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The role of public events as a tool for economic recovery in an urban environment
Get PDFThis study investigates the effects of events in the New Zealand city of Christchurch’s Central Business District (CBD) on pedestrian movements over the period from 2018 to 2020. Christchurch represents an ideal example of how contemporary urban design and marketing techniques can be combined to attract people to places that have been negatively affected by a natural disaster. Events played an integral part of the regeneration efforts to attract pedestrians and support economic recovery. Through analysing hourly pedestrian movements in the rebuilt and revitalised parts of the city, results show that public events contribute positively to pedestrian volumes; however, the result is not statistically significant. Common cause, rather than entertainment events, draw larger pedestrian volumes, reflecting a stronger preference for events that contribute to social coherence after the disruptive event. Pedestrian visitations during the summer months, holidays, and from Thursday to Saturday have a positive effect on pedestrian volume and even non-event days draw pedestrians to the CBD, a likely result from the regeneration narrative and personal experience associated with the renewed CBD. This research shows how the importance of temporal effects challenges the role of events as a stand-alone tool designed to drive economic recovery within a revitalised urban environment
Strategic spatial opportunities for local food distribution: urban accessibility of community gardens in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThis study explores strategic opportunities for improving access to and distribution of locally produced food. Food consumption in urban areas often depends on long and distant supply chains and corporate distribution points such as supermarkets. Poor integration of local urban food production is a source of food insecurity as much as an ecological, social, and infrastructural problem. It creates pressures on the supply and logistics of food distribution, challenging the resilience of the entire system, particularly in the context of sudden (e.g., earthquakes, floods, bushfires) and slow‐onset disasters, such as climate change. This article explores how strategic spatial opportunities for community‐oriented, urban food production sites could make cities more resilient from a food security and social accessibility perspective. With the help of a case study—urban community gardens in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand—and geographic information system (GIS) analysis, the article proposes a method to examine spatial accessibility to urban community gardens and examines associated socio‐demographic factors, in comparison to commercial food outlets (supermarkets). The results suggest that the applied method is useful in examining the spatial accessibility of gardens within their specific demographic context. They reveal that urban community gardens in Christchurch are mainly located in more deprived areas and that walkable access to gardens is provided to about one‐fifth of the city’s total population. The article discusses the results within the context of specific spatial and demographic urban characteristics, including low density, car dependency, and disaster susceptibility, and provides suggestions for further research and urban planning policy
Technological horizons: insights for accounting, auditing and internal control in emerging markets - PART B
No full textAdopting AI in accounting, auditing and internal control comes with challenges that need to be addressed for successful implementation. Key challenges include data quality, lack of understanding, regulatory compliance, ethical concerns, cost of implementation, resistance to change, security concerns, and scalability issues. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving technology experts, regulatory bodies, and accounting professionals.
The research presented connects traditional accounting, auditing and internal control practices with the cutting-edge technological advancements that are revolutionizing the way business transactions are conducted. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analytics, and automation have transformed the way financial information is processed, requiring professionals in these domains to develop new skill sets. Technological Horizons: Insights for Accounting, Auditing and Internal Control in Emerging Markets delves into the heart of these transformations and offers interdisciplinary insights that can inform and guide the adaptation of accounting and auditing practices in a tech-driven era.
Technological Innovation and Sustainability for Business Competitive Advantage series emphasizes the scientific exploration of business challenges faced by organizations, while offering practical solutions. By contributing to the development and enhancement of business theories and practices, and by promoting scientific research in technological innovation and sustainability, the volumes facilitate meaningful dialogues among academics, practitioners, and individuals. The research presented connects traditional accounting, auditing and internal control practices with the cutting-edge technological advancements that are revolutionizing the way business transactions are conducted
Impact of bag type on Epichloe endophyte survival and perennial ryegrass seed quality in three different storage environments
No full textThe New Zealand seed industry uses woven polypropylene (WPP) bags for seed lots, unlike many other countries where multi-wall paper (MWP) bags are used. The continued use of WPP bags has been questioned from an environmental/sustainability perspective but the industry is reluctant to change from WPP because of concerns about the ability of alternatives to maintain the viability of Epichloe endophytes in perennial ryegrass seed lots from the first entry into storage until the sowing of the next crop. With industry support, the ability of six bag types, WPP, MWP, bi-axially orientated polypropylene (BOPP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), enviro-barrier paper (EPB) and moisture shield paper (MSP) to maintain both endophyte viability and perennial ryegrass seed quality (one seed lot each of two cultivars x endophyte) over one year of storage in three storage environments was evaluated. The three storage environments were ambient (15-25℃, 65%RH), cool (4℃, 30%RH) and warm (25℃, 80%RH). Seed moisture content (SMC), germination and vigour as well as endophyte viability were assessed at 1.5 month intervals (warm storage) and 3 month intervals (ambient and cool storage). After 6 months in warm storage, SMC for all bag types had increased by between 1- 3.5% from the initial SMC, but the increase was significantly lower for LDPE and BOPP. Seed germination had not changed but seed vigour (as measured by the accelerated ageing test) had declined for all bag types. Endophyte viability had collapsed from >85% before storage to > 40% irrespective of bag type. For ambient and cool storage, at 6 months no significant changes in endophyte viability or seed quality had occurred among all the bag types. Results following one year of storage will be presented
Controls on weathering zone thickness in a rapidly eroding mountain range, western Southern Alps/Ka Tiritiri o te Moana, New Zealand/Aotearoa
No full textTectonic fracturing in uplifting mountains facilitates fluid-rock interactions, causing downward propagation of chemical weathering fronts. In contrast, erosion in uplifting mountains removes fractured and chemically altered bedrock, thinning the weathering zone. The interplay of these processes sets weathering zone thickness, but despite the disproportionate influence of chemical weathering in mountains on global biogeochemical cycles, it is unclear where within the weathering zone those chemical reactions predominantly occur. Here we present geochemical data from a 300 m-deep drill core and results from reactive transport modeling to assess weathering zone characteristics in the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana of New Zealand/Aotearoa. Our findings indicate that soil is thin and chemical weathering fronts are shallow, with only apatite (and likely calcite) weathering extending below the soil-bedrock boundary. Simulations indicate that soil thickness is primarily controlled by porosity-generating plagioclase weathering and that simulated soil thicknesses are consistent with local precipitation and denudation rates. However, simulations also show that if all 6 m of annual precipitation infiltrated bedrock, chemical weathering fronts would extend substantially deeper than observed. We infer that the porosity contrast between soil and rock limits bedrock fluid flow, slowing the propagation of chemical weathering. Erosion and limited fluid-mineral interaction in deep fractures result in a thin weathering zone, suggesting that silicate weathering in uplifting mountains occurs primarily within soil, rather than bedrock. Our measurements suggest that oxidative weathering of petrogenic carbon has been overestimated previously, but, consistent with prior work, surface processes in the study area result in net consumption of atmospheric CO₂
The pesky problem of defining a ‘pest’: Testing the pest management attitudes scale in the United Kingdom
No full textThe Pest Management Attitudes (PMA) scale was developed to provide a unidimensional and versatile tool to assess attitudes toward introduced pests and their management. While the PMA has been tested and shown strong psychometric properties in samples from Aotearoa, New Zealand (NZ), it is only beginning to be used internationally. This study tested the utility and influence of wording of the PMA scale in the United Kingdom (UK), using a 2021 survey (N = 999) distributed via online platform Prolific. Two of the 9 PMA scale items were not appropriate in our UK sample. We posit that despite references to introduced and native species in the PMA wording, many participants completed the survey with human rather than biodiversity pests in mind. While the PMA remains a valuable tool for understanding attitudes toward pests and their management, wording may need modification to ensure that concepts translate cross-culturally to retain meaningful comparisons
Trace metals in natural lakes: Seasonal variation of manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc speciation in lakes of different trophic states
Get PDFTrace metal micronutrients are known to play an important role in the optimal functioning of aquatic microorganisms involved in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Understanding the biogeochemical cycling of trace metal micronutrients in the global ocean has been a focus of intense research over several decades. Conversely, investigations into the cycling of trace metals in lakes have been relatively rare. This study investigated the biogeochemical cycling of five biologically important trace metals, namely manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc in three New Zealand lakes of different trophic state. The surface water in the three lakes was sampled monthly over a year, during which depth profile samples were collected twice. The samples were analysed to examine how trace metal speciation and phytoplankton productivity interact in the three lakes over time. The cycling of the metals was driven by the different physicochemical and biogeochemical factors distinctive for each lake, including water column oxygen concentrations and the extent to which each metal was bound to particulates. Intriguingly, increased biological uptake or limitation of growth during times of high phytoplankton growth was not observed for any of the investigated trace metals. This is of interest, especially as many of the trace metals investigated were present in sub-nanomolar bioavailable concentrations. The results from this study emphasise the important role biogeochemical cycling plays in regulating the distributions and bioavailability of trace metals in lakes
Himalayan masculinities
No full text‘Where are the Himalaya(s), what are the Himalaya(s)?’ was a question asked to one of the editors of this special issue more than a decade ago at a Himalayan Studies conference in Boulder, Colorado. It was both an unsettling question, given the dozens of people around us sharing stories about the ‘subject’ in question, and, in retrospect, an unanswerable one. The interrogator, an elderly Tibetan monk from Himachal Pradesh, India, followed up this rhetorical query with, ‘It would be difficult beta [son], to explain to you [all the conference participants] the many different Himalayas that I have met in my life…some of which are my relatives’. As we introduce this special issue, the above exchange animates our narrative choices
“I felt overlooked”: Linguistic minorities’ experiences of government multilingual COVID-19 communication in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThe public health communication strategies of the Aotearoa New Zealand government during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have been widely commended; however, for linguistic minorities, experiences of this communication were conflicted. We examine these experiences by drawing on 85 in-depth interviews conducted in 14 languages, showing that, while participants widely appreciated the clear visuals and regular COVID-19 updates in the English language, they reported significant challenges in multilingual communication. Four primary issues were identified: (1) the limited amount of timely multilingual information provided by the government; (2) minimal awareness within communities of this information; (3) problems with the accessibility of these resources; and (4) the low adaptability of translated information to cultural nuances. These challenges not only exacerbated existing linguicism but also hindered effective disaster response within linguistic minority communities. The findings emphasise the importance of proactive engagement with these groups by government, suggesting co-designing communication strategies and integrating cultural understanding into multilingual crisis communication practices. This research contributes to the broader scholarship on disaster linguicism, multilingual communication and public health equity
Biosecurity risks from weeds in the seed for sowing industry : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
Get PDFThe international trade of crop seed supports global food security and human health, but it also acts as a major pathway for the unintentional introduction of weeds, including invasive species and herbicide resistant biotypes. Many globally established weeds originated as contaminants in agricultural seed lots. Ongoing management of this pathway is essential to protect biosecurity, productivity, and ecosystems, yet published studies on weed seed contamination remain scarce. This thesis addresses that gap using inspection and purity records from three sources: seed lots grown domestically in New Zealand, seed lots imported into New Zealand, and seed lots imported into Canada. The first component examined contamination trends in New Zealand forage seed lots from 1912 to 2019, focusing on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens), two important pasture species in New Zealand. Overall contamination declined three to sixfold, suggesting that herbicides, seed certification, and improved practices have been effective. However, some annual weeds increased or remained prevalent, highlighting emerging risks. Vulpia bromoides and Chenopodium album were the most frequent recent contaminants, while Sherardia arvensis and Poa annua increased significantly, and Rumex acetosella Signiant declined. Perennial ryegrass seed lots contained significantly more grass weed species than white clover. The second component analysed border interceptions of 41,610 seed lots imported into New Zealand from 2014 to 2018, representing 1,420 crop species from over 90 countries. Seed lot contamination was rare, occurring in 1.9% of all imports. However, contamination varied by crop type and was highest in forage crops at 12.6% and lowest in arable crops at 0.5%. Medicago and Trifolium were the most contaminated crop genera, and Chenopodium album was the most common weed. Species classified as quarantine weeds in New Zealand were rare at 0.06%, with Sorghum halepense found only in vegetable seed lots. Larger seed lots were significantly more likely to be contaminated and to contain quarantine weeds, supporting ISTA seed lot size limits. These results suggest that New Zealand’s strict biosecurity policies have been largely effective. The third component examined seed lot contamination in Canada using CFIA inspection data for imports from the USA from 2007 to 2019. Among 2,080 seed lots, 262 contaminant species were reported. Of these, 70% were introduced in Canada, 23% were native, and 7% had not previously been recorded in Canada. Species classified as noxious weeds in Canada comprised 12% of contaminant species, declined over time, and were reported significantly less often than non-noxious species. Species classified as entry prohibited in Canada were rare and limited to four records of Cuscuta spp. Overall, fourteen species not previously recorded in Canada were reported, notably the frequently detected Trifolium vesiculosum, along with Galium parisiense, Torilis nodosa, and Trifolium hirtum, all established in climatically similar regions of the USA. Other weeds, such as Apera spica venti, are limited to one Canadian province but have potential to spread. Weeds with a known history of herbicide resistance in the USA but not in Canada increased significantly over time, including Poa annua and Sorghum halepense. Some imported crops, including Poa annua and Bromus tectorum, are also regulated as weeds in Canada, raising regulatory concerns. Additional concerns include the permissibility of contaminants absent from Canada in seed lots and the dual classification of native species such as Cuscuta campestris as entry prohibited. Together, these three components provide an integrated view of weed seed contamination in the seed for sowing system, highlighting trends, crop specific risks, high risk contaminants, and the role of regulation. The findings emphasise the need for long term monitoring, effective inspection, and adaptive policy to mitigate risks to agriculture and ecosystems while supporting trade