in behavioural analytical terms by applying a functional, individual-focused lens to evaluating research in this space. Eight articles published since 2013 were identified for analysis by the search. The methodology, scientific rigor and social validity of research in this space was considered in analysis, and this thesis applied the ABA lens to understanding where and how treatments may be failing to produce socially significant, lasting results
Optimization and application of mixed regression models based on the expectation maximization algorithm
No full textThis study further explores clusterwise linear regression (CLR), specifically the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The algorithm was quantitatively analyzed through the generated data set. Previous regression methods are integrated and improved to provide better performance in dealing with complex conditions. The model was tested under different independent variables and methodologies, conclusions were drawn from the quantitative results, and optimal solutions under different scenarios were summarized. In addition, the application of the EM algorithm is deduced. The core purpose of this study is to test the reliability and performance of these methods in different situations. By generating diverse data, simulating different environments, and testing various model combinations, we can obtain the optimal regression model combination under different environments. The contribution of this study is to provide an effective and flexible tool for the application of hybrid regression models and provide a reference for future improvements and optimizations. Through this research, we hope to provide new solutions for application scenarios such as market segmentation, medical data analysis, and financial risk management, and provide a theoretical basis for personalized medicine and precision marketing strategies
Political critique and genealogical vision in te oriori a Rihi Puhiwahine, 1870s
No full textLong before twentieth-century scholars developed the language to describe 'settler colonialism', nineteenth-century Māori writers, composers, and storytellers critiqued British imperialism and theorized colonial violence. In mōteatea, letters, and kōrero heke iho (narratives passed down), tūpuna Māori asked what British colonial settlement would mean for te ao Māori, the Māori world. As they reflected on the changes wrought by imperialism, tūpuna offered guidance for future uri (descendants). This is an article about the ways that one wahine Māori critiqued colonization and imagined Māori futures in the context of mid-nineteenth-century colonial invasion. More specifically, it is an article about how Rihi Puhiwahine, a renowned composer, guided her descendants through a world disfigured by British imperialism
‘Immune from the germ-laden things’: Immunity and Irish newspaper advertising, 1890–1940
No full textFrom 1890, as advertising in Irish newspapers grew in quantity and sophistication, a discourse of immunity began to circulate. Advertisers drew on advancements in bacteriology and immunology to present their goods as defensive strategies against a range of threats, from major infectious diseases to everyday coughs and colds. Consumers were urged to supplement their bodies’ vulnerabilities by purchasing pills and tonics, with medical products joined by immunity-assuring underwear, coats, cosmetics and cars. From a dataset of every immunity-focused advertisement in the Irish Newspaper Archives and The Irish Times archives between 1890 and 1940, I unpack the ways immunity was presented to the Irish public outside of medical institutions. I show how discourses of immunity intersected with influenza outbreaks, consider the implication of the non-national origins of many advertisements, and trace their rhetoric of protection and resistance across a range of product types
A Critical Tiriti Analysis of the Treaty Statement From a University in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textUniversities in Aotearoa New Zealand have been placed under the spotlight for claims of systemic racism. Following the claims made in relation to the University of Waikato in 2020 and University of Otago in 2022, universities have the responsibility to create an inclusive environment where systemic racism is dismantled, to meaningfully partner with Māori to construct a model for decolonisation, and to enhance the academic experience of Māori staff and students by weaving in mātauranga Māori into existing teaching and research practices. The University of Waikato progresses ahead of other universities in its attempt to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment through the introduction of the Treaty Statement. In this paper, the Treaty Statement is used as a case study to identify how universities articulate bicultural commitments. To do so, our team (consisting of Māori and tauiwi scholars) performed a critical Tiriti analysis comprising five phases to investigate the degree of alignment of the statement with Te Tiriti. The desktop analysis showed poor engagement with most Te Tiriti elements. The analysis evaluation of “good” (more than satisfactory) was measured for the consideration of “Māori exercising equitable citizenship”. This article concludes with recommendations of how universities can strengthen their practices to live up to Te Tiriti aspirations
"All the Stuff" is Different: A Mixed Method Study of Continuity and Discontinuity During the Transition to School in New Zealand
No full textThis study investigated multiple perspectives on continuity and discontinuity during the transition to school in New Zealand. The transition to school has been identified as an important time in the life of a child which has the potential to impact social, emotional, and academic outcomes. Starting school involves a shift into a new environment where change must be navigated. Earlier studies have investigated the discontinuities between prior-to-school and school contexts, and it has been suggested that increasing continuity is a way to ease the transition experience. However, policies and practices change over time, therefore the continuities and discontinuities children experience when starting school may differ from those experienced in previous time periods. This research sought to explore the continuities and discontinuities children experience on transitioning into play-based new entrant classrooms in New Zealand, identify which may be significant, and investigate practices teachers use to support transitioning children.
The study adopted a social constructionist framework and used a sequential, explanatory, mixed method research design. Phase one consisted of an online survey of early childhood and new entrant teachers which collected both qualitative and quantitative data. Preliminary statistical and thematic analysis of this data informed planning for the second phase of the study which involved case studies in three schools. Each case study included the perspectives of parents, children, and new entrant teachers. Parent perspectives were gathered through questionnaires and teachers’ views through interviews. Child perspectives were elicited through paired child led tours and photographs taken by children. Data from case studies were analysed thematically. Findings from both phases were used to inform the answers to the research questions and the discussion of how the research objectives were met.
Findings revealed three key themes relating to the continuities and discontinuities children in this study experienced on transitioning into the play-based new entrant classrooms. These themes were: people and relationships, teaching and learning, and expectations, structure, and environment. Each of these aspects of continuity and discontinuity interacted with and influenced the others, highlighting the importance of paying attention to all three aspects when considering how best to support transitioning children. Data revealed that there were differences between the perspectives of participant groups, particularly between the views of teachers and children. This may mean that teachers are not aware of what matters most for children during this time of change and may not put in place strategies that address these aspects of continuity and discontinuity. The study also identified a range of influences on teacher practices which impacted on what happened in the classroom. These included factors in the wider school and national environment such as intake policies and expectations for showing children’s progress against standards. It was found that while teachers espoused a belief that schools should be ready for children, they held underlying beliefs about child readiness which influenced both their practice and the reasons for their practice. The study highlights the importance of new entrant teachers knowing about each child and of teachers in each sector having relationships with and knowledge of the other sector. Teachers can then understand how to prepare children for the changes they will experience when transitioning and plan induction programmes which are relevant and purposeful
Does within-treatment change on dynamic risk factors and psychopathology predict recidivism for men graduating from Tai Aroha?
No full textDynamic risk factors are modifiable aspects of justice-involved people and their environment that can change over time and are associated with criminal behaviour. Because they are considered changeable, they are therefore typically the focus of rehabilitative treatment (Bonta & Andrews, 2024). Research shows that correctional rehabilitation that targets dynamic risk factors effectively reduces recidivism, and psychometric tools assessing these factors generally show improvements during treatment. However, there is a missing link; current research lacks consistent evidence linking changes on dynamic risk factors during treatment to recidivism. Relatedly, there are few studies assessing within-treatment changes in psychopathology and how they may affect recidivism, though they are commonly assessed alongside dynamic risk factors in correctional settings.
This study, involving 164 people with violent offence convictions who completed the Tai Aroha community treatment programme, aimed to address this missing link. A battery of tests measured pre- and post-programme included dynamic risk factor measures, the Anger Disorders Scale (ADS), Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), Criminal Attitudes to Violence Scale (CAVS), and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III and IV) which is designed to assess personality and clinical psychopathology. Standardised residual change scores were used to account for variance in pre-treatment scores, and Cox regression hazard ratios to test prediction of general and violent recidivism.
Most subscales for dynamic risk factor measures and the MCMI-III and IV showed substantial improvements during treatment, however, this did not translate to predicting the probability of recidivism. While several hazard ratios indicated effects in a positive direction, none were significant when adjusted for multiple comparisons, and controlling for actuarial risk did not improve predictive accuracy. There was some evidence of increased socially desirable responding which increased at the end of treatment, this included responses on the MCMI-III and IV consistent with the “Normal Quartet.” Interpretations of these findings and both theoretical and empirical implications are discussed