19366 research outputs found
Sort by
Designing urban green spaces that enable mindfulness and nature connectedness : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University
No full textThis research brings together the interconnectedness of mindfulness and subjective connection with nature, their benefits to human wellbeing, and the design of urban green spaces. As populations are increasingly concentrating in cities, residents can experience more stress and become estranged from nature. The considerable amount of research on the benefits of mindfulness and nature connections is pointing a way to an opportunity for Landscape architects to positively affect human wellbeing through design. To empathise with a diverse group of visitors, this study considers the ephemerality of experiences and understanding the spaces first-hand using the Persona method, case studies and sensory mapping in four green spaces in Christchurch over two seasons.
The results showed that public urban green spaces can be designed to simultaneously support and enable mindful activities and nature connectiveness, and that indeed features enabling one often also enable the other. The study revealed the importance of locating these spaces within public transport services and commute routes to create opportunities for accessing them. Utilising empathy was found to be an effective way to understand the user experiences and a valid method for the landscape architecture profession to understand the current settings as well as test design ideas on paper or at a site. Sensory maps were found to be a useful tool for post occupancy evaluations, site inventory, and site analysis to ensure senses are accounted for in design, and that the experience of people with different abilities are considered throughout the process
A transdisciplinary approach to understanding the connections between soil and people, through food production: A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University
No full textThere is a disconnect between soil, food, and people, that is being exacerbated as our populations become increasingly urban-based. This presents a ‘wicked’ challenge for soil and food security that soil science alone is unable to address. Resolving this issue requires understanding the extent and nature of the current (dis)connections, providing an opportunity to extend beyond the disciplinary boundaries of soil science. This research aims to develop an understanding of the (dis)connections between soil and people through the conduit of food in a place-based context by operating at the interface of mātauraka Māori (Māori knowledge) and soil science. This thesis provides two soil-centred examples of TDR in an Aotearoa New Zealand context, applying the He Awa Whiria (braided rivers) epistemological framework to guide the weaving of knowledges.
To develop insight into how soil science and mātauraka Māori can be woven together and gain an understanding of historical connections between soil, food, and people, a case study guided by the questions of Mana Whenua regarding their past horticultural land use at Pōhatu (Flea Bay), Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū (Banks Peninsula), is undertaken. In this study, mātauraka Māori identified likely māra (garden) sites in the bay with oral histories identifying features such as gravel additions to the soil to improve drainage and retain warmth. Analysis of soil horizons modified with rounded beach gravels identified phytoliths with a morphotype consistent with kūmara leaves. Undertaking this study has demonstrated the importance of relationships when weaving knowledges, and the benefits of recognising equal value of the knowledges involved.
Building on the results and learnings from the Pōhatu case study, a TDR methodology is applied to develop the place-based Food-Landscape Networks (FLN) framework, placing soil at its centre. The FLN framework applies a holistic approach to understanding the reciprocal connections between soil, food, and people in contemporary local food production systems. To assess the suitability of the FLN framework for understanding connections between soil, food, and people, it has been applied to three food-landscapes in Waitaha (Canterbury). Applying the framework makes visible the (dis)connections between soil, food, and people in three food-landscapes with the primary disconnection being people and soil across all three food-landscapes, as well as identifying where interdisciplinary collaboration is needed.
This thesis enhances understanding and demonstrates the importance of engaging with mātauraka Māori as a knowledge of equal value to soil science for addressing complex, soil-centred environmental challenges facing Aotearoa New Zealand. The application of the transdisciplinary FLN framework illustrates the complexity of understanding the reciprocal connections between soil and people, highlighting the limitations of soil science in understanding and addressing this disconnect alone. This signals the need for interdisciplinary approaches, nested within TDR, for consumer disconnects to be addressed. The co-production of knowledge by weaving knowledges together to assess and understand these connections provides an opportunity to connect, and reconnect, people with where food comes from to work towards soil and food security
An exploratory study on factors that affect adoption of digital interoperability standards at the Ministry for Primary Industries: an architect’s perspective : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Lincoln University
No full textThe purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the adoption of interoperability standards at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) from an architect’s perspective. A case study approach was taken and semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve architects at MPI. In addition, the common electronic databases were searched for relevant literature in relation to the purpose of study.
The architects interviewed at MPI varied in seniority, and the report places them in three groups: junior, intermediate and senior staff. Following qualitative data analysis through coding, categorising and pooling of the categories or elements into themes, six factors were uncovered that affect the adoption of the digital interoperability standards at MPI. These factors included having right mechanisms, good engagement, appropriate organisational settings and its capability, adequate governance and monitoring processes, the availability and nature of standards, and other external factors.
Moreover, there are also insights in this report that provide details on the level of awareness, involvement and the role of the staff, using RACI. The paper has a section on the importance of the process to adopt and implement interoperability standards, and another section that describes the strategies used at MPI to overcome the barriers in relation to the adoption and implementation of interoperability standards.
The findings from this study raised the awareness and understanding of the factors that facilitate or impede the adoption or implementation of interoperability standards at MPI or at similar public sector agencies in New Zealand. Further future research on this topic will help uncover and confirm relevance of these factors in wider New Zealand public service
Impact of managed aquifer recharge on nitrate concentration changes in an alluvial aquifer : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Water Resource Management at Lincoln University
No full textNitrate leaching poses significant challenges to agricultural environments, endangering water quality, human health, and ecosystems. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is a technology aimed at improving water quality in contaminated aquifers by dilution with high quality recharging water. This study investigates the effectiveness of MAR techniques, specifically infiltration basins and streambed channel modifications, in mitigating rising nitrate levels in the alluvial aquifers of the Hekeao/Hinds Plains (HHP), New Zealand. The research addresses four key objectives: identifying water sources contributing to groundwater recharge, evaluating biochemical processes affecting groundwater chemistry, comparing nitrate fluxes under different irrigation practices, and assessing MAR's impact on groundwater nitrate concentrations.
Using chemical analyses, including isotopic signatures and major ion concentrations, alongside multivariate statistical techniques such as Bayesian mixing models, this study quantifies multiple recharge sources and their impact on nitrate pollution. The findings reveal that land surface recharge contributes 60% of groundwater recharge, with the remainder coming from water race recharge, and river recharge, collectively termed unmanaged aquifer recharge (UMAR). Oxidizing groundwater conditions were found to impede denitrification, significantly influencing groundwater chemistry and limiting natural nitrate attenuation.
Areas irrigated with groundwater showed nitrate levels comparable to those irrigated with low-solute water, indicating additional influencing factors beyond irrigation water quality. Even with high-quality water inputs from abundant rain and low-solute irrigation, persistent soil solutes inevitably leach into groundwater.
MAR demonstrated significant potential for nitrate dilution as far as 3 km down-gradient from the infiltration basin, with the dilution effect decreasing with distance. In one area, MAR contributed up to 52% of groundwater recharge, effectively decreasing nitrate concentrations from 26.6-30.9 mg NO3/L (start of MAR scheme operation in 2016) to 7-12 mg NO3/L (monitoring 2022). However, in areas without substantial MAR influence, the volume of MAR-influenced water was insufficient to dilute extensive nitrate plumes to below 50 mg NO3/L.
This research contributes a transferable methodology for quantifying pollutant inputs in catchments with isotopically similar but chemically diverse sources. It precisely quantifies MAR's role in nitrate dilution, enhancing our understanding of sustainable groundwater management practices. The findings underscore the potential of MAR techniques as viable solutions for mitigating nitrate pollution while highlighting the need for comprehensive management strategies in alluvial aquifers. Given the oxidizing conditions that impede denitrification, effective management practices, including optimized MAR implementation, remain crucial for mitigating nitrate contamination.
Keywords: Managed aquifer recharge, unmanaged aquifer recharge, heterogeneous alluvial aquifer, nitrate pollution mitigation, Bayesian mixing model, multivariate statistical techniques, stable water isotope, irrigation, groundwater chemistry, land surface recharge, Hekeao/Hinds Plains
Knowledge, mātauranga and science: Reflective learning from the interface
No full textThis essay offers reflective learning on how researchers in the Western science tradition connect to bodies of knowledge created and held outside that tradition. It begins with endogenous growth theory, which explains the unique role of knowledge as an input into economic production. The essay describes how Western science addresses the problem of validating and accessing knowledge, by hosting an expanding corpus of peer-reviewed publications. This academic knowledge does not contain all current knowledge. The essay therefore draws on the authors’ experience in four large research programmes to consider business knowledge and mātauranga Māori. It reflects on agency, tikanga [right behaviour], global conversations about Indigenous knowledge, and decolonising research. The essay finishes with models of knowledge engagement in the interface between western Science and mātauranga Māori that support the mana and integrity of diverse knowledge streams
Coping with invisibility: Strategies of accompanying partners of global employees
No full textWhile the global mobility of employees is escalating, spouse and family continue to impact on the success of these international appointments. The recent rise of dual career couples (DCC) has intensified the challenges of international relocation. This is particularly relevant at a time when Aotearoa New Zealand is actively seeking skilled and professional migrants. The potential financial and human costs of unsuccessful relocations are high for organizations and for the relocated families. They also pose significant issues for Human Resource Managers.
This presentation reviews the career strategies of 21 accompanying male and female partners of professionals and managers who relocated to Aotearoa New Zealand for their partners’ job. Drawing on their narratives about relocation, we explore their responses to the challenges and opportunities they encountered. While most of them had to modify their own career goals on relocation, a small number were able to continue in their previous jobs and work remotely. Only two participants found employment in the company that initiated their partners’ relocation. Others were unable to find employment, or found work that was unpaid, poorly paid, not fulfilling, or part-time. Women experienced challenges that were gender specific. Non-native speakers of English struggled most to find relevant work and their professional qualifications were often not recognised. Analysis of rich and detailed stories of international relocation highlight issues and agendas both for researchers and HRM practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond
Māori branding in New Zealand's food and fibre industry
No full textThis article looks into indigenous branding in New Zealand’s food and fibre industry, which plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy, providing a wealth of opportunities for rural practitioners. However, in an increasingly globalised marketplace, the need for unique identity and differentiation has never been more important
Lifting the profile of deep forest soil carbon
Get PDFForests are the reservoir for a vast amount of terrestrial soil organic carbon (SOC) globally. With increasing soil depth, the age of SOC reportedly increases, implying resistance to change. However, we know little about the processes that underpin deep SOC persistence and what deep SOC is vulnerable to climate change. This review summarizes the current knowledge of deep forest SOC, the processes regulating its cycling, and the impacts of climate change on the fate of deep forest SOC. Our understanding of the processes that influence deep SOC cycling and the extent of SOC stores is limited by available data. Accordingly, there is a large degree of uncertainty surrounding how much deep SOC there is, our understanding of the influencing factors of deep SOC cycling, and how these may be distinct from upper soil layers. To improve our ability to predict deep SOC change, we need to more accurately quantify the deep SOC pool and deepen our knowledge of how factors related to the tree root–soil–microbiome control deep SOC storage and cycling. Thereby, addressing the uncertainty of deep SOC contribution in the global C exchange with climate change and concomitant impacts on forest ecosystem function and resilienc
Missing phosphorus legacy of the Anthropocene: Quantifying residual phosphorus in the biosphere
Get PDFA defining feature of the Anthropocene is the distortion of the biosphere phosphorus (P) cycle. A relatively sudden acceleration of input fluxes without a concomitant increase in output fluxes has led to net accumulation of P in the terrestrial-aquatic continuum. Over the past century, P has been mined from geological deposits to produce crop fertilizers. When P inputs are not fully removed with harvest of crop biomass, the remaining P accumulates in soils. This residual P is a uniquely anthropogenic pool of P, and its management is critical for agronomic and environmental sustainability. Managing residual P first requires its quantification—but measuring residual P is challenging. In this review, we synthesize approaches to quantifying residual P, with emphasis on advantages, disadvantages, and complementarity. Common approaches to estimate residual P are mass balances, long-term experiments, soil test P trends and chronosequences, with varying suitability or even limitations to distinct spatiotemporal scales. We demonstrate that individual quantification approaches are (i) constrained, (ii) often complementary, and (iii) may be feasible at only certain time–space scales. While some of these challenges are inherent to the quantification approach, in many cases there are surmountable challenges that can be addressed by unifying existing P pool and flux datasets, standardizing and synchronizing data collection on pools and fluxes, and quantifying uncertainty. Though defined as a magnitude, the distribution and speciation of residual P is relatively less understood but shapes its utilization and environmental impacts. The form of residual P will vary by agroecosystem context due to edaphoclimatic-specific transformation of the accumulated P, which has implications for management (e.g., crop usage) and future policies (e.g., lag times in P loading from non-point sources). Quantifying the uncertainty in measuring residual P holds value beyond scientific understanding, as it supports prioritization of monitoring and management resources and inform policy
Recreation
No full textRecreation is a pleasurable, socially sanctioned activity that restores the individual, concomitant with the experience of leisure. Long-standing debate exists about the nature, meaning, and scope of recreation and its relationship to tourism (Annals of Tourism Research 1987). While debate continues, there are continued calls for merging the fields of enquiry, from their different ideological beginnings of leisure and recreation as welfare, and tourism as business (Moore et al. 1995)