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The right to be heard: the missing voices of students with learning disabilities
No full textSet within the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this article interrogates the extent to which the right to be heard is afforded equally to all children and young people. It shows that despite widespread global commitment to these conventions, the voices of children and young people with learning disabilities continues to remain largely unheard. Attention is drawn to the ways in which limiting assumptions contribute to this on-going breach of rights. Research approaches that take a more inclusive approach to listening to the ‘voices’ of children and young people with learning disabilities are shared. These show that while the gap between policy intent and reality remains considerable, there is much that can be done to honour the right to be heard. Presuming competence, being attentive to different communication preferences, allowing time, and providing multi-modal input and response options, are each essential if the current gap between policy intent and reality is to be closed.</jats:p
Homotopy groups of spheres.
No full textHomotopy groups are a significant feature of algebraic topology, and spheres are the simplest spaces
to consider whose homotopy groups are non-trivial. Despite their fundamental nature in this regard,
the study of these groups has revealed little in the way of generalised results or understandable
patterns, but rather has provided an assortment of seemingly chaotic results.
The aim of this thesis is to provide a focused review of the algebraic topology needed to understand
how the homotopy groups of spheres are calculated, and a study of the calculations of
some understandable, lower dimensional examples of homotopy groups of spheres. One of the most
important early results on this subject is the Hopf fibration. A method of visualizing this fibration
is proposed and demonstrated. Finally, an overview of modern achievements in calculating high
order homotopy groups is presented
Playing Musical Chairs: Evaluating the Christchurch City Council’s Central City Parking Policy. Report prepared part of the GEOG309 Research for Resilient Communities and Environments course, University of Canterbury, 2025.
No full textThrough the analysis of parking occupancy and compliance rates within the Central City, this report investigates the effectiveness of the Christchurch City Council’s Central City Parking Policy, in respect to the 85% optimal occupancy target outlined in Policy 4.Using quantitative observational methods, data collection was conducted over a 10-day period on randomly selected streets with varying restrictions, land uses and during peak periods between 10am–1pm. Occupancy and compliance data were both collected using this method, and multiple analyses were then conducted.The results demonstrate that the policy is not effective at meeting the 85% occupancy target, with a median street occupancy of 89.5%. The mean compliance rate of 32.5% also indicates limited compliance. Unrestricted parking consistently exceeded the 85% threshold, whereas time restricted and metered parking had greater variances. Metered parking experienced significantly greater compliance of 67.8% in comparison to unpaid time restricted zones (22.1%), demonstrating clear issues with policy and enforcement.These results demonstrate that current policy is not operating efficiently therefore redevelopment of the policy is required, in alignment with the New Zealand Transport Agency’s Parking Management Guidance document. Implementing new strategies, including parking benefit districts, have potential to support sustainable development and increase acceptability of new restrictions. Developing a parking strategy which aligns with the region's transport plans as well as implementing tailored Parking Management Plans addressing land use types and specific areas will also be critical. These measures will enable the Central City Parking Policy to effectively manage parking demand and compliance as well as integrate with wider development and support equitable access to the CBD.The limited seasonal and temporal variability of the data limits the generalisability of the results, especially as land use and spillover effects of current parking restrictions were not considered. However, this still provides an accurate snapshot of parking occupancy and compliance
English language learning and Spanish heritage language maintenance : identity and acculturation of first generation female Latin American immigrant parents in New Zealand.
No full textThis thesis explores the lived experiences of first-generation Latin American immigrant mothers in Aotearoa New Zealand as they navigate the complexities of heritage language maintenance, English language learning, caregiving responsibilities, and identity transformation. Using narrative inquiry and a feminist lens, it centers the voices of women whose everyday decisions reflect broader structural inequalities, cultural values, and hopes for their children.
Through in-depth interviews, narrative inquiry and reflexive thematic analysis, four key themes emerged: language as a site of emotional and cultural connection; caregiving as both a moral responsibility and structural constraint; identity as a fluid process shaped by past experiences and present adaptation; and the intersections between language, work, and belonging. These findings are interpreted through a conceptual framework informed by post-structuralist feminism, Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus and capital, as well as feminist economics on the division of labor.
The study shows that maintaining Spanish at home is more than a communicative practice. It becomes a way to preserve culture, assert identity, and remain connected to family across borders. At the same time, participants encounter a labor market that often overlooks their skills and limits their choices, prompting them to find flexible, often creative, ways to balance paid work with caregiving duties. Their stories reflect both vulnerability and agency, loss and continuity, as they adapt to life in a new country.
This research contributes to ongoing conversations on migration, language, and gender by highlighting the layered realities of immigrant mothers. It argues that their experiences must be understood relationally and contextually, as they offer important insights into the ways language, care, and identity are negotiated in everyday life
Evidence Communication Rules for Policy (ECR-P) critical appraisal tool
No full textBackground: Scientific papers increasingly put forward scientific-based policy recommendations (SPRs) as a means of closing the circle of science, policy and practice. Assessing the quality of such SPRs is crucial, especially within the context of a systematic review. Here, we present ECR-P (Evidence Communication Rules for Policy)—a critical appraisal tool that we have developed, which can be used in assessing not only the quality of SPRs but also the quality of their evidence base and how effectively these have both been communicated. Methods: The rationale behind ECR-P centres on three dimensions of quality; two are the well-established concepts of internal and external validity. Here, we introduce a third—evidence communication—encompassing both evidence veracity and quality of communication. Elements of the three dimensions of quality are considered within the context of the five rules of evidence communication. These are as follows: inform, not persuade; offer balance, not false balance; disclose uncertainties; state evidence quality and pre-empt misunderstandings. Results: Development of ECR-P has been carried out by an interdisciplinary team and was piloted with a systematic review reported more fully elsewhere. ECR-P comprises a set of preliminary considerations which capture key aspects for the assessment, leading on to the main tool whose structure is domain-based, each domain mapping to one of the five rules of evidence communication. The domains include 25 signalling questions designed to obtain essential information for the critical appraisal. The questions focus on either the study’s evidence or the policy recommendations. Domain-based judgement is derived from responses to the signalling questions and an accompanying algorithm, followed by an overall quality judgement. Conclusions: ECR-P has been designed to provide a standardised and transparent approach to assess the quality and communication of SPRs and their evidence base. The tool, which could be applied across all scientific fields, has been developed to fit primarily with the systematic reviewing process but could also serve as a stand-alone tool. Besides review assessors, it can also be used by policymakers, researchers, peer reviewers, editors and any other stakeholders interested in evidence-based policymaking and high-quality evidence communication. We encourage further independent testing of the tool in real-world evidence-based research
Biopiracy and beauty brands? patent trends of cosmetics and skin care companies
No full textConcerns about the fairness and equity of ‘biodiscovery’
research endure despite the creation of legal frameworks
designed to regulate access and benefit sharing involving
genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. While
some industries that engage in biodiscovery have been the
subject of sustained scrutiny, others have received scant
scholarly attention. We evaluate the potential misappropriation
of plant biodiversity and traditional knowledge in the cosmetics
industry. To do so, we conducted a patent landscape analysis
focusing on intellectual property claims that cosmetics firms
have made concerning 12 plant species for which there exists
extensive traditional knowledge of uses to improve the condition of skin and hair, or for other aesthetic purposes. The
results demonstrate that cosmetics companies regularly claim
intellectual property for uses of all 12 species, in multiple territories. There is little evidence to suggest that major firms seek
prior informed consent for the use of genetic resources or
traditional knowledge, or that they share benefits with local
providers. The potential that the misappropriation of Indigenous knowledge is occurring in the cosmetics industry has
important social and environmental justice implications, and
this sector should be subjected to increased scrutiny
Tree Canopy Cover in Blenheim 2021
No full textThis report was prepared by Professor Justin Morgenroth and Dr. Ning Ye at the School of
Forestry, University of Canterbury. The aim of this report is to provide local authorities in New
Zealand with a basic understanding of the urban tree canopy cover within their cities and towns
How are adults with Down Syndrome living their best life .
No full textThis research project seeks to amplify the voices of alumni from Dr Patricia Champion’s Early Intervention Center (now renamed The Champion Centre), allowing them to share their unique lived experiences. Unlike many research initiatives that often overlook the perspectives of people with disabilities, opting instead for input from their families and professionals, this study recognises the importance of participants' own narratives. This study included four adults with Down Syndrome, residing in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, aged 21-45. Through this phenomenological qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted, focusing on the aspects of their lives that contribute to their sense of wellbeing and fulfillment. In addition to traditional interview methods, innovative tools such as mind maps, personalized notebooks, and emotion cards were used to enrich the data collection process. The data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, providing a rich, data-driven understanding of the lived experiences of adults with Down Syndrome. Three central themes were identified as crucial to the participant’s positive lives; Independence, Relationships, and Positive Self-esteem and Self-perception. Additionally, the question “What do these individuals with Down Syndrome want the world to know about them?” was explored, revealing insights such as the notion that Down Syndrome has no negative impact on their lives and their eagerness to share their personal stories and experiences with the world. While these themes were examined, it is important to recognise that the case studies recognise individual narratives, each showcasing the unique and remarkable experiences of these individuals. These firsthand accounts offer invaluable insights that can inform and shape policies directly impacting individuals' lives. Furthermore, this research offers a novel, strength-based perspective on the wellbeing of individuals with Down Syndrome, challenging the typical negative connotations that dominate existing literature. By highlighting the positive aspects of their experiences, this study works to reshape perceptions and contribute to a more accurate, empowering narrative surrounding their lives
Distinguishing the chemical signatures of exoplanet host stars.
No full textThe objective of this thesis is to determine the chemical abundances of planet-hosting stars, and
how they may be related to planet formation. In particular, the aim is to determine whether the
chemical signatures of different types of exoplanet host stars can be distinguished from one another.
Most large spectroscopic surveys focus on dimmer objects, leaving many of the bright stars
unobserved. The University of Canterbury ¯ Oteh¯ıwai Mount John Observatory is well equipped to
observe such bright targets. To do this, spectroscopic data will be collected at the Mount John
Observatory for a selection of bright, known exoplanet host stars. Stellar parameters and chemical
abundances will be derived using a single methodology to preserve self-consistency. The derived
chemical abundances will be used to analyse the chemical signatures of the host stars.
Much of the existing literature focuses on comparing exoplanet hosts to non-exoplanet hosts.
This thesis aims to focus instead on comparing different types of exoplanet host stars to one another.
This will be completed by probing the differences in chemical signatures between exoplanet hosts. It
will also attempt to link planet formation theory and stellar chemical signatures through planet-star
relationships
Design and evaluation of a hip flexion orthosis to assist walking for people with multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease.
No full textFor those with neurological conditions, specifically multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease
(PD), mobility is a key motor symptom that affects daily living. Hip flexion orthoses (HFO) have been
shown to help restore mobility, but current offerings do not fully meet user’s needs. This thesis
details a user-centred approach taken to address this issue. This approach, based on an adapted
Stanford Design Thinking Process, guided the design and validation of a new HFO.
The HFO aims to assist with the natural gait by improving lower limb flexion, joint range of motion
and spatiotemporal parameters. Key shortcomings in current solutions include simplicity,
adjustability, user independence, and functional efficacy.
The final design is comprised of 17 modular components allowing users to tailor the level of support
to their individual needs. The HFO was evaluated through a three-part process. A ‘timed up to go
test’ and user experience survey assessed usability and perceived effectiveness. Participants
reporting high comfort, acceptability, and functional benefits, alongside suggestions for refinement.
Additionally, biomechanical gait analysis of a subgroup of participants with MS indicated measurable
improvements in walking mechanics when using the HFO.
The final design shows great promise for individuals with MS with further research required for
those with other neurological conditions. Future work should look at a broader range of neurological
conditions, long-term wearability, and clinical integration