Masters Degree Theses

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Thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathy in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty: A review of testing and prevalence of haemoglobinopathy at Pathlab Waikato
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Annan, Sally; Peters, Linda M.
Haemoglobinopathies are amongst the most common genetic disorders in the world but remain relatively overlooked. The World Health Organisation estimates around 5.2% of the global population may be carriers of a pathogenic haemoglobinopathy due to a mutation in one of the haemoglobin genes. For the past decade Pathlab Waikato has established a database of all diagnosed haemoglobinopathy and thalassaemia, with the intention that this data may be used to assess and improve the New Zealand national screening service. The purpose of this research was to analyse this database to investigate 1) What is being diagnosed in our region? 2) How common are these haemoglobinopathies? and 3) What is being missed? Answers to this will provide a better understanding of the pathology and prevalence of this disease in our region, and to provide recommendations and strategy for future testing. The haemoglobinopathy database was analysed alongside data from incidental abnormal haemoglobin detection through testing for HbA1c. This information was run through RStudio for statistical analysis of ethnicity data to confirm that ethnicity was a significant predictor of the presence of abnormal haemoglobin (p value <0.001). Prevalence of different haemoglobinopathies was calculated and this was compared to previously reported prevalence both globally and within certain ethnic groups. Using population information from StatsNZ and the past three New Zealand Censuses (2023, 2018, 2013) the ethnic makeup of our testing population was also determined. With all of this information combined, differences and shortfalls in our database can be identified when compared to calculated estimates of prevalence of abnormal haemoglobin. From the database, Pathlab performed 6,589 thalassaemia screens with a positive detection rate average of 53% with a steady increase in haemoglobinopathy testing every year. The most commonly diagnosed haemoglobinopathies (in order) were α thalassaemia, β thalassaemia, heterozygous HbE, and heterozygous HbS. Using known ethnic prevalence from the literature review and the ethnic makeup of our community from the census, it was found we are detecting less than what would be expected for our population. For example, 5.85% of our population has identified themselves as Indian, and based on previous reports at least 3% of them should be carriers for β thalassaemia. This would come to roughly 1,179 people. However, during our screening period, only 621 confirmed diagnoses of β thalassaemia were made. Furthermore, using the Hardy-Weinberg equation, it is estimated there may be over 10,000 and 3,000 carriers of HbE and HbS, respectively. This is compared to only 358 and 171 detected in our database. Even if the actual allele frequency is half of what was calculated, the shortfall is stark. With all this in mind, Pathlab are already introducing an extra step through the screening of abnormalities found incidentally in HbA1c. However, there are further steps we can take to tackle this deficit, including the establishment of a national database and national screening service. The process to allow accurate haemoglobinopathy screening in New Zealand was outlined. If haemoglobinopathy screening was introduced as part of an antenatal screen, it would help to bridge the gap we have uncovered here to prevent negative health outcomes and further strain on our health care system.
The volcanic geology of the Western Tauranga Basin
(The University of Waikato, 1994) Whitbread-Edwards, Annette N.; Briggs, Roger
The western Tauranga basin is bounded to the north by the Tauranga Harbour and to the west by the Kaimai Range. It contains rhyolitic domes, ignimbrites, fluvial deposits and tephras. The oldest units are the Minden Rhyolites which are hypersthene, hornblende and biotite rhyolites. These form the dome complexes Minden Peak, Manawata and Kaikaikaroro. These domes are surrounded by the overlying Waiteariki Ignimbrite which is a dacitic ignimbrite made up of three flow units and contains co-eruptive lithics ,vithin its basal unit. The Te Puna Ignimbrite is a rhyolitic ignimbrite which is found in the coastal cliffs around westerm Tauranga Harbour. Flu vial material which is prodominantly of volcanic origin lies unconformably below and on top of the Te Puna Ignimbrite. A number of tephras overlie the rhyolites and ignimbrites in the area. These are: Pahoia Tephras, Hamilton Ash, Rotoehu Ash, Mangaone, Oruanui, Okareka, Mamaku, Taupo and Kaharoa Tephras. Whole rock geochemistry shows that western Tauranga basin rocks are calcalkaline, and have resulted from arc volcanism. The rocks have formed predominantly from crystal fractionation, with the rhyolites also resulting from crustal melting. The Te Puna Ignimbrite contains pumice that ranges in Si02 content which indicates that the magma chamber was zoned. Upon eruption the magma chamber under went simple inversion which is seen when comparing element composition and stratigraphic height. This eruption may have caused a caldera which is located east of Katikati. The Tauranga basin lies between the Coromandel Volcanic Zone and the Taupo Volcanic Zone, and is a transitional zone in terms of age and geochemistry, shown by transitional incompatible trace element ratios.
Exploring local food rescue and distribution initiatives as a form of community development
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Thomas, Lucy; Graham, Rebekah Sarah
This thesis explores how community food rescue initiatives in Kirikiriroa Hamilton respond to food insecurity - while fostering empowerment and community wellbeing. Despite Aotearoa New Zealand being a nation of agricultural abundance, approximately one in five children and one in four households experience food insecurity (DPMC, 2021; Child Poverty Action Group, 2019). This statistic reflects systemic inequalities which are rooted in neoliberal policy reforms rather than mere food availability. This research is informed by community psychology values and uses a Participatory Action Research (PAR) informed approach. This study employed participatory action research–informed qualitative design, using semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis to explore experiences of food rescue among facilitators and recipients in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand. The study interviewed seven participants, four recipients of food rescue and three facilitators of community food initiatives – all supported by Go Eco, a local food rescue organisation. The findings from interviews with both recipients and facilitators reveal that food rescue initiatives embody empowerment and provide support that makes a real positive difference in daily life. Yet the research also makes something clear, these initiatives, no matter how well-intentioned or skilfully run cannot fix the systems that create food insecurity in the first place. The food rescue initiatives are not a preventative approach to food security, yet a band-aid problem which provides essential basic needs to community members. This research deepens understanding on how community-driven approaches can protect dignity and foster wellbeing, even amid precarity and food hardship. At the same time, the research makes it clear that this work only exists because structural supports have failed. Meaningful change requires confronting inadequate welfare provisions, living costs that very much outpace incomes and benefits, and the neoliberal framing that positions poverty as personal failure rather than policy failure. The study offers insights for community organisations, policymakers and community psychologists.
Can concentration-varied secondary target training improve generalisation across primary target concentrations in scent-detection dogs?
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Bhasin, Ishan; Edwards, Timothy L.
Scent-detection dogs are often expected to identify target odours across a range of concentrations, despite typically being trained using a single baseline concentration. This raises the possibility that concentration changes may disrupt stimulus control and reduce accurate responding in applied settings. Previous research suggests that dogs may show limited generalisation when target quantity or concentration differs substantially from training, indicating that concentration may be a functionally important dimension of olfactory stimulus control. The present study examined whether dogs trained to detect target odours at a single concentration would spontaneously generalise responding to higher concentrations of those same odours. Three dogs were trained using an automated olfactometer to discriminate two target odours, cinnamaldehyde and hexanoic acid, from non-target odours. After discrimination training, novel non-target testing, and intermittent reinforcement training, two dogs completed non-reinforced probe trials involving higher-concentration variants of the trained target odours. Probe responding differed systematically across odours. For both dogs, indications to higher-concentration hexanoic acid probes were more frequent than indications to non-targets, but less frequent than indications to the trained target, consistent with partial generalisation. In contrast, indications to the higher-concentration cinnamaldehyde probe overlapped with indications to non-targets, suggesting little reliable transfer of stimulus control. These findings suggest that training at a single concentration may not be sufficient to support robust generalisation across concentration changes and highlight the importance of treating concentration as a relevant training dimension in scent-detection training.
Importance of stream-wetland refuges for kōaro populations: Are wetlands overlooked climate refugia for kōaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) due to underestimation of their ecological flexibility?
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Kahotea, Josette; Burdon, Frank
Wetlands are widely valued in conservation and restoration, yet their ecological role when connected to lakes is often misunderstood in the management of freshwater fish. Rather than functioning simply as hydrological buffers for lake catchments, wetlands may serve as critical refugia for native fishes under increasing pressure from climatic variability and invasive predators. I investigated whether the spring-fed Millar Road Wetland (MRW), located on the margin of Lake Ōkāreka (Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes, Aotearoa), supports a persistent population of kōaro (Galaxias brevipinnis Günther, 1866). A key objective of my research was to examine the mechanisms underpinning the potential refuge function of the wetland. By integrating year-round population monitoring, mark–recapture analysis, environmental modelling, and stable isotope analysis, I assessed demographic stability, predator limitation, and trophic structure of kōaro in this habitat. The MRW supported a resident, multi-cohort kōaro population exhibiting seasonal recruitment, positive allometric growth, and stable body condition across years. Mark-recapture data indicated close site fidelity and continued individual growth, while interannual comparisons demonstrated stable adult size structure despite evidence for variable juvenile recruitment. Other notable members of the MRW community included common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus McDowall, 1975) and kōura (Paranephrops planifrons White, 1842). Although juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792) appear to enter the wetland periodically, their occurrence was spatially restricted to upstream areas and may be strongly mediated by hydrological connectivity. Episodic dissolved oxygen minima and shallow, structurally complex habitat likely constrain trout residency and growth, while kōaro were able to persist in the wetland across seasons. Stable isotope analysis revealed strong trophic differentiation: kōaro were supported predominantly by allochthonous carbon, largely via detritivorous aquatic insects, whereas common bullies relied on autochthonous benthic production. I hypothesised that this energy-channel partitioning of the food web reduces exploitative competition and helps explain the coexistence of these two native fish species at relatively high densities. Together, these findings suggest that the role of the MRW as a refuge emerges not from absolute predator exclusion, but from a locally-dependent balance between hydrological connectivity, environmental filtering, habitat structure, and trophic organisation. Connectivity in the wetland is both essential and risky: it sustains demographic exchange with the lake whilst periodically permitting an invasive, non-native predator access, yet environmental harshness limits sustained trout establishment, and asymmetric tolerances allow kōaro to persist. In a climate-sensitive species such as kōaro, the persistence of a robust wetland population highlights the potential importance of small, groundwater-fed systems as dynamic refugia within invaded landscapes. Protecting and restoring similar wetlands may therefore play a critical role in safeguarding native freshwater biodiversity under ongoing climatic and hydrological change in Aotearoa.
Structural origins of catastrophic forgetting in self-supervised continual learning: A directional and curvature-based analysis of the learning signal
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Huang, Rucheng; Pfahringer, Bernhard
Catastrophic forgetting remains a fundamental challenge in continual learning, where acquiring new knowledge systematically degrades previously learned representations. While existing approaches primarily mitigate this by imposing architectural constraints or using data replay strategies, they offer limited theoretical insight into why and how parameter updates interfere with consolidated knowledge structures. This thesis proposes a structured analytical lens to examine the collision between new and old knowledge at the level of parameter updates, feature representations, and low-dimensional learning signals. Rather than introducing a new method, we seek to characterize the geometric conditions under which gradient updates pose the greatest risk to previously learned structure. Specifically, we hypothesize that forgetting is governed by the degree to which parameter updates project onto high-curvature regions of the old task's loss landscape, namely those directions along which the old loss function is most sensitive to perturbation. We derive a theoretical bound that isolates this curvature-projection term as the dominant factor driving representational forgetting, and empirically verify both the structural conditions under which this bound holds and its statistical relationship with observed forgetting. To ground this analysis in a concrete and mechanistically interpretable setting, we adopt SwAV, a representative self-supervised contrastive learning framework, as our experimental substrate. We leverage SwAV's internal prototype assignment process as a low-dimensional learning signal that faithfully reflects the underlying representational dynamics, allowing the theoretical bound to be expressed and studied in a tractable, interpretable form. Building on this, we further consider whether the second-order sensitivity structure of old knowledge, when projected into a lower-dimensional subspace, retains meaningful geometric differentiation between sensitive and insensitive directions. Our experiments confirm that such a structure persists at low dimensionality and that SwAV's learning signal selectively engages it. We observe that interference with prior knowledge is measurably reduced when the energy of the new task's low-dimensional signal concentrates along axes that carry less of the old task's curvature structure, rather than along regions of high coupling.
Bridging the gap: An exploration into the experiences and challenges faced by new educators and their mentors in Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Heng, Marnie; Peters, Sally; Carss, Wendy Diane
This research study provides an exploration into current beginning teacher mentoring relationships, with a focus on identifying the experiences and challenges faced by both beginning and mentor teachers. The purpose of this research was to identify key trends in data and possible implications to support the ongoing growth, consistency and quality of mentoring provided in primary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. This inquiry not only focused on the beginning teachers' growth and successful transition into their new community of practice, but also on the support in place for mentor teachers to effectively meet the needs of their beginning teachers and provide quality mentoring. This study contributes to the field of mentoring research by providing a key focus on mentor experiences and perspectives in mentoring relationships that are limited in both domestic and international academic research. Situated in a constructivist paradigm driven by a ‘Communities of Practice’ (Lave & Wenger, 1991) theoretical approach, the design of the research was sectioned into two phases. Phase 1 consisted of a mixed method approach using a survey (N=24) as the data collection tool to analyse recent beginning and mentor teacher experiences. Phase 2 followed a qualitative case study approach allowing for in-depth investigation and analysis of the dyadic relationship between two pairs of current beginning and mentor teachers. Case study data were collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The findings from this data extend understanding of the inconsistencies in beginning teacher experiences by examining the policy frameworks and practical approaches mentor teachers draw upon. Key findings highlighted that even positive mentoring experiences were bound by the same challenges regarding a lack of support and structure surrounding the mentoring experience and dyadic relationship. Findings highlighted the lack of clarity in the current policy framework; minimal access and availability of professional development opportunities for both beginning and mentor teachers; and a lack of theoretical understanding of the principles underpinning the educative mentoring approach. These findings were grouped into positive impacts on mentoring experiences and challenges impacting the success of mentoring experiences, which were then discussed in relation to domestic and international research findings. The existing and proposed mentoring and induction programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand provide broad guidance, yet challenges remain interpreting policy into effective mentoring practices. This thesis argues that effective implementation of educative mentoring practices (Feiman-Nemser, 2001) necessitates a structured mentoring design. The implications of these additions would have significant benefits to the practical application of mentoring practices and procedures within the beginning and mentor teacher relationship. Further practical implications from my study including training and support, considered mentor selection, and stronger dialogue between universities and school communities of practice would contribute to higher consistency in the quality of mentoring provided nationally.
Trends in sediment geochemistry along the fluvial to marine transition of the Waihou River, Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Greaves, Nicole; La Croix, Andrew D.
The nuances of the dynamic changes in the water chemistry and sediment deposition within the fluvial to marine transition zone (FMTZ) are difficult and time consuming to capture within water samples as due to the constantly changing nature. Marine water intrusion up rivers changes along short time scales of minutes, hours, and days to months and years. To be able to accurately capture the extent and changes that occur along the FMTZ would provide vital environmental and depositional information regarding river health, temporal variations and forming depositional environments. The use of geochemical sediment proxies as a measure of marine water intrusion upstream is an ongoing topic of research with many potential proxies investigated throughout literature. However, the identification of proxies that represent not only the general movement from fresh to brackish to marine conditions but can also be used to distinguish a gradient along river position as recording the finer changes in water chemistry have yet to be demonstrated within literature. This study aims to identify whether the dynamics of marine water intrusion are recorded through sediment geochemistry or physical properties along a gradient and to assess the uses for the proxies identified, creating an assemblage of proxies to be utilised within future study. Sediment proxies of grainsize, percentage mud (%mud), loss on ignition (LOI), strontium and barium ratios (Sr/Ba), carbon isotopes of delta thirteen carbon (δ13C) and carbon and nitrogen ratios (C/N), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) minerology, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elements, will be investigated as potential proxies for marine water intrusion up the FMTZ of the lower Waihou River, Aotearoa, New Zealand. This research finds that whilst varying levels of success were demonstrated within literature, many of the tested proxies fail to identify the fluvial to marine transition let alone distinguish a gradient of change through river position. Strontium/Barium ratios are the only proxy to identify a clear relationship with river distance, presenting with a weak to moderate relationship, finding a lack of small scale precision but the larger scale transition was observed. The carbon isotope results presented a negligible relationship but indicated it may have potential use as a proxy, which prompts the need for further study of the usage of this method as a proxy for marine water intrusion. Whilst this study does not claim to disregard the usefulness of these proxies nor their potential for identifying the hydrodynamics of the FMTZ within the sediment, it does stand that little evidence of it has been found within this research and prompts the thorough investigation of the potential held by these proxies both within the Waihou River and various other river systems of varying size and type where processes vary. Consideration to the type of river environments literature seems to focus on is also prompted as to whether these proxies may only be viable under certain conditions.
Leadership responses to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi for Māori learners: Learning from the stories of leadership navigating the policy to praxis divide to enact Ka Hikitia and realise Māori potential
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Mason, Ngaia; Berryman, Mere; Egan, Margaret
Despite research on educational leadership, a pressing question remains - to what extent does the interface between policy and praxis, impact the leadership of tumuaki (principal) and kaiako (teacher) Māori (indigenous New Zealander), to effectively create opportunities in education that see Māori advantaged and positioned to reach their potential? This research focuses on understanding how the interface between policy and praxis impacts the leadership of two tumuaki and three kaiako Māori. It seeks to determine how their leadership can effectively implement Ka Hikitia - Ka Hāpaitia, to advantage Māori in kura-auraki (mainstream schools) settings. This small-scale research, grounded in culturally responsive methodology, establishes reflexivity which promotes power sharing relationships to weave together both indigenous and western ways of thinking. By gathering the voices of non-Māori (Pākehā first settlers/and or tauiwi later immigrants) tumuaki, kaiako Māori, ākonga Māori (Māori students), and their whānau (family) in semi-structured interviews as individuals or focus groups, the complexities and intricacies at the interface between policy and praxis begin to be revealed. Their experiences reveal deliberate acts of leadership that encompass multiple leadership positions, differentiated by their varying commitment to mahi tahi (work together through relationships of shared endeavour) and cultural recognition of spaces where mana-motuhake (self-determination) can be enacted. The need for ākonga Māori success to be at the forefront of intention, action and policy in Aotearoa (New Zealand) underscores these findings - particularly if we are to see change that respects innate capabilities, cultural potential and mutually beneficial relationships that allow spaces for mana-motuhake. This research aims to influence educational leaders with better understandings of how to sustain and embed the values of Ka Hikitia - Ka Hāpaitia into their kura so that Māori potential is realised. With these understandings, leaders can re-position themselves to more effectively influence and shape the interface between policy, practice and leadership whether they lead in kura-auraki or not.
Maternal reminiscing conversations during middle childhood: Associations with idenitified learning difficulties
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Pemberton, Brooke; Bird, Amy
This study examined maternal reminiscing conversations with 8-year-old children with an identified learning difficulty. Maternal reminiscing refers to conversations in which caregivers and children jointly reflect on past experiences, particularly emotional events, and has been shown to support socioemotional development across childhood (Salmon & Reese, 2016). However, relatively little research has explored these processes in children with learning difficulties during middle childhood. Using a mixed-methods design, we utilised reminiscing conversations from the 8-year timepoint of Growing Up in New Zealand: a large, diverse, prebirth national cohort. The quantitative component (n = 1,234) examined differences in conversation topic (disappointment versus social disagreement or injury) and the quality of conversations (elaboration and resolution) for children with learning difficulties compared with children without. The qualitative component (n = 11) utilised reflexive thematic analysis to explore conversations for children with learning difficulties who discussed an academic disappointment with their caregiver. This analysis identified themes that align with the existing reminiscing literature within typically developing populations (e.g., emotion discussion and sensitive guidance and validation). Several novel themes were also identified (e.g., mindset and comparison to the norm) which may have particular relevance for children with learning difficulties. The findings underscore the potential of everyday caregiver-child interactions as strengths-based, preventative support for children with learning difficulties; with potential implications for early social and educational level interventions, family-focused practices, and intergenerational pathways of risk and resilience.
Trees and people: Relationships between tōtara trees and their environment
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Quinn, Lomia; Barbour, Margaret M.
This research addresses significant gaps in the literature concerning Podocarpus totara (tōtara), a foundational taonga species in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study uniquely integrates Western Science techniques alongside Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to explore the physiology and cultural significance of this key endemic gymnosperm. The Western Science component involved quantitative measurements of instantaneous leaf gas exchange, photosynthetic response curves to light, CO2, and vapour pressure deficit (VPD), and analysis of the stable carbon isotopic composition of leaf-respired CO2 (δ13CRl). Measurements were conducted on adult tōtara over seven months (August 2024 to March 2025) across two distinct growth environments: individual, fully exposed trees and trees growing in stands of varying densities. Key photosynthetic parameters, including net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax), were quantified. Physiological results showed that tōtara growing individually exhibited significantly higher net photosynthetic rates than those in stand environments (1.15 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 versus 0.47 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1), likely due to greater irradiance and reduced competition for light. Overall values were low, consistent with other Podocarpaceae species. Analysis of δ13CRl provided an integrated signal of carbon-water dynamics, revealing a general trend of values becoming less negative from spring to autumn. This trend is consistent with stomatal closure in response to water limitation and increased VPD during the warmer months (summer drought 2024-2025). No statistically significant difference was found between individual and stand trees over the measurement period. Furthermore, a simple model designed to predict A and gs failed to accurately correlate with observed field data, potentially because it was parameterized using data from saplings grown under optimal greenhouse conditions rather than adults subject to field variability. The Mātauranga Māori component explored tōtara’s significance through a cultural lens. In te ao Māori (the Māori world), tōtara is considered paramount and is connected to humans through whakapapa (ancestry/genealogy) as children of Tāne-Mahuta, the god of the forest; tōtara is considered the tuakana (older sibling) to humans. The species has historically been crucial for crafting waka (canoes) and marae carvings, and its attributes, such as wisdom and generosity, are honored in whakataukī (proverbs). Semi-qualitative techniques were used to respectfully ‘interview’ six adult tōtara, treating each tree as an ‘expert’ to foster a journey of personal and cultural reconnection for the author. This research highlights the fundamental philosophical contrast between the individualistic, objective nature of Western Science and the holistic, entangled perspective of Te Ao Māori, where humans are part of nature. The approach successfully employed techniques and customs from both knowledge systems side by side, aiming to create new insights while ensuring that the distinct ethics and special character of each worldview are maintained and acknowledged. The study advocates for continued research at this interface to enhance understanding of the interface and foster increased communication and respect in practitioners of both worldviews.
Te ipu mahara - The chanting memories of an indigenous people
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Kana, Ivan; Tuaupiki, Haki
Te Ipu Mahara – The Chanting Memories of an Indigenous People explores how Māori knowledge systems have been retained, transmitted, and adapted across generations. Guided by kaupapa Māori methodology and framed within Indigenous research paradigms, this thesis examines the resilience of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) as both a living inheritance and a dynamic practice. While Māori knowledge systems are well established within Indigenous scholarship, this thesis contributes to that body of work by centring Māori voices to articulate how knowledge is retained, transmitted, and renewed through embodied, spiritual, and relational practices. The study investigates three central pou (pillars): Retention, Transference, and Survival & Innovation. Drawing on a combination of literature review, participant interviews, and oral histories, it identifies whakapapa as the architecture of memory; chanting, waiata (song), and karakia (prayer) as vital mnemonic and spiritual technologies; and wānanga (discussion) as enduring pedagogical spaces. It highlights the role of knowledge holders as kaitiaki mahara, whose responsibilities extend beyond preservation to adaptation and creativity. Findings demonstrate that Māori knowledge has survived not by remaining static, but through continual renewal. Colonisation disrupted traditional pathways, yet communities have responded with resilience - composing new oriori (lullaby), embedding mātauranga in classrooms, revitalising te reo Māori, and harnessing digital tools to sustain intergenerational transmission. Knowledge retention is shown to be holistic and embodied, encompassing spiritual, relational, and physical dimensions of learning. Academically, this research contributes to Indigenous scholarship on memory, pedagogy, and decolonisation. Culturally, it is an offering of utu - returning kōrero and reflections to the communities who sustain them. The metaphor of the ipu (vessel) captures the essence of this work: memory as something carried, chanted, embodied, and continually replenished. Ultimately, the thesis affirms that the survival of Māori knowledge systems is inseparable from the survival of Māori futures. Each chant, whakapapa, and act of wānanga binds past, present, and future together, ensuring that the wisdom of tūpuna (ancestors) endures as a pathway for the generations to come.
Investigating gamma power as a neural marker of mindfulness-related change
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Panzer, Erik; Doborjeh, Zohreh
Background: Mindfulness training has been shown to influence both psychological well-being and brain function. Neurophysiological studies using electroencephalography (EEG) have found that mindfulness practice can alter brain oscillations, particularly within frequency bands linked to attention, awareness, and emotional regulation. Despite growing evidence that mindfulness affects brain dynamics, the specific impact of mindfulness training on resting-state gamma activity and how such changes relate to psychological outcomes and facets of mindfulness remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the neurophysiological effects of mindfulness training, with a focus on gamma-band EEG activity and its association with psychological functioning. Method: This study used a longitudinal design with two groups (mindfulness training vs control). Resting-state EEG and self-report measures; Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) was collected at baseline (T1) and after a 6-week training period (T2). The primary focus was on gamma-band activity across five brain regions, (frontal, frontocentral, temporal, centroparietal, and occipitoparietal) and their relationship with mindfulness outcomes. Results: At T2, gamma power in frontal regions negatively correlated with the “Acting with Awareness” facet of mindfulness. Regression analyses showed that EEG activity, particularly Left Frontal Lower Gamma at T2 predicted mindfulness scores, explaining an additional 47.2% of the variance beyond baseline levels. Higher gamma power was associated with lower self-reported awareness, suggesting mindfulness training reduced neural activation in regions linked to automatic processing. These effects were not present in the control group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that mindfulness practice is associated with changes in gamma-band neural oscillations, which may reflect enhanced attentional control and reduced cognitive interference, key mechanisms underlying mental health resilience. By identifying gamma-band EEG markers predictive of mindfulness improvements, this study provides a foundation for developing personalized, brain-informed interventions that can be integrated into clinical settings to support stress reduction, emotional regulation, and overall mental well-being.
The breakfast effect revisited: Evaluating the influence of a recent meal on canine (Canis familiaris) performance in a scent detection task
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Yee, Journie; Edwards, Timothy L.
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are known for their excellent sense of smell, which is widely used to assist humans with important tasks. Despite this, there is limited research on how a dog's hunger state might influence their performance in scent-detection tasks. Previous research suggests that dogs demonstrate higher accuracy in search tasks when tested within 30 minutes of breakfast consumption. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clear, and whether similar effects might also occur in scent-detection tasks is unknown. One possible explanation is the glucose effect, which suggests that a recent meal improves cognitive performance. Alternatively, motivating operations (MO) theory suggests that feeding state modifies the dogs’ behaviour by changing the reinforcing effectiveness of food. Under this framework, recent food consumption is an abolishing operation (AO) that decreases the value of reinforcement and narrows stimulus control, while not eating recently is an establishing operation (EO), that increases the value of reinforcement and broadens response bias. This study evaluated scent-detection performance using an alternating-treatments design across breakfast (AO) and non-breakfast EO conditions. To prevent ceiling and floor effects, task difficulty was adjusted by increasing the formal similarity between target (discriminative stimulus; Sᴰ) and non-target odours across experimental phases. We hypothesised that the dogs would perform more accurately on the scent-detection task on breakfast days, as the absence of breakfast may increase the likelihood of false alarm indications, thereby reducing accuracy. Results showed that hit rates remained high, 89% across all phases in both conditions, and across individual sessions, ranging from 87%-93% for breakfast and 82% 94% for non-breakfast conditions. While correct-rejection rates were significantly higher on breakfast days (p = .016). This suggests that the AO narrowed stimulus control, whereas the EO broadened generalisation. A measure of log d and correct rejection rates improved significantly over time (p = .025; p = .014), suggesting that, cumulative food reinforcement (AO) throughout the day refined discrimination. These findings suggest that a recent meal functions as a MO which influence the precision of stimulus control, instead of, or possibly in addition to, a glucose effect.
Exploring the relationship between age and victimisation risk
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Steer, Donelle; Tompson, Lisa
Extensive research has examined the relationship between age and offending, which is reflected in the established age-crime curve. The age-crime curve shows that offending typically rises during adolescence, peaks in late adolescence, and declines through the twenties and beyond. But less attention has been given to investigating age-related patterns of victimisation. Therefore, in this thesis we1 sought to answer two research questions. First, is there an age-victimisation curve comparable to the well-established age-crime curve? Second, if present, does the age-victimisation curve differ across broad crime categories (property vs interpersonal crime)? To answer these questions, we analysed data from two main sources – the New Zealand Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS) and the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS). We plotted both the frequency and rates of victimisation across age using line graphs. For both our research questions, we found that there were age-victimisation curves that mirrored the age-crime curve for the RCVS samples, but not necessarily for our NZCVS samples. Generally, our research showed that the rate and frequency of victimisation increases from teenage years well into people’s twenties, before decreasing as age increases. However, the NZCVS samples showed a gradual decline rather than a discernible curve, with some spikes around middle adulthood. Future research should use longitudinal data to better understand the distribution of victimisation over the life-course and examine the age of onset of victimisation to inform targeted prevention and intervention efforts.
How can we make a diverse range of aromatic sulfates to explore sulfatase substrate relationships?
(The University of Waikato, 2026-05-16) Wang, Peiyao; Dickson, Benjamin
Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are an emerging class of targeted therapeutics that combine the high specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with the potent cytotoxicity of small-molecule drugs. A critical component of ADC design is the linker between mAbs and payload, as its chemical stability and cleavage behaviour directly determine therapeutic efficacy, selectivity, and safety. While peptide-based cleavable linkers dominate current clinical ADC platforms, their susceptibility to premature cleavage and instability in certain biological contexts has motivated the exploration of alternative enzymatically cleavable linkers. Arylsulfatase-cleavable linkers have recently attracted increasing interest as a promising alternative due to their excellent efficiency and reported stability in both human and mouse plasma. The cleavage of sulfate is catalysed by lysosomal sulfatases. Sulfatases were expressed in some tumour environments, which further support the selectivity of ADCs. However, systematic study for the characterization of structure and the analysis of properties is still insufficient, which limited the development of sulfatase-cleavable linker in certain degree. In this study, a diverse library of substituted aryl sulfates was synthesised to probe sulfatase–substrate interactions and to establish a robust analytical framework for their characterisation. The synthetic strategy enabled the preparation of aryl sulfates bearing a range of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents at different positions on the aromatic ring, allowing systematic evaluation of electronic and structural effects. The resulting compounds were fully characterised using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (MS), and UV–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy.
The investigation of military style academies as an intervention for young people with serious and persistent criminality
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Kazadi, Mujinga Deborah; Roen, Katrina
A developmental perspective asserts that criminal trajectories arise due to the complex interactions between environmental factors and individual factors increasing vulnerabilities towards persistent criminality. These criminal trajectories are identifiable during early childhood and represent unaddressed vulnerabilities across social, cognitive and familial contexts. The presence of serious and persistent offending amongst young people is significant because it highlights the accumulative effects of risk factors present in childhood and places them at increased risk of transitioning into persistent criminality in adulthood. It is therefore advantageous to design interventions targeting serious and persistent offending in young people. Aotearoa’s National government proposed military style academies (MSAs) as an intervention to reduce the amount of young people involved in serious and persistent offending. The combination of physical activity and rehabilitative components is proposed to alter criminal trajectories and encourage desistance from crime. This thesis investigates youth practitioner’s perceptions of MSAs, an intervention for youth with serious and persistent criminality to conceptualize how youth rehabilitation can be shaped to positively contribute to the wellbeing of Aotearoa’s most vulnerable young people. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse 11 interviews with youth practitioners with at least one year’s experience working with vulnerable youth. Four main themes and nine sub-themes were identified. The four main themes included addressing the root causes of crime, reducing re-offending, cultural considerations and the juvenile justice system. Serious and persistent offending amongst young people was viewed to be the result of a lack of early interventions targeting those at the highest risk of developing enduring criminal identities. The whānau unit was highlighted as a key target for early interventions and rehabilitative programmes. Participants raised concerns about the incongruence between MSAs and a Te Ao Māori world view. Participants suggested that MSAs failed to recognise the extent to which young people who offend are often victims first. Further, they argued that MSAs did not facilitate reintegration into the community. These factors were associated with increasing the likelihood that young people will go on to offend. These findings support the need for interventions to embrace a therapeutic model emphasizing the reconciliation and redemption of the young person. As such, the re-structure of youth rehabilitation and the juvenile justice system to more closely align with Mātauranga Māori and desistance theories can be considered a robust strategy to disrupt the care to custody pipeline so prevalent in young people who offend.
Psychological Capital and its support to students while they combine work and study
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Bovill, Kimberly; Sutton, Anna
One in every two students in Aotearoa/New Zealand now works approximately 16 hours per week alongside studying, which is driven by the current increasing living costs and decreased access to governmental financial support seen in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This financial strain and need to self-support is a reality for students that requires more attention, due to the potential negative impacts of financial strain on students’ stress, well-being and academic success, altering the students’ time at university and academic outcomes. However, there is variance in students’ experiences and the way they balance these working and student roles, suggesting that individual psychological resources may play a significant role in shaping outcomes. The present study examined whether Psychological Capital (PsyCap), a positive psychological resource comprising hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism (HERO), mediates the negative impacts of combining work and study by buffering the relationship between hours worked and student outcomes. An online survey was administered to 214 undergraduate students currently studying at the University of Waikato, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Data were analysed using correlation and mediation analyses to identify relationships between variables, and explain any relationship found between PsyCap involving the components of HERO and hours worked, stress, well-being and academic success. The results showed that higher levels of PsyCap were associated with lower stress, along with higher levels of well-being and academic performance, giving an insight into the importance of psychological resources. Hours worked showed weak associations with student outcomes and were significantly related only to general university stress, indicating that employment hours can add stress but do not inherently impact a student's outcomes. Mediation analyses showed that PsyCap did not mediate the relationship between hours worked and student outcomes, primarily because hours worked were not significantly related to PsyCap. These findings suggest that psychological resources may play a more substantial role in shaping a student's experience in the ability to juggle these roles, rather than employment intensity alone. The findings highlighted the importance of internal coping resources, especially for students who are juggling multiple roles. Future research recommendations include interventions aimed at strengthening PsyCap, known as Psychological Capital Interventions (PCI), which focus on steps such as goal setting and identifying paths to reach these goals, providing a more practical and realistic approach to promoting student well-being, academic success and commitment to higher education. If these practical interventions are put in place to support students’ academic success, this can positively impact the workforce and the new generation of workers.
Using genetic techniques to improve understanding of source-sink dynamics of the invasive mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Hale, Phoenix; McGaughran, Angela
Biodiversity loss is more prominent in freshwater versus terrestrial or marine ecosystems, with temperate estuaries believed to be the most degraded of all ecosystems globally. This is due, in part, to the proliferation of invasive non-native species and the inadequacies of current biomonitoring practices for monitoring population trends over sufficient spatiotemporal scales to inform management decisions. Environmental DNA (eDNA; genetic material shed to the surrounding environment by organisms) is an increasingly popular, non-invasive biomonitoring method that provides the opportunity to increase the scale at which population trends can be monitored, while also having the potential as a sampling method for population genetic studies. My thesis aimed to use a variety of methods to understand source-sink population dynamics at varying spatial and temporal scales and explore the value genetic techniques can provide to species management, using the invasive pest fish, Gambuis affinis, as a test case. Chapter 2 used traditional netting techniques to survey occupancy patterns of G. affinis to understand the species’ physical dispersal drivers within a large coastal ecosystem in the South Island of New Zealand. I demonstrated a decrease in abundance and likelihood of G. affinis presence as tide height increased, and a decrease in abundance of G. affinis at a specific site as rainfall increased. These findings show that monitoring of occupancy patterns of freshwater fish is often done at too small a spatiotemporal scale and that future work should incorporate additional methods to increase the scale at which monitoring is performed. Chapter 3 analysed mitochondrial DNA collected across New Zealand from both tissue and water samples to explore the efficacy of eDNA as a sampling tool for determining mitochondrial variation at large spatiotemporal scales. I showed that >99% of the G. affinis mitochondrial assemblage was shared by both tissue and water samples, but the remaining detected genetic variation was unique to either tissue or water only. These findings show that, while that eDNA holds great promise for biomonitoring in freshwater environments, careful consideration of study design is required for its use in assessing the drivers of biodiversity differentiation. Together, my thesis demonstrates the utility of eDNA metabarcoding techniques as a complement to traditional survey methods to increase the spatiotemporal scale at which biomonitoring is undertaken. Continued application of a combination of these methods will facilitate improved knowledge of occupancy and dispersal patterns for G. affinis and, as such, greater protection of our native ecosystems and species.
A productive paradox - A mixed methods study examining the clinical academic model within the University of Waikato nursing programmes
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Devoy, Claire; O'Brien, Anthony; Barlow-Armstrong, Jewel
Background: The nursing workforce, both globally and nationally, faces significant challenges that impact nursing education and professional development, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to support workforce development. The Clinical Academic role is one such response, a position in which nurses engage concurrently across both clinical and academic settings to integrate research and evidence into clinical practice. In 2020, the University of Waikato nursing programme adopted a Clinical Academic model, utilising advanced-level registered nurses to bridge education and practice and to strengthen partnerships with clinical partners. This study explores Clinical Academics’ experiences, the roles impact on student learning and how the model has met its intended outcomes. Methods: A mixed methods convergent parallel design with a qualitative dominant focus was used. Semi-structured interviews with eight Clinical Academic staff were analysed thematically, and an online survey of pre-registration nursing students provided descriptive quantitative data on perceptions of Clinical Academics during clinical placements. Findings were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role. Results: Eight Clinical Academics (Designated Senior Nurse, n=6; Registered Nurse, n=2) participated in interviews, and 48 surveys were returned by students across the Bachelor of Nursing (n=33) and Master of Nursing Practice (n=15) programmes(19.7% response rate). Qualitative data revealed four themes: clarity and complexity, enhancing learning and practice, collaboration and connection and systemic pressures. Quantitative survey data showed no statistically significant associations. Conclusion: The Clinical Academic role is highly valued, with collaboration and connection strongly represented across academic and clinical contexts. Challenges related to role ambiguity, structural tensions and sustainability were evident. While joint appointments offer substantial benefits, their effectiveness depends on clear role definition, supportive structures, resource allocation and alignment between academic and clinical expectations.

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