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The role of helplines in the anti-trafficking space: Examining contacts to a major ‘modern slavery’ hotline
Get PDFAlthough increasingly deployed worldwide, human trafficking hotlines are sorely under-researched. Situated within a complex systems framework, we conceptualise such helplines as both a product of and an influence on broader anti-trafficking ecosystems. Taking the UK as a case study, we undertook exploratory analysis of potential ‘modern slavery’ cases (n=3,613) reported to a major independent anti-trafficking helpline. We examined who seeks help, why and what follows. Contrary to stereotypes, relatively few cases involved sexual exploitation. Many case characteristics varied significantly by exploitation type. Reports about car washes and beauty services heavily influenced overall trends, likely reflecting intense public focus on these sites. Most cases involved adults. Although people self-reporting exploitation are the core target audience, only around 1 in 10 cases derived from self-reports (with higher rates for domestic servitude). We show how third-party reporters vary in their proximity to the people about whom they raise concerns – who themselves may or may not self-identify as victims and/or welcome intervention. Findings around onward action both show a whole-systems response to addressing complex needs and raise difficult tensions around risks of police involvement. Our key contributions include showing what can (and cannot) presently be assessed from such helpline data, proposing a future research agenda and providing a tangible illustration of what it means to theorise helplines as a part of a complex system of anti-trafficking activity. We highlight how their central goal of victim support can be enabled and constrained by wider policies, funding decisions and other structures
The evolution of tidal coastal landscapes and the controls on pathways to equilibrium
No full textThe evolution of tidal basins is fundamental to understanding the drivers of our vulnerable estuarine and lagoon environments, ultimately determining key ecological parameters such as intertidal area, inundation regime, connectivity and accommodation space. This thesis uses multiple methods including idealized modelling, field observation of an estuarine shoal covered with mangroves, and a calibrated and validated model with field data in order to explore how different components of tidal environments influence the short and long-term dynamics of tidal lagoons.
The idealised modelling specifically focused on the roles of initial bathymetry, bed sediment and mud concentration at open boundaries on shaping equilibrium profile development of tidal basins. The results of the model showed that geomorphological development (long-term evolution) is similar in sandy environments with different initial bathymetries and without a mud supply. This was concluded because the equilibrium profiles and tidal asymmetries evolved similarly at the end of simulations. However, residence time, development of channels and energy dissipation were observed to be different. In the case of available incoming mud from open boundaries, equilibrium bathymetry was dominated by the mud supply and sediments accreted all over the domain, forming a mudflat and a deeply incised ebb-dominated channel, with several minor side channels of which their size and number were dependent on mud concentration.
The response of tidal environments to sea-level rise has been previously studied often by neglecting the importance of initial configuration in the model. In such process-based modelling, different initial bathymetries are only considered to influence the time to reach a stable equilibrium condition but will always lead to identical equilibrium bathymetry. Here we demonstrated that initial profile not only affects some aspects of tidal basins such as channel formation, residence time and energy dissipation in equilibrium condition, but also impacts their geomorphological development under sea-level rise.
In the northern North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, tidal environment evolution is mediated by mangroves. The governing dynamics on a recently evolving estuarine, mangrove-covered channel-shoal system in Whitianga Estuary, Aotearoa New Zealand. Observations of water level, flow velocity, suspended sediment concentration and bed sediment characteristics were used to infer flow asymmetry and sediment transport pathways around the shoal. The impact of mangrove colonization on channel dynamics, sediment texture of upper layer and mud layer thickness was studied by a one-week field campaign. Due to changes in land use, the estuary was subjected to an increase in sediment supply, causing the tidal flats to elevate and provided suitable conditions for the expansion of mangroves in 1940s. By the use of historical images, the expansion of mangroves in Whitianga Estuary was captured and the results were combined with the measured data of water level, current and sediment dynamics in order to explore the short-term dynamics around the shoal and the role of vegetation as eco-engineers in inter-tidal environments. The shoal expanded laterally independent of mangrove colonization. However, observed mud layer thickness was larger around mangroves compared to un-vegetated parts of the shoal. The mangrove creek (which was a shoal channel before expansion of mangroves) was consistently ebb-dominated and the shoal channel located outside the forest on the edge of the shoal was flood-dominated. The results suggested that mangroves impose a control on their surrounding environment and can ultimately lead to a regime shift in channels and changes in sediment texture.
The understanding provided by the field observations was confirmed with a 2-D numerical model, developed in the Delft3D modelling system, which was calibrated and validated with the data collected from the field. This model was used to study the short-term influence of mangroves and tidal creeks on tidal circulation and large-scale tidal asymmetry. The results showed that the effect of vegetation on tidal asymmetry and flow routing was larger compared that of the tidal creeks. However, the small impact of the channels may be due to the small size of the creeks compared to the size of the forest. When vegetation was removed, tidal velocity asymmetry changed substantially whereas channel infilling caused a shift in tidal asymmetry inside the creeks and around the head of the creeks mostly (from being ebb-dominated to flood-dominated). Removing vegetation led to an increase in speed all over the forest except inside the creeks and elevated parts of the forest where velocity decreased. In a scenario in which channels were filled in, currents became weaker in the location of the creeks and velocity increased around the creeks and on the edge of the forest.
Furthermore, a scenario was designed in which morphology of the shoal in the 1940s prior to expansion of mangroves was simulated, aiming to quantify the hypothesis posed by field measurement with numerical models. The results of the model demonstrated that mangrove colonization caused a regime shift in the channels, showing that as mangroves colonize inter-tidal areas, they play a critical role in shaping the geomorphology. In Whitianga Estuary, expansion of mangroves around changed a flood-dominated pre-existing shoal channel to an ebb-dominated mangrove creek, suggesting that mangroves are likely to be eco-engineers of the estuarine system.
The idealized modelling experiments helped identifying the parameters and elements that govern the long-term morphology and equilibrium of coastal tide-dominated environments and the way they respond to sea-level rise force. Results of this theoretical exploration showed that processes localised, and timescales for equilibrium development vary vastly across the landscape. Elucidating local changing to asymmetry became the focus of subsequent chapters, firstly with a field exploration, and then supported by numerical modelling. The fieldwork presented here elucidated the short-term hydrodynamics and suspended sediment dynamics in an estuarine shoal covered with mangroves. Moreover, observation of aerial images in a multi-decadal timescale combined with hydrodynamics inside a mangrove creek and a shoal channel highlighted the complex non-linear interactions of hydrodynamics and vegetation that lead to a regime shift of a channels in the mangrove forest in Whitianga Estuary, Aotearoa New Zealand. Finally, the results of the numerical model developed and validated by utilizing field data presented here provided insights into the detailed short-term hydrodynamics. Moreover, the scenarios designed by removing channels, vegetation and reconstructing the condition prior to mangrove expansion showed that the effect of vegetation extends beyond the footprint of the vegetation to the surrounding environment with implications for hydrodynamics, morphological evolution and channel dynamics
Human impact on the McMurdo Dry Valley soils of Antarctica: Extending the limits of DNA detection
No full textAntarctica is commonly regarded as the most pristine place on Earth and is safeguarded by the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). The ATS designates the continent as a “natural reserve, devoted to peace and science” and sets out environmental principles regulating human activities. The obligations under the ATS include providing environmental impact assessments and leaving the environment minimally impacted after all operations. The associated human footprint inevitably increases as human activity increases in intensity and diversity on the continent. The human footprint is not clearly defined, and most investigation has focused on visible disturbances of physical (e.g., soil disturbance) and chemical (e.g., hydrocarbon spills) nature. The unseen human footprint remains to be investigated and quantified, which includes released genetic materials and human-associated microorganisms. Given the extremely low biomass in most of terrestrial Antarctica, these materials' presence can be a reliable indicator of human presence and activities.
As part of New Zealand’s effort to carry out an evidence-based risk assessment of the McMurdo Dry Valley ecosystem (DryVER project), this research quantified human impact, in the form of DNA released from humans and human-associated microbiota, across spatial and temporal scales. This project was part of the MBIE grant entitled “Evidence-based Risk Assessment of the McMurdo Dry Valley Ecosystem”. Areas of human activity, including seasonal field camps and facilities zones, were selected as sampling sites in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs), from which soil samples were collected. Human-specific genetic and microbial markers were used with digital PCR to quantify human presence at the lowest possible detection limit across spatial scales. A marker targeting a human MT-CYB gene region was the best marker for detecting and predicting human trace up to 1 km from a highly occupied site. Human impact derived from mtDNA was accumulative with occupancy and greatest closest to a campsite. A marker targeting 16S rRNA of Bacteroides dorei, a human-associated gut bacterium, was used to detect faecal trace. The faecal signal was generally localised to the toilet area of a camp and was too low to predict the distance of detectable signal, regardless of the intensity of occupancy. A DNA longevity experiment was established in situ in Miers Valley to investigate DNA persistence in a cold desert across temporal scales. The results from this experiment demonstrated that intracellular and extracellular DNA remained detectable with endpoint PCR for at least two years. DNA persistence was not significantly affected by soil sterility or UV exposure but did accumulate damage over time.
The direct outcome of this research will be a review of the environmental management systems in place, namely the McMurdo Dry Valleys Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) Management Plan. Better management will safeguard the unique MDV ecosystems by using the best practice to minimise anthropogenic impact and strengthen New Zealand’s stewardship over the Ross Dependency as one of the original 12 signatories to the Antarctic Treaty
Environmental offsets and water resource opportunities with Lake Onslow pumped storage
Get PDFAs part of its transition toward an aspirational goal of 100% renewable electricity generation, New Zealand had been investigating an option of replacing the need for dry-year fossil fuel power generation with the world’s largest pumped storage scheme by energy storage measure. The scheme was to be located at Lake Onslow in the southern South Island. It would have an energy storage capacity up to 5 TWh for a construction cost of 16 billion dollars. However, the 2023 change of government means the scheme is not presently under active evaluation. Evaluation may well be restarted with a subsequent change of government, depending on party policy.
While aiding emission reduction, there would be local environmental impact from expanding the existing Lake Onslow reservoir, which will flood over nearby wetlands.
This study considers a range of potential environmental mitigation measures that might counterbalance the scheme's ecological impact. Consideration is also given to the large water volume in the Onslow reservoir potentially able to act as insurance against future extreme regional droughts that may arise from climate change.
The possible offsets include the restoration of two existing scenic hydro storage lakes – Lake Monowai and Lake Hawea. An argument is made that the large amount of new hydro storage capacity at Lake Onslow means that the relatively small storage contributions of these two lakes no longer justifies their inundation environmental impact. This would start a change in national thinking because to date no hydro storage lake in New Zealand has been restored for purely environmental reasons.
In addition to lake restoration, discussion is also presented about the possibility of a hypothetical partial flow restoration of the depleted Waiau River. It was New Zealand’s second largest river by discharge prior to diversion into the Manapouri power station. It is tentatively suggested that new wind power in Southland buffered by Onslow pumped storage would enable partial closure of the Manapouri station, restoring about half of the original flow the lower Waiau River downstream of Lake Manapouri.
Onslow water storage would involve cubic kilometres of water, so some water could be used to offset extreme droughts without impeding pumped storage energy functionality. A narrow-diameter rock tunnel could also be constructed between the expanded Lake Onslow and the Dunedin city water intake at Deep Creek. This would make Dunedin drought-resilient against climate change because presently the city water supply is derived just from small local catchments with little storage.
Some Onslow water might also be used to maintain water flow of the eastern Otago Taieri River in an extreme drought. However, this would raise cultural and ecological issues that would need to be considered prior to any water release
An evaluation of behavioural evolution and environmental DNA to inform the management and monitoring of biological invasions
No full textInvasive species are a global phenomenon and the rate of biological invasion is only increasing as human trade and transport, together with climate change, cause the rapid reorganisation of species distributions. The impacts of invasive species can be both severe and wide ranging, adversely affecting native ecosystems, human health, agriculture, and economies. Therefore, understanding how species become invasive and subsequently inflict damage on host environments is imperative. Additionally, once an incursion has occurred, its rapid detection and ongoing monitoring are essential for management measures to be effective. My thesis aimed to further a greater understanding of behavioural evolution in invasive species and advance the application of genetic tools to inform and enhance the prediction, monitoring, and management of invasion events.
In the first analysis (Chapter 2), I reviewed the scientific literature reporting behavioural changes in the traits of invasive species when compared to the mean traits of conspecifics in the native range. In this research, I demonstrated that, while behavioural changes are widely reported across invasive taxa, our understanding of the possible mechanisms enabling these changes – plasticity and adaptive evolution – are poorly understood. In addition, research on the fundamental molecular and genetic processes that underlie measured phenotypic changes is in its infancy. Moving forward, I recommend that opportunities to study new or recent biological invasions should be rapidly exploited such that temporal studies can be used to identify patterns of change that occur during invasion.
In Chapter 3, I investigated the application of environmental DNA (eDNA: genetic material released by organisms into the environment) – an increasingly popular biomonitoring method that has yet to be optimised for lacustrine environments – to the detection and monitoring of the invasive brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus). I sampled lakes across two regions of the North Island of New Zealand and compared the results from different field (filter pore sizes, fyke nets) and laboratory (eDNA assays) protocols. I found that species-specific assays (quantitative PCR and catfish-specific metabarcoding) had the highest rates of catfish detection and further showed that multi-species metabarcoding assays were correlated with catfish capture from fyke nets. This indicates that species-specific assays may be the most effective where detection is the primary goal, while multi-species assays hold some promise for producing semi-quantitative results. Therefore, I recommend the development of standardised, flexible, eDNA protocols that will ensure their sound application and interpretation.
As species continue to move beyond their natural ranges, the need for a better mechanistic understanding of invasion, and for more effective detection and monitoring methods, is increasing. With technological advances and increasing availability of genomic data, more rapidly identifying new incursions and studying invasions in real time will lead to better understanding, monitoring, and management of invasive species
Culturally-Oriented Environmental Identity Transitions: Migrant Indian Teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand Early Childhood Education
No full textAn increasingly multicultural Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education (ECE) landscape that includes a growing number of migrant teachers forms the context for my doctoral study. In this country, respect for the natural world and kaitiakitanga are integral to the ECE bicultural curriculum framework Te Whāriki (Ministry of Education [MoE], 2017) which is grounded in Indigenous Māori worldviews that acknowledge strong spiritual connections to land and place. The natural environment is considered an integral part of the national identity and early childhood has been recognised as an important stage when Environmental and Sustainability Education should begin.
Within the context of this superdiverse nation, a significant number of migrant teachers transfer their cultural and environmental knowledge, practice, and identity as they transition into the Aotearoa New Zealand context. This thesis explored migrant Indian teachers’ understandings of their culturally-oriented and negotiated environmental identities. I was keen to examine if the environment might hold different meanings and places in their home (Indian) and host (Aotearoa New Zealand) cultural systems.
Through this study, insights were gained into migrant Indian teachers’ perceptions of the influence of cultural identity on their environmental identities in Aotearoa New Zealand ECE. A sociocultural theoretical perspective informed this study, drawing primarily on Sauvé’s (2009) model of personal and social development of the self in relation to other humans and the environment. Primary data for this interpretivist study were gathered through in-depth interviews with nine Indian ECE teacher participants. Interviews with their ECE setting managers/head teachers were conducted to support and supplement the teachers’ practices and experiences. The audio-recorded interview data were transcribed and examined using thematic analysis. Observations of teacher participants’ workplaces were used to provide a contextual profile for each of the nine Indian teachers. I also obtained a small number of assessment documents in the form of Learning Stories which the teachers had prepared, to analyse them for cultural and environmental themes and experiences.
Indian teacher participants’ perceptions of their own culturally-oriented environmental identities highlighted the significance of teachers’ own early childhood environmental experiences and home cultural context influences on their environmental identities. Teacher participants’ perceptions shed light on their cultural and environmental identity transitions and acculturation process. These teachers brought their cultural and environmental identities from their home cultural context and used their cultural lens to interpret the connections between the host cultural context and environmental worldviews.
The Indian teacher participants perceived close connections between their cultural and environmental identities. At the same time, they recognised cross-cultural connections between their culturally-oriented environmental identities and tikanga Māori (Māori ways of doing including practices, customs and rituals) and te ao Māori (the Māori world). These perceived connections were most evident through the significance of Indian philosophies of spirituality, relationships, belonging, and cultural recognition and exchange in their specific ECE contexts. These connections facilitated teachers’ cultural and environmental identity transitions and had a positive impact on their cultural and environmental teaching practices when supported within the ECE setting and by management/leadership.
Cultural and environmental transitions for this steadily growing group of migrant teachers require further investigation to facilitate their cultural and environmental participation and acculturation into the Aotearoa New Zealand ECE context. In these ways, the existing cultural, environmental, and sustainability connections within ECE could be strengthened to foster children’s culturally-oriented environmental identities
Sociocultural and academic adjustment experiences of Omani international students at a New Zealand university
No full textPromoting international student mobility is a key consideration in the internationalisation of higher education. Due to this attention, it has become increasingly important to understand international students’ experiences. Previous research on international students’ adjustment experiences has reported various issues and unique aspects depending on the context of their adjustment. However, there is a need for research on Omani international students in New Zealand to provide insight into what might affect students’ academic, social, and cultural adjustment. This study explored how Omani students described their sociocultural and academic adjustment experiences and how they gave meaning to these from their viewpoints.
A qualitative phenomenological approach underpinned by an interpretive research paradigm was used to investigate the adjustment experiences of 12 Omani student participants. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews from January to September 2020 at one New Zealand university. Two rounds of interviews were held for each participant. During data collection, Omani participants were enrolled in bachelor degree programmes in Engineering, Education, Earth Science, and Management. NVivo 11 was used to assist in organising and analysing data from the interviews using a thematic approach.
Findings suggest that Omani students experienced adjustment as an interactive social, cultural, and academic experience. For most of them, their initial experience was facilitated by their homestay, attendance at language school, and participation in the Omani Students’ Association. This triad of interactions and support meant Omani students felt happy and included in the local community. However, after this initial stage of comfort, many experienced negative emotions, such as homesickness, especially during Islamic holidays.
Omani students’ sociocultural adjustment was made easier by them engaging in social interaction and seeking out friendships. However, they reported little interaction with hostnational students; most interactions and friendships were with co-nationals and international friends. Omani students did not experience cultural distance as a barrier to their adjustment process despite the move from a Muslim-majority country to a Western country. Thus, overall, students reported being satisfied with their lives in New Zealand. They were conscious they had developed self-discipline and self-reliance, which they viewed as important in their successful adjustment.
Academic adjustment was promoted by interaction with other students in group work and academic support from their lecturers. Group work was reported as an opportunity to interact with degree programme classmates and make new friends, but six of the 12 students described difficulties interacting in group work. Interactions with lecturers were described as informal and positive for academic success.
Across both their social and academic lives, the participating Omani students identified their proficiency with English as a barrier to communication and adjustment. As a result, they were eager to improve their English levels to integrate into the host culture and community.
The U-curve model (Lysgaard, 1955) and the ABC model (Ward et al., 2001) were used as lenses to explain the above findings. The U-curve model describes the adjustment process as four stages: “honeymoon”, “culture shock”, “adjustment”, and “mastery”. The U-curve model was able to describe and explain the adjustment experiences of eight of the 12 students in this study in suggesting a honeymoon period on arrival. However, four students reported difficulty in terms of homesickness and loneliness upon arrival. This fits with the ABC model, which proposes that adjusting to a new culture can be initially difficult and stressful, but, over time, individuals can manage stress and learn the social skills needed for effective interactions, leading to adjustment. Hence, the study findings indicate the need for a model that allows for two different initial experiences and acknowledges that international students move through stages of adjustment. The culture learning process in the ABC model can explain the mechanism of moving between the stages of the U-curve model.
Findings have implications for Omani scholarship providers, future Omani international students, New Zealand policy makers, and New Zealand universities. They are advised to consider the importance of homestays in providing a comfortable, safe environment for students to interact with host nationals. It is also recommended that the value of having intercultural friendships and being open to other cultures is promoted to Omani students, as this can ease the adjustment process
Evidence-based practice in Interventional Radiology: A mixed methods study exploring how evidence is incorporated into practice with a particular focus on blood glucose requirements for vascular patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing peripheral angioplasty.
Get PDFBackground: Evidence-based practice was established to align patient care with the best available evidence. At Waikato Hospital, vascular patients undergoing peripheral angioplasty are required to have a pre-procedural blood glucose level of less than 11 mmol/L. However, there is no guideline outlining this requirement or the underlying evidence supporting this criterion, the absence of which has led to confusion amongst staff. This research project seeks to explore how evidence for pre-procedural blood glucose requirements for vascular patients undergoing peripheral angioplasty is incorporated into practice and how the evidence is disseminated to relevant services.
Participants: The quantitative phase reviewed the clinical records of vascular patients (n=93) who had undergone a peripheral angioplasty in the 2022 – 2023 calendar year. Due to incomplete datasets, a total of 50 patient clinical records were included in analysis. The qualitative phase involved interviews with health professionals (n=9) involved in the care of vascular patients undergoing peripheral angioplasty.
Methods: This mixed-methods two-phase research project involved an initial retrospective clinical records audit of vascular patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus who had undergone a peripheral angioplasty in the 2022 – 2023 calendar year. A regression analysis was undertaken to determine the correlation between the change in creatinine levels and (i) patient diagnoses and (ii) pre-procedural blood glucose levels. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with health professionals. These interviews were analysed using a general inductive method of inquiry to identify key overarching themes.
Findings: There was no observed statistically significant association using ANOVA between the change in creatinine levels and patient diagnoses (p=0.31) or pre-procedural blood glucose levels in vascular patients following a peripheral angioplasty (p=0.14). Although a one-unit increase in pre-procedural blood glucose levels was observed to result in an associated increase of 3.5 mg/dL in creatinine levels, this was not statistically significant (p=0.25). Analysis of the qualitative interview data from interviews with health professionals produced three themes relating to the implementation of evidence-based practice: (i) Dissemination of evidence; (ii) Balancing practicality with evidence in healthcare delivery; and (iii) Enhancing evidence-based practice in clinical contexts.
Conclusion: Although the research reported a relationship between raised pre-procedure blood glucose and creatinine levels, it was not statistically significant. More meaningful results arose, however, from the stakeholder interviews, which indicated a lack of communication and support around the rationale for the pre-procedural blood glucose cut-off value. It appeared that such miscommunication would be absent through the investment into staff education and the development of a clinical guideline
Genealogical Violence: Mormon (Mis)Appropriation of Māori Cultural Memory through Falsification of Whakapapa
Get PDFThe study examines how members of the historically white possessive and supremacist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States (mis)appropriated Māori genealogy, known as whakapapa. The Mormon use of whakapapa to promote Mormon cultural memory and narratives perpetuates settler/invader colonialism and white supremacy, as this paper shows. The research discusses Church racism against Native Americans and Pacific Peoples. This paper uses Anthropologist Thomas Murphy’s scholarship to demonstrate how problematic the Book of Mormon’s religio-colonial identity of Lamanites is for these groups. Application of Aileen Moreton-Robinson’s white possessive doctrine and Hemopereki Simon’s adaptation to cover Church-Indigenous relations and the salvation contract is discussed. We explore collective and cultural memory and discuss key Māori concepts like Mana, Taonga, Tapu, and Whakapapa. A brief review of LDS scholar Louis C. Midgley’s views on Church culture, including Herewini Jones’s whakapapa wānanga, is followed by a discussion of Māori cultural considerations and issues. The paper concludes that the alteration perpetuates settler/invader colonialism and Pacific peoples’ racialization and white supremacy. Genetics science and human migration studies contradict Mormon identity narratives and suggest the BOM is spiritual rather than historical. Finally, the paper suggests promoting intercultural engagement on Mormon (mis)appropriation of taonga Māori
Academics’ experience of online reading lists and the use of reading list notes
No full textReading Lists Systems are widely used in tertiary education as a pedagogical tool and for tracking copyrighted material. This paper explores academics' experiences with reading lists and in particular the use of reading lists notes feature. A mixed-methods approach was employed in which we first conducted interviews with academics about their experience with reading lists. We identified the need for streamlining the workflow of the reading lists set-up, improved usability of the interfaces, and better synchronization with other teaching support systems. Next, we performed a log analysis of the use of the notes feature throughout one academic year. The results of our log analysis were that the note feature is under-utilized by academics. We recommend improving the systems’ usability by re-engineering the user workflows and to better integrate notes feature into academic teaching