Masters Degree Theses

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Visual illusion susceptibility following mild traumatic brain injury in adolescents
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Cliff, Emily; Starkey, Nicola J.
Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), clinical symptoms often resolve before full physiological recovery is complete, highlighting the need for objective indicators of ongoing neural disruption. Visual illusions, which rely on contextual visual processing, may provide a sensitive behavioural marker of subtle perceptual changes following concussion. While reduced susceptibility to visual illusions has been demonstrated in adults following mTBI, little is known about whether similar effects are observed in adolescents. The present study examined susceptibility to visual illusions in adolescents with a history of mTBI and in a TBI-free comparison group. A secondary aim was to explore associations between illusion performance, age, and post-concussive symptom burden within the mTBI group. Adolescents with a history of mTBI and age-matched TBI-free comparison participants completed two visual illusion tasks (Ebbinghaus and Müller–Lyer), each comprising context (illusion) and no-context trials. Post-concussion symptoms were assessed using developmentally appropriate versions of the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI). No significant group differences were observed on context trials of either illusion task. Adolescents with mTBI showed significantly lower accuracy on no-context trials of the Ebbinghaus task than comparison participants. Age was not significantly associated with illusion susceptibility in either group. Within the mTBI group, post-concussion symptom severity was not significantly related to performance on Müller–Lyer or Ebbinghaus context trials for either parent-reported or adolescent self-reported symptoms. These findings suggest that visual integration accuracy appears comparable to typical performance in adolescents assessed at a relatively long interval following mTBI, which may reflect recovery or resolution of any earlier disruption. However, whether visual integration was affected during the acute or subacute stages of injury remains unclear. Future research is needed to determine whether visual-illusion paradigms provide a useful, objective complement to symptom-based assessment for detecting subtle perceptual differences following paediatric mTBI.
Fine-tuning Oxford Nanopore basecalling models to improve single-read variant calling in antibody libraries
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Zhou, Kang; Kelton, William; Holmes, Geoffrey
Accurate nucleic acid sequencing is essential for analysing protein variant libraries composed of closely related sequences. Oxford Nanopore sequencing offers long reads, high depth, and comparatively lower cost, but its single-read error rate limits its routine use for variant calling, where sequencing errors can be mistaken for true mutations. This thesis investigates whether domain-specific fine-tuning of a nanopore basecalling model can improve single-read variant- calling performance in an antibody library context, using a dual-site IgA Fc deep mutational scanning library as an example. A series of nanopore basecalling models was fine-tuned using in-house wild-type IgA Fc nanopore data collected under different experimental sample-prep procedures. These models were evaluated on a held-out, variant-rich nanopore dataset against an orthogonal MGI-derived short-read reference dataset. The benchmarking framework assessed both read-level quality and population-level recovery, focusing on library-constrained variant detection and variant-abundance concordance. Fine-tuned models consistently outperformed the pretrained baseline, demonstrating that nanopore signals contain learnable domain-specific structure that can improve single-read variant calling. The best model, Alpha, achieved the best observed balance of low primary error rate, high read retention, low framework noise, and strong abundance-aware concordance with the ground truth. The results showed that the experimental procedure used to collect training data had a greater influence on the fine-tuning outcome than either training data volume or the stringency of quality control. Lower validation loss observed during training did not reliably predict better downstream performance, highlighting the need to evaluate basecalling models using biologically meaningful metrics rather than training diagnostics alone. Model-weight analysis further showed that successful fine-tuning involved small, structured recalibration of the signal-interface and decoding components rather than broad model-level drift. Overall, this thesis establishes a practical framework for fine-tuning and evaluating domain-specific nanopore basecallers for variant libraries. It shows that domain-specific fine-tuning can materially improve the recovery of variant populations from nanopore signals and supports future work on computational augmentation of WT IgA Fc nanopore signals, architecture-aware fine-tuning, UMI-linked molecule-level benchmarking, experimental validation, predictive modelling, and extension to longer antibody constructs.
Functional communication training and visual activity schedules: Support for neurodiverse students in an inclusive classroom
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Pandya, Mahi; Blackmore, Tania Louise
One boy with ASD and one girl with ASD and ADHD participated in a study to examine the effectiveness of Functional Communication Training (FCT) and a Visual Activity Schedule (VAS) to reduce challenging behaviours in an inclusive classroom. A Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) was conducted to determine the function of behaviours presented by each student. The Open Ended Functional Assessment Interview (O-FAI), ABC narrative observations and structured observations using a Functional Assessment Observation (FAO) form were conducted within the classroom. For student M, ‘non-participation’ emerged as a behaviour of concern, while student H engaged in ‘non-instructed activity’. It was hypothesised that both behaviours were maintained by escape from tasks. FCT was implemented for student M to reduce ‘non-participation’ and a VAS was implemented for student H to reduce ‘non-instructed activity’ and increase independence in following a schedule. Student M showed a moderate reduction in ‘non-participation’ compared to baseline while student H did not show any difference in occurrences of ‘non-instructed activity’ compared to baseline, however, she did achieve independent use of the VAS. Despite the lack of change in the target behaviours for both participants, FCT and VAS interventions were approved as socially valid interventions by the class teachers. The interventions also contributed to the overall learning experiences of both students in an inclusive classroom setting.
Investigation into the benthic vegetation of the upper Waikato River, New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 1990) Miller, Suzanne Thelma; Silvester, Warwick B.; Clayton, John
The discharge of treated sewage from the Taupo Borough-Pollution Control Plant was associated with a dramatic change in downstream phytobenthos associations found in the Upper Waikato River. Displacement of epilthic moss assemblages by Cladophora, and domination of epiphyte habitats by Enteromorpha were observed downstream of this discharge. In essence, this situation is a species replacement series in response to a changing water quality gradient attributable to the inflow of treated sewage. Aerial photographs, transect surveys and drift diving showed that the extent of phytobenthos development through the entire length of the Upper Waikato River was primarily limited by substrate availability. Areas of gravel/pebble/sand were not immobile long enough in current flow to allow for the development of macroscopic vegetation either up- or downstream of the sewage discharge. However, there were similar stable habitats for phytobenthos development both up- and downstream of the sewage discharge. The greatest change in water quality attributable to the TBPCP discharge was increase in both NH₄-N (relative significance to all loads 61.5%) and DRP (relative significance to all loads 55.6%). However, even below the TB-PCP discharge average concentrations of NH₄-N (ca.10 mg m-³) and DRP (ca. 4 mg m-³) were still low and water may still be classified as oligotrophic. The ratio of TN-DON: TP-DOP is low in water leaving Lake Taupo (10.4), the inflow from the TBB-PCP sewage discharge further decreases this ratio to 6.2, measured at Reid’s Farm. A prediction of nitrogen limitation of algal growth was made from these low ratios. Nutritional studies of Oedogonium upstream of the TB-PCP sewage discharge supported the hypothesis of N limitation derived from N:P ratios. Oedogonium consistently exhibited tissue nitrogen levels below critical values. The same nutritional studies applied to Enteromorpha and Cladophora growths downstream of the TB-PCP sewage discharge showed that neither species was consistently limited by available N or P nutrients, and both species showed a greater susceptibility to N limitation. This was not expected from the predictions based on N:P ratios. Enteromorpha and Cladophora may be able to sustain adequate tissue N levels by maintaining high uptake rates. Both A A R and PUR rates were high for these species in the NATS monitoring programme. However, due to the high pulse concentration and the static nature of these techniques, results are not likely to be indicative of in-situ conditions. These results merely indicate that the algae have the capacity for high uptake rates. A greater relative importance of N compared to P inputs from the TB-PCP discharge for Enteromorpha and Cladophora growth was concluded from the pilot algae transplant experiment. Phosphorus tissue NATS did not show P limitation of upstream transplants after one and two weeks, compared to decreases in N tissue tests below critical levels. Results from this transplant experiment support the hypothesis that N concentrations in the Upper Waikato River above the TB-PCP discharge may be too low to support significant Enteromorpha and Cladophora growths. The increase in ammoniacal nitrogen from the TB-PCP discharge may represent a critical change for periphytic algal growth, given the physical environs of this river. Three new techniques have been trialled in this study: # use of a chain transect to survey phytobenthos of a deep, swift flowing river, # use of s15N signatures of plants growing up- and downstream of a point-source discharge in order to ascertain the extent of effluent N nutrient utilisation by plants growing downstream of the sewage discharge, # algae transplant experiment as a method for examining the relative importance of increased nutrient loads to changes in phytobenthos correlated to the inflow form point-source discharges. Preliminary application of these techniques has been useful in the Upper Waikato River to describe the biological impact of the TB-PCP discharge on benthic vegetation. In the Upper Waikato River phytobenthos associations found below the TB-PCP sewage discharge during 1989-1990 are not consistent with the ‘oligotrophic plant assemblage’ described by Coffey (1979). A major habitat degradation in the Upper Waikato River has occurred and is associated with the inflow from the Taupo Borough-Pollution Control Plant. No change in Coffey’s (1979) classification of ‘oligotrophic plant assemblage’ of the Waikato River from the Lake Taupo Control Gates to the upstream end of the point of inflow of the TB-PCP sewage discharge was concluded from this study.
Investigation of lipopolysaccharide binding protein in the bovine mammary gland
(The University of Waikato, 2004) Miles, Michelle Cara; Musgrave, David; Davis, Stephen R.; Stelwagen, Kerst
This study investigated the presence of LBP in the bovine mammary gland during varying stages of development and infection. The project was initiated by the discovery of an EST in a mastitic mammary cDNA library which bore homology to lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP). The results add to the understanding of the innate immune defences of the gland and the biological regulation of LBP. The expression profile of LBP in bovine mammary tissue was characterised by northern blot analysis which showed that LBP levels were increased in infected and involuted tissues. This is supported by the results from in situ hybridisation which detected local expression of LBP in epithelia surrounding ducts and alveoli in infected tissue. LBP was also shown to be increased in mammary secretions of whey and skim milk from infected and involuted glands by western blotting with an antibody that was raised against a peptide of LBP. These results were quantified by ELISA. The LPS-binding activity of the native protein was confirmed by ligand blotting, immunoprecipitation and ELISA. Attempts were made to investigate the immuno-stimulatory activity of LBP using a recombinant protein in a cytokine induction assay. Due to problems encountered with the expression system the results from this can not be accurately analysed and further optimisation is required. This is the first report of local expression of LBP in the mammary gland and taken together, these results suggest an important role for LBP in the local innate defence of the gland.
Supportive school environments as protective factors for psychological wellbeing in transgender secondary school students in Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Hounsell, Jamie; Veale, Jaimie; Fenaughty, John
Young people in Aotearoa New Zealand face a mental health crisis, and this is especially dire for transgender and gender diverse youth, who are at significant risk of suicide. It is well established that trans youth experience high levels of bullying and discrimination, especially in schools, however comprehensive understandings of how social supports within school environments can buffer the effects of victimisation are less understood. This study aimed to investigate how social elements within secondary schools, such as safety, belonging, and teacher and classmate support, predict mental health difficulties in transgender students. Quantitative data drawn from 294 secondary school student participants from the 2022 wave of the Counting Ourselves survey was analysed using univariate analysis and logistic regressions. This study found that 90.1% of participants reported high or very high levels of psychological distress, 72.4% had engaged in NSSI, and 61.6% seriously considered committing suicide in the last 12 months. However, social supports within schools appeared to have a protective effect on student’s mental wellbeing. School safety was a significant protective factor all three mental health outcomes, and belonging and supportive classmates and adults were protective across analyses. These findings align with previous research that recommends that trans-inclusive policies in schools help trans students feel safe and accepted by their peers, which in turn can foster wellbeing. This study goes further by finding significant associations between school support and psychological outcomes. Overall, this emphasises the demand for inclusive school environments for transgender students and highlights the importance of social safety for marginalised groups.
Microclimate conditions of bat boxes occupied by New Zealand's native long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) in Hamilton City
(The University of Waikato, 2026) O'Sullivan, Aimee; Tempero, Grant Wayne
Globally, land clearance has resulted in the destruction of bat habitat features such as tree roost cavities. Installation of artificial roosts, also known as bat boxes, is intended to mitigate such losses. However, bat boxes are often installed with limited understanding of conditions such as temperature stability and relative humidity required by the target bat species. In New Zealand, long-tailed bat/pekapeka-tou-roa (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) populations largely favour tree cavities for roosting, and populations have been documented across a range of habitats including native forest, agricultural land, and within urban areas such as Hamilton City. Temperature and relative humidity have been identified as important roost selection factors for C. tuberculatus, but these properties have never been assessed in New Zealand bat boxes. To understand microclimate conditions within bat boxes occupied by C. tuberculatus in relation to natural roosts, environmental loggers were installed in Kent and Schwegler type roost boxes in Hamilton City, and natural roost cavities near Hamilton and Pukekohe. For further comparison, loggers were also installed near the top and bottom of Grand Canyon Cave, a known roost for C. tuberculatus. Fortnightly surveys of Hamilton City bat boxes were conducted using an endoscopic camera mounted on a 15 m telescopic carbon fibre pole or evening watches of tree roosts. This provided box occupancy rates and allowed comparisons to be made between temperature and relative humidity within bat boxes and natural roosts in relation to occupancy. Twenty-nine (63 %) of the 46 monitored bat boxes had confirmed occupation, with generalised linear mixed modelling (GLMM) indicating that sheltered Kent boxes were more likely than exposed Kent boxes to be occupied. Modelling also indicated that there was no significant effect of box chamber on occupation. However, microclimate conditions of Kent boxes were less stable than natural roosts, particularly exposed boxes, although the differences may not have been substantive enough to be physiologically relevant to C. tuberculatus. On average, bat boxes were generally warmer or similar to ambient conditions on a diel cycle, while natural roosts were warmer than ambient at night and cooler during the day. Although heat tolerance of C. tuberculatus is unknown, criteria used for similar species indicated that two exposed Kent boxes experienced a limited number of potential overheating events (>40 °C). The microclimate conditions in Grand Canyon Cave indicated differences between the top and bottom of the cave, with the top of the cave having similar thermal properties to tree cavity roosts. Generalised linear mixed modelling indicated that there was no significant effect of box thermal conditions on occupation rates. Although microclimate differences between the inner and outer chambers of Kent type boxes were potentially too small to be physiologically relevant to C. tuberculatus, microclimate stability and box exposure should be considered during installation. Providing a range of internal microclimates is likely to support the range of thermoregulatory requirements of the population. Future research should consider the development of boxes with improved microclimate stability, and designs which facilitate the thermoregulatory requirements of C. tuberculatus during different reproductive phases.
At what cost?: Qualitative accounts of parents of young Autistic people navigating the transition to adulthood in Aotearoa
(The University of Waikato, 2026-01-12) Dib, Alex; Fox, Ririwai
Neurodevelopmental disorders are paradoxically over diagnosed and underdiagnosed, with autism being one of the most underdiagnosed disorders under the neurodivergence umbrella. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder impacting functioning in social, cognitive, and physical domains. Research suggests that Autistic people experience poorer health and quality of life outcomes, lower academic attainment, higher unemployment, and particularly struggle during the transition from secondary education to adulthood (Shochet et al., 2022). Although an established knowledge base exists in this area, research seldom observes this transition in Autistic people in Aotearoa. Two focus groups were conducted with five mothers of Autistic children (ages 17 to 30). Participants identified key changes to support successful transitions, including greater involvement of people with lived experience in autism services, improved societal education about autism, enhanced diagnostic accuracy, and increased access to ongoing, targeted support. Thematic analysis identified five themes (At what cost, the shortcomings of systemic education, the bio-psycho-social-systemic view of Autistic youth, the transition to adulthood, and the mental health system). The analysis examined predisposing and precipitating factors contributing to adult transition-related obstacles across social, systemic, economic, and family domains. Results from the current study illuminate how Aotearoa-specific factors are impacting Autistic people today. Examining these factors may support the navigation of diagnosis, contribute to ongoing support, and the wellbeing of Autistic young people transitioning into adulthood.
Water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in the University of Waikato campus lakes, Hamilton, New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2003) Bryant, Nicholas; Hicks, Brendan J.
The water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, nutrient regimes, and mixing regimes of three small, shallow, hypertrophic, urban lakes situated on the University of Waikato campus, Hamilton were investigated. The lakes are spatially very close, in the same soil type, subject to the same climatic influences, and have similar nutrient concentrations. However, two of the lakes are shallow (Oranga and Knighton lakes - maximum depth 0.7m) and one of the lakes is slightly deeper (Chapel Lake - maximum depth 1.8m). The lakes experienced strong temperature induced mixing. The water columns of the lakes were less stable at night than during the day. They were more stable in summer than in winter. The water column of Chapel Lake was significantly more stable than Oranga and Knighton Lakes. Oranga Lake was significantly more stable than Knighton Lake. The concentrations of PO₄, NH₄, NO₂, and NOₓ varied over the sampling period but were generally similar in all three lakes. Peaks of NH₄ occurred in Knighton and Chapel lakes. It is possible that low levels of dissolved oxygen caused nitrogen to be released from the sediment in the form of NH₄, which was converted to NO₂ and NOₓ once oxygen levels increased. The exact mechanisms causing the changes in nutrient concentrations are unclear. Water quality varied between seasons. Chapel Lake had consistently better water quality than Knighton and Oranga lakes. This was especially pronounced in summer when there were marked blooms of zooplankton and phytoplankton in Oranga and Knighton lakes but not in Chapel Lake. Significant differences were also found in the phytoplankton and zooplankton diversity and abundance between the lakes. Cyanobacteria and Euglenoids dominated the phytoplankton communities in Oranga and Knighton lakes while Chrysophytes and Chlorophytes were dominant in Chapel Lake. Rotifers and small cladocerans dominated the zooplankton communities in all of the lakes. The differences in phytoplankton communities between lakes were more pronounced than the differences in zooplankton communities. Brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulous) and shortfinned eels (Anguilla australis) dominated the benthivorous fish communities of the lakes. There was a marked seasonal trend in catch rates with more fish being caught in the warmer months. There were significantly more catfish and eels caught in the two shallow lakes than in Chapel Lake, but significantly fewer common bullies (Gobiomorphus cotidianus). In addition, there were small eels caught in Knighton Lake and Oranga Lake in December but not in Chapel Lake. This indicates that shortfinned eels are able to navigate the stormwater system from the Waikato River to reach the lakes. The catch rates of catfish were lower than previous studies and the populations were dominated by fish aged 1-2 years. The catfish populations have the potential to increase. The greater depth of Chapel Lake appears to protect it from the more extreme effects of hypertrophy experienced by Oranga and Knighton lakes. Artificial deepening is the option that is likely to provide the longest lasting improvements to water quality.
Plant stable isotope ratios (¹⁵N) as an indicator of waste water nitrogen uptake
(The University of Waikato, 1992) Miers, Duncan Brian; Silvester, Warwick B.
An investigation was conducted into the processes that result in waste water N enrichment in ¹⁵N and also the use of this phenomenon in tracing the source of plant N in the environment. A study of ¹⁵N enrichment in various stages of a treatment plant was carried out at the Horotiu treatment plant with the Upper Waikato River and Northern Manukau Harbour systems being used in tracer studies in the environment. Waste water NH₄ in the Horotiu treatment plant was found to become progressively enriched as it passes through the various treatment systems. The inorganic NH₄ in the raw dissolved raw effluent has been shown to be enriched by +4.1 ⁰/₀₀. In the anaerobic pond organic nitrogen is mineralised and mixes with the inorganic NH₄ resulting in an increase in enrichment to +10.7 ⁰/₀₀ due to the mass balance of the two materials. In the facultative pond nitrification and possibly NH₃ volatilisation further enriches the NH₄ to +13.3 ⁰/₀₀. In the Upper Waikato River Lagarosiphon major and Enteromorpha nana were used in a ¹⁵N tracer study of the source of plant N due to their presence in both natural and waste water contaminated sections of the river. Ammonium is the major source of N, available to the two plants and is derived from treated waste water and Lake Taupo NH₄. The ¹⁵N abundance of waste water was +7.9 ⁰/₀₀ enriched, while the Lake Taupo source was estimated using the values for a range of upstream plants to be near atmospheric natural abundance (ie. 0.0 ⁰/₀₀). Isotopic fractionation during the assimilation of ammonium in the river appears to be low, this has enabled plant ¹⁵N abundance to be used as indicator of source mixing. A two source mass balance mixing model has been used to determine the origin of N in the two species and indicates that 50 to 100 % of plant nitrogen is from waste water. Treated waste water ammonium has previously been found to be naturally enriched in ¹⁵N, an investigation was conducted to identify the cause of this enrichment and it’s potential use as a natural tracer of biological processing. A study was carried out in the Horotiu Treatment Plant to examine the ¹⁵N enrichment of waste water NH₄ in various systems and isotopic fractionation during the processing of nitrogen. The Upper Waikato River and Northern Manukau Harbour were used in studies investigating the impact of enriched waste water NH₄ on plant N isotopic ratios in the environment. Waste water NH₄ in the Horotiu Treatment Plant was found to become progressively more enriched as it passes through various treatment systems, this has been attributed to the enriched ¹⁵N abundance of the substrate and various processes that interact with N at each level. Raw waste water from the nearby Affcco freezing works enters the treatment plant with a low NH₄ concentration (12.7 mgl⁻¹) derived primarily from blood and faeces and has a ¹⁵N enrichment of +4.1 ⁰/₀₀. In the anaerobic pond protein is mineralised and mixes with the existing NH₄ to produce a much higher NH₄ concentration (106 mgl⁻¹) without significant isotope fractionation, so that the waste water NH₄ enrichment now resembles the value of the new substrate (ie.+10.7 ⁰/₀₀). In the facultative pond nitrification and possibly NH₃ volatilisation further enrich ¹⁵N abundance of NH₄ to +13.3 ⁰/₀₀, this is the level of enrichment in waste water that is discharged from the treatment plant. In the Upper Waikato River Lagarosiphon major and Enteromorpha nana were used in a ¹⁵N tracer study to determine the source of plant nitrogen downstream of the Taupo Borough Pollution Control Plant, discharge into the river. Treated waste water and Lake Taupo, are the major sources of N in the river, with NH₄ being the predominant form available to plants. The ¹⁵N abundance of waste water NH₄ was found to be +7.9 ⁰/₀₀ enriched, while the isotopic ratio of Lake Taupo source was estimated from the range of isotopic values found in upstream plants to be near 0.0 ⁰/₀₀. Isotopic fractionation during assimilation appears to be small, this has enabled the use of a two source mixing model, using the ¹⁵N abundance values from plants and the two N sources, to show that 50 to 100% of plant nitrogen in the downstream section of the river is from waste water (depending on the site). In the Northern Manukau Harbour an attempt was made to apply ¹⁵N methodology to tracing the impact of waste water NH₄ (the predominant source of NH₄ in the harbour) on plant nitrogen. Ammonium is the major form of N assimilated by plants in the northern harbour. Sediment and plant N (from Gracillaria) indicated that there is a significant fractionation during assimilation, which highest near the waste water outfalls from the Manukau treatment plant, where plant N is -1 to +9 ⁰/₀₀ enriched compared with NH₄ c.+20 ⁰/₀₀. The degree of fractionation indicates that only a small portion of the NH₄ in the harbour is assimilated. A study of SOM indicated that ¹⁵N isotopic ratios in the treatment plant were different to the values in the southern harbour (ie. c. -5 ⁰/₀₀ compared with +12 ⁰/₀₀). A mass balance model was used to indicate the mixing of the two sources of SOM in the harbour. Results show that c. 30% of the SOM in the northern harbour is derived from the treatment plant, decreasing to 7% in the harbour mouth where a further mixing with SOM from the southern harbour is apparent.
Investigating RubyGems packages for software supply chain attack susceptibility through socio-technical metadata
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Nair, Shilpa; Kumar, Vimal
Software supply chain attacks targeting open-source package ecosystems have increasingly become prevalent, where the compromise of a single third-party dependency can affect many downstream applications. Existing approaches to supply chain security are largely reactive, focusing on known vulnerabilities rather than identifying packages that are inherently more susceptible to attack. This thesis proposes an attacker-centric risk profiling framework that investigates package-level susceptibility using socio-technical metadata, including dependency structure, ecosystem impact, and maintenance activity. A hierarchical composite scoring framework is developed, with metric weights derived using ROC AUC analysis to produce an interpretable risk score. The framework is evaluated on 79,000 RubyGems packages, including 380 known malicious instances. Results show that malicious packages are more likely to appear in higher-ranked regions of the score distribution, with consistent enrichment over a random baseline. It also shows that supply chain risk is distributed across a broader high-risk region rather than concentrated at the extreme tail. Quantitative evaluation and case study analysis further show that maintenance and impact-related signals offer the best discrimination between benign and malicious packages. The proposed approach, therefore, functions as a prioritisation tool, supporting effective allocation of security effort in large-scale ecosystems.
Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Tauranga group in Hamilton city for geological and earthquake modelling
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Smith, Joshua W.; la Croix., Andrew
This study was conducted to investigate the shallow stratigraphy of the Hamilton Central Business District, a city that overlies Hamilton Basin. The study focused on analysing three geotechnical cores and an exposed outcrop in Hamilton City near the Waikato River. Analysis included core logging, facies classification and paleoenvironmental interpretation, 3D structure-from-motion outcrop modelling, radiocarbon dating, as well as mineralogical assessment using X-ray diffraction. Seven unique lithofacies were identified in the cores, six of which were deposited in a braided river system; the seventh was volcanic in origin. The facies include a structureless muddy sandy gravel (F1), structureless sandy mud to muddy sand (F2), current-ripple laminated to cross-bedded muddy sand (F3), planar-bedded sandy mud to muddy sand (F4), current-ripple laminated to cross-bedded sandy mud (F5), structureless to planar bedded peat (F6A) and coal (F6B). These facies are typical of the Piako and Walton Subgroups of the Tauranga Group. The outcrop studied was a free face spanning approximately 20 metres in height and consisted of strata typical of the Hinuera Formation. One section of the outcrop showed potential evidence of liquefaction. Overall, the strata were structured or structureless, consisting of mud, sand, gravel, and organic layers. Sediments were highly pumiceous, and partially rhyolitic at times, with bed thickness ranging from sub-decimetre to metre-scale. These units, when packaged, showed several whole and partial cycles of active and abandoned river channels, indicating significant channel migration and flooding events typical of a braided-river system. The constantly migrating channels have resulted in the units encountered having laterally discontinuous physical characteristics; notably, the mineralogical composition was highly similar across samples and cores. Liquefaction susceptibility was compared with previous seismic studies, with a focus on the physical characteristics of the sediments encountered during this investigation and those of comparable sedimentary basins. The complexities of a braided river system's horizontal and vertical geometry in a geological modelling context were discussed, along with potential solutions to minimise scaling issues encountered when creating a coarse-scale 3D geological model. The vertical extent of some of the facies encountered during the investigation (F3 to F6B) was identified as the most at risk of over- or under-estimation during data upscaling. Near-well upscaling, confined by border cells, in combination with stochastic modelling, was suggested to resolve some of the scaling issues that will be encountered during model development.
Bridging policy and practice: A qualitative study of paternal postpartum depression support in Aotearoa/New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Hausser-See, Jessica; Fox, Ririwai
Paternal postpartum depression remains a critically under-recognised issue in Aotearoa/New Zealand, despite widespread rhetoric around whānau-centred care. This thesis examines the extent to which existing policies and services support fathers’ mental health during the perinatal period, arguing that the gap between policy and practice is demonstrated by the absence of policy altogether. This research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, a policy and strategy analysis was undertaken to understand what guidance exists for supporting dads' mental health during the perinatal period in Aotearoa/New Zealand. This included reviewing national health frameworks, resources from non-governmental organisations and public-facing information. The second stage involved a qualitative study with seven dads, who participated in semi-structured interviews or an online focus group. Their experiences were analysed thematically and interpreted through Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory to understand how their wellbeing was shaped by multiple, interacting layers of context; from personal and relational dynamics to organisational systems and broader cultural norms. Findings reveal that while fathers experience significant emotional distress and identity disruption during early parenthood, they often feel invisible within a maternal-centric service landscape. At the micro-level, participants reported internalised masculine norms and role ambiguity. At the meso and exo-levels, they described inconsistent engagement by health professionals, limited access to formal support, and structural constraints such as unpaid partner leave. Macro-level norms further reinforced the expectation that fathers act as supporters rather than care recipients. Critically, no national policy or clinical pathways exist to guide routine recognition or support for paternal PPD, and whānau-centred frameworks rarely operationalise meaningful inclusion of fathers. This thesis calls for targeted policy development, culturally inclusive service delivery, and routine, father-specific mental health screening to close this gap. Addressing paternal mental health is not only vital for the wellbeing of fathers but also for tamariki and whānau outcomes. The findings contribute to community psychology by highlighting how social, cultural, and systemic structures shape wellbeing and by advocating for structural accountability beyond individual resilience.
A comparison of new and traditional techniques for removing proteins responsible for haze in white wine
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Zhu, Wencui; Lay, Mark C.; Gavin, Chanelle
Wine haze is a common quality problem for white wines where the proteins in wine denature over time or at high temperature and form a stable suspension reducing the clarity of the wine. Wine susceptibility to haze formation is assessed using the heat test, which involves heating the wine to 80 °C for two hours, followed by cooling for three hours and measuring the change in turbidity. Proteins responsible for wine haze can be removed using adsorbents such as bentonite, but results in wine losses of up to 10% and large volumes of lees from hydrated bentonite. amaea, a start up company, has developed three promising adsorbents, alginate bentonite hydrogel (ABH), and two polymer-based media named Protx and Phenx, for removing these proteins. Adsorption experiments were conducted on a typical unfinished, heat-unstable Sauvignon Blanc wine and compared to bentonite treated and heat-treated wine. The media and their performance were characterised through particle size analysis, surface area and pore size measurement, SEM structural and elemental analysis, ion exchange capacity tests, zeta potential, adsorption isotherms and kinetics, and small-scale batch heat stabilisation tests. Protx had a mean diameter of 3.2 mm, and mean circularity of 0.55, and a surface area of 47 m2/g compared to PhenX which was 2.3 mm, 0.8, and 192 m2/g respectively. Protx had five times the cation exchange capacity and 10 times the anion exchange capacity of Phenx, had a zeta potential of -800 mV compared to -80 mV for Phenx and required 5 times the amount of HCl to reduce the zeta potential to zero. Protx had 30 times the affinity for wine proteins and had a 90 times greater rate of adsorption to the media surface compared to Phenx. ABH achieved the highest removal of wine proteins (85%), followed by Protx (74%), bentonite (64%), heat treatment (61%), and Phenx (55%), as measured by the Bradford method. Wine samples before and after treatment were filtered, dialysed and freeze-dried to concentrate wine proteins for analysis. The alkaline Bradford assay, which was more sensitive to protein and less affected by phenolic compounds compared to the conventional Bradford method, was adopted for quantification. Protein analysis was conducted using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis using Any kDa stain-free gels, reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. Peak deconvolution of gel filtration spectra was performed using Origin 2024b. Positive correlations were found between total protein concentration with heat-induced turbidity. The 33 kDa and 21.6 kDa proteins contribute to haze formation; the 18.3 kDa proteins are possible TLPs isomers, with F2/4JRU being heat unstable and I/4L5H and/or H2/4MBT being able to refold after cooling; while the 49.2 and 61.2 kDa proteins may have minimal contribution to heat induced turbidity and partially precipitate during heating and cooling due to crossing linking with heat unstable proteins.
Examining the rourou: Exploring Pākehā educators' preparedness for and practices in teaching Māori texts in the english classroom
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Tunstall, Kashka; Cunningham, Emma; McMillan, Hoana
This research investigates the ways in which Pākehā English teachers in English-medium secondary schools teach Māori texts. English teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand are increasingly teaching Māori-authored and Māori-focused texts as the education system grapples with addressing centuries of inequitable practices and outcomes for Māori ākonga. Research supports culturally responsive teaching and learning practices in improving student success and wellbeing, and the sector has been making strides in incorporating mātauranga Māori in many areas of the curriculum. However, scholarship has not yet adequately interrogated how teachers in secondary English classrooms, the majority of whom are Pākehā women, engage with Māori texts. This is especially crucial in the wake of significant changes to the English curriculum which now mandates the teaching of Māori-authored texts in Years 7 through 10. This research bridges that gap, illustrating Pākehā teacher perspectives, views, barriers, and enablers when teaching Māori texts. This is achieved through semi-structured interviews with six teachers, and a thematic analysis of their shared stories, which are presented as narrative case studies. The findings highlight the need for stronger structural support for teachers when teaching Māori texts. This includes more robust preparation in Initial Teacher Education, opportunities for professional collaboration, and the development of reflexive teaching practices. Teachers also described vulnerability and resilience as important elements of culturally responsive practice. The findings offer insights for educators to support their own reflexive practice and highlight potential systemic changes needed within Initial Teacher Education and Ministry of Education subject support to better prepare current and future non-Māori English teachers to work confidently with Māori texts.
Framing disability in Malaysian federal budget speeches: A discourse analysis of disability policy narratives (2016-2026)
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Koong, Veronica; Piercy-Cameron, Gemma
Disability policy plays a crucial role in shaping opportunities and social participation for persons with disabilities (PWDs). While existing research has examined disability policy frameworks in Malaysia, fewer studies have explored how disability is represented within official government policy discourse. This thesis examines how disability is framed in Malaysian federal budget speeches from 2016 to 2026 and what these framings reveal about underlying policy approaches. The study adopts a qualitative discourse analysis informed by social constructionism and framing theory. Malaysian federal budget speeches were analysed as key policy texts that communicate government priorities and justify public expenditure decisions. Disability-related references were coded to identify recurring policy frames. Six dominant frames were identified: welfare and protection; accessibility and service access; symbolic recognition; education and developmental support; employment and economic participation; and care and rehabilitation support. The findings show that disability is frequently positioned within broader narratives of vulnerable populations, social welfare programmes, and national development. While some references reflect elements of the social model of disability, welfare-oriented narratives remain prominent. Importantly, the findings highlight a gap between rights-based policy commitments and their implementation, with disability governance remaining largely programme-based and lacking strong enforcement mechanisms. Overall, this study demonstrates how disability is positioned within Malaysian policy discourse and contributes to broader discussions on disability policy and governance.
Septic-derived nutrient contamination of shallow groundwater in Lake Tarawera: Extent, fate, and ecological consequences
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Tetzlaff, Sarah; Özkundakci, Deniz; Tempero, Grant Wayne
Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are important point sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution to lakes, with nutrients transported via groundwater to the nearshore zone where they can stimulate algal growth and degrade littoral ecosystems. At Lake Tarawera (Bay of Plenty, New Zealand), OWTS are estimated to contribute 3–5 % to the annual nutrient load, prompting implementation of a sewage reticulation scheme of the residential area along the lake’s western margin. However, the spatial distribution, subsurface transport, and ecological consequences of septic-derived nutrients remain poorly quantified. This study assessed shallow groundwater contamination within the urbanised western margin, examined groundwater–littoral transport pathways, and evaluated potential effects on benthic primary producers. Groundwater was sampled monthly from 21 piezometers along upslope and downslope transects between April 2023 and March 2025 and analysed for nitrate-N, nitrite-N, ammoniacal-N, and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). Groundwater connectivity to the lake was assessed by relating antecedent rainfall to groundwater flux into the littoral zone, measured using 24-hour benthic chamber deployments. Stable isotope ratios of nitrate (δ15N and δ18O) in groundwater and pore water, alongside δ15N and δ13C in macrophyte, benthic algal, and suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) tissue, were used to trace septic-derived nitrogen transport. Benthic gross primary production (GPP) was estimated seasonally at six nearshore sites using 1.5-hour benthic chamber incubations to assess potential changes in littoral metabolism. Results revealed localised areas of elevated nutrient concentrations within the urban zone, with high maximum values observed for ammoniacal-N (61 mg L-1), nitrate-N (7.4 mg L-1), DRP (8.7 mg L-1), and nitrite-N (0.91 mg L-1), consistent with previously reported septic contamination ranges and higher than those measured in a prior study at the lake. No consistent seasonal or annual patterns were observed. Enriched δ15N values were observed in both upslope groundwater (5.50 ± 3.18 ‰) and littoral pore water (6.51 ± 3.43 ‰), indicating wastewater-derived nitrogen inputs to the adjacent littoral zone. However, low δ15N values in SPOM, macrophytes, and benthic algae (1.48 ± 0.83 ‰), suggested limited assimilation by primary producers. Sites exhibiting dense epiphytic algal growths during spring and summer displayed the highest benthic GPP rates (maximum = 296 mg O₂ m² h⁻¹). Although vegetation biomass explained the most variation in GPP (19 %), multiple lines of evidence suggest that upslope groundwater nutrient enrichment may have promoted short-term epiphytic algal growth at certain sites under favourable growing conditions. This study provides integrated evidence linking septic-derived nutrient transport through groundwater to altered benthic community structure in Lake Tarawera. Although measurable impacts on primary producer assimilation were limited, substantial nutrient loading to shallow groundwater and the nearshore zone was evident. Periphyton responses appear to be a sensitive indicator of early nutrient pressure preceding broader metabolic changes. Continued inputs may increase the risk of shifts towards greater algal dominance, underscoring the need to address OWTS sources proactively. Lake Tarawera serves as a case study of a widespread and often underestimated issue of nutrient contamination from OWTS across New Zealand, emphasising the importance of strengthened monitoring and management to help combat further freshwater degradation.
The leashed we can do: Effects of targeted conservation messaging on dog leashing behaviour
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Smith, Ashleigh; Blackmore, Tania Louise
The current study investigated whether the viewing of posters conveying kiwi conservation or dog safety messaging would influence behaviour change in the form of reasons given to leash their dog: would participants leash their dog more for concerns about dog safety and welfare, or more for concerns related to kiwi conservation. The results showed that both Poster A (kiwi conservation message) and Poster B (dog welfare message) had a significant effect on how participants answered, “how likely are you to leash your dog in the bush?” with participants choosing both the kiwi conservation message and the dog welfare message more frequently post survey than they did pre survey. This finding supports previous NZ based research by Macdonald (2015) and Macaskill (2025) who both found that highlighting pet welfare was more effective at increasing conservation behaviour than highlighting the intended conservation behaviour.
Operationalising bicultural practice with Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand: Registered psychologists' experiences, approaches, and challenges
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Wilson, Alice; Mohi , Simone R.
Registered psychologists in Aotearoa New Zealand are required under Te Tiriti o Waitangi to integrate Māori worldviews and culturally responsive practices into their therapeutic work. However, empirical research examining how psychologists operationalise bicultural practice in everyday clinical settings remains limited. This qualitative study addressed two research questions: (1) How do psychologists operationalise bicultural principles in their psychological practice? and (2) What are the biggest challenges psychologists have experienced in engaging in bicultural practice? Semi structured interviews were conducted with 24 registered psychologists, and results were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Eight themes were identified: (1) Prioritising Whakawhanaungatanga, (2) Client-Centred Cultural Responsiveness, (3) Te Whare Tapa Whā as a Fundamental Framework, (4) Cultural Practices Integration, (5) Ongoing Commitment to Preparation and Learning, (6) Fear and Anxiety as Barriers to Engagement, (7) Barriers to Engagement: Bicultural Training and Educational Preparation, and (8) Navigating Practitioner Positionality and Client Cultural Identity Complexity. Together, these findings illustrate how psychologists are actively incorporating bicultural practice across diverse clinical settings while navigating systemic, educational, and personal barriers. Results are discussed within the He Awa Whiria (Braided Rivers) framework, with implications for training, professional standards, and the ongoing development of bicultural psychological practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Improving diabetes self-management in Māori communities: The use of behaviour skills training with continuous glucose monitoring
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Laird, Nikcarla; Blackmore, Tania Louise; Nankivell, Rewi
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition characterised by irregularities in the production and processing of insulin. Within the New Zealand context, diabetes disproportionately affects the Māori population more than non-Māori. Self-management of diabetes relies heavily on individual behaviours to manage the condition, which can be challenging for individuals to effectively achieve on a daily basis. Due to the higher proportion of Māori who suffer from diabetes, there is a need for culturally tailored and effective interventions to support diabetes self-management. This aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of behaviour skills training (BST) to improve diabetes selfmanagement behaviours for two Māori participants who use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. The study integrated an applied behaviour analysis (ABA) intervention in BST and a Kaupapa Māori approach where tikanga Māori was weaved into the four components of BST. A task analysis was curated to score the correct procedure of applying a CGM device, with the goal of improving the participants self-management and overall health, aiming toward an improved quality of life. BST combined with a Kaupapa Māori approach was an effective tool for improving diabetes self-management for Māori participants who use CGM, highlighting the need for culturally responsive interventions in healthcare as well as acknowledging the effectiveness of a behavioural approach to medicine.

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