Masters Degree Theses

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Laying the tracks: Investigating the potential benefits for autistic children of a model railway initiative
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Gedye, Jacob; Anderson, Angelika
This study described a model railway programme in terms of its benefits for autistic children and their families/communities. A non-experimental mixed-method design was conducted, in which an observation schedule was designed to determine whether behaviours which are associated with language development were facilitated by the programme. Interviews with parents/caregivers were conducted to collect qualitative data about the programme, to better understand how it is perceived by visitors and what draws them to attend. Individual case studies with children and their parents/caregivers were done to build a clearer picture of what can be seen at an individual level. Finally, a focus group was arranged with members of the railway modeller’s club to find out their point of view and broaden the qualitative scope of the data. Findings suggest potential utility in this programme for autistic children and future research implications are discussed.
Studies toward an optimized synthesis of a Novel Imidazopyridinone DNA-PK Inhibitor
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Mora, Daniel A.; Dickson, Benjamin
Cancer is a disease of global significance, with cancer rates increasing year on year globally. A key challenge within the treatment of cancer is the cellular response to radiotherapy. When fractionated radiotherapy is targeted at cancerous cells DNA double strand breaks are promoted via free radical formation to induce cellular death. However, cellular responses activate the DNA double strand break repair mechanism to oppose these outcomes. Involved in this mechanism is the DNA-PK enzyme and the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre (ACSRC) has developed an enzyme inhibitor SN39536 to inhibit the repair mechanism. Core aspects of the project surround the use and optimization of an alternative novel synthetic route to the drug as the original published route was developed allowing for structural diversity as opposed to efficiency. There are three novel reactions at the beginning of the alternative route leading to a point of convergence with the ACSRC route at an imidazopyridinone intermediate; a nucleophilic aromatic substitution, a base-catalyzed hydrolysis and a Curtius rearrangement. Analogous reactions were originally reported by Astra Zeneca (AZ) with pyrimidine analogues however in this work they have been adapted and optimized for pyridine variants. Post optimization the highest yield achieved for the pyridine substrates were; 85.3% for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution, 89.9% for the base-catalyzed hydrolysis and 69.5% for the Curtius rearrangement. These are comparable to the AZ yields with their pyrimidine analogues however in each case the addition of heat and/or increased reaction times were consistently required to match the AZ yields – highlighting that the novel pyridine substrates are not as activated for these reactions. The novel route generates the same imidazopyridinone intermediate as the ACSRC route in an overall yield of 53.3%. This is significantly lower than the 70.6% overall yield from the ACSRC route. Despite the novel route being viable for the synthesis of imidazopyridinones we propose it is currently an inferior alternative for the synthesis of SN39536. A rearrangement of the novel route steps was then attempted to explore if the altered electronics of the substrates aid or diminish the synthetic yield of the novel reactions. We placed the final Buchwald-Hartwig amination of the original syntheses after the initial novel nucleophilic aromatic substitution however, we were unable to optimize this novel cross-coupling beyond a yield of 19.0%. Investigation into the reaction conditions were unable to discern why the cross-coupling was consistently unsuccessful. The limited information from our substrate studies suggests that the substrate for this reaction does not have the correct electronics to undergo the proposed cross-coupling. The 19.0% yield of this reaction currently renders the rearranged novel route an unviable alternative to both previous syntheses.
The use of microscopic traffic simulation model for the analysis of vehicle emission
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Kaushalya, Jani; Turner, Jessica Dawn
Road transport is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution in New Zealand, particularly in the rapidly growing Bay of Plenty region. The high vehicle density during peak hours and the reliance on petrol and diesel fuels in most fleets contribute significantly to vehicle emissions, which contribute to climate change and air quality degradation. This research investigates the use of a microscopic traffic simulation model to analyse vehicle emissions in order to identify practical measures to reduce transport-related emissions. SUMO (Simulation of Urban Mobility), an open-source software was used to construct the road network, generate realistic vehicle demand, and execute the simulation, while the HBEFA (Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport) emission model was used to estimate vehicle emissions. This simulation utilised vehicle count data provided by the Tauranga City Council, and MongoDB was employed as the main database to facilitate effective storage, retrieval, and real-time querying of the simulation output. Three targeted emission reduction scenarios were developed and tested based on the simulation results: increasing electric vehicle ownership by 20%, introducing trackless trams on high-demand routes, and encouraging carpooling to reduce single-occupancy vehicle usage. As a result of the simulation, each measure resulted in significant reductions in vehicle emissions, and the effectiveness of each scenario was examined and compared. The findings of this study provide practical, data-driven insights for local councils, transport planners, and policymakers in implementing effective strategies to reduce vehicle emissions and contribute to New Zealand’s emission reduction targets.
The effectiveness of singing bowls music and progressive muscle relaxation on mood, sleep, and stress
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Hamilton, Kellianne; Starkey, Nicola J.
Mental health trends show increased symptoms of mental illness across the globe. To combat these increases, more low-cost and easily accessible interventions should be identified. The current study is a parallel cohort non-comparative study investigating the effectiveness of quartz crystal singing bowls (SB) music and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on mood, sleep, and stress in young adults. Over eight weeks participants received reminders to complete online sessions of either SB music or PMR. For the first four weeks participants received reminders to complete sessions three times a week. From weeks five – eight participants received a weekly reminder but could complete as many sessions as they wanted. Participants completed questionnaires assessing Mood and Sleep Quality at three timepoints (baseline, week four, and week eight). Participants completed pre and post intervention measures for Overall Feeling, Relaxation, and Stress once a week for the first four weeks. Of the 108 recruited participants, 62 (mean age SB = 20.11 years, PMR = 20.53 years) completed the interventions, questionnaires, and measures (32 in SB group, 30 in PMR group). Both the SB group and the PMR group showed improvement in Mood and Sleep Quality throughout the study. The SB group showed decreases in Total Mood Disturbance (TMD), Tension, Fatigue, and Depression, an increase in Vigour and improvement in Sleep Quality. The effects were greatest in the first four weeks for the SB group. The PMR group showed decreases in TMD, Tension, Anger, Fatigue, and Confusion, and improvement in Sleep Quality. Both the SB group and the PMR group showed acute increases in Overall Feeling and Relaxation and decreases in Stress after the interventions when compared to before the interventions. Overall, the current findings support the hypothesis that SB music and PMR have positive effects on mood, sleep, and stress in young adults.
An appreciative inquiry into the promoting and capitalising Chinese executive leadership within Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Liu, Yiling; Jackson, Brad
While a number of New Zealand organisations have demonstrated genuine commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion, particularly for Māori and Pasifika peoples, individuals of Chinese ethnicity remain significantly under-represented in senior executive teams and on boards of directors. In light of New Zealand’s ongoing inability to harness the potential contributions of this community, the country has not been fully able to benefit from its truly diverse and globally connected workforce. The literature reviewed the history of the Chinese diaspora, with a particular focus on migration patterns in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also examined the contemporary Chinese community’s demographics, educational backgrounds, and workplace experiences. Existing research has shown that, despite the significant contributions Chinese communities have made to New Zealand society, they continue to face barriers, particularly in advancing to senior leadership positions. This thesis aimed to explore the distinctive qualities of leaders with Chinese heritage and to recognise the contributions they have made to New Zealand society. It sought to promote the visibility of Chinese leaders in the corporate environment and to understand both the barriers they may have faced and the key enablers in advancing to executive roles. This qualitative research study utilised semi-structured interviews conducted with current or former senior leaders with Chinese heritage, enabled participants to reflect on their leadership experiences. The findings revealed how cultural background, upbringing, and lived experiences shaped their perspectives and leadership styles. Although these Chinese leaders had attained senior leadership positions, many described encountering systemic barriers that limited their recognition and progression within the predominantly Anglo-Saxon leadership frameworks in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the findings also revealed that leaders with Chinese heritage have been able to bring meaningful value to New Zealand through inclusive leadership practices, international business connections, and cross-cultural insight. By focusing on leaders of Chinese heritage, this study addressed a critical gap in the existing literature on ethnic diversity in leadership, particularly within the New Zealand context. It emphasised the need for more inclusive leadership models and coordinated efforts from government, organisations, educational institutions, and individuals to create a more equitable and representative society that promotes greater leadership opportunities for people of all ethnic backgrounds.
To explore the creation of a multi-skilled adoptable / agile perioperative Registered Nurse: A mixed methods study exploring the creation of a multi-skilled perioperative registered nurse at Waikato Hospital
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Ngatia, Judy Diane; Parsons, Matthew
Background: The global nursing shortage has highlighted vulnerabilities within the Aotearoa-NZ health system. Within large acute hospitals, the level of nursing specialisation within perioperative care (preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative) often means that nurses do not have the skillsets to operate across multiple areas and instead focus solely in one area of practice. Issues arise when departments within perioperative services become challenged, either through increased demand or staff shortages. Being able to relocate nurses across the service according to highest demand is important, but often not possible if specialised nurses lack the skills required of working within other areas. Objective: This study aims to explore the creation of a multi-skilled, agile perioperative Registered nurse equipped with skills to work across the perioperative department in Waikato Hospital. Participants: The study included two groups of participants. The first consisted of 14 health professionals (Nurse executives, n=4; Nurse operation managers, n=1; Senior registered nurses, n=2; Intermediate registered nurses, n=2; Junior registered nurses, n=2; and Senior specialist nurses, n=3). The second group (survey) consisted of registered nurses at differing levels within the perioperative department (n=88). Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study. Qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with health professionals working in the perioperative department was analysed using a general inductive method of enquiry. Online surveys were analysed statistically using qui squared and ANOVA to explore the relationship between satisfaction and ability to work across different areas in the perioperative service. Results: Five key themes emerged from the interviews: (i) Teamwork and role understanding; (ii) The current nursing configuration versus the desirable configuration; nursing skills; (iii) Knowledge and holistic care; and (iv) Leadership; and barriers to change. No statistically significant differences were identified between any of the variables. Conclusion: The absence of well-organised training for nurses, especially those in specialised areas, poses a significant challenge to develop a flexible workforce. To proceed further, the service should consider developing a training programme, accept cross-training as a method of career development and consider multi-skilling as an essential core part of the of the perioperative workforce.
A journey of leadership
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Wilson, Melanie; Parsons, Matthew; McKelvie, Rhonda
Background: Contemporary nursing leadership extends beyond traditional hierarchical structures and focusses more on leadership enacted at the point of care. This reconceptualisation recognises clinical nurse leaders as essential change agents who bridge frontline care and organisational priorities, advocate for equitable health services and foster team cohesion in increasingly complex environments, all without holding formal authority. To grow and sustain such leadership requires education and development programmes that are designed to be contextually relevant and responsive to the realities of point of care nurses. Objective: The aim of this research was to explore the design and evaluation of a health leadership development programme for registered nurses delivered at a tertiary hospital. Participants: There were two key population groups: Purposive sampling was employed to recruit an executive nurse leader (n=1) for the initial interview, followed by three focus groups with representatives from executive, operational and designated senior nurse leadership roles (n=13); and the second, pre- and post- intervention surveys with the participants of the education programme (n=12). All intervention participants responded to the survey (response rate = 100%). Methods: This mixed methods study involved an interview and three focus groups, which informed the development of the programme as well as pre-test / post-test online surveys of leadership programme participants. Both the interview and focus groups were thematically analysed using a general inductive method to develop key themes. The initial interview and focus groups were used to design the education intervention, which was evaluated using pre- and post- surveys, which included Likert scale type questions, which were analysed using a Paired Sample T Test. Findings: Thematic analysis of the interview and focus group transcripts revealed five key themes: (i) Leading in real life; (ii) Becoming future ready; (iii) Power, people and perspective; (iv) Owning the journey; and (v) Connection culture. Analysis of the survey data showed statistically significant results in: (i) Current leadership ability - leadership knowledge; (ii) understanding different leadership styles; (iii) Knowledge of leadership skills & attributes for effective health leadership; (iv) Understanding of health leadership in equitable healthcare delivery; (v) Understanding of relationship knowing self, cultural identity and leadership; and (vi) Development of skills for challenging conversations. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that leadership development initiatives for clinical nurse leaders are most effective when built on the acknowledgement of cultural, relational and emotional knowing and intelligence. Programme participants responded positively to this approach showing marked improvements in self-assessed leadership confidence.
Pituitary mRNA expression of FSH and LH in yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina)
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Curtis, Robert; Muncaster, Simon
Recent interest has been expressed in cultivating the native, yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina). This is largely due to its high market and cultural value. Currently, there is little research on this species, both in an aquaculture setting and from an ecological perspective. This study focused on assessing pituitary mRNA expression of two gonadotropin-beta subunit genes, follicle-stimulating hormone (fshβ) and luteinising hormone (lhβ), in wild-caught yellowbelly flounder, to better understand captive reproduction for aquaculture. The first study characterised the expression of both pituitary fshβ and lhβ in wild-caught yellowbelly flounder in different stages of ovarian development: 1) previtellogenic (PVO), 2) early vitellogenic (EVit), 3) vitellogenic (VIT), and 4) final oocyte maturation (FOM). Both genes showed significant increases in expression between stages 1 and 4. The expression patterns of both pituitary fshβ and lhβ were similar, with a trend of increasing levels across all ovarian stages to peak at stage 4. However, peak expression levels were much greater in fshβ. This is unexpected compared to typical fish models, where pituitary lhβ expression is often many-fold greater than fshβ during oocyte maturation. The reason for this apparent anomaly in peak expression levels is unknown. However, the general profile of increasing levels of co-expressed pituitary fshβ and lhβ throughout oogenesis likely reflects the multiple-batch group synchronous ovarian development found in yellowbelly flounder. The second study focused on quantifying fshβ and lhβ expression over a five-day period following the injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). Each female yellowbelly flounder was assigned to one of four treatment groups: 25 μg/kg, 50 μg/kg, 100 μg/kg, or a control group (0 μg/kg). Although there were no statistically significant increases in fshβ or lhβ expression from day 1 to day 5, an upward trend in both lhβ and fshβ expression was observed in fish treated with 25 μg/kg of GnRHa. Similarly, an increasing trend in lhβ expression was observed in fish treated with 50 μg/kg of GnRHa. GnRHa-treated fish accounted for the highest number of individuals entering FOM, comprising 87% of all fish that reached this stage. Additionally, 85% of all fish treated with GnRHa progressed to early maturation (EM) or further. Interestingly, the 100 μg/kg GnRHa treatment resulted in a downward trend of both fshβ and lhβ expression on both days 1 and 5 post-treatment. Despite this, the 100 μg/kg GnRHa treatment exhibited the joint-highest proportion of oocytes reaching maturity (33.3%) and had 90% of individuals reaching the early migratory (EM) stage or beyond. However, none of the fish were observed to ovulate over the 5-day experimental period.
Beneath the green bucket
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Selby, Michaela; Slaughter, Tracey
Beneath the Green Bucket is a personal collage, revealing an autobiographical tale — of many faces. Since the age of seven and living with a learning disability, I became at home on the white space, stirring a sense of comfort, familiarity and newfound confidence as I graced the pages. In areas where I struggle to adequately articulate the spoken word and thought patterns, I have discovered that writing has not only provided a sense of security but has become an effective way to express myself and channel my hidden creative ambitions through the power of verse. At present, I find myself in the position to at last forge my poetic ability, conveying my memoir of emotions, memories and the diversity that is — me. Throughout this manuscript, my poetry will turn a lyric lens upon sensitive matters and other complex shades, that are usually sidestepped or scribbled with trembling hands. Amongst the musings of my younger innocence and familial reflection, I impart themes that bare the unsettling reality. That is, the woman I once was, flinching in a corner wearing a purple stain of domestic violence. My little self, huddled inside a magnetic chamber, as the clanging proclaims an Epileptic diagnosis. A bullied victim of a pubescent tribe, the wringing hands of mirrored dysmorphia, as I shake the black paw of depression, pondering the void of motherhood and navigate the chapters of my grief. These pieces portray an intermittent journey through the joys and intricacies of my lived experience, using the energy of words and deep-seated recall, to ignite a creative understanding, of the otherwise cruel and mundane. Attuned to the sensory, symbolism and ambience of time and place, my poems centre impassioned voice, and seek to dip dye the reader into my peculiar existence. An existence returning to the remembered shelter of a plastic, olive brim, the green bucket of my earliest memory, a real place of imaginative infant retreat. My hard hat of mock pearls, toasted petals — and faded visions. Beneath the Green Bucket presents a contemporary collection of poems, that merge sprinklings from childlike incantation with evocations of adult trauma, acting as a palatable armour for those who view my words. I believe that in life; there is always room — for a fairytale.
Redefining taonga: The Treaty Principles Bill and its potential impact on the status of te reo Māori
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Carter, Wayne Ngahuka; Nock, Sophie; Campbell, Donna
This thesis explores the potential impact of Aotearoa New Zealand’s proposed Treaty Principles Bill on the recognition and protection of te reo Māori (Māori language) as a taonga under the Treaty of Waitangi. This research examines the redefinition of fundamental Treaty principles as outlined in the bill, specifically addressing important questions concerning how the transition from partnership, protection and participation towards a focus in equal rights might influence both the legal standing and the cultural status of te reo Māori. With a quantitative methodology approach, this study draws from a range of sources, including legislative policies, political documents, historical records, and academic analysis, to evaluate the impacts and risks this bill could impose. A comparative analysis study with international examples of indigenous language protection provides broader insights into the potential effects on Māori language revitalisation efforts and te reo Māori and its status under the 2016 Māori Language Act. Early findings indicate that the Treaty Principles Bill has ignited considerable debate throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, emphasising tensions between traditional interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi and framework proposed by the Act Party. Māori rights advocates and public debates express worries that the bill could diminish current protection and reduce advancements achieved for te reo Māori as a taonga. Critics argue that redefining these principles might fracture Māori-Crown relationships, possibly weakening differences and impacting New Zealand’s governance and national identity. This debate emphasises the challenging task of restoring New Zealand’s colonial past with its modern goals for fairness and equality. As Parliament reviews this legislation, it is confronted with a crucial decision that will influence the future direction of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mixed mutually orthogonal frequency squares
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Poulose, Jilmy; Cavenagh, Nicholas
A frequency square of type F(n; λ1, λ2, λ3, . . . , λt) is an array n × n filled with symbols ai, where each ai occurs λi times in every row and column, and n = Pt i=1 λi. Two such frequency squares F1(n; λ1, λ2, λ3, . . . , λt) and F2(n; µ1, µ2, µ3, . . . , µs) are mutually orthogonal, when superimposed, each of the ts possible ordered pairs (i, j), where 1 ≤ i ≤ t and 1 ≤ j ≤ s, occurs exactly λiµj times. This thesis generalizes the classical theory of mutually orthogonal Latin squares to mixed frequency settings, where symbols may appear with different frequencies. The non-uniform frequencies lead to a wider range of combinatorial structures with new methods of construction. Then, the thesis investigates maximizing the set of mixed mutually orthogonal frequency squares (MMOFS), focusing on theoretical methods rather than computational tools. The following lemmas and theorems are new results presented in Chapter 3. In Lemma 4.1, we define mappings from two Latin squares to form two MOFS. Then in Theorem 4.7, we apply this to explore the maximum size of the sets of higher-order MMOFS by using mixed orthogonal arrays. Moreover, Section 2.2 gives an original alternative proof of an existing upper bound for sets of MOFS. Furthermore, we identify sets of MMOFS for small orders in the final chapter by using the new results and the previous theories. These new results include Corollary 4.5, Lemma 5.1, Example 22, Corollary 5.6 and Example 24.
My private wolf and other stories
(The University of Waikato, 2024) Buchanan, Connie; Chidgey, Catherine
My Private Wolf and other stories is a collection of 18 short stories, each touching on unexpected moments of kindness or compassion. Beginning with two young girls as they imagine the likely crimes of prisoners passing by their trampoline, the collection moves in unsentimental prose through towns and cities in Aotearoa, observing people as they step outside their own concerns and pay attention to one another. A small-minded tradesman accommodates a neighbour’s request. A school boy apologises for causing accidental humiliation. An artist protects his family history from becoming easy anecdote. What prompts these considered responses? A cat manslaughter, a misheard song lyric, a painting that starts off as Jesus but turns into a hamburger. In lives marked by striving, difficulty and failure, we see parents doing their best, strangers trying to help, children recognising vulnerability in others, spouses capable of forgiveness, and colleagues willing to intervene. The stories are not morality tales; an act of compassion doesn’t necessarily transform, a moment of assistance doesn’t ward off disaster. In Horses, one child’s care for another creates a resting place as larger events unfold. In Traffic, a housecleaner’s actions provide a brief breather within a spiral of despair. In other stories, it is an act of cruelty or the desire for revenge which precipitates connection and understanding. Along the way, questions arise. What happens when an attempt to be nice is rejected? When does kindness mask interference? To what extent do we deceive ourselves about our motivations? Is it only human beings who can give and receive empathy? Through the lives of a range of men, women and children, I hope to create a subtle exploration of our efforts to look out for one another.
Unvoiced: A Fairytale
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Sobótka, Ruth Keeling; Chidgey, Catherine
Outside the apartment, the Catastrophe is raging. After the Emergency six years before, a combination of nuclear ruin, atmospheric deterioration, epidemic disease and internecine warfare has emptied the City streets. Only children, curiously immune to both the crippling illness and war politics, venture out through the urban pollution to collect supplies and conduct business, ostensibly in their parents’ names. Anna, mother of two teenage boys, is holed up inside and attempting to stay sane. Formerly a lawyer and relapsing frequently with the new disease, she conducts online affairs under a pseudonym, promoting the underground spread of health-preserving vaccines. Her absent husband, Seb, has long been conscripted to the Front. Anna’s mothering of her children is inflected by complex interdependence and power inversions, honed through long years of domestic isolation. One of her two boys is a daughter, Honey, whose distorted childhood freedom of the street is now threatened by her oncoming puberty. Honey assumes the boyish identity, Jack, which allows her to keep leaving the house, but this places her at risk of infection as well as on-street conscription if identified as an adult. Jack’s relationship with her mother becomes strained, as she grapples with her own maturing body, her mother’s ill-health, the looming restrictions of adulthood and her delegated role as her mother’s Voice. Meanwhile, in a setting as yet untouched by the Catastrophe, Southland Kiwi farmer Nick views the global situation pragmatically, with an agricultural eye. Only partially aware of the dystopia outside the still-locked borders of New Zealand, Nick’s isolated rural community seems far-distanced from such cataclysmic events. Now suddenly, a strange new disease begins spreading amongst the young cattle Nick is grazing on his family farm. Suspecting that some part of the Catastrophe has reached the far South, Nick begins to research online, and he becomes obsessed with the disasters occurring outside New Zealand. As he invests more in his online persona, the international Catastrophe and the people living through it become more urgent to him than the issues of his own farm and family. Spanning the fractured global story of our times, Unvoiced: A Fairytale draws on a range of voices from our post-pandemic moment. This unfurling dramaturgy of disorder juxtaposes divergent perspectives, news-clippings, flashbacks and fever dreams to weave a twisted fairytale in five Acts. Its flickering reportage of tentatively connected storylines explores a near-future in which disaster-hardened adults become entrapped in worlds of their own making, while the younger generation become carriers of disease, sexual violence, cynicism and disabling propaganda. Personal and social trauma embeds in family narratives and becomes intergenerational. New forms of identity and relationships unfold in the digital landscapes which connect us loosely, shaping personalities and raising troubling questions about who and where we really are. Which parts of our lives are merely invented, and by whom? What do we really know about our world, and how do we know it? Is the Catastrophe already upon us, or has it been fabricated online, and within us, by paranoid and sickening minds? Through haunting fragments and unfinished stories, woven with wistful nostalgia for what we have already lost, Unvoiced: A Fairytale warns of the potential human devastation arising out of the nightmarish conflagration of war, politics, disease and climate catastrophe.
Exploring a framework for matching to sample with visual stimuli in dogs (Canis familiaris)
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Arivazhagan Ambalam, Arihant; Edwards, Timothy L.
Dogs have been studied for their olfactory abilities, yet their capacity for same-modal visual matching to stimuli remains underexplored. Research focused on scent detection, and cross-modal odour matching. However, little attention was given to visual matchings. This study investigated dogs’ ability to match visual stimuli. Two monitors were used: one displaying a single image, and the other divided into four quadrants. Four dogs were trained to select the stimuli on the second monitor as displayed on the first. In the discrimination task, an errorless learning approach was implemented, where the correct stimuli were presented at full brightness while the incorrect shape was dimmed. As the stages progressed, the incorrect shape’s brightness increased. All dogs successfully matched to sample at low brightness, and they were able to perform better than chance. However, they didn’t meet the criteria to discriminate between shapes when both were presented at full brightness. After discontinuing errorless learning, the dogs went under a pure conditional discrimination test. Almost all dogs performed better than chance, while there were some significant findings specific to each dog. The findings contribute to understanding canine visual perception and contribute to a methodological framework for visual-visual matching tasks. Future studies may refine these methods to enhance canine performance in discrimination learning.
Virtual hākari: Sharing Māori culinary traditions in online communities
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Muru-Lanning, Charlotte; Kukutai, Tahu
For Māori, kai is a vital expression of identity, community, place and whakapapa. Traditionally, knowledge about kai is transmitted through customary community groupings and culturally embedded practices. However, with the rise of digital platforms, new spaces have emerged for Māori to gather and to share kai in virtual forms. This thesis observes how two Facebook groups – Kai Maori and KAI Basket NZ – operate as contemporary spaces for the transmission of Māori culinary knowledge and cultural identity. Kai Māori is considered alongside global studies of culinary traditions and understood through the notion of kai as whakapapa. The thesis addresses two core research questions: 1) How do Facebook groups contribute to an evolving concept of kai Māori? and 2) What kinds of relationships define these online kai communities? Guided by Māori data sovereignty (MDSov) principles, I observed interactions on both Facebook pages in two phases – one involving selective data collection over a twelve-month period from January to December 2024 the other involving systematic data collection over a four-week period from 10 December 2024 to 10 January 2025. The observation periods yielded 115 and 1293 posts respectively. A covert digital approach of ‘lurking’ was adopted as seeking prior consent may have affected the quality of the data and disrupted group dynamics. Lurking, as a method, sits uneasily alongside MDSov principles, particularly the principle of manaakitanga, requiring free, prior and informed consent. To address this I safeguarded the confidentiality of community members by seeking consent before reproducing content, removing group members’ names and excluding sensitive information. To analyse posts I used Ethnographic Content Analysis which allowed me to conduct a reflexive, iterative analysis of the posts in a way that was sensitive to the context in which the content was created. These digital observations show that these groups serve as platforms for the transmission and innovation of kai Māori, encompassing edible components as well as the values enmeshed within these culinary traditions. Despite the mediated nature of these exchanges – where food is virtually consumed rather than physically shared, separate from traditional notions of community – these groups nurture meaningful connections among members, including those physically distant from their whenua. Through recipes, photos, stories, and commentary, the members of Kai Maori and KAI Basket NZ cultivate community identity and belonging via common cultural understandings, sharing of knowledge, a general spirit of sociality – and, importantly, a mutual love of kai. I conceptualise these online spaces as virtual hākari, where the act of sharing virtual kai becomes an affirmation of identity and a form of cultural resistance. While online sharing may risk distancing kai practices and knowledge from traditional sites of transmission, the data suggests that these platforms may serve as conduits that encourage deeper cultural engagement offline. This thesis highlights the centrality of food in Māori cultural survival, sovereignty and resistance. In these digital spaces, kai Māori is not only celebrated but continually reimagined – reinforcing that to prepare, share and celebrate kai as Māori is to actively participate in the continuity of cultural identity.
The detrimental effect of hindsight, culpable causation, and gender biases on jury decisions in secondary liability cases
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Dixon, Sophie; Evelo, Andrew
Recent jury trials in the United States have tested the public’s willingness to hold parents criminally responsible for their children’s actions in mass shootings. However, due to the legal requirements of negligence, assigning secondary liability in such cases may be influenced by cognitive and social biases, potentially compromising fair decision-making. This study examines how hindsight bias, culpable causation bias, and gender bias affect jury decisions in secondary liability cases. Across three experiments, we manipulated factors that could elicit these biases. Experiment 1 tested the role of hindsight bias, predicting that jurors informed of a crime’s outcome would perceive it as more foreseeable and less able to accurately determine negligence. Experiment 2 examined culpability bias, hypothesising that—due to the stigma of illegal behaviour—a drug dealer who owns a gun would be judged more harshly than a hunter who owns a gun for the same negligent behaviour. Experiment 3 investigated gender bias, predicting that mothers—especially those violating caregiving and feminine norms—would be judged more harshly than fathers for the same negligent actions. Results revealed that hindsight bias influenced probability estimates as predicted but did not affect perceptions of negligence and culpability (Experiment 1). Consistent with predictions, however, participants assigned harsher punishments to defendants in stigmatised professions and to mothers who engaged in socially disapproved behaviours. These findings highlight the potential for bias in jury decision-making and underscore the need for legal safeguards to ensure more equitable outcomes in secondary liability cases.
Examining therapeutic approaches towards injurious behaviours in adolescents: Perspectives on influence, efficacy & prevention
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Parsons, Abby; Curtis, Cate
This qualitative research investigates professional perspectives on adolescent non- suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and outward-directed injurious (ODI) behaviours through in-depth interviews with twelve professionals across mental health, education, and social services in New Zealand. Utilising thematic analysis, the study reveals insights into how these behaviours represent interconnected manifestations of underlying emotional regulation challenges shaped by individual vulnerabilities, relationship dynamics, and systemic factors. Four key themes emerged: The Duality of Aggressive Expression, Environmental and Developmental Influences, Building Therapeutic Connections, and System Complexities and Bridge-Building. The research extends theoretical understanding by examining how risk factors influence behavioural expression, highlighting the connection between neurodevelopmental differences, trauma histories, and family dynamics. By challenging traditional conceptual frameworks, the study identifies significant gaps between evidence- based interventions and real-world implementation, ultimately offering recommendations for more integrated treatment protocols, enhanced professional support systems, and comprehensive care pathways for vulnerable youth.
Sovereign sojourners: Investigating dispersal of invasive blowflies
(The University of Waikato, 2025-10-08) Theobald, Max; McGaughran, Angela
Understanding what drives insect dispersal is essential for predicting species spread, persistence, and the ecological impacts of invasive species, particularly as climate change accelerates range expansions. My thesis investigates the dispersal behaviour of several invasive blowfly species in Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing both on species-specific traits and environmental context. Specifically, I aimed to assess how conspecific density, sex, species identity, and group composition influence movement patterns, and how these patterns differ across contrasting urban and rural environments. My research combined two approaches: controlled laboratory assays and a large-scale field trial. In the lab, I used multi-patch arenas and automated video tracking to assess dispersal rate, exploration, and social spacing in two invasive blowfly species (Calliphora vicina and Calliphora stygia) under varied social conditions (densities of n = 1, n = 5, and n = 10). In the field, I dusted ~4,000 wild-caught blowflies with fluorescent powder and released them at a central location at the University of Waikato. I then monitored 28 baited traps placed along a radial transect (0.5 km to 3 km) for 10 days to track dispersal across the landscape. In the lab, I found that dispersal increased significantly under group conditions (n = 5), regardless of species or sex, and that C. vicina, especially females, exhibited higher exploration and movement metrics than C. stygia. Mixed-sex groupings further enhanced exploratory behaviour in C. vicina. In contrast, my field experiment yielded no marked fly recaptures. However, unmarked trap catches revealed that Lucilia spp. and Chrysomya spp. (both globally invasive) were the most frequently captured species across urban and rural sites, while C. vicina and C. stygia were less common and more restricted to urban areas. Together, these findings provide novel insights into both the behavioural ecology and spatial dynamics of invasive blowflies. By combining behavioural assays with field-scale observations, my thesis offers a foundation for improving dispersal prediction models and informs future research design in the context of biosecurity and invasive species management.
Investigating the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing performance in experienced club-level rowers
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Rountree, James; Beaven, Christopher Martyn
It is well established that beta-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine levels and, in many cases, improves high-intensity exercise performance. Recent research has shown that applying a topical carnosine gel to the skin may be an effective alternative method to increase muscle carnosine and improve high-intensity exercise performance. However, there is currently no research on the effect of topical carnosine on rowing performance. This thesis is separated into three chapters. Chapter One is a review of the literature regarding the physiology of muscular fatigue in high-intensity exercise, the relationship between muscle typology and buffering capacity, supplement-based interventions to elevate buffering capacity, the ergogenic properties of carnosine (with particular relevance to rowing performance), and the novel use of topical carnosine to improve high-intensity exercise performance. The literature shows that an accumulation of hydrogen ions, a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis metabolism, negatively impacts muscle function, causes pain in the muscle, and decreases muscle pH, ultimately reducing exercise performance. Multiple studies found that raising the amount of intramuscular carnosine improved performance because carnosine is a pH buffer and may increase the calcium ion sensitivity within the muscle. Due to the limitations of direct carnosine ingestion, an increase in muscle carnosine is traditionally achieved via beta-alanine supplementation, which can cause small performance improvements in high-intensity exercise, such as rowing. Topical carnosine is a novel, more efficient alternative to elevate muscle carnosine; however, there is limited, conflicting evidence of its effect on high-intensity exercise performance, thus, more research is needed. Chapter Two investigated the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing ergometer time trial (TT) performance. Thirteen club-level rowers (11 male, 2 female) were randomly allocated into Group A or B, from which a crossover design was used to measure the effect of the intervention. In a double-blind fashion, participants applied 15 mL of a topical carnosine gel (CAR) or an ultrasound placebo gel (PLA) to their back and limb muscles 45 minutes before each TT, which were separated by one week. The paired dependent t-test and Cohen’s effect sizes found that topical carnosine had a trivial, non-significant effect on TT performance (CAR 300.5 ± 23.1 s; PLA 300.4 ± 24.2 s, p = 0.945, d = 0.004), 500 m split times 500 m (p = 0.808, d = 0.009; 1000 m p = 0.830, d = 0.011; 1500 m p = 0.849, d = 0.020), and rated perceived exertion (p = 1.000, d = 0.000). These results suggest that topical carnosine does not affect 1,500 m rowing performance. After the intervention was deemed ineffective, the reliability of the 1,500 m TT was calculated using Trial 1 vs Trial 2 (Trial 1: 301 ± 23.8 s, Trial 2: 300.0 ± 24.0 s; p =0.114; d = 0.074; trivial effect size; TE = 2.8 s; ICC = 0.985). The reliability statistics suggest that the 1,500 m TT performed on a Concept 2 rowing ergometer is a reliable measure of rowing performance. Chapter Three summarises the findings from Chapter Two, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of our research, and provides recommendations for future research. Overall, this thesis identified gaps in the literature regarding carnosine and high-intensity exercise, and found links between papers on muscle typology, buffer capacity, beta-alanine, and topical carnosine that can be used to develop rationales for future research. It was clear that, under the conditions tested in this experimental protocol, topical carnosine does not affect performance in the 1,500 m rowing ergometer TT in experienced club-level rowers.
The role of Chaetopterus sp. in reshaping sediment characteristics and benthic communities in Queen Charlotte Sound
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Scott-Simmonds , Thomas; Pilditch, Conrad A.
Soft-sediment habitats are critical to marine ecosystems, supporting diverse benthic communities and key processes such as nutrient cycling, sediment stabilisation, and energy transfer. Among these habitats, tube-building polychaetes like Chaetopterus act as ecosystem engineers, modifying sediment properties and influencing community structure and functioning. This study investigated the ecological impacts of Chaetopterus in East Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound, focusing on its role in sediment modification, macrofaunal biodiversity, and functional group composition. Field surveys were conducted across ten paired Chaetopterus and control sites, selected to capture a gradient in tube mat density and depth. At each site, five sediment and macrofaunal samples were collected using coring techniques, enabling a robust comparison of Chaetopterus-modified and unmodified habitats. Results showed significantly higher organic content (3.1% ± 0.2 vs. 2.0% ± 0.1) and mud content (19.8% ± 2.0 vs. 7.7% ± 0.5) in Chaetopterus habitats, highlighting its role in sediment enrichment and stabilisation. Macrofaunal communities exhibited significantly greater species richness (20.0 ± 0.8 vs. 14.5 ± 0.7 species per core) and diversity (Shannon diversity: 2.48 ± 0.05 vs. 2.16 ± 0.06), driven by increased structural complexity and organic matter retention. Functional group analysis revealed a shift towards surface-oriented taxa in Chaetopterus habitats, including increased surface-feeding deposit feeders (e.g., amphipods) and scavengers (e.g., Halicarcinus cookii), alongside a relative reduction in deeper-burrowing taxa such as bioturbating polychaetes (Prionospio multicristata) and burrowing bivalves (Tawera spissa). This suggests that Chaetopterus tube mats promote surface-associated processes like organic matter turnover and detritus retention, while potentially suppressing sediment-mixing and oxygenation functions. Chaetopterus habitats exhibited significantly lower dispersion (PERMDISP), indicating more functionally homogeneous assemblages compared to control sites, where greater within-group variability reflected a broader range of functional traits, including suspension feeders and opportunistic burrowers (e.g., Phoxocephalidae amphipods). Chaetopterus density was significantly correlated with macrofaunal community composition, reinforcing the role of tube mats as a key driver of functional trait distributions. However, the extent of these effects varied across sites, suggesting that local environmental factors, particularly sediment properties (mud content, organic matter) and Chaetopterus density, mediate its influence on benthic communities. These findings advance understanding of habitat-modifying polychaetes by demonstrating that Chaetopterus effects are highly context-dependent, shaped by habitat × site interactions and environmental conditions. While previous studies have identified Chaetopterus as a biodiversity enhancer, this study highlights its dual role as both a facilitator of surfacedominated processes and a potential suppressor of deeper sediment functions. These findings provide critical insights into its ecological role within New Zealand's coastal ecosystems and underscore the need for site-specific management strategies that balance local biodiversity benefits with broader ecosystem functions.

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