Masters Degree Theses

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Cultivating microbial dark matter - A combination of traditional and molecular techniques
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) King, Charlotte
The services bacteria offer the world are immense and impact people's lives daily. They were first described by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in 1676, but bacteria have been utilised in the medical, agricultural, and food and beverage industries even before they were formally identified. Microbes’ roles in the environment for cycling of nutrients, climate regulation and pollution are becoming more well understood, and they are also utilised to answer a wide variety of research questions in disparate fields. Traditional cultivation techniques were initially developed to study bacteria and understand their functions as isolates. Such cultivation techniques have become rarer as new molecular and bioinformatic tools have been developed. These cultivation- independent techniques have allowed the study of microbial life genetic data which led to the finding that 99% of all microbial species were yet to be cultured and studied in a laboratory. The applications of these unstudied organisms could be unprecedented, though their cultivation remains challenging due to the requirement of specific nutrients that are hard to identify, very slow growth rates, environmental conditions that are difficult to replicate in a laboratory setting, live in symbiosis with other organisms, or live in extreme climates. Therefore, much of the information may be overlooked and hidden in this microbial dark matter. Methods such as metagenomics, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), and single amplified genomes (SAGs) have provided us with genomic data for previously uncharacterised microbes from diverse environments. However, such data is still limited. Omics tools can provide insights into what is living there and what it can potentially do. However, this data is regularly incomplete due to the processes involved in sequencing, and conclusions are often drawn from associations relating to cultured organisms. This can lead to potentially spurious conclusions as a gene may behave differently in different species, and the absence of genes may depend on how the data was analysed. Therefore, cultured isolates of the organism are vital. To combat this issue of an uncultivated majority, it is important to have a targeted approach to culture, what is wanted, not just what is easy. This thesis aimed to provide an easy-to-follow, straightforward workflow to cultivate target environmental organisms using standard molecular tools and methods readily accessible in any standard microbiological laboratory. The idea is to isolate and culture what is specifically wanted or needed, not just what is easy. Specifically, it combined classical cultivation and molecular techniques to target a sulphur-reducing, obligate anaerobe from an environmental sample— namely a Desulfurella sp. from a geothermal pool in Rotorua, New Zealand. In order to provide the desired targeted approach, specific primers needed to be designed and assessed to first find the right sampling site for the initial inoculum and second to ensure the target is not lost throughout the culturing process. I designed and evaluated primers for targeting specific taxa at different stringency levels. Initially, I tested published primers (EPS_F/EPS_R, Gittel et al., 2012) aimed at Epsilonproteobacteria, which were reclassified into the Campylobacterota phylum (including Desulfurella sp.). These primers did not target Desulfurella sp., so I modified them (EPS_FM/EPS_RL) to produce a longer amplicon for broader Campylobacterota detection. However, these also amplified non-target species (e.g., Desulfobacterota). Finally, I designed a third set of primers (DS_F/DS_R) specific to Desulfurella sp., confirmed by in silico testing. These primers allow assessment of Desulfurella sp. and broader Campylobacterota before sequencing. The second experimental chapter focuses on enriching the target using the previously described primers, classical cultivation techniques, and molecular tools. Site selection was based on the 1000 Springs Project (Power et al., 2018). Culturing was performed originally with DSMZ Desulfurella medium and later modified, investigating pH (4 and 6) and temperature (50°C and 30°C) variations and adapting it for solid media by replacing elemental sulphur with sodium polysulfide. I used a vacuum food sealer to cultivate anaerobes, an accessible and portable alternative to expensive anaerobic chambers. Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA) was used to assess axenicity before sending samples for 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequencing. Desulfurella was detected in each culture using species-specific primers (DS_F/DS_R), enabling its phylogenetic placement. However, despite Desulfurella presence in the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, a metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) could not be produced. This thesis discusses lessons learned and suggests improvements for future studies.
Evaluating biochar and fungi for the remediation of PFAS in landfill leachates.
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-10-20) Chauhan, Rushirajsinh
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become widespread environmental contaminants, often detected in various ecosystems, including waterways, and found in numerous products such as cosmetics. In New Zealand, PFAS contamination poses a significant risk to both environmental and human health. This study works towards developing an innovative PFAS removal technology utilizing biochar to adsorb PFAS and fungi to degrade PFAS. The work was broken into several stages, the first finding suitable growing conditions for fungi on biochar and attempting to quantify the growth, the second examining biochar adsorption properties, first with humic acid and the second with PFAS. Three different types of fungi, Oyster, Shiitake, and Pekepeke (native to New Zealand), were cultivated on biochar and substrates made from woodchips and other organic materials. Growth was best on a combination of biochar and woodchip. The chloroform fumigation method showed that the oyster/biochar culture had a growth of 17.6 mg/g/day, while shitake/biochar was 14.6 mg/g/day and the oyster/biochar/woodchip had a growth of 20.7 mg/g/day. Biochar had a low adsorption capacity (5 mg/g) and affinity for humic acid. The Freundlich isotherm gave a marginally better fit to adsorption data than the Langmuir and SIPS isotherms. The low adsorption was due to both humic acid and biochar having predominantly negative charges, biochar had a surface charge of 0.824 mM -ve charges/g biochar, six times that of dry soil which has a surface charge of 0.125 mM/g soil. Biochar was tested for its ability to adsorb three species of PFAS (PFBSA, PFHexA, PHHepA). Under the environmentally relevant PFAS concentration ranges tested, biochar adsorbed all of the PFAS, resulting in no PFAS being able to be detected in solution. PFAS adsorption to the biochar is predominantly by hydrogen bonding
Anhedonia: He kohinga whiti mai i te tirohanga o ngā wahanga e rima o te pōuri / A collection of poetry themed around loss presented through the lens of the five stages of grief
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Nicholls, Rawiri Rangihouhiri Terrence
Anhedonia is a collection of personal experiences centred around loss examined through the lens of the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) and framed within a personal confessional postmodernism style. It was also influenced by the collected works of Federico Garcia Lorca, Sylvia Plath, Cassandra Barnett (Ngāti Huri, Raukawa), Kirsty Dunn (Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa), and Ngahuia Te Awekotuku (Te Arawa, Tūhoe). While loss and grief are intrinsically linked to death, within this collection, I further explore other forms of loss and grief. I touch on my loss of cultural identity, mind, and self. As a student, I have been diving deeper into my cultural identity of being Māori and what that means to me. I have lost many things throughout my life at the hands of abuse, depression, grief, and mental health. The poetry within this collection will continue to serve as a blunt reminder of the experiences (both positive and negative) that I have endured or witnessed over the last couple of decades. I have seen a multitude of losses (in its many variations) as I continue the dance to discover what the mortality of not only myself but those around me means to me. While everyone will experience feelings of grief and loss, I have framed my own experiences in my interpretation of our collective mortality.
Bridging manual labour and mechanisation: Enhancing blueberry harvesting efficiency for New Zealand’s fresh market
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Sim, Sheau Lan (Alicia)
This thesis addresses the challenges of fresh market blueberry harvesting in New Zealand, where rising global demand and labour shortages put pressure on traditional handharvesting methods. Although hand-picking remains the industry norm, it is labourintensive and costly. With global blueberry consumption projected to grow, developing efficient and sustainable harvesting methods is critical, particularly for local growers. The core objective of this research was to develop a human-assisted mechanical harvesting system tailored for tunnel-grown fresh market blueberries. This system utilises lightweight, battery-powered handheld reciprocating shakers and multi-level soft surface catchers designed to reduce harvest damage, minimise ground loss, and improve fruit quality and yield. Performance assessments compared this system to traditional hand harvesting regarding post-harvest quality and harvest rate in field trials across two seasons. The field trials yielded valuable findings. In Field Trial 1.0, the Catcher V1.0 showed promising results, achieving a harvest efficiency of up to 83.7%, slightly less than the 89.3% efficiency of hand-harvesting into buckets. In Field Trial 2.0, the optimised Shaker V2.0 had a harvest rate of 81.3 berries/min, outperforming traditional hand-harvesting into a bucket (71.8 berries/min) and hand-harvesting into Catcher V3.0 (80.3 berries/min). Notably, Catcher V3.0 caused the least berry damage (0.9%), confirming the benefits of its soft surface design. For the Masena cultivar, optimal shaker settings were identified at 899 RPM and a shaking duration of 1.08 seconds, achieving a projected harvest performance score of 81.76%, with detachment accuracy of 93.21% and detachment efficiency of 96.53%. Future research should focus on larger-scale trials, long-term economic analysis, and developing methods to assess bloom retention. The integration of machine vision could further enhance this system, enabling fully automated harvesting, even during nighttime operations. These innovations have the potential to improve efficiency and sustainability for New Zealand’s blueberry industry.
Automation of the landing error scoring system using inertial measurement units
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-07-28) Hamilton, Zane
The quantification of biomechanics is important for making informed decisions when implementing appropriate training interventions for improving performance and reducing injury risk. This study evaluated the viability of movement data provided by wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) to automate the scoring of the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). The LESS is an assessment tool used for identifying high-risk movement patterns in a double leg jump landing; however, the LESS is scored by experts using 2D video recordings, which limits large-scale screening. Movement data provided by three IMUs were used to train several out-of-the-box machine learning models, aiming to predict the result of the 17 LESS scoring items individually. Raw movement data was processed and segmented into the key phases of the movement, where additional features were derived from these segments. A supervised learning approach was taken, using a dataset containing 218 LESS scores derived from 40 participants as the desired output for each model. Comparisons were made between various subsets of features, and the features with the greatest importance on accuracy in the best performing models were extracted. Results showed limited improvements to a ZeroR approach, and features with the greatest importance on the best performing models had minimal relevance to the movement involved. Performance of LESS scoring automation using IMU data may be improved with further developments on this approach.
Joy lands
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Agrawal, Shivani
For as long as I can remember, I have been sad. When I moved from India to Aotearoa alone at eighteen, I hoped something would sand down the grief – the Pacific, green air, sidewalk lichen. I created my own displacement and I did not know how to initiate my return. This is what precedes joy. I had not yet learned that you have to look for joy. You have to recognise it when it arrives. Before I could see that it was joy that ate wonton soup with me and found me by the lake in fur slides – it ended. I was on a one-way plane to India and my body would never be these joys again. This is what follows the end of joy. When joy ends, it is impossible not to notice the ways in which the world demands suffering from us. We lean on no one, cry in bathrooms and eat alone. The world spins sadder. This is why you must pursue joy. JOY LANDS is a poetry collection about finding joy across lands and inside bodies through language, girlhood, queerness, and long-haul flights. While these poems are forever in motion across time and space, they are rooted in the presence of other people and in small, indelible moments of tenderness – an almost-wishbone neck, yolk-yellow tulips, taking turns to piss. The collection is split into three sections, each querying the conditions for joy: something unjoyful, if not terrible, must precede it; some form of hurt must always follow the end of it, and you must continue to pursue joy. JOY LANDS is a pursuit – I enter joy. I witness joy. I make joy. These poems are lonely and dream-like, funereal and moon-shaped, and bright hot orange. Joy is a build-up and I am just getting started.
Ka pūhia te puna o te kauae runga, kia pūheke ai ngā wai ki te kauae raro: Investigating the inclusion of Māori in engineering - A Māori engineers’ journey
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Poli, Teresa
This thesis explored views held by Māori and non- Māori regarding te ao Māori across the engineering system of education, academia, and industry, in understanding what challenges and experiences Māori engineers may face. While there are incremental and progressive changes beginning to be seen in the engineering industry when working with iwi Māori, the history of engineering itself is intertwined with colonial contributions that have oppressed Māori. These historical influences continue to impact Māori today as they navigate educational pathways and enter the engineering profession. Colonisation, with its consequences such as stealing te reo, and various forms of cultural oppression, has led to Māori feeling disconnected from the engineering profession. It has also resulted in invisible cultural labour being placed on Māori, as we transition into a profession attempting to rectify the historic wrongs of the past. It was realised a gap existed in engineering education, failing to adequately equip graduates with the essential skills needed for success as engineers in Aotearoa. This gap was particularly evident in the cultural skills necessary for effective collaboration with clients, as well as for working harmoniously with Māori colleagues. The research framework employed in this rangahau was He waka hourua, symbolising the journey towards a vision where Māori not only hold mana but also a sense of belonging in the field of engineering. This framework recognises the importance of both Māori and Pākehā voices, with a preference for Māori engineers taking a leading role in steering the direction towards the envisioned destination. The data collection process involved the use of Surveys and Whakawhiti kōrero methodologies, gathering both quantitative and qualitative information that played a crucial role in shaping the research findings. Woven throughout this rangahau are the personal experiences shared by the author, and her journey as a wahine Māori engineer through the engineering system, anchored by her Māoritanga. Throughout, this rangahau analogies of waka are utilised as an acknowledgement of the great engineering feats developed by Māori, and paying homage to the idea that Māori have always been engineers, drawing from characteristics and traits passed down from atua and tīpuna. The author highlights the scarcity of literature dedicated to supporting the kaupapa of enhancing the mana of Māori in engineering. Rather than providing definitive answers to address the challenges that diminish Māori mana in engineering, this thesis serves as a foundational point, anchored at the wharf, for future rangatira to continue the voyage. Enhancing the mana of Māori in engineering presents an enduring wero, but there is optimism for the future of Māori in engineering, as we carve out institutionalism, we begin to make space on our waka.
Pasifika students' perceptions of using talanoa as an assessment tool in NCEA level 2 mathematics
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-08-16) Naulivou Sisitoutai, Tafa
This study explored Pasifika students’ perceptions of Talanoa as a culturally responsive assessment tool in NCEA Level 2 Mathematics, addressing the educational challenges faced by Pasifika learners within conventional Western assessment frameworks. Despite growing recognition of the need for culturally responsive teaching, limited research exists on how alternative assessment tools like Talanoa can reshape students’ engagement and outcomes in mathematics. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in the Kakala Research Framework and employing Talanoa as both a method and research approach, data were collected from six Year 12 Pasifika students in a New Zealand secondary school. Key findings revealed that Talanoa fosters trust, enhances cultural competence, deepens understanding, builds self-confidence, and creates an engaging learning environment. Together, these elements transformed students’ attitudes, making the assessment experience more inclusive, supportive, and effective. This study contributes to addressing systemic inequities in education by proposing culturally aligned assessment tools and offering practical solutions for a more inclusive learning environment. It highlights the potential of integrating culturally responsive practices like Talanoa to improve educational outcomes for Pasifika students, with insights that may also benefit other culturally diverse learners. Future research could explore how Talanoa-informed frameworks can be incorporated into other subject areas, teacher training programmes, or education policies to create a wider impact on culturally responsive practices. Such studies would help determine the broader applicability of Talanoa as a holistic educational tool beyond mathematics.
‘Rise of ram raiders’: A foucauldian discourse analysis exploring media representations of collective youth crime in New Zealand media, 2019-2023.
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Ali, Aliyah
Over the past several years, there has been media commotion about the term ram raids and the escalation it has brought to youth crimes. Whilst there have been media claims towards increasing youth crime numbers and speculation from mainstream media about ram raiders’ involvement in crime; the statistical evidence seems to state otherwise. The media is a powerful institution that can lead to constructing discourses that can influence the attitudes of the general public and in turn lead to various policy changes. Ram raiders are presented in the media through predominantly negative narratives and have increased discussions in regard to controlling the youth from ram-raiding behaviour. There currently is no research that directly examines the discourses of youth ram raiders in New Zealand media. Therefore, this thesis will use a Foucauldian discursive approach to analyse the representation of the term ram raiders in newspaper articles in New Zealand media, and the consequences that arise as a result of such discourses. The results showed that there were three discourses identified: the criminal discourse, the outsiders discourse, and the moral panic discourse, alongside a competing discourse of youth as victims. The criminal discourse was identified as the dominant discourse which emphasises youth committing ram raids as an individualised issue. The outsiders discourse was supported by the criminal discourse and linked ram raiders to gang members and ethnic minorities further creating an us vs them rhetoric. Moral panic was a discourse that emphasised the power held by the media as the publications reached an extensive audience presenting ram raiders as criminals and outsiders creating a moral panic in public. A competing discourse was identified with ram raiders being presented as the victims shown to be a necessary addition to the conversation. It provided an alternative perspective that challenged the dominant discourse to allow for a well-rounded representation of the ram raiders. Further discursive practices represented the positionality of public and political figures leading to the punishment of young people participating in ram raids.
Kia tata mai te pae tāwhiti: Nurturing success in psychology for Māori and Pasifika
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Bidois, Devyn
Embarking on the university education journey is commonly perceived as a pathway to success and enhanced career prospects. However, for Māori and Pasifika students in psychology, this trajectory is distinctly burdened with challenges beyond their control, particularly concerning low clinician representation and educational achievement. This thesis thus explores the experiences, barriers, and aspirations of Māori and Pasifika students engaged in psychology studies in Tauranga Moana. Guided by the principles of Kaupapa Māori, the overarching goal of this thesis is to empower and advocate for students, shedding light on their unique journeys and fostering a platform for meaningful change within the academic landscape. Two group interviews with undergraduate students and two individual interviews with postgraduate students were conducted to explore the research topic. These were then analysed using inductive thematic analysis, and a social constructionist epistemology within a Kaupapa Māori paradigm, to contextualise participant experiences. Three core themes are identified in this analysis. The first theme, the Western Educational Environment, underscores the challenges students face within a system shaped by Western norms. A monocultural, individualistic approach to curriculum, assessments, and teaching methods impacts the diverse cultural perspectives of students, shaping their overall study experiences. The second theme, Pathways, explores the nuanced journeys of tauira navigating various options related to papers, qualifications, and future career prospects. The third theme, Equity, critically examines the (lack of) equity in relation to facilities and services at the Tauranga campus compared to those in Hamilton. Recommendations for the School of Psychology focus on improving discipline relevance for Māori and Pasifika students through methods integrating Kaupapa Māori content and strategies as well as addressing historical issues aims to empower, retain, and support students to higher positions in psychology.
Assessing dredge spoil dispersion on the inner shelf off the coast of Tauranga Harbour, Aotearoa New Zealand
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-10-17) Blackler, Charlotte
Dredging began in Te Awanui/Tauranga Harbour, the largest port in Aotearoa New Zealand, in 1919 to allow continued development of the port. The dredged material gets disposed of by depositing it into open water in a process known as spoiling. It is more important than ever to understand the impact of dredging as ships are getting ever larger, which require deeper and wider channels for safe passage into ports. This thesis investigated the composition and distribution of the dredge spoil on the Bay of Plenty inner shelf for the first time since 1992. Between August 2023 and February 2024, I used seismic and sedimentological analyses, including shallow seismic surveys, vibracoring, and surficial sediment sampling to determine the size and shape, and the grain size and organic content comprising the dredge spoil mound. Results showed that the sediments are predominantly fine to medium-grained moderately sorted sand with low organic content. The dredge spoil mound sits on average 1.5 m above the pre-deposition seafloor, and has no discernible surface texture or bedforms. This study establishes that the composition of the dredged sediment remains comparable to that of the pre-deposition seafloor. The results are compatible with past studies, suggesting that dredge spoil deposited on the inner shelf is stable, and is not subject to resuspension and transport under fair weather conditions.
DNA repair in Antarctic bacteria - characterisation of two nuclease proteins from Antarctic dry valley metagenomes
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024-12-09) Stelzer, Ronja
DNA repair processes are crucial for the growth and survival of all organisms. This is especially true for organisms, that inhabit extreme habitats, like the Antarctic Dry Valleys. The Dry Valleys are one of the coldest and driest desert environments on Earth. The conditions in the Dry Valleys, including high levels of UV radiation, low temperatures, multiple daily freeze-thaw cycles, desiccation, and low nutrient levels, are highly damaging to the genomic DNA of the organisms inhabiting them. The Dry Valleys are dominated by microorganisms, which have a range of adaptations to survive in this extreme environment. Previous studies focus largely on the metabolic adaptation of Dry Valley inhabitants. In this thesis, the DNA repair machinery of bacteria in the Dry Valleys was examined to determine how organisms survive the DNA-damaging conditions. Our understanding of DNA repair and replication in bacteria pathways is largely based on studies of isolated organisms and pathogens, which have been extensively studied. Methods such as metagenomic sequencing allow us to find novel proteins from currently unculturable organisms. In a search for novel DNA repair proteins in bacterial metagenomes from the Dry Valleys, two unique nuclease proteins were chosen for structural and biochemical characterisation. One of these nuclease proteins belongs to the currently uncharacterised protein domain UPF0102. This protein is distantly related to the archaeal Holliday junction resolvases and is a Type II restriction endonuclease type protein. The activity of DV-Hjc and the UPF0102 domain was characterised in vitro using biochemical assays and in vivo in E. coli knockout cells. Biochemical characterisation of the protein showed that the protein has strong binding affinity with double-stranded DNA substrates and Holliday-junction mimicking substrates. The structure of the protein was determined via X-ray crystallography at a resolution of 0.9 Å and structural features were related to its activity, revealing an extensive DNA binding surface and an active site similar to that of archaeal Holliday junction resolvases. The second nuclease characterised in this thesis is part of a unique nuclease-ligase fusion protein and belongs to the nuclease group of MBL-β-CASP proteins. The biochemical characterisation of the protein showed its ability to bind and cleave DNA, specific activity was observed with abasic site substrates.
Characterization of the potential drug target serine acetyltransferase (CysE) from Acinetobacter baumannii: A Pacific lens on biochemical research
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Usu, Jessicca Eva
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a critical global health threat, with Acinetobacter baumannii being a key pathogen due to its multidrug resistance. With no new antibiotic classes discovered since the 1980s, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. This thesis explores the potential of targeting the cysteine biosynthesis pathway, specifically the enzyme serine acetyltransferase (CysE), as a means to develop innovative antimicrobial strategies. Cysteine plays a pivotal role in bacterial survival and defense, particularly in oxidative stress resistance. Targeting its biosynthesis may impair bacterial virulence and enhance susceptibility to immune responses. This research focuses on the characterization of CysE from A. baumannii, which uniquely expresses a short and full-length of this enzyme. While we were unable to optimize expression of the short form in this thesis, the long form was successfully expressed, purified, and biochemically and structurally characterized for the first time. Using X-ray crystallography, we present the three-dimensional structure of CysE from A. baumannii to a resolution of 2.14 Å. CysE adopts a homohexameric conformation, forming a dimer of trimers, and features an alpha-helical extension. SAXS analysis validated that the long form exists as a homohexamer in solution. Furthermore, using enzymatic assays we show CysE has serine acetyltransferase activity and is sensitive to feedback inhibition by pathway product L-cysteine, highlighting the regulatory mechanisms of this crucial enzyme. This work improves our understanding of cysteine biosynthesis in A. baumannii and provides a model for structure-based virtual inhibitor screening to identify potential new antimicrobials. In addition to its scientific objectives, this research is framed within the Fa'afaletui framework, an Indigenous Samoan methodology that ensures cultural perspectives are integrated into the scientific process. This approach ensures that Pacific values inform the direction of AMR research, fostering solutions that are not only scientifically rigorous but are also culturally relevant and accessible. The research serves to address the health inequities faced by Pacific peoples, particularly in relation to infectious diseases and AMR, and provides a foundation for future antimicrobial drug development efforts.
Evaluating the impact of authenticity and person-organisation fit on work attitudes
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) McLeish, Georgia
Person-Organisation (PO) Fit and authenticity play an important role in generating positive work attitudes such as job satisfaction, organisational commitment, organisational belonging and turnover intentions. However, the question remains: which is more important? Is one more closely related to these work attitudes? As such, this study explores the correlations of PO Fit and trait and state authenticity with job satisfaction, organisational commitment, organisational belonging and turnover intentions, as well as comparing the significance of their contribution towards these work attitudes. A sample of 285 participants drawn from the general population and University of Waikato undergraduate students completed an online questionnaire examining these concepts, and the hypotheses and research questions were empirically tested using correlation and multiple regression analyses. The results found that both PO Fit and state authenticity were significant contributors to job satisfaction, organisational commitment, organisational belonging and turnover intentions. Notably, one measure of PO Fit – the Person Organisation Fit Questionnaire emerged as the most significant contributor to all our chosen work attitudes. This study is among the first to compare PO Fit and authenticity on work attitudes, enriching the existing literature and offering vital insights for organisations. Indeed, it highlights the importance of prioritising PO Fit to enhance job satisfaction, nurturing organisational commitment and belonging, and reducing turnover intentions. Future research recommendations include investigating additional components within the broader Person-Environment fit framework, such as person-supervisor, person-job, and person-group fit, to better understand their influence on work attitudes. Additionally, intervention studies are recommended to evaluate strategies aimed at enhancing PO Fit and authenticity, and to assess their impact on positive work attitudes.
The effects of allelic hinge variation in IgG3 antibodies on protein dynamics and effector functions
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Kuplich Barcellos, Marina
Antibodies play a crucial role in eliminating infections by recognising foreign antigens with high specificity and affinity. If a target is not directly neutralised, antibodies can mediate potent effector function responses by coordinating the recruitment of immune cells through their constant regions. These powerful immune functions are being widely explored in the form of IgG-based monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. However, the antibody constant region exhibits significant genetic polymorphism, and new variants are rapidly being discovered by advances in genomic sequencing techniques. The documented effects of this diversity include differences in structural dynamics, thermal stability, and Fc-mediated effector functions among a number of antibody subclasses, including IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3. Some variants are reported to be a contributing factor to variability in the outcome of disease and responsiveness to vaccines in humans. The IgG3 subclass, in particular, displays striking differences in the antibody hinge region – responsible for connecting target binding with constant-region-mediated immune function. Here, exon duplications mean the hinge region can vary by as many as 45 amino acids in length. This work seeks to better understand some of the functional consequences of this unusual IgG3 variation. To assess the effects of allelic hinge variation on protein dynamics and effector functions, we have expressed a panel of seven anti-CD20 antibodies with unique constant region allele sequences from subclasses IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3. Sequence verified plasmids were used to express full-length antibodies in HEK293 cells at high purity. We first used small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to assess the variability in size and structural flexibility between the allelic variants and compared our data with previous research on the same variant panel with antiHER2 variable domain sequences. Following this structural analysis, we next undertook ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) and ADCP (antibody dependent cellular phagocytosis) assays to determine if differences in structural dynamics between the polymorphic variants could be linked to differences in effector function. These assays specifically used genome-engineered reporter cell lines to evaluate the ability of allelic variants to engage constant region binding FcyRIIIa and FcyRIIa Fc receptors, typically found on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Activation was measured by quantifying the levels of luciferase expressed as a reporter. The findings provided in this study demonstrate that allelic variants with longer hinges have larger and more flexible structures and tend to present weaker ADCC and ADCP responses. The data presented here is the basis for future work on the influence of IgG constant region diversity on antibody structural dynamics and effector functions, which could contribute to improvements in the design of therapeutic antibodies.
Māori engagement with early childhood education in a low-socioeconomic area
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Nuri, Sinead
The early childhood education (ECE) options available to parents in New Zealand are many and varied. As a country New Zealand values ECE and has a high rate of engagement. However, despite a number of government initiatives targeting Māori and those from lower socio-economic areas Māori engagement remains low. This is widely acknowledged and the challenge is to not only find the reasons why but to also be responsive to the causes for low engagement. Early learning services in New Zealand follow a curriculum that considers an holistic approach with the child at the centre of the learning. That curriculum is Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa. The curriculum recognises the potential of children and the importance of belonging in developing the whole child. ECE in New Zealand is important for children who are aged zero to five. It is during these early years that children will begin to develop an understanding of the world around them. The environment that children live in is important to their development and it is generally considered that those from low socio-economic areas are less likely to succeed than those from higher socio-economic areas. This thesis investigated Māori engagement in ECE from one low socio-economic area in New Zealand using an overarching Kaupapa Māori methodology. Semi-structured interviews were held with five participants from the low socio-economic area using a case study research design. My analysis found that there were many reasons behind the parents' decisions to send their children to ECE or not. It can be concluded that Māori engagement with ECE is dependent upon parents’ early life experiences and their cultural values.
The athleticism of drag queen practices and performance: A mixed-methods study of injury, prevention, and health care
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Diamond, Marisa
Most research on drag performance has focused on gender and sexuality and/or performing arts. To date, very little has examined drag queens’ experiences of athleticism, injury, and injury care. This research provides insights into the physical experiences of professional drag queens, and the relationship of drag queens to health care, in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Specific areas of inquiry include: how drag queen performers of diverse gender identities, ages, experience levels, and athletic backgrounds experience the use of their bodies in their practice of drag; injury occurrence related to drag queen performance; and how drag queens perceive, access, and experience health care in direct connection to their drag practice. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a survey (96 participants) and interviews with six drag queens from Aotearoa New Zealand the U.S. This research draws on Queer and feminist theory, as well as public health models, to inform data collection and analysis techniques. The findings reveal drag to be a physically demanding discipline: the majority of drag queens have experienced drag-related injuries, despite practicing personally developed body maintenance behaviours. Participants also expressed a lack of, and necessity for, widely available, fully accessible, and visible LGBTQ+ and drag culturally safe and resonant healthcare. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of the physical body in drag queen performance, as well as the health care needs of drag queens in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. Utilization of research findings, along with cross-sector discussions, could inform community health best practices and policy development, to improve health care for this historically marginalized population.
An ACT UP case study: How the mainstream consumption of queer culture and contemporary masculinities obscures a continuity of queer oppression
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Williams, Mitchell
Throughout the AIDS crisis, mainstream media depicted queer populations, specifically queer men, through a lens of deviance. These depictions, in concert with political homophobia, slowed AIDS research, limited media coverage of the crisis, and created barriers for marginalised people to access healthcare. To oppose this queer disenfranchisement from dominating medical, scientific, and political establishments, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) emerged—promoting a more forceful, equitable, and humane response to a disease killing the most vulnerable members of society. By advocating for queer rights and facing challenges brought on by the AIDS crisis, ACT UP ruptured the invisibility of queer oppression and brought queerness from the fringes of society into mainstream cultural awareness. Since ACT UP, there has been some progression in queer rights and many of the challenges faced in the early days of the AIDS crisis have come to be (perceived as) resolved. However, queer people continue to face discrimination via increasing amounts of anti-queer policy and extreme-Right hostilities. Yet, the radical voices that once brought such issues to the forefront have since dispersed. Therefore, this study argues that queer oppression made visible during the AIDS crisis has continued to the present day but it is no longer as salient nor as apparent to mainstream society as it was during the time of ACT UP. A key reason for this argument is that queer visibility in mainstream media gives the illusion that traditional forms of queer discrimination have been resolved when in actuality, the consumption of queer culture by non-queer audiences obscures a continuity of queer oppression. These processes of obscuration may, in part, be driven by the lack of attention historical forms of queer resistance have received. To provide theoretical insights into ways the mainstream consumption of queer culture has perpetuated and obscured a continuity of queer oppression, this study employed an exploratory case study evaluation of ACT UP. This case study was guided by the sociological and Black feminist frameworks of intersectionality and the matrix of domination, with a particular focus on controlling images. Special interest was also devoted to exploring the ways contemporary masculinities can be used to understand configurations of power in the queer community. This study found that mainstream media perpetuated and obscured queer oppression throughout the AIDS crisis by spreading misinformation surrounding AIDS and the AIDS crisis, misrepresenting people with AIDS, and mis-historicising ACT UP. Additionally, this study found that masculinities influenced how men in ACT UP navigated and accessed power, most notably by leveraging their maleness and whiteness. This study concludes by framing this contemporary phenomenon as a form of epistemic violence. This study also expands upon the concept of queer blindfolding as an investigative tool for understanding how queer voices are silenced. This research is important because it draws on historical accounts to expand present-day understandings of an under-researched, contemporary queer issue, as well as honours the people who put their bodies on the line for queer rights.
Using the theory of planned behaviour to predict intentions to reduce the environmental impact of travel
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2024) Reddy, Siddhart
The use of private cars is responsible for a large amount of the world’s CO2 emissions and the amount of pollution produced by the aviation industry is also growing at an alarming rate. Thus, it is important to understand the factors that can lead to pro-environmental behaviours (PEB), such as choosing more environmentally friendly options for air and car travel. I explored whether the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) variables of environmental attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (PBC) predicted individuals’ willingness to change their travel behaviour. A sample of 327 participants from New Zealand and the United States of America completed an online questionnaire measuring TPB variables for low-, medium- and high-cost behaviours which were defined as short, medium, and long trips by both car and plane. I hypothesised that, in line with the A-B-C model, the TBP variables would be most predictive of intentions to reduce the environmental impact of medium-cost behaviours, rather than low- or high-cost behaviours. Attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC almost always significantly predicted behavioural intention for the NZ sample, whilst only subjective norms and PBC were significant predictors for the USA sample, however, there was no support for the low-cost hypothesis or A-B-C model. Findings may influence and inform interventions and policy aimed at behavioural change in different contexts and that it may be beneficial for interventions to be tailored to specific populations based upon the strength of correlating variables.
Ungentlemanly warfare: The impact of irregular warfare on military strategy in the New Zealand Wars
(Thesis, The University of Waikato, 2023) Foy, Rhys
‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’ examines the impact of irregular warfare on strategic thinking in the New Zealand Wars (1845–1872). Britain entered the period as an eighteenth-century force reliant on European methods of war. In contrast, Māori were an experienced bushfighting force depleted on manpower but experiencing a period of military innovation. This interaction led to an important exchange of strategic ideology and methods. This thesis tracks how Māori, British, and colonial forces developed and exchanged irregular warfare practices across three regions and time periods. The Northern War exposed the shortcomings of conventional military conduct. Māori leadership altered their strategic approach and pursued a strategy of elastic offence. In contrast, British leadership persisted with their ineffective conventional means of warfare. In the Waikato War, British strategy was influenced by the success of colonial irregulars. British strategic and operational methods changed with the inclusion of multi-echelon warfare and the indirect approach. Kīngitanga leadership improved their combat capacity through guerrilla warfare, decentralised command, and a grand strategy of elastic offence. The Taranaki and West Coast campaigns highlighted the relationship between the use of irregular warfare and military success in New Zealand. Both sides experienced success and failure across numerous conflicts, the defining factor being the active use of irregular warfare. These case studies reveal the significance of irregular warfare strategies and tactics to military success in colonial New Zealand. They also reveal opportunities and challenges to military adaptation in Māori, British, and colonial martial cultures of the nineteenth century. ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’ provides a unique approach to the examination of the New Zealand Wars conflict. It is an operational history that draws upon methods and aspects of the ‘war and society’ approach to military history, especially the use of Māori scholarship, evidence, and theory. The thesis’ chapters consider strategic and tactical decision-making across the numerous conflicts within the period. To do so, I provide close readings of primary evidence, including military communication and reports, early histories, and first-person accounts, to identify the roles of irregular warfare and strategic adaptions in the New Zealand Wars. ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’ analyses the impact of irregular warfare on the strategic thinking of military leaders within the New Zealand Wars. I argue that irregular warfare strategies and tactics played a significantly larger role in the outcome of events than previously acknowledged. This study illustrates the importance of guerrilla warfare and the strategy of elastic offence to Māori strategy. In contrast, it highlights the evolution of British military thinking from conventional conservatism to a multi-echelon force led by irregular warfare units and tactics. ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’ argues that irregular warfare was central to military conflicts in nineteenth-century New Zealand.

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