Higher Degree Theses

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Refugee resettlement and socio-economic participation through entrepreneurship: The case of New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2025-09-02) Fatokun, Kolawole Ishola; Sinha, Paresha N.; Scott, Jonathan M.
Entrepreneurship is often viewed as a feasible pathway for refugee resettlement. It is regarded as a means for refugees to find employment and participate in socio-economic activities. Previous studies have suggested refugee entrepreneurship as a pathway for refugee integration. However, it is not enough to assert that entrepreneurship is a pathway for refugees to integrate and resettle in a host community; we need to understand how entrepreneurship contributes to their resettlement. The current knowledge needs to be expanded within the context of resettlement by exploring why refugees start businesses, how refugee entrepreneurship aids resettlement, the types of businesses refugees engage in, and the reasons behind these choices. How does refugee entrepreneurship influence resettlement? Focusing on spatiality, this study addresses the gap caused by the lack of a context-specific study examining refugee entrepreneurship and resettlement in a host country. A synthesised conceptual framework that provides a structured overview of key ideas, concepts, theories, and relationships drawn from existing research and literature on (refugee) entrepreneurship and resettlement has been neglected. Exploring the phenomenon of refugee entrepreneurship and its connection to resettlement necessitates the development of a synthesised conceptual framework. In conducting this study, the framework is based on a synthesis of: (1) the mechanisms (a broad theoretical discussion) driving the motivation of (refugee) entrepreneurs; (2) social capital theory; and (3) mixed embeddedness theory. Focusing on New Zealand as a refugee-receiving country, the developed novel context-aware conceptual framework is applied to improve understanding of the linkage between refugee entrepreneurship and resettlement. How the “enabling” factors of refugee entrepreneurship transform misfortune into positive outcomes for refugees is revealed. The term “enabling” describes how refugees overcome difficulties and turn challenges into elements that drive positive outcomes for them. This study provides answers to why refugees engage in business activities. This improves our understanding of the motives of refugee entrepreneurs beyond the traditional push and pull dichotomy of necessity and opportunity recognition. Although motivated to start businesses, refugees encounter significant barriers to entrepreneurship and need to actively participate in socio-economic activities to support their resettlement through entrepreneurship. Refugee resettlement through entrepreneurship is a transformative process shaped by their experiences from their home country, culture, transition, and pre-entrepreneurial activities in the host country. Applying the interpretive approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 refugee entrepreneurs, using a semi-structured interview guide. Qualitative methods that uniquely enable the explanation of the participants’ agentic lived experiences, capturing individuals’ meanings and interpretations of their behaviours, events, and contexts, were employed. Abductive reasoning was used to identify themes, codes, and categories. Raw data were organised through the first-order coding or open coding process, where sets of data were closely reviewed and integrated with other data to develop broader themes and theoretical dimensions. NVivo software was utilised to support and enhance the rigour of data analysis. This study finds that refugees must transition from informal to formal entrepreneurs to resettle through entrepreneurship. This change requires support from drivers of mixed embeddedness (DME) and government intervention through policy change, especially for refugees who arrive as adults.
Transfer and persistence of spiritual values as institutional logics in post-founding social ventures
(The University of Waikato, 2025-12-17) Abeywardana, Thanuksha; Pavlovich, Kathryn; Sinha, Paresha N.; Markman, Gideon
It is well understood that personal values can profoundly influence the purpose and direction of a new venture. This is even more so when the spiritual values of the founder are involved. Even though spirituality empowers oneself with energy, passion, direction, and meaning in both personal and occupational life, the process through which spiritual values are transferred from the founder to the organisation and how they persist within the venture remains unclear. This leads to the research question of the study: How do spiritual values of the founder transfer and persist within the venture to become an institutional logic? Interpretivism serves as the paradigm for my study. The research follows a qualitative approach, employing case studies for an in-depth exploration of the data. A sample of sixty participants, comprising founders and employees, from Sri Lankan MSM social enterprises, was interviewed. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. Firstly, the research reveals that recognising the founder’s spiritual values begins with comprising founders and employees from the founder embodying selfless qualities such as gratitude, generosity, empathy, detachment, principled conduct, and a sense of justice through self-aware thoughts and actions. This study focuses on an in-depth understanding of how the spiritual values of the founder have been transferred into the ventures and how they persist. Therefore, secondly, the study uncovers that the transferring of the founder’s spiritual values occurs through three processes: Practising, fostering and nurturing. The transfer of spiritual values involves routine actions that align thoughts and behaviours with the inner well-being of both oneself and others. This process is nurtured through intentional, compassionate understanding and encouragement, fostering inner calmness to bring comfort to others. Thirdly, my study signifies three processes of persistence of spiritual values within the venture: Contemplating, continuous engagement and inculcating. The persistence of spiritual values as institutional logics begins with self-reflection, grounded in self-awareness and consistent, often unintentional interactions that promote a commitment-driven life in service to others. The discussion and conclusion evaluate and reflect, respectively, on the journey of institutional logic. The transition from spiritual values to spiritual institutional logic is characterised by alignment, sense-making, and re-coupling. Alignment involves both inner resonance and collective resonance, extending beyond collective transcendence to encompass global transcendence. Sense-making indicates that founders and employees work collectively to ensure a meaningful purpose oriented toward the well-being of others, while also drawing on the inner, self-developed humanistic nature of spiritual values. In the process of recoupling, a complementary, yet evolving dimension of spiritual institutional logic emerges through the co-extraction and recombination of multiple elements derived from compatible spiritual values, resulting in a spiritual form of institutional logic. Finally, this study extends the moral and intellectual stance of institutional logic to include the spiritual dimension. The transition from spiritual values to institutional logics is observed through the characteristics and inherent nature of those values. Secondly, the value transfer process explored in this study offers a theoretical bridge between spirituality and management theory. It contributes to the value transmission process by integrating self-awareness and empathy into practice. Thirdly, this study provides evidence for the persistence of spiritual values within the domains of spirituality and institutional logic by highlighting the interplay between core and peripheral elements of spiritual institutional logics.
Open-Source tools for practical heat integration and utility system evaluation
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Hall, Keegan; Walmsley, Timothy Gordon; Walmsley, Michael; Udugama, Isuru A.
Industrial energy use is one of the most significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most effective strategies for reducing heat demand is optimising the design of heat exchanger networks (HENs). While automated synthesis methods like mathematical programming have long promised optimal designs, their industrial adoption remains limited. Key barriers include expensive software licenses, complexity of models and a disconnect between proposed thermal savings and real-world cost savings, especially for non-continuous processes. This thesis addresses these challenges by developing two complementary open-source tools that bridge the gap between advanced process integration methods and practical industrial implementation. The novel contributions in this thesis are delivered across two primary streams: (1) the development of OpenHENS, an entirely open-source tool for synthesising cost-optimal HENs using a robust multi-stage solution strategy, and (2) a machine learning-based surrogate modelling approach for predicting utility system performance under new heat recovery or plant configurations. Together these contributions allow engineers to investigate multiple heat recovery options and accurately evaluate the operational cost savings. OpenHENS combines a novel three step strategy to systematically reduce model complexity and generate a broad set of structurally diverse near-optimal heat HENs. Engineers then apply their judgement in selecting a design that aligns with real-world constraints such as spatial layout, capital budgets, and controllability, factors often too complex to model directly. OpenHENS is publicly available as a Python-based open-source tool and is designed to be accessible to engineers without prior experience in mathematical programming or coding. When validated on thirteen common benchmark problems, OpenHENS consistently returned solutions within 8% of the lowest known total annualised costs reported in the literature using commercial optimisation software. To support credible evaluation of energy efficiency projects, this thesis also develops a surrogate modelling framework tailored for large, non-continuous industrial sites where utility system behaviour is influenced by variable production, operator decisions, and equipment constraints. Trained on high-resolution plant data, the model captures non-linear, time-dependent system behaviour and is used to predict fuel consumption, cogeneration, boiler steam generation, and equipment-level steam demand across full-year operational periods. The approach is demonstrated through the evaluation of a hot water network retrofit at a pulp and paper mill, where standard costing methods were found to overestimate annual savings by NZD $9.8 million. The surrogate model also enables fair cost allocation prior to the design phases by quantifying the marginal steam cost (MSC) at each plant. Results showed that the hot water network retrofit had a MSC of -$10 per tonne, whereas the pulp dryer and paper machine had the highest MSCs around $20 per tonne. Beyond HEN evaluation, the surrogate model supports strategic scenario analysis for energy decision-making. The model was used to assess the implications of shutting down paper production on steam balances, asset utilisation, and site-wide fuel costs. The results revealed unintended consequences, including increased natural gas usage and instability due to low boiler turndown. Because the model reflects actual operational patterns embedded in historical data, these insights underscore the need for improved utility system operation. Additional ‘what-if’ scenarios demonstrated the potential for significant cost reductions by integrating new power generation technologies that recover surplus steam from biomass combustion.
Locating Moana through children’s eyes: “Seeing with others” in cultural identity and global media in Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Spieker, Annelore; Johnston, Lynda; Schott, Gareth R.; Hill, Rodrigo
This thesis investigates how children aged 5 to 12 in Aotearoa New Zealand interpret cultural representations in global animated media, with particular attention to Disney’s Moana (2016). Through a child-centred, transnational lens, the research examines how young audiences make sense of ethnicity, culture, and identity in mediated stories, and how these interpretations are shaped by their personal, familial, and educational experiences. The study draws on Jesús Martín-Barbero’s (1987, 2006) theory of cultural mediations, along with theories of globalisation and transnationalism, to understand how meaning-making occurs across local and global cultural flows. It also engages with children’s geographies to attend to questions of spatial belonging, migration, and place-based identity. The study is based on qualitative data gathered from 94 research participants through face-to-face and online data collection with a diverse group of 54 children representing over 30 ethnic backgrounds, including a large subset of participants from 10 Brazilian-background families living in Aotearoa New Zealand. Children were invited to interpret a range of 24 characters drawn from 16 Disney and Pixar media texts (15 animated films and one television series), with a particular emphasis on Moana. In addition, perspectives from 36 parents, as well as three primary school teachers and one principal, were collected to examine how families and educators use media for cultural learning and identity negotiation. Findings reveal that children actively interpret cultural cues through visual, emotional, and relational frameworks. Characters such as Moana and Maui were often identified as being “from here”, drawing on landscape, school-based learning, and everyday cultural knowledge. Brazilian families used global media texts to support cultural transmission, while children articulated desires for characters who resembled them not only in ethnicity, but also in language, values, and personality. Across the thesis, tensions emerged between cultural recognition and confusion, reflecting the complex dynamics of growing up in a legally bicultural and yet multicultural society, such as Aotearoa. This study contributes to scholarship on children’s media reception, transnational identity, and cultural representation by highlighting the voices of young viewers and the interpretive environments in which global media are made meaningful. By bringing together children’s perspectives with those of their families, and situating these within the cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand, the thesis underscores how global animated films like Moana are not passively consumed but actively negotiated. It offers new insights into how identity, belonging, and cultural knowledge are shaped through everyday interactions with media, particularly for children growing up in transnational and multilingual households.
Hawaiki ora: Waka ama, it's a kind of magic
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Nuku, Michael; Tuaupiki, Haki; Hiha, Anne
Waka ama is a heterotopic social space deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori and is navigating transformative currents as it balances cultural integrity and the pursuit of performance excellence. This study investigated the magic of waka ama, namely the magnetic phenomenon that captivated participants, the lifestyle changes resulting from engagement and participants’ environmental perceptions. Magic is understood as the recognition of the enchanted amid modern pressures. A critical gap identified in the literature is the lack of recognition of the key elements that underpin positive participation in waka ama. By articulating and validating these key elements, this thesis lays a foundation for protecting and sustaining these cultural dimensions as waka ama grows in prominence and recognition as a high-performance sport. The study also raises concerns that increasing formalisation may risk eroding traditional values, underscoring the need for culturally responsive strategies to preserve the essence of waka ama for future generations. This Kaupapa Māori Research is rooted in Te Ao Māori, with Kaupapa Māori Theory maintaining a Māori lens for interpretation and positionality. It utilised the Waka Ama Rangahau conceptual framework, creating stability and rigour for this journey of discovery. It employed an in-depth review of literature and semi-structured interviews with 15 established kaihoe (paddlers) from across Aotearoa to gather data. It also included perspectives of a group of kaihoe that experienced waka ama from an unexplored viewpoint to add depth and breadth to the findings. Thematic analysis and the Whakaaro method were employed to analyse the data. The findings were then presented using Thematic Synthesis. The knowledge and experiences shared by kaihoe contributed towards answering the three research questions and establishing the Waka AMA (Āhuru Mōwai Aroha) Model for supportive environments that characterised the concept of āhuru mōwai. This study conceptualised the āhuru mōwai, Hawaiki Ora, inspired by historical discourse and interpretations of Hawaiki Nui. The spatio-temporal environment of waka ama cultivated Hawaiki Ora in ways that align with Te Ao Māori time and space, and are reinforced by Foucault’s concept of heterotopia and Lefebvre’s theory of social space, offering a unique, transformative space for identity, performance, connection, and care. Within this environment, kaihoe collectively negotiate and uphold their ideals, forging unity and compromise over time. These findings underscore the necessity of preserving waka ama’s whānau-centric ethos to safeguard its cultural and spiritual essence against the encroachment of Eurocentric marginalisation commonly framed as modernity. The Waka AMA Model provides an environmental social construction plan to ensure a supportive and genuinely caring environment is available throughout challenging times and spaces. Crucially, this support must be ongoing and never taken for granted. Waka AMA supports Hawaiki Ora from the experiences, aspirations and rangatiratanga of kaihoe.
Developing new multiscale models for the numerical simulation of Pultruded GFRP Structural Elements
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Abbaszadeh, Hadi; Mochida, Yusuke
Pultruded Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) are innovative structural elements gaining popularity for various structural applications due to their unique properties, such as magnetic transparency and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. These materials have been extensively studied through experimental and numerical methods to assess their performance as structural components. Accurately describing the micro- and macro-scale mechanical features of FRP elements necessitates complex computational models to predict their strength and investigate design parameters through numerical simulations. This research initially reviews the state-of-the-art in numerical modelling of structural fibre-reinforced polymeric elements, particularly pultruded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP). It highlights their use as load-bearing structural elements and evaluates various numerical methods, including Finite Element Method (FEM), eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM), Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT), Cohesive Zone Modelling (CZM), Multiscale Reduced Order Modelling (ROM), and Random Lattice Modelling (RLM). Each method's distinctive features, challenges, and capabilities are discussed in detail. The aim is to assess the reliability of these numerical models for simulating FRP structural elements and provide recommendations for future research by discussing 160 references from the literature. In the next step, the experimental characterization of Pultruded GFRP materials evaluated. These composites exhibit remarkable strength, comparable or even superior to steel, and resistance to environmental effects. However, their strongly orthotropic behaviour and spatial variability in mechanical properties present challenges. Fibre orientation and distribution significantly affect the ultimate strength and stiffness of these materials. This work includes an experimental campaign on GFRP specimens in uniaxial tension and three-point bending, testing coupon specimens with fibre orientations of 0, 15, 45, and 90 degrees to characterize ultimate strength and failure modes. Detailed statistical measures of the strength values are presented, aiming to understand the variability in mechanical properties of commercially available profiles. In addition, the stiffness parameter was considered to investigate by analytical study comparing experimental results. Despite the promising properties of pultruded GFRP, their relatively low stiffness and strength in the direction orthogonal to the fibres limit their widespread adoption in civil engineering applications. This work investigates the mechanical behaviour of pultruded GFRP beams using analytical methods, presenting experimental results from a small-scale campaign conducted by the researcher. These results validate the analytical model and compare the elastic stiffness concerning fibre orientation, providing insights into the potential and limitations of pultruded GFRP elements in structural applications. Finally, the last step of study demonstrates the inherent limitations of traditional lattice models and propose a new model to simulate the orthotropic materials` behaviours in different conditions. This section presents an innovative approach by using irregular lattice networks to simulate the elastic behaviour of orthotropic GFRP structural elements by Voronoi Cell Lattice Modelling (VCLM), focusing on different fibre-to-matrix elasticity ratios and fibre to load orientations. The proposed method first estimates the elastic properties for various fibre orientations and verifies the model against standard deformation cases and experimental data. Additionally, it compares numerical predictions to established theories like the Tsai-Hill criterion. Through sensitivity analysis, it explores how fibre-to-matrix ratios and Young’s modulus affect macroscopic Poisson’s ratio, offering new insights into stiffness effects on anisotropic material simulations.
The development of community orchestras in the Waikato
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Fletcher, Olivia; Moffat, Kirstine; Lodge, Martin
Orchestral music in the Waikato has a long and rich history, although to date there has been little exploration of this. Indeed, research about musical growth and development in New Zealand is sparse and fragmented in terms of both time and geography. By focusing on a particular region that has yet to receive any attention, the thesis aims to redress this gap and also make a wider contribution to understandings of the transportation to and development of western music in New Zealand. In tracing the growth of an orchestral tradition in this region the thesis places this musical evolution within the context of a developing settler society that valued community music making as both a form of community cohesion and a valuable means of local fund raising and entertainment. In considering the development of orchestral music in the Waikato, the thesis is divided into two main parts, treating each as a case study but also drawing on the methodologies of ethnomusicology, history from below, microhistory, and oral history. Part One is devoted to the years 1864-1914 and in analysing this foundational period of musical development considers a large geographical area enclosed by Huntly, Raglan, Te Awamutu and Te Aroha. Part Two provides a detailed examination of one specific orchestra and community, the Te Aroha-Morrinsville Community Orchestra (TAMCO) which began as an idea in 1974 and continued for thirty years. Each part of the thesis draws on a range of archival materials. Part One relies on extensive use of Papers Past (1), as well as resources from local museums and Archives New Zealand. In contrast, the case study of TAMCO has myriad sources, including interviews with key figures, photographs, recordings, and minute books, and is used to test the hypotheses generated in the first half. While each part of the thesis is distinct, there are also similarities and connections, with the case study of TAMCO confirming many of the findings of Part One. My findings all lead to the conclusion that in order for an orchestra to develop and flourish over several years it requires a locally respected charismatic person as leader, generally but not always the conductor, supported by a team of volunteers convinced of the importance and value of the enterprise. Beyond this the orchestra needs to be relevant to its community, who then support it. This could be relevance in terms of fundraising for a specific cause, or from programming music that is accessible and relevant to that local audience. In this way the orchestra becomes an integral part of the community. By focusing on one region through the lens of two case studies, a nuanced and layered understanding of the development of orchestral music in the Waikato is revealed, an understanding that has parallels with other community musical groups in New Zealand and other settler societies. (1) Papers Past is a resource from digitised newspapers and magazines published in New Zealand from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
An investigation of wellness retreat tourism experiences: a mixed-methods study from perceived value perspective
(The University of Waikato, 2025-12-01) Mai, Xuan Tai; Ryan, Chris; Cheryl, Cockburn-Wootten
In recent years, wellness tourism has developed into a rapidly growing segment of the global tourism industry, particularly driven by increasing public interest in achieving and maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Despite this growth, wellness retreats—a distinctive and transformative subsector of wellness tourism—remain underexplored in academic literature. Grounded in the increasing urgency of mental health as a global development priority (United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being), this study investigates how wellness retreat experiences foster tourists' holistic wellbeing and their loyalty to the destination through the lens of customer perceived value. Drawing on Sheth, Newman, and Gross (1991)’s theory of consumption values and supported by the concept of Transformation Economy (Pine & Gilmore, 2011), and multidimensional wellness frameworks, this study aims to (1) explore the dimensions of perceived value in wellness retreat experiences, (2) develop and validate a multidimensional measurement scale of perceived value of wellness retreat experiences, (3) investigate the association between tourists’ perceived value and destination loyalty, and (4) identify combinations of value dimensions that foster high levels of destination loyalty. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating qualitative thematic analysis of 936 qualified reviews of wellness retreat visitors on TripAdvisor and Google Maps Reviews, followed by quantitative surveys of 159 wellness retreat attendees at the Resolution Retreats, New Zealand. To analyse the collected quantitative data, this study employed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) as a symmetrical analysis method and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) as an asymmetrical technique. This integration served to strengthen the findings and construct a composite picture of customer perceived value dimensions on the destination loyalty of wellness retreat attendees. The findings of the Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed five dimensions of perceived value: Nutritional, Functional, Emotional, Social and Educational, and Ecological Healing. PLS-SEM results confirmed that perceived value significantly drives destination loyalty, while customer-employee interaction negatively moderates this relationship, challenging prior assumptions about the role of interpersonal engagement in tourism and hospitality contexts. Moreover, fsQCA identified five distinct configurations of value dimensions that are sufficient for high loyalty, demonstrating that different combinations can lead to similar positive desired outcomes, depending on visitor experiences and value propositions. Theoretically, this research advances the wellness tourism literature by differentiating wellness retreats as a distinct niche, thereby deepening the conceptualisation of eudaimonic value within tourism experiences. Furthermore, it applies the consumer perceived perspective to enhance the prediction of tourists’ decision-making processes. This study also addresses the existing methodological gaps by demonstrating the transformative potential of mixed-methods approaches within the tourism and hospitality discipline. By integrating PLS-SEM and fsQCA to capture both linear and non-linear patterns in visitor behaviour, this study underscores how methodological advancements can improve our understanding of complex research phenomena. Practically, the research provides a robust measurement instrument for assessing wellness retreat experiences and offers strategic guidance to wellness managers, tourism developers, and policymakers on designing and promoting transformative tourism products. It also emphasises the need for wellness-focused governance frameworks, workforce protection, and community engagement to ensure equitable and sustainable development in wellness tourism.
Shifting the learning culture of a secondary school in Aotearoa New Zealand: An analysis of enacting a shared vision
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Greenhill, Deborah; Wright, Noeline; Cook, Sheralyn F.
Educational leadership frameworks and organisational literature have extensively documented successful leadership approaches, practices, change processes, and reform models. However, the literature lacks a nuanced understanding of how individual leaders, particularly middle leaders, make sense of and respond to implementing school-wide change. This study centres on how curriculum (middle) leaders in a traditional secondary school in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ), interpret and translate a school vision into practice to shift their school's learning culture. This interpretive study uses one school as a case study and six participants, five of whom are middle (curriculum) leaders and one senior leader participant. The findings are drawn from their transcripts from semi-structured interviews and associated documents they submitted for analysis. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate authentic insights into their lived experiences. Key findings revealed that vision enactment involves a complex interplay between contextual realities and professional agency. While inclusive vision development fostered collective ownership, curriculum leaders were crucial intermediaries, having to translate aspirational language into concrete, student-centred strategies. Their agency was enabled through structured frameworks but constrained by contextual factors, including external performativity pressures and internal entrenched traditions. The study identified specific enablers (collaborative structures, embedded professional development, external expertise) and inhibitors (inadequate change management support, limited cross-faculty collaboration) affecting vision enactment. These findings demonstrate that meaningful educational change requires not only distributing leadership but also providing robust support systems that recognise the pivotal role of curriculum leaders as bridges between vision and sustainable learning culture change. The study contributes to the field by offering insights into how curriculum leaders interpret a school vision and exercise professional agency to translate aspirational statements into classroom practices while navigating the complex contextual factors that enable and constrain their efforts.
Emancipating critical thinking through aesthetics
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Yazici, Furkan; Kingsbury, Justine; Ulatowski, Joseph W.
This thesis examines how critical thinking can be enriched by incorporating imagination, emotions, and aesthetic sensibilities alongside logical reasoning. Traditional models of critical thinking have often excluded these dimensions, limiting their ability to address complex and dynamic contexts. Beginning with an analysis of critical thinking textbooks, the thesis identifies two central gaps: (1) the absence of any role for imagination in critical thinking and (2) a reductive and largely negative view of emotions. It then engages with alternative frameworks, such as Michael Gilbert’s multi-modal argumentation framework, which attempt to move beyond traditional approaches. I argue that although these are a step in the right direction, there is still work to be done to fill these gaps. Drawing on the distinction between propositional and non propositional representations, the thesis proposes a hybrid framework that integrates logical analysis with aesthetic experience. Through an investigation of aesthetic experience and its connection to emotions, imagination and critical thinking, the thesis shows how critical thinking can become a more comprehensive intellectual practice. The application of this enriched model to philosophical inquiry, with a particular focus on the concept of beauty as it applies to philosophy, provides an illustration of the application of the model. Finally, the thesis introduces improvisation as a synthesis of reason, emotion, and imagination. This provides a practical example of the integrated critical thinking approach developed throughout the work.
Towards identification of floc compounds in water using multi-frequency fluorescence lifetime analysis
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Dissanayake, S.A.D. Asanka Nilakshi; Cree, Michael J.; Lay, Mark C.; Streeter, Lee; Glasgow, Graeme D.E.
UV disinfection is commonly used in water treatment to inactivate pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and viruses to prevent diseases such as cryptosporidiosis and norovirus in communities. Disinfection typically follows water treatment steps, such as coagulation, flocculation, clarification, and filtration. However, particles in water, for example, flocs 0.1 to 100 μm in diameter, made from humic and inorganic substances present in the water, surrounding a Cryptosporidium oocyst or virus, can protect the pathogens from UV exposure. Although water treatment steps prior to disinfection remove 99% of the particulates, particles can still be present in the 1000s to 10,000’s per litre after filtration. While the chances of a floc particle carrying a virus or oocyst are typically low, in some regions, particularly during calving in the dairy industry, oocyst concentrations in the water might be high due to cryptosporidiosis in calves. Therefore, it is useful to test the properties of the floc compound for UV penetration to determine whether the disinfection method is appropriate. In this thesis, a technique that uses multi-frequency analysis to measure the fluorescence lifetime of a fluorophore to provide information on particle composition is presented. Frequency-domain fluorescence fluorometry was used to determine the fluorescence lifetime. This was achieved using an experimental setup that used a laser diode operating at 100 mW and modulated at 10–60 MHz to excite the fluorophores, optical elements to focus and filter the light, and detectors to collect the fluorescence emission signal via a storage oscilloscope. The signals were then processed using a MATLAB program to determine the fluorescence lifetime. Fluorescence lifetime measurements were challenged by the chemical and physical behaviour of the fluorophore and the adsorption of the fluorophore to the floc particles. Therefore, standard measurements such as turbidity, pH, particle size, and fluorescence were used to understand the absorption/adsorption of fluorescein to flocs. Fluorescence was observed at the 260–490 nm excitation wavelengths, with fluorescence emissions at approximately 510 nm. The particle size and turbidity measurements showed that fluorescein acted as a flocculant, with the particle size increasing with increasing fluorescein concentration. Fluorescence intensity measurements from a standard fluorescence spectrophotometer were used to calculate fluorescein adsorption on humic acid and kaolin to generate adsorption isotherms. Fluorescein was bonded to kaolin 10 times more than to humic acid. Adequate flocculation required a pH of 6.5 to produce reasonably flocculated particles in the sample. Surface charge analysis showed that the use of buffer to control pH required more alum to neutralise the surface charge of humic acid and kaolin. Multi frequency measurements and subsequent analysis showed that the fluorescence lifetime and contamination ratio were 4.2 ± 0.3 ns and 0.09 ± 0.05 for fluorescein. The fluorescence lifetime of fluorescein was compatible with the results of previous studies using different techniques. The samples with floc particles had a larger excitation light contamination ratio than those without particles; therefore, the contamination ratio could be used as a measure of particle contamination in the samples. The fluorescence lifetime of fluorescein did not change when fluorescein was attached to humic acid particles, but increased by 0.6 ns for kaolin floc particles.
The embodied and lived experiences of welfare and care for highly impaired, high performance para-sport athletes in Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2025-10) Lowry, Amanda; Townsend, Robert C.; Johnston, Lynda; Petrie, Kirsten Culhane
Aligning with calls in critical disability studies to bring the body and impairment into disability sport, this thesis examines the welfare and care experiences of highly impaired athletes in high-performance sport. While a focus on athlete welfare has gained some international prominence, and a duty of care is increasingly invoked as an organisational and coaching responsibility, these developments remain largely disconnected from disability. The research is centred around two main objectives. First, to amplify the lived and embodied experiences of highly impaired, high performance disabled athletes as they prepare for, train, and compete in sport, and those who support them. Second, to understand how sporting institutions and regulations (within the broader context of government funding and national health care provision) influence welfare and care practices for high performance disabled athletes. Crip methodologies and Indigenous Māori storytelling methodologies such as pūrākau centres lived experience as a site of resistance and knowledge production. Using a reflexive, qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews, autoethnographic vignettes, and visual ethnography, I expose how impairment effects are managed in ableist sporting environments that valorise normative athlete ideals. I interviewed 11 high-performance paraathletes, seven organisational representatives and two support workers. The research highlights the material, emotional, and temporal labour of care in highperformance sport. Findings are organised around three core themes: the embodied labour of care, impairment effects and interdependence; the tension between crip time, care time, and performance time; the intersecting structural, institutional, and ableist barriers that shape and constrain highly impaired athletes’ participation in disability sport. The first theme shows how high-performance sport privileges autonomous, efficient, and normative bodies, while marginalising those whose messy, gritty embodied impairment effects demand more time, support, and interdependence. The findings bring to the fore biosocial, psycho-emotional costs of navigating care and its impact on athlete welfare. The second theme uncovers how the rhythms of highly impaired bodies disrupt the linear, clockbound time of high-performance sport, revealing the incompatibility between care time and high performance cultures. It highlights the vital yet invisible labour of support workers, ii unacknowledged in contemporary sporting discourse. The third theme addresses the barriers that highly impaired athletes face when navigating ableist institutional and organisational structures. It exposes the complexity of the ableist disability sporting landscape and the gap between duty of care rhetoric and practice. Ultimately, this thesis calls for a radical reimagining of disability sport, one that centres interdependence, affirms bodily difference, and addresses the structural failures that marginalise highly impaired athletes.
Mai i te kore, ki te pō, ki te ao mārama: He kohinga pūrākau hauora o ngā kaumātua Māori, Māori Elders health and wellbeing stories in life transitions
(The University of Waikato, 2025-11-04) Shelford, Pita; Oetzel, John G.; Simpson, Mary Louisa; Spiller, Chellie; Hokowhitu, Brendan
Introduction New Zealand’s general population is ageing. Kaumātua (Māori elders) only make up approximately 3.1 percent of the total population and yet, they are disproportionately overrepresented in poor health, wellbeing and ageing statistics. However, this is a one-sided story and the focus of a deficit approach. There is a strong need for a strength-based approach where kaumātua voices of problem-solving and resilience related to ageing and the changes it presents, are heard. The purpose of this study is to identify and share those voices and to respond to the call from Māori academics to apply pūrākau as an alternative to Western narrative approaches. Through a pūrākau approach, this thesis sought to answer three key research questions: 1)What are the cultural and communication features of the kaumātua teina narratives? 2) What are the cultural and communication characteristics of the kaumātua tuakana conversational styles? and 3) What is the nature of the kaumātua journeys in how the stories unfold, and relationships develop? Methods This study analyses pūrākau from the Kaumātua Mana Motuhake (KMM) collaboration project between the University of Waikato and the Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. The KMM project sought to enhance kaumātua wellbeing during life changes such as losses of licence, independence or spouse, health changes and retirement through a peer-support tuakana-teina programme. The KMM team implemented a tuakana-teina peer support programme where kaumātua (n= 121) engaged in up to three conversations as kaumātua tuakana-teina pairs. The conversations involved exploring the life changes the teina chose with the tuakana guiding the conversations and sharing potential services to help with the changes. This thesis analysed 30 kaumātua conversations in 10 tuakana-teina pairs to tell a strengths-based story of health and wellbeing. Taking a Kaupapa Māori approach, the research prioritised, privileged and foregrounded Māori and Indigenous epistemology, ontology, and axiology. A pūrākau-grounded analysis approach was developed and applied to the conversations. Findings Related to the first research question, the analysis revealed kaumātua narratives that spoke to stories about adversity, turning points, independence and resilience. Regarding the second research question, the study identified key cultural and communicational characteristics kaumātua tuakana used, speaking with words of kinship and reciprocation, words of ignition and guidance, and words of empathy and affirmation. Pertaining to the third research question, the analysis illustrated conversational and relational journey types kaumātua pairs travelled, consisting of conversations that went direct to topics, detours that became defining moments, small tiki tours that came back to the topic, stories that were revisited, and hospitality becoming defining moments. Conclusions The findings compiled weave a collective tapestry of kaumātua teina pūrākau, kaumātua tuakana communication styles, and kaumātua conversational and relational journeys. Kaumātua teina have voiced a pūrākau for us to understand inter-generational trauma and how cultural connection liberated their wellbeing. Kaumātua tuakana have composed a script of communication protocols emphasising connection and relationship development essential to upholding tikanga (practices, principles, communications). The paired kaumātua journeys have drawn a signposted road map that highlighted journey types, emphasising reciprocity in conversing, learning, guiding, connecting, developing, strengthening and enhancing communications, relationships, and wellbeing Implications Via kaumātua conversations, invaluable understandings into Māori and Indigenous wellbeing, ageing and development scholarship are offered, strengthening transformation, leadership and resilience theories. Pūrākau and whanaungatanga (relationships) methodologies are advocated for and culturally responsive research is promoted. Health, wellbeing and ageing programme development, policy and service delivery can be practically informed, accentuating mentorship, intergenerational initiatives, and culturally appropriate kaumātua support. Together, the findings can cultivate community wellbeing and nurture cultural continuity.
Machine learning techniques for accurate prediction and improved matching of renewable energy production, storage, and consumption
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Pasandideh, Seyedmostafa; Apperley, Mark; Kurz, Jason A.; Atkins, Martin John
In recent decades, the electricity industry has undergone considerable transformation, characterized by the expansion of competitive electricity markets, integration of renewable energy sources, and the deployment of digital systems. These developments have contributed to increased complexity and variability within power systems, highlighting the need for more accurate, adaptive, and intelligent methods for managing electricity generation, storage, and consumption. This thesis focuses on addressing these challenges, with a particular emphasis on advancing New Zealand’s renewable energy ambitions through the application of machine learning (ML) and digital twin technologies for optimizing renewable energy forecasting and management in both industrial and residential contexts. In the industrial domain, the research develops real-time solar power monitoring systems and predictive models employing convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. These models are designed to enhance forecasting precision and system efficiency by accounting for the inherent variability in renewable energy generation. Complementing this, fuzzy logic-based control strategies are implemented to manage electricity consumption adaptively in industrial processes, including applications within the meat processing industry. The incorporation of digital twin technologies further facilitates real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and agile response to evolving operational conditions, thereby supporting system resilience and efficiency. In residential and community energy systems, the thesis introduces an innovative adaptive energy management framework combining streaming machine learning (SML) with a fractal-structured microgrid architecture. This framework utilizes incremental learning algorithms and digital twin principles to enable real-time adaptive control of energy flows, local trading of electricity, and dynamic adjustments in response to fluctuating supply and demand. The approach aims to enhance battery management, support local energy autonomy, and potentially reduce dependency on centralized grids. Comparative evaluations of centralized, distributed, and hybrid battery storage configurations provide insights into the trade-offs between grid interaction, storage longevity, and operational flexibility, offering practical solutions for optimizing residential microgrids. In conclusion, this thesis explores a combined, case-study based approach to enhancing renewable energy utilization through the combined application of advanced machine learning and digital twin technologies. By addressing both industrial and residential energy systems, the research contributes to the broader vision of developing reliable, efficient, and sustainable power infrastructures. The findings align with New Zealand’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and advancing renewable energy technologies, offering case-study evidence and potential approaches to support the transition toward a low-carbon energy future.
Why unavoidable moral wrongdoing is impossible
(The University of Waikato, 2025-10-17) Lane, Aaron; Van Zyl, Liezl; Munn, Nick
We can be faced with situations in which we act in accordance with the all-things-considered morally right course of action, and yet nevertheless experience an emotion of self-directed distress at the fact that we have so acted. Moreover, we have the intuition that this emotion is rational or appropriate. Literature is scattered with such examples, and they crop up not infrequently in life. The fact that agents experience justified distress in such situations has been taken as evidence that unavoidable moral wrongdoing is possible. However, if this is the case, then the compelling intuition that an all-things-considered morally right action cannot be wrong must be false. In this thesis, I offer a way of reconciling these two compelling intuitions that denies the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing. I argue that existing attempts to dissolve this contradiction by arguing in favour of the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing are unsatisfactory; and I contend that, by utilising Susan Wolf’s ideas on the “nameless virtue” (2001), developed in order to solve the problem of resultant moral luck, we can arrive at a more compelling method of dissolving the apparent contradiction. This solution is one that allows us to retain the intuition that a right act cannot also be wrong, while simultaneously allowing for the rationality of emotion of self-directed distress agents experience in situations of apparent unavoidable moral wrongdoing.
Phage display systems for antibody engineering and evaluation
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Hanning, Kyrin Rene; Kelton, William; Hicks, Joanna; Arcus, Vickery
Antibodies are versatile effector molecules of the adaptive immune system, distinguished by their capacity to recognise and engage diverse antigens with high specificity and affinity. The widespread adoption of antibodies, and their various formats, in diagnostics and therapeutics has been made possible through the co-operation of experimental and computational molecular engineering techniques. Functional screening of variant antibody libraries has proven essential for successful antibody development. Several protein display technologies have been deployed for this important screening phase, including phage display. Whilst one of the older approaches, phage display still offers many advantages over alternatives and synergises well with other advances in molecular biology techniques. This thesis demonstrates how phage display, when paired with modern techniques in novel ways, remains an extremely flexible and powerful tool for engineering and evaluating antibodies.
Nonequilibrium transitions in quantum optical systems
(The University of Waikato, 1979) Drummond, Peter David; Walls, D.F.; Gardiner, Crispin
The topic of this thesis is a theoretical study of nonequilibrium transitions and quantum statistical properties of nonlinear quantum optical systems driven by an external radiation source. In certain limiting cases, a comparison is made between these transitions and the phase transitions found in equilibrium physical systems. In chapters one and two, the mathematical tools are introduced. In operator terms, the time development is described by a Markovian master equation in the interaction picture. This is equivalent to a corresponding time development equation or Fokker-Planck equation in a vector space of c-numbers. In order to deal with the type of Fokker-Planck equation that results, we introduce a quantum classical correspondence resulting in a distribution function over a complex phase-space, which is a generalisation of the Glauber-Sudarshan P-function. In chapter three this is applied to a model of a coherently driven mode with nonlinear dispersion and absorption. We find in the limit of zero temperature, that the spectrum is symmetric relative to the input frequency, and an exact solution is obtained for the distribution function. For a detuned driving field and nonlinear dispersion, optical bistability can occur. In chapter four a model of sub/second harmonic generation is introduced. This has several non-equilibrium transitions, including dispersive optical bistability, and bistable behaviour with coherent phase-locked input to both modes. Exact solutions occur in the limit of zero temperature and adiabatic elimination of one mode. In both chapters three and four, steady-state photon anti-bunching occurs with an absorptive nonlinearity. In chapter five we include interactions between the radiation mode and a fluorescent atomic system. In this case different behaviour occurs depending on the relative decay rates of the individual atoms and of the radiation mode. In the case of a high-Q interferometer, the atomic variables can be adiabatically eliminated. Both dispersive and absorptive bistability can occur. We show by analytic and numerical calculations (in the case of inhomogeneous broadening) that dispersive operation has advantages in requiring a lower atomic density and input field to observe bistability. When the input field has Gaussian (rather than coherent) photon statistics, there is no bistability, but enhanced photon bunching occurs. Finally, there is a different type of behaviour when the field mode decays rapidly and can be adiabatically eliminated. Within the cooperation lifetime the system can be described by a J²-invariant Hamiltonian, giving the special case of only collective damping. The result is a new type of critical point transition in the thermodynamic limit, with the appearance of a family of solutions like Lotka-Volterra cycles for a coherent driving field above threshold.
Caldolase: an alkaline serine protease from Thermus strain TOK₃
(The University of Waikato, 1985) Saravani, G.A.; Daniel, Roy M.; Morgan, Hugh W.; Cowan, D.A.
The object of this investigation was the isolation of extreme thermophiles producing extracellular proteases, and the biochemical characterisation of a stable, chelator-insensitive protease. Two plate assay systems were developed for the initial screening of proteases. The first involved the incorporation of various protease inhibitors (particularly chelating agents) in casein agar plates, the second the inclusion of a variety of native and chromogenic proteins in the agar plates. In conjunction, these methods provided a basis for screening extreme thermophiles for particular proteases, and enabled the identification of fourteen new proteases. Included amongst them was an extracellular serine protease from a Thermus strain designated Tok₃, which was selected for further study. The protease was purified to homogeneity by ammonium-sulphate precipitation followed by ion exchange on DEAE-cellulose and QAE-Sephadex, affinity chromatography on CBZ-phe-TETA-Sepharose-4B, gel filtration chromatography on either Sephadex G-75 or TSK G3000 SW using HPLC system and finally Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For convenience the protease was assigned a trivial name, and the term Caldolase was chosen. The prefix Caldo- is derived from Latin Caldo (hot) and the suffix ‘ase’ is a general term for enzymes. The specific activity of the pure enzyme was estimated to be 38,000 proteolytic units per mg (PU mg ml⁻¹) at 75°C using casein as the substrate. The purified enzyme had a pH optimum of 9.5 with an isoelectric point of 8.9. Caldolase demonstrated greatest stability between pH 7 and 10. The molecular weight of the protease was estimated by exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and TSK G3000 SW to be 25,000 daltons. The enzyme was inhibited by serine inhibitors (DFP, PMSF and di-phenyl carbamyl chloride), partially inhibited by heavy metal (CUCl₂), but not inhibited by metal chelators (EDTA, EGTA, 0-phenanthroline, and NEPIS), Cysteine inhibitors (PCMB, iodo-acetamide, and N-ethylmaleimide) or trypsin inhibitors. These results indicate that Caldolase is an alkaline serine protease. Neither Ca²⁺ nor Zn²⁺ ions were detected in the highly purified protease. The presence of four disulphide bonds per molecule of the enzyme was indicated with dithionitro-benzoate. No free sulphydryl groups were found. The purified protease contained approximately 10% carbohydrate. The amino acid composition of Caldolase was determined. The enzyme exhibited strong substrate inhibition when using casein, azo-casein, and azo-albumin as substrates. No substrate inhibition was observed when low-molecular weight synthetic substrates were used, indicating that substrate inhibition using casein and azo-albumin substrates may be due to steric hindrance rather than binding to the active site of the enzyme. The Arrhenius plots for both casein and peptide substrates were curved, but without any clearly marked discontinuity. It is concluded that the effect of temperature on the enzyme conformation is continuous rather than occurring at a particular temperature. No significant differences were observed in Kₘ values at various temperatures between 45° and 85°C. Caldolase hydrolysed several protein substrates, including casein, albumin, ovalbumin, haemoglobin, collagen, fibrin and elastin, and a number of synthetic chromogenic peptides. It also possessed esterase activity. The enzyme was not able to hydrolyse peptides possessing fewer than four groups (amino acid residues and terminal blocking group). Caldolase did not hydrolyse Bradykinin (Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-phe-Arg). In contrast enzyme hydrolysis of insulin B chain resulted in a very complex pattern, suggesting a low degree of specificity. The enzyme was very thermostable. Half-life values were: 100°C, 5 min; 90°C, 45 min; and 80°C, 840 min. Caldolase was stable in denaturing agents (GuHCl, urea) at 22°C, but not at 85°C. Exposure of the enzyme to various organic solvents caused no significant loss of catalytic activity. Ionic strength had a marked effect on enzyme stability. The combination of low salt concentration (below 0.3M NaCl) and low temperatures (under 75°C) results in reversible enzyme denaturation. However, at high temperatures (above 80°C) this phenomenon is rapidly followed by autolysis by the remaining active enzyme.
The political economy of intrastate armed conflicts: The feasibility hypothesis in the case of Pakistan
(The University of Waikato, 2025-10-22) Maqbool, Muhammad Yahhya; Steff, Reuben; Rolls, Mark G.
This thesis examines the structural conditions that make intrastate armed conflict feasible in Pakistan. While much of the existing literature attributes Pakistan’s internal conflicts to ideology, identity, or historical grievances, this study argues that such explanations account for the framing and mobilisation of conflict but fail to explain why violence clusters in specific regions despite similar grievances elsewhere, and why multiple groups with varied motivations operate from the same locations. Addressing this conceptual gap, the thesis employs the feasibility hypothesis as its theoretical lens, which posits that sustained rebellion becomes possible where it is operationally and economically viable. The central research question asks whether operational and economic feasibility better explains Pakistan’s conflict dynamics than ideational or grievance-based accounts. The study adopts a mixed-methods design. The quantitative analysis uses district-level cross-sectional data to test the statistical association of six independent variables (terrain ruggedness, road density, border proximity, human development, poverty, and natural resources) with conflict intensity. This is complemented by qualitative analysis of secondary literature, policy reports, and historical narratives to interpret and contextualise the empirical results. The findings confirm that rugged terrain, proximity to porous borders (especially with Afghanistan and Iran), and low human development are significantly associated with higher conflict intensity. By contrast, poverty and road density show weak or insignificant effects, while natural resources influence conflict primarily through enabling illicit economies. These results support the argument that intrastate armed conflict persists where structural conditions make rebellion operationally and economically feasible. Theoretically, the study localises and refines the feasibility hypothesis for sub-national analysis using improved operational proxies. Methodologically, it contributes through a mixed-methods framework linking quantitative modelling and contextual qualitative interpretation. Policy-wise, it recommends strengthening border management, improving local governance, and investing in human development to mitigate structural enablers of violence. The findings advance comparative research on the political economy of conflict by demonstrating how structural feasibility, rather than ideology alone, shapes the geography of rebellion in fragile states.
Exploring the experiences of Māori Wāhine in a STEM project-based secondary classroom: A relational and intersectional perspective
(The University of Waikato, 2025-10-17) Cheryl, Mitchell; Eames, Chris W. ; Cowie, Bronwen
Using phenomenology, an intersectional lens, and the principles of Kaupapa Māori research, this study investigates how young Māori (Indigenous) wāhine (women) ākonga (students) experience interdisciplinary project-based STEM education. Historical educational policies in Aotearoa New Zealand required Māori to assimilate into a Pākehā (European) school system, contributing to persistent academic underperformance, particularly in science. Māori have been more likely to leave school early, and those who remain often opt out of science subjects, especially Māori wāhine. International literature suggests that transdisciplinary STEM education grounded in social justice and equity can improve engagement and outcomes for underrepresented learners. The study was guided by two questions: (1) how Māori wāhine experienced the STEM programme, and (2) what their challenges were to succeed in STEM. In 2016, while teaching at a low-decile (socioeconomic disadvantaged), urban, co-educational English-medium high school, I trialled an integrated, interdisciplinary project-based STEM class that incorporated meaningful phenomena and culturally responsive pedagogy. The class’s success led to STEM becoming a core component of a broader school initiative. In 2018, the seven Māori wāhine ākonga enrolled in the Year 11 (age 15–16) STEM class were invited to become “Story Sharers” and reflect on their experiences. As a teacher-researcher (insider), I used reflexive practices and clear role delineation to leverage contextual knowledge while minimising bias. Narrative data were collected over two years (2018–2019) through six semi-structured discussion groups and one individual interview. Quantitative data included tracking attendance records, retention, and academic achievement. Findings indicate that the Story Sharers valued co-constructed topics and tasks, a supportive whānau (family/community) class format, and authentic project work undertaken over extended learning periods. They consistently identified strengthened relationships, particularly among peers as central to engagement, wellbeing, motivation to learn, and as the most salient indicator of success. Academic performance increased relative to prior Year-10 e-asTTle (Electronic Assessment Tool for Teaching and Learning in mathematics, reading, and writing) benchmarks, alongside improved STEM class attendance, retention in school, and intentions to continue in STEM. Interpretive thematic analysis using an intersectional lens revealed that racism, stereotyping, and impacts on wellbeing were significant barriers to learning. These discriminatory experiences were pervasive across school, community, and online spaces and were compounded by gendered and intergenerational dynamics. The Story Sharers described complex, fluid, and intersecting identities shaped by lived experiences, including witnessing discrimination against Māori wāhine in their whānau and the legacy of colonial schooling practices such as the suppression of te reo Māori. In this study, STEM project-based learning was shaped by two interwoven design elements: relational pedagogy and relational thinking. Relational pedagogy prioritised relationships and co-construction within a whānau-formatted classroom. Relational thinking described the interdisciplinary logic of the programme itself, connecting disciplinary knowledge to place, context, and community so that learning is organised around meaningful phenomena rather than siloed subjects. Together, these elements functioned as a counterspace that fostered inclusive engagement, affirmed identities, and supported belonging for Māori wāhine. Grounded in culturally responsive and whānau-based approaches, this model enabled learners to challenge deficit narratives and engage meaningfully in STEM. The outcomes offer assurance that integrated, project-based STEM education, underpinned by these relational frameworks, can improve outcomes for learners whose identities and experiences have been marginalised in traditional schooling. However, policymakers must remain attentive to historical policy barriers and intersectional factors that continue to perpetuate inequities within the education system.

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