Science: Theses and Dissertations

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Open Access
Planning for flooding at Trees For Canterbury
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Smith, Rachel; Roberts, Max; Pease, Amos; Westgarth, Ben; Bogale, Elsabet; Smith, Rachel
● This research examines the flooding in the Outback areas of Trees For Canterbury. To identify effective mitigation options, it is important to understand the key causes of the flooding. ● The research question addressed within the study is finding the main contributing factors to the flooding in the Outback area of Trees For Canterbury and identifying potential strategies to manage the flooding. ● The methods carried out include a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection. Specifically, fieldwork for collecting high-resolution imagery of this location, and interviewing Steve Bush, the community partner to obtain background information about the site. ● Open-source data was retrieved for Sea level data from NZ Sea Rise, groundwater measurements from ECAN, and precipitation data from StatsNZ and NIWA. ● The study identified three primary causes of flooding in the Outback area: an impermeable clay layer that blocks drainage, uneven topography that leads to water accumulation, and continuous irrigation and rainfall. ● A major limitation was the limited time available to examine all relevant variables. ● Long-term efforts should include more local research analysing the key factors contributing to flooding in the coastal areas of Christchurch.
Open Access
Can small-scale community-developed wetlands be an effective tool for improving water quality?
(2024) Dyson, Makayla; Ferriss, Ngaire; Gerling, Max; Gill-Clifford, Ruby; Storey, Todd
- The Montgomery Wetland is located near the Montgomery Highly Modified Water Course (HMWC), adjacent to the Hekeao-Hinds River in Mid Canterbury New Zealand. - The wetland was designed to reduced nitrate loads in the Montgomery HMWC and was a result of a collaboration between many shareholders, including Wairuna Farms, Dairy NZ, Hekeao-Hinds Water Enhancement Trust, the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective, and MHV Water. - The overall research question was ‘Can small-scale community-based wetlands be an effective tool for improving water quality’? This was then broken down into two more specific research questions: “has there been any change in the Montgomery Stream water quality over the different phases of the wetland development?’ and “what are the shareholder aspirations for the wetland?” - This research involved both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative in the form of nitrate data, supplied from MHV Water, and qualitative in the form of interview transcripts from key shareholders. -The key findings of this research were: ° The constructed wetland is successfully removing nitrates from the water. ° The wetland was successful in keeping within a budget and involving the community in a meaningful project. ° Community aspirations align and provide direction to enhancement of the wetlands value. - Future research should focus on developing a plan with mana whenua to ensure their aspirations are included in plans and creating a comprehensive monitoring scheme for the wetland.
Open Access
Future management plan to enhance the ecological restoration and biodiversity of the Chrystalwood Lane red zone, Governors Bay.
(2024) Ungerboeck, Alisha; Gay, Hannah; Bullen, Henrietta; Brown, Molly; Gane, Poppy
● What would a management plan look like that enhances the ecological restoration and biodiversity of the Chrystalwood Lane Red Zone in Governors Bay? ● Methodologies included data collection from bird counts, vegetation plots, photography (on the ground and drone), LiDAR and GPS. Data was analysed in Rstudio through abundance and richness. GPS information was analysed using GIS, to produce a map. Secondary research also played a vital role in our project’s findings. ● Our findings were limited by time restraints, preventing data collection at optimal times, such as the collection of bird data. With additional time we would have collected qualitative information regarding the desires of the Governors Bay community. Time constraints also limited our ability to conclude the total percentage of the area covered in the Muehlenbeckia australis species. However, the greatest limitation of our project has been constraints put in place by the Christchurch City Council (CCC) regarding safety concerns in the area. An updated geotechnical report needs to be completed (12- 24 months) before public access is permitted. This has meant that our recommendations for this management plan can only be advised to be undertaken following an updated geotechnical assessment. ● Future research could be done to investigate the success of our recommendations for the land. As there is limited research regarding restoration and management practices on areas of land smaller than 20 ha, further research in this area would be beneficial.
Open Access
How can youth relevant design compliment crime prevention through environmental design within Christchurch city.
(2024) Bonetti, Bella; Gade, Amelia; Green, Georgia; Hodgkinson, Juliana; Strickland, Lauren
• Youth are often undermined in the design process of urban space. It is crucial to understand their needs and perspectives when designing spaces for the future. • This study explores how youth-relevant design can complement Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) within Christchurch City. • We aim to gain insights into the interception of the two concepts, along with the awareness of youth-relevant design amongst planning professionals. • Research was conducted through qualitative methodologies such as interviews, focus groups, and secondary data analysis. • We found significant overlap and conflicting factors between youth perspectives and CPTED principles. • We created an infographic tool designed to bridge the gap between CPTED and youth-relevant design for planning professionals’ reference. • Our research established that it is essential to have a balanced approach to design by engaging youth early in the process and continuing engagement throughout.
Open Access
Hedgerow and shelterbelt impact on fire risk to rural Canterbury infrastructure.
(2024) Willans, Emba; Butterworth, Eden; Hamilton, George; Martin, Renee
This report investigates the influence of hedgerows and shelterbelts on fire risk to rural infrastructure in Canterbury, New Zealand, in collaboration with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ). With wildfires becoming more frequent, this research addresses a critical need to assess how hedgerows and shelterbelts impact wildfire hazards. The central research question explored was: How do the distribution and characteristics of hedgerows and shelterbelts influence fire risk to infrastructure in rural Canterbury? The methodology involved a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Ground truthing was conducted at a rural property where the height, width, distance, and species composition of hedgerows and shelterbelts were measured. Aerial imagery and ArcGIS Pro were used to analyse spatial data, create heat maps, and develop buffer zones around critical infrastructure. Findings reveal a spatial correlation between the distribution of hedgerows and infrastructure at a regional level. Ground truthing and spatial analysis of the case study property confirmed that it is an at-risk property. Various imitations were encountered throughout the process, including data availability, fire risk assumptions and research scale. Future research would help to expand the scale of the results, increase output quality and make computation more efficient.
Open Access
Connecting the Pūharakekenui/Styx River Reserve network.
(2024) Brownie, Colin; Li, HaoYu; Song, Deliang; Button, Éliece
● The Styx Living Laboratory Trust is a local organisation developing the Pūharakekenui Styx River catchment. They wish to encourage people to spend more time in the Pūharakekenui/Styx environment and appreciate its unique character. ● This project aims to connect reserves within the Pūharakekenui/Styx catchment by navigating a path along Ka Pūtahi Creek to the Pūharakekenui/Styx River. ● The research question was: “How can the Pūharakekenui/Styx reserves be connected in safe, creative ways that reinforce the unique character of the Pūharakekenui/Styx environment and celebrate a sense of place?” ●Quantitative land assessments provided data for use in GIS to plan network connections. Field surveys supplemented GIS with hazard identification and understanding of the Pūharakekenui/Styx sense of place. Ecological assessments determined plantings appropriate to the area. Interviews and email surveys gained relevant perspectives on the project. ● Key results include a cohesive Pūharakekenui/Styx design and crossing solutions that address the aspirations of the Styx Living Laboratory Trust and celebrate the Pūharakekenui/Styx as a place to be. ● Limitations of the research include time constraints, accessibility of resources and data and unfamiliarity with the human research process. ● Future research opportunities include measuring reserve usage, developing further crossings, streamlining the reserve development model, and applying to other underappreciated waterways in need of development.
Open Access
Creating play streets in Riccarton.
(2024) Bankier, Finley; Kerr, Sophie; Little, Indigo; Urquhart, Kellyanne; Yorke, Rosemary
• New Zealand is experiencing a decline in children's play, despite its crucial role in behavioural, physical and cognitive development. Safety concerns, a lack of public play spaces, and increased urbanisation are all contributing factors. • The purpose of this project is to understand the key factors affecting children's play in Riccarton and to provide the Christchurch City Council (CCC) with recommendations of where a play street could best be implemented. • Our research question is “What is limiting children's unstructured outdoor play in Riccarton and how can this be improved?”. • Literature reviews were conducted to extract existing information regarding the importance of play and its relevance in New Zealand, safety concerns, and the effectiveness of streets and greenspaces as play spaces. • Results were gathered by conducting a mixed-method survey using Qualtrics. Subsequently, we found road safety to be the biggest concern in addition to community safety such as crime and ‘stranger’ which aligned with our research findings. Community initiatives such as play streets were identified as the best option to improve levels of play in Riccarton. • A limitation of our project was the distribution of our survey which led to a small sample size. This resulted in the findings failing to accurately represent the population. • Further research should seek to consult with residents of the Riccarton location of choice on the implementation of a play street. Traffic calming measures such as lower speed limits and speed bumps should be considered to promote safer streets for play.
Open Access
Exploring community engagement at RAD Bikes.
(2024) Evans, Lisa; Robertson, Genna; Eguren, Vera; Conley, Ben; Mortimer, Polly; Genna
• Context: RAD (Recycle a Dunger) Bikes is a not-for-profit community bike workshop located in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, dedicated to promoting community bike recycling and repair. By providing accessible resources and education, RAD Bikes aims to address local transportation challenges and foster community engagement. • Research Question(s): This study explores two key questions: 1) What demographics does RAD Bikes currently serve, and 2) What strategies can RAD Bikes implement to reach underrepresented groups? • Summary of Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from surveys distributed with qualitative insights gained from in-depth interviews with volunteers and stakeholders. • Key Findings: RAD Bikes is praised for its sense of community but faces challenges in diversity and outreach. Most participants were male and New Zealand European, highlighting the need for targeted outreach to women and minority groups. Geographic reach was limited, suggesting opportunities for growth in underrepresented areas. • Shortcomings: Low survey response rates and sampling bias, due to self-selection and logistical constraints, limited the diversity of the data. Geographic representation was insufficient for a comprehensive spatial analysis. • Suggestions for Future Research: Extending survey duration, addressing logistical barriers, and employing broader outreach methods would improve data diversity and depth, enabling more comprehensive spatial and graphical analysis.
Open Access
Bicycle parking in higher density developments : a community perspective.
(2024) Prendergast, C.; Stuart, C.; Carter, L.; Henman, Joyce; Liu, R.
This research examines the potential effects of improving bicycle parking standards in medium/high-density housing on the ownership and use of bicycles by Christchurch residents. The report discusses issues with current inadequate bike parking facilities, which could discourage cycling in Christchurch's growing CBD. The research question was: “How would the Christchurch City Council’s implementation of higher standards for bicycle parking in medium/high-density housing affect residents' bicycle ownership and usage?” A mixed-method approach was used to collect data, which included three in-depth interviews and surveys given to 1,180 medium—and high-density households. While interviews examined individual experiences and recommendations for enhancement, the survey concentrated on individuals' current bicycle usage habits and their level of satisfaction with their current bicycle parking facilities. The main findings show that residents are generally unhappy with the current facilities, especially regarding their security and accessibility. Many survey respondents indicated that insufficient parking deterred them from owning or frequently riding bicycles, and 71% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with current parking bicycle facilities. Respondents also cited concerns about theft as a major obstacle, making security one of their top issues. The interviews also highlighted that parking facilities that are poorly designed and at inconvenient locations discourage bicycle usage. Despite these findings, the research had a number of limitations. Software problems impacted the survey results, and just 24 residents answered, yielding a low response rate of 2%, which could affect the generalizability of key findings. In addition, a low number of interviews (3) meant crucial perspectives from professionals such as developers or architects were missed, and therefore not considered in the research. The focus of future research should be broadened to explore transportation hubs and commercial developments, involving stakeholders such as policymakers and developers, for example Fletcher Building or Williams Corporation. Additionally, future studies should look further into better and more secure parking options for e-bikes and cargo bikes and examine the idea of subscription models for better parking facilities. These focuses should ideally address challenges in new developments and promote sustainable transport and infrastructure.
Open Access
Predator free Port Hills: current trapping efforts and future directions
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Haque, Ali; Robinson, Andrew; Brown, Crystal; Cox, Gaby; Campbell, Stuart
Aotearoa was introduced to three species of rats in the 18th century, causing detrimental impacts to the country's native wildlife and biodiversity. Rats are one of the main contributors to the decline of native bird populations, alongside other pests. For this reason, Predator Free Port Hills (PFPH) have asked for support in their mission by analysing the distribution of trapping efforts throughout the Port Hills as our region of interest (ROI). To do so, three sub- questions were provided by our community partner: 1. Where are the residential gaps in trapping effort? a. How does this compare to the gullies of the catchment? 2. Many trapping households occur in "clusters". Is the trapping density in each cluster enough to create a buffer between the urban area and the bush? 3. Non-residential areas: What are they, and who owns them? Is there trapping happening? a. How does this help the residential buffer and influence where PFPH should focus efforts? These questions provide context and collate to form our research question; "Where are the residential gaps in trapping efforts, how does this impact residential trapping buffers between urban and bush areas, and how do non-residential areas impact this buffer?". ArcGIS Pro, a geographic information systems (GIS) tool, was used to analyse spatial data provided by PFPH alongside data sourced from the LINZ Data Service and TrapNZ. Gullies were first delineated using the hydrology toolkit to indicate rat movement. Residential trapping efforts were classified using a 50m radius around each household, a substitution for the 100m trapping lines recommended by the Department of Conservation (DOC) to specify our analysis of residential trapping efforts used by PFPH. Residential trapping buffers were analysed using relative point densities of trapping households versus total households in each area. Findings indicate significant trapping gaps throughout Hillsborough, Cashmere, and Heathcote Valley, with effective rural/bush buffers across Lyttelton, Governors Bay, and Diamond Harbour. Henceforth, PFPH should focus on trapping gaps across the urban side of the Port Hills. These findings aim to identify and, therefore, optimise trapping efforts from PFPH by ensuring areas with the greatest potential for trapping are targeted. However, this project is limited by the accuracy of spatial data provided by PFPH, whereby incomplete trapping data necessitates that households were utilised as ‘traps’ within spatial analysis, and the difficulty in obtaining information regarding non-residential trapping efforts and projects. Henceforth, future research should consider methods of mediating this inconsistency, such as assigning a unique ID to future households upon registration and collating non-residential trapping projects throughout the ROI.
Open Access
Residents’ perspectives on the Port Hills fire response
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Davies, Isaac; Rogers, Kyra; Forsyth, Lilly; Dickie, Natasha; Samson, Timothy
● The 2017 and 2024 Port Hills fires had extensive environmental and social impacts on surrounding communities. ● While the 2024 fires saw notable improvements in agency responses compared to 2017, residents still identified several areas where further enhancements are needed. ● The central research question is “Considering the 2017 and 2024 Port Hills fires, how can future agency responses be improved to better factor in residents' needs?” ● Focus groups and interviews were conducted with seven residents and community spokespersons, whose responses were transcribed and analysed to form key conclusions. ● Key findings include the overall improvements from the 2017 to 2024 fire response, animal evacuation concerns, accountability over the landscape management, and a desire from the community wanting information on the best ways to engage during an emergency response. ● Future research should expand the sample size, incorporate greater ethnic diversity, and explore the implications of property and insurance markets on wildfire response. ● Ultimately, we recommend that Christchurch City Council and Civil Defence Emergency Management prioritise developing stronger community resilience initiatives and involve residents more actively in decision-making processes around Port Hills development to ensure more effective responses to future fires.
Open Access
The wild goose chase
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Rolleston, Aaria; Dunlay, Lauren; Hooper, Sophie; Ries, Trinity; Przychodzko, Jessica
● Canada geese are an invasive species that have detrimental effects on the environment. This includes water pollution and greenspace degradation. ● New Zealand Conservation Trust was concerned if the resident waterfowl species niche was being impacted by the presence of Canada geese. ● Our research aim was to investigate if Canada geese have an impact on resident waterfowl at Styx Mill Reserve (Pūharakekenui). ● We also aimed to compare the effectiveness of different management strategies, by comparing Canada geese population abundance at Styx Mill Reserve to Victoria Lake. ● The methodology we used was recording bird behaviour, and bird abundance. ● Over 9 days we observed Canada geese interactions with resident waterfowl, by recording 3 categories of behaviour: No interaction, Goose retreat, Goose advance. ● We counted each individual bird to record species abundance. ● Our results concluded that there was a significance of no interaction between Canada geese and resident waterfowl at Styx Mill Reserve and Victoria Lake. ● There was no significance between the Canada geese abundance and resident waterfowl abundance at Styx Mill Reserve. ● Styx Mill Reserve has native bankside vegetation, Victoria Lake has grass lawn. ● Euthanasia as a management strategy, shows most promise for long term removal, whilst egg pricking and decoys are effective as a short term strategy. ● A major shortcoming was that our study length was too short, which consequently made our sample size small. This limited our statistical analysis. ● Increasing sample size and study length to an annual period of observation, would increase reliability of statistical analysis. ● Future observation of geese behaviour with offspring around other waterfowl could further test the hypothesis of Canada geese aggressiveness.
Open Access
Assessing community aspirations for the redevelopment of Marine Parade, New Brighton.
(2024) Faulkner, Sarah; Kammerer, Katharina; Kelly, Poppy; Newton, Zach; Roberts, Otama; Faulkner, Sarah
Coastal infrastructure redevelopment is crucial for addressing the environmental and social challenges faced by coastal communities. The Marine Parade redevelopment in New Brighton offers a chance to enhance road safety and community integration. However, limited research exists on the specific needs of coastal communities. This study aims to fill that gap by investigating the community's aspirations for the redevelopment of Marine Parade. Research Question: What are the community needs and aspirations for Marine Parade in New Brighton? A mixed-methods approach was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, including Christchurch City Council, the New Brighton Community Board, and He Puna Taimoana. Focus groups were held with Marine Parade residents and walk-and-talk surveys were done during a beach clean-up. Additionally, an online survey was distributed through community Facebook groups to gather broader community feedback. Key Findings: Equitable Development: There is a need for more collaborative strategic planning between the Christchurch City Council and the community. Coastal Access: Residents prioritize better access to coastal areas for recreation and business use. COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS OF NEW BRIGHTON Freedom Camping: Concerns about freedom camping remain unaddressed in current plans. Pedestrian & Cycling Infrastructure: Enhancements are a priority, but poor-quality infrastructure discourages use. Parking: Divided opinions exist on whether to increase or reduce parking spaces. Road Safety: Differing views were noted on speed limits and road widths, but safety is a key concern. Environmental Sustainability: Flood management and sustainability are crucial but inadequately addressed. Limitations: Small survey sample size (51 respondents), limiting representativeness. Use of AI tools for qualitative analysis may have introduced bias. Budget and logistical constraints impacted the comprehensiveness. Further research should focus on marginalized groups' perspectives and explore demographic differences in issues such as road safety and parking.
Open Access
Understanding rural-urban interfaces in the Port Hills New Zealand
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Anderson, I.; Atkinson, M.; Munro, H.; Taylor, E.; Williams, I.
• This research project investigates fire risk at the rural-urban interface (RUI) in the Port Hills, a region characterized by high wildfire vulnerability due to its topography, vegetation, and proximity to human habitation. As climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather conditions, understanding the fire risks at the RUI is critical for safeguarding both natural ecosystems and residential areas. • The project aims to understand what defensible space looks like at RUI properties and how various characteristics interact to reduce or increase fire risk. • Identification of key themes such as RUI and defensible space definitions, indigenous knowledge and perspectives, vegetation types on the Port Hills, and history of wildfire informed our focus for reviewing existing literature and research. • The project involved the creation of a fire risk matrix designed to assess multiple variables, including topography, proximity to fuel sources, building materials, and emergency response access. A weighted score was allocated to each variable in relation to its severity and impact on fire risk. • By applying the matrix to a set of homes across wider Canterbury including Port Hills and Christchurch City we classified properties from high to low risk based on their unique characteristics. • Key limitation was the inconsistency of data collection, with varied processes taken in field work on the Port Hills compared to urban flats. Impacts results due to subjectivity of fire risk perception. • Future implications of this projects are varied. With additional time and funding the creation of GIS and remote sensor maps can provide a physical description of defensible space at the RUI. Implementation into building codes or the RMA to regulate fire risk and educational opportunities.
Open Access
What water sources and irrigation systems can be best utilized to continue regenerating the native flora at Pūtaringamotu Riccarton Bush?
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Bogers, H.; Braidwood, E.; Howatson, J.; Kelliher, A.; Lamb, J.
• Pūtaringamotu Riccarton Bush is a 7.8-hectare ngahere (forest) in Christchurch that is highly valued by the local community and hapu, Ngāi Tūāhuriri. • The surrounding landscape has been drained due to urbanization and, in 1998, an irrigation system was installed to ensure survival of the forest. The Riccarton Bush Trust have asked us to investigate how this irrigation system may be improved. • The research aimed to explore what water sources and irrigation systems could be best utilized to continue regenerating the native flora at Riccarton Bush. This involved determining whether variation in vegetation types and soil moisture across Riccarton Bush should be considered in the design of a new irrigation system. • A literature review was conducted that focused on irrigation methods, native plant water needs, and the historical context of the site. • Vegetation surveys at 13 field sites used a 5 x 5 m quadrat method to identify plant species and assess their abundance and maturity. • Manual soil moisture samples were collected across 13 sites and analysis using ASTM DD2216 methods. • TOMST TSM-4 soil moisture probes were calibrated and installed at field sites. These collected data over a month for analysis. • A total of 32 plant species were identified, emphasizing both native species and the differences between mature plants and saplings. • The relationship between soil moisture and vegetation was insufficient to draw any clear conclusions. • The research indicates due to regeneration occurring and minimal changes in vegetation type compared to historical data, the current irrigation system appears sufficient to support continued regeneration of the forest. • Research limitations included the limited number of field sites chosen and the inability to collect data year-round to account for seasonal soil moisture variations. • Our recommendations for future research include updating the irrigation system with a focus on water conservation and incorporating supplementary water sources such as roof stormwater and potential spring water.
Open Access
Place-based education opportunities in St Albans
(University of Canterbury, 2024) Belcher, Reign; Jamison, Kitty; Mohssen, Hesham; Ross, Hannah
• St Albans, a suburb in Christchurch, is rich in educational resources, offering numerous opportunities for Place-Based Education (PBE). However, local schools face challenges in integrating PBE into their teaching practices. • With many busy roads located near or within St Albans, this poses safety concerns for students travelling to and from learning places. • This research highlights PBE places for students within the St Albans community and maps safe walking routes for students to access these educational places. • Our question: What are the learning places within the St Albans community, and how can students at the local primary schools safely walk to these? • This was achieved by going on driving tours in St Albans, providing surveys to both teachers and parents and producing maps. • The collected data from driving tours and surveys were used to create maps that highlights places recommend for PBE and additionally outlines the saftest routes students can take to reach these sights. • This research faced several limitations, primarily due to time constraints. The study lacked student voice, there was no time to carry out group interviews and the surveys yielded smaller response rates. Additionally, there were mapping limitations due to current traffic data availability and compatibility. • Future research could move beyond from the 15-minute zone. The study could also be strengthened by student voice. Should PBE be implemented, research could examine if that change has had a positive impact on its students.
Open Access
Multi-hazard impact assessment of rural transport for a large eruption of Taranaki Mounga, Aotearoa.
(2024) Lamb, Jack Alan
Volcanic eruptions can severely disrupt and/or destroy rural transport networks, potentially impacting evacuations, and isolating communities for days, weeks or months. Isolation can prevent communities from accessing essential services such as food, medical care, fuel, and social networks. Disruption of rural transport networks can be detrimental to primary industries, affecting production and preventing the transport of produce to markets, impacting regional and national economies. Māori, the Indigenous People of Aotearoa (New Zealand) have witnessed volcanic activity for hundreds of years. Marae are physical, spiritual, and cultural centres of Māori identity. Marae are also vital in a disaster response to provide manaaki to their communities and serve as locally-led welfare and coordination centres. However, volcanic eruptions can affect the functioning of marae and their safety through direct damage or indirect impacts such as loss of critical infrastructure. Taranaki Mounga is an ancestor to Māori and classified by volcanologists as a dormant stratovolcano in Aotearoa’s North Island with a probability of eruption in the next 50 years of between 33% and 42%. Taranaki’s marae are at the heart of some rural communities, as are primary industries, particularly dairy farming. Primary industries employ around 16% the region’s workforce and contribute nearly $1 billion to Aotearoa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually. Previous work has assessed volcanic impact to Taranaki infrastructure such as water and electricity. However, no work has analysed volcanic impact to rural transport and how this would affect rural communities. This thesis aims to understand impacts to rural communities by assessing loss of service to Taranaki rural transport. Impacts to rural communities will be assessed by modelling the ability of marae and farms to access regional exit routes and rural support services. This will be undertaken using an existing suite of nine Taranaki Mounga eruption scenarios developed by Weir et al. (2022), with a focus on a large scenario (L1). This thesis found the most destructive eruption scenarios to be L2 which rendered 40% of roads unusable and L1 which rendered 45% of bridges unusable. Across all scenarios, State Highway 3 between Stratford and Inglewood, State Highway 43 near Stratford, and State Highway 45 between Hāwera and Manaia were frequently untraversable with few alternative routes available. This means that an eruption could prevent travel between north and south Taranaki on both sides of the mounga. When considering ashfall, roads and bridges in and west of Stratford most frequently lost all service. When considering lahars, the most frequent loss of service was in and near Kaponga. The most challenging situation for many rural communities accessing support services would be isolation of New Plymouth, which occurs in scenario L1. This would put severe strain on fuel supplies in Taranaki and force vets to serve more clients. At least one Fonterra factory was affected in five eruption scenarios. Reduced operation of any site would impact dairy farm production and income. By the end of the L1 scenario, 27% of marae and 48% of farms became isolated. This scenario, particularly in north and east Taranaki, would prevent many rural communities from accessing support services. Given the number of bridges affected in L1, and the impact observed from Cyclone Gabrielle, these communities could be isolated for weeks or months. In the L1 scenario, by phase 5d, any evacuations would need to use the southern regional exit route. Access to New Plymouth port and airport was not possible for 90% of marae and 85% of farms by road in this scenario. Therefore, these areas would require aid from elsewhere. Isolation of and impact to such a wide area could have a significant impact on the wellbeing of people, livestock health, agricultural production, and Aotearoa’s economy. Future research should model the recovery of Taranaki rural transport and communities to assess the duration of potential isolation and explore the cultural impact of evacuations, isolation, and displacement from marae to support iwi- and hapū-led planning.
Open Access
The association between childhood trauma and perpetration of intimate partner violence : a meta-analysis of risk factors.
(2023) Templeton, S. M.
The current study examined the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) and becoming a perpetrator of intimate partner violence (IPV) through a meta-analysis of previous published studies. The strength of the relationship between childhood trauma and the perpetration of IPV was averaged and compared across 49 studies reporting a total of 216 effects across a range of ACEs (neglect, physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, peer bullied and witnessing domestic violence) and for three different types of perpetrated IPV, including physical, psychological, and sexual. Potential moderators of these relationships were also explored, including the age of the IPV perpetrator, the sex of the perpetrator responsible for the ACEs, and whether the family of origin perpetrated the ACE. Potential moderating effects of the study design variable were also included. The only relationship that wasn’t significant and positive was between neglect and psychological IPV, which was negative. Otherwise, the results showed small but significant relationships between all the other ACEs and at least one form of IPV, although not all ACEs were correlated with all IPV outcomes. The non-family-of-origin ACE (being physically bullied by peers) demonstrated a similar correlation with IPV outcomes for family-of-origin ACEs. Additionally, differential sex effects were observed with the relationship between ACEs and IPV perpetration generally being stronger for males than for females. Relatedly, maternal perpetrated ACEs tended to have stronger relationships with future IPV perpetuation than paternal perpetuated ACEs. These results are congruent with Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1973), and Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1969), but these theories do not explain all the results. The findings are discussed together with the implications for future research that aims to further elucidate the link between ACEs and IPV perpetration.
Open Access
Transitioning urban water management regimes to facilitate water sensitive urban environments.
(2023) Teen, Rachel Mary
Urban water systems face increasing challenges, and there is a growing need for more robust, sustainable, and strategic management. How cities can transition to more sustainable water management has become a topic of considerable academic and practical interest. This thesis looks specifically at how urban water management (UWM) strategists work to drive these transitions and the factors that enable or inhibit the progress of sustainability transitions. Urban transitions scholarship has investigated aspects of governance, future uncertainties, strategic agency, the importance of an overarching vision and institutional factors. However, it has not yet explicitly focused on the strategising practices and experiences of executives and senior managers working within the regime layer of UWM. The thesis addresses this critical knowledge gap by unpacking how executive-level actors operating within the regime can influence more sustainable urban water management (SUWM) through their strategic work. It brings strategy as practice and sustainability transitions scholarship together to provide novel insights into how UWM strategists work to devise strategies and make decisions that enable or inhibit sustainability transitions. The study explores the historical progress of UWM transitions and the strategic work of UWM strategists in two cities – Ōtautahi|Christchurch, New Zealand, and Melbourne, Australia. Data were collected from interviews with 31 executives and senior managers working within the regime layer to examine their strategic practices, praxis and experiences. Historical and contemporary accounts of UWM strategies and the UWM strategists—their career histories, practices, and broader UWM experience—were reviewed in the context of UWM transitions in each city. Combining historical analysis and a strategy as practice lens revealed four significant themes regarding the work of UWM strategists: 1) how they undertake strategic practices and praxis, 2) the varied degrees of agency, 3) their relevant UWM (or related) professional expertise, and 4) the extent to which they engaged in collaborative learning. Melbourne has deliberately and successfully transitioned to more sustainable water management over the past two decades. The factors contributing to this successful transition included recognising the value of an overarching strategic vision to motivate UWM strategists across the city and appreciating and utilising the skills of boundary spanners, t-shaped professionals and SUWM champions. Interviewees demonstrated high confidence in strategising practices and praxis to the degree that many advised on UWM policies and regulations upwards to the State government. The norm was that UWM strategists had training and career experience in UWM or related fields and could activate that expertise across interdisciplinary forums. New knowledge of and strategies for SUWM emerged through collaborative learning between academic and research institutions and UWM organisations across Melbourne. In Ōtautahi|Christchurch Indigenous values have informed strategic practices and praxis for surface and stormwater since the mid-1990s, driving progress in water sensitive urban design. However, those values have not transferred to drinking and wastewater management, and overall progress towards a water sensitive city has been limited. The study found UWM strategists in Ōtautahi|Christchurch were inhibited by managerialist norms, lacked an overarching UWM vision, and could not articulate nor demonstrate how they strategised. In New Zealand, the central government tends to disseminate UWM strategies. Therefore, UWM strategists saw their task as managing implementation rather than developing place-based strategies. UWM strategists believed they were effective in their high-level strategic roles because they could rely on operational experts for information without carrying the ‘weight’ of UWM technical knowledge. UWM strategists in Ōtautahi|Christchurch do not strategise inter-organisationally or look to other Australasian cities for applicable UWM strategies or ideas. The novel combination of SaP and sustainability transitions perspectives applied in this research makes a methodological contribution by extending SaP beyond the business and private sectors to a broader, public sector, natural resource management context. SaP brings analytical focus to the UWM strategists and their situatedness, interests, experiences, perspectives, and ability to share knowledge in complex UWM regimes. This study advances sustainability research by providing a more detailed understanding of regime-level UWM strategists and how they can facilitate and work toward more water sensitive cities.
Open Access
Studies in the biology of amphidesma : an intertidal mollusc of the sandy shore, with particular reference to certain aspects of population distribution fluctuation and taxonomy
(1954) Dawson, Elliot W.
The work about to be described resulted from certain thoughts on the variation or populations or an inter-tidal bivalve mollusc of the genus Amphidesma occurring along the shores or Pegasus Bay, Canterbury. It appeared from casual observations and sampling that there was a progressive increase in the size of Amphidesma from the north to the south along this 30 mile extent or sandy beach. Similarly some numerical distribution according to size seemed evident between tide-marks, i.e. individuals or certain sizes and numbers appeared to occur at certain levels between low-water mark and high-water mark. In addition to this, over a period of months, populations or Amphidesma seemed to disappear and re-appear at various localities. The sandy shore offered yet another challenge to the biologist and hence it was suggested that these earlier observations might be pursued further with particular regard to the instability of the environment. The sandy beach, then, would form a "natural laboratory" for what might be termed an exercise in physical zoology. The objects of the present study, therefore, were: (a) to inquire into the numerical distribution and zonation of populations or Amphidesma along the shore of Pegasus Bay, (b) to acquire some know-ledge of the local growth rates, survival of larvae and consequent distribution or the various age groups of Amphidesma in relation to the physical factors on the sandy beach and in the offshore waters, (c) to investigate variations in external shape, i.e. form of shell, with respect to age, locality and species in .Amphidesma. It was hoped that this aspect of the study might reveal the limitations of the classification of molluscs based on the features of external morphology so often used in systematic conchology without regard to either changes in proportion with age or with general ecological conditions, and (d) to present a picture in general terms or the life history or the individual AplphidesM from the egg to the breeding adult with reference to the vicissitudes of life in the beach habitat.