Masters Degree Theses

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 2968

Providing access to socially mediated reinforcement in AOD treatment: Effects on recovery-oriented behaviour in community alcohol and other drug treatment
(The University of Waikato, 2026) MacLean, Morgan; Blackmore, Tania
Reinforcement-based interventions are effective in AOD treatment, but many rely on resource-intensive procedures or abstinence-based contingencies. This study examined whether increasing access to clinician-delivered socially mediated reinforcement (SMR) between counselling sessions was associated with behaviour consistent with recovery within a community AOD service. A non-concurrent multiple-baseline-across-participants design was used with five taiohi ages 18 to 23 years receiving community AOD counselling in Aotearoa NZ. Participants received one personalised, noncontingent supportive message each week during the intervention phase. Recovery goal engagement was the primary outcome, with session attendance and ADOM scores examined as secondary measures. Visual data analysis did not demonstrate a functional relationship between SMR and the outcome measures. However, some participants showed increases in recovery progress, goal engagement, and treatment attendance that were maintained across treatment. Participant disengagement and missing data limited the interpretation of results. Findings support further investigation of SMR within community AOD settings.
Generics in Go and lambda lifting
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Levy, Tom; Reeves, Steve
This thesis examines the history of generics in the Go programming language, and analyses two specific issues that arise: local type declarations inside generic functions, and embedded type parameters. This work includes a novel algorithm for lambda lifting, a problem closely related to the handling of local types inside generic functions in Go. The correctness of this algorithm is proven with respect to both a specification from the literature and additional specifications. Parts of these proofs are formalised using the Lean 4 theorem prover. For embedded type parameters, this thesis proposes sound member promotion rules for type parameters embedded in struct types in Go. The testing methodology used in this thesis centres around "checking", which strikes a middle ground between formal verification and testing.
Who reports intimate partner violence in Aotearoa New Zealand: Comparing episodes across reporter categories
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Bridge, Danika; Polaschek, Devon L. L.
Much research has examined the different types of people who report intimate partner violence to the police and what makes them more or less likely to do so, typically focusing on victims and third parties separately. However, little research has examined the range of roles reporters can take, and the types of demographic, relationship, and episode characteristics that are associated with those roles. In this study we examined intimate partner violence episodes reported to New Zealand police (n = 323) and found that victims and third parties reported episodes at similar rates. Of the third parties, neighbours most frequently reported episodes, followed by family members, members of the public, friends, and then other types of services (e.g., ambulance staff). Third parties known to the dyad reported less frequently than those unknown to them. We also found that victims were more likely than third parties to report when there was a history of family violence and when episodes involved their former partner. Third parties were more likely than victims to report episodes involving verbal harm by the aggressor, but there was no association between physical harm and who reported the episodes. These results indicate that variables influencing the visibility of the episode are more important to who reports than indicators of severity. We identified several variables worth further research and suggested methodological changes that could provide more insight into the types of episodes reported by reporters of different roles.
Evaluation of biogas production and operational feasibility of anaerobic co-digestion of P6 and DAF sludge from a dairy factory
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Li, Jian; Lay, Mark C.
Dairy factory wastewater treatment is commonly associated with high organic loading, energy consumption and sludge management challenges. High-strength side streams from dairy processing may contain recoverable organic energy and therefore have potential for anaerobic digestion and biogas production. This study evaluated the laboratory-scale anaerobic co-digestion feasibility of two high-strength dairy factory waste streams, P6 and dissolved air flotation (DAF) sludge, with particular focus on biogas production, pH control, chemical dosing demand, total solids/volatile solids (TS/VS) behaviour and recovery after feeding interruption. The experiment was conducted using fifteen 1 L bottle anaerobic digesters operated under mesophilic conditions at approximately 34 °C. Four linked experimental stages were used. Stage 1 was a batch start-up test under different inoculum-to-substrate (I/S) conditions. Stage 2 was a transitional operation using a fixed P6:DAF ratio of 85:15. Stage 3 was a long-term semi-continuous co-digestion stage comparing P6:DAF ratios of 80:20, 85:15, 90:10 and 95:5. Stage 4 examined shutdown, re-feeding recovery and short-term response after a second shutdown. The main analytical indicators included cumulative and interval biogas production, pre- and post-dosing pH, NaOH addition, TS/VS, VS-based apparent conversion and limited gas composition results. The results demonstrated that mixed P6 and DAF sludge could produce measurable biogas under anaerobic conditions. In Stage 1, the I/S = 1:14 group showed the highest blank-corrected cumulative biogas production and the strongest VS-added-based specific biogas response under the batch test conditions. Stage 2 helped reduce some initial differences among reactors and provided a more comparable basis for the later ratio comparison. In Stage 3, P6:DAF = 90:10 produced the highest net cumulative biogas increase, while P6:DAF = 80:20 showed strong performance and better within-group consistency. The P6:DAF = 95:5 group showed weaker net gas production and greater individual-digester variation. Stage 4 showed that residual gas production continued during shutdown and that gas production could recover after re-feeding, although recovery behaviour differed among groups and was affected by operational history and temperature disturbance in some digesters. Preliminary application of the Stage 3 results to available Tatua site-flow data indicated an estimated raw biogas flow of approximately 582–926 m³ day⁻¹, an indicative active digester volume of approximately 11,300–16,500 m³, and an apparent VS-load reduction of approximately 4.46–5.61 t day⁻¹ under the mean-flow scenarios. Because methane fraction was not continuously monitored, the gas production results were interpreted mainly as biogas production performance rather than strict methane yield. In addition, COD was not measured, and VS-based apparent conversion was treated as a relative indicator rather than a complete mass balance or biochemical conversion efficiency. Overall, the study indicates that anaerobic co-digestion of P6 and DAF sludge has technical potential for biogas production and resource recovery. However, practical implementation would require improved methane monitoring, more detailed stability indicators, longer-term operation, process optimisation and pilot-scale validation.
Exploring factors that influence the use of the paediatric early warning system : A mixed method study within the paediatric inpatient setting at Te Whatu Ora Waikato
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Clayton, Tarryn; Heath, Samantha
Background: The paediatric early warning system (PEWS) was introduced as a nationally standardised tool in New Zealand to identify and escalate clinical deterioration in the paediatric population. Although the PEWS is implemented across the country, audit data at Te Whatu Ora, Waikato indicate that there is variability to adherence to the mandatory escalation pathway. There is limited research from the New Zealand context that explores the experiences of nurses using the PEWS in practice and what factors influence decision making when using the PEWS. Objective: To explore the factors that influence nurses’ use of the PEWS assessment tool and mandatory escalation pathway in a paediatric inpatient ward at Te Whatu Ora, Waikato, and to identify any educational requirements to support the use of the PEWS. Participants: Participants were registered nurses employed in the paediatric medical ward (E5) and paediatric surgical ward (E4) at Waikato Hospital. Thirteen nurses participated in three focus groups and 31 nurses completed a quantitative survey. Methods: This research is a pragmatic exploratory mixed methods design. Phase One involved three semi structured focus groups, with data analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2022) thematic analysis. The focus groups findings informed the development of a quantitative Likert scale survey used in Phase Two. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the surveys, and the qualitative and quantitative findings were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence use of the PEWS. Results: Five key themes were identified: Clinical Judgement and Experience, Time Pressures, Professional Responses and Communication, Unique Factors Presented by Children, and Adherence to PEWS and Education. The survey findings validated these themes, highlighting how workload pressures, communication processes, clinical judgement, and paediatric-specific factors influence nurses’ use of the PEWS. Conclusion: Nurses view the PEWS as a valuable tool that supports patient safety, communication, and recognition of deterioration in paediatric patients. However, the use of the PEWS was influenced by factors that include the balance between clinical judgement and mandatory escalation, workload and time pressures, interprofessional communication, paediatric assessment challenges, and documentation requirements. While participants felt adequately educated in the PEWS use, education alone was not enough to ensure consistent adherence to the PEWS escalation pathways. Successful implementation requires ongoing simulation-based and interprofessional education, organisational support, adequate staffing, and understanding how clinical judgement can be utilised with the standardised pathway. These findings highlight the need for a systems-based approach to improve the use of the PEWS and enhance paediatric patient safety.
Design and experimental analysis of an adjustable geometry vehicle with independent drive-steering for energy efficiency optimisation
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Shang, Ray; McGuinness, Benjamin
Agricultural vehicles operating in orchard and pasture environments are required to perform frequent low-speed turning manoeuvres on uneven, grass-covered terrain - conditions under which steering strategy and vehicle geometry are major determinants of energy consumption. Despite a well-developed body of mathematical models predicting these effects, experimental validation has remained limited due to the absence of physical platforms that combine adjustable wheelbase, adjustable track width, and switchable steering strategies within a single vehicle. This thesis addresses that gap through the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a fully electric, adjustable-geometry agricultural robot platform. The vehicle employs four independent in-wheel drive-steer modules, each integrating a brushless DC drive motor and a dedicated steering motor, mounted at the corners of a reconfigurable semi-monocoque chassis. Both wheelbase and track width can be independently adjusted across three values - 400 mm, 600 mm, and 800 mm - yielding a full 3×3 factorial matrix of nine geometric configurations. Six distinct steering modes are supported: two-wheel steering arc turn (R = 1.5 m), four-wheel steering arc turn (R = 1.5 m), skid-steer arc turn (R = 1.5 m), two-wheel point turn (R = 0), four-wheel point turn (R = 0), and skid-steer point turn (R = 0). Motor current is continuously logged at all eight drive and steer motor channels via a dedicated data acquisition system, enabling direct electrical energy quantification as E = Σ|I|·V·Δt. Controlled field experiments were conducted on two terrain conditions representative of New Zealand orchard and pasture environments: near-horizontal grass (mean inclination 0.216°) and a steep grass slope (mean inclination 17.618°). On flat terrain, all nine geometric configurations were tested across all six steering modes. On the slope, three full-width-track configurations (B = 800 mm) were evaluated for safety. Experimental results demonstrate that wheelbase L is the dominant geometric parameter governing turning energy consumption, with strong positive correlation across most steering modes (Pearson r = 0.80-0.90). Short-wheelbase configurations (L = 400 mm) consistently achieve 25-35% lower turning energy than long-wheelbase equivalents (L = 800 mm). The globally optimal configuration - B600×L400 and B800×L400 in four-wheel point-turn mode - achieves a minimum turning energy of approximately 707-710 J, representing a 31% reduction relative to the worst-performing configuration. Among all tested platforms, B800×L400 (track width 800 mm, wheelbase 400 mm, B/L = 2.00) produced the most outstanding overall performance across both flat and sloped terrain, exhibiting superior agility, smooth and rapid manoeuvre execution, and excellent directional stability, including on the 18° incline. Skid-steering modes uniformly incur the highest energy penalties across all geometric configurations (3-25× relative to the optimal equivalent mode), and a predictive L²/B parameter is shown to capture skid-steer energy with high accuracy (r = 0.86-0.98). Four-wheel steering consistently outperforms two-wheel and skid-steering strategies, and the arc four-wheel steering mode exhibits near-constant energy (~1,016 J, CV = 14%) across all nine configurations, making it the most geometrically robust steering choice. On slope terrain, arc-path manoeuvres incur substantially higher energy (+38% to +98%) relative to flat-ground equivalents due to gravitational work along the arc path, while pivot-type skid-steering energy is reduced by up to 22% due to decreased wheel-ground normal force. A systematic rearward shift in axle load distribution is identified during arc manoeuvres on slope, with rear-axle drive motors carrying up to 2.7× the energy of front-axle motors - a mechanically significant finding for rear-axle motor sizing in slope-capable platforms. Bivariate regression models of the form E = f(B, L) are derived for all six steering modes, achieving R² = 0.70-0.98 and providing practical engineering formulae for early-stage energy estimation from geometric parameters. The platform, its instrumentation methodology, and the experimental dataset collectively constitute a validated experimental foundation for steering-related energy research in electric agricultural vehicles. The findings directly inform design guidelines for energy-efficient small-scale agricultural robots, with particular relevance to orchard and vineyard applications in which turning energy represents a critical fraction of total operational energy.
The care and cultivation of poisonous plants
(The University of Waikato, 2026-06-26) Berridge, Sandra; Chidgey, Catherine; Slaughter , Tracey
Set in London in 1932, The Care and Cultivation of Poisonous Plants is a historical crime novel centred on the murder of Cynthia Greenaway within the private residents' garden of St Mary's Square. While employing the framework of the traditional cosy mystery, the novel uses the enclosed community of the garden square to explore themes of female agency, trauma, identity, social control and belonging in the interwar period. The communal garden functions as both setting and organising metaphor. Interwoven throughout the narrative are extracts from the writings of the gardener, Brandon McSweeney, whose observations on cultivation, decay, adaptation and renewal provide a commentary on the lives of the residents and the unfolding investigation. Through this structure, the novel examines the interconnectedness of individual lives and the ways in which personal choices, social expectations and historical forces shape human behaviour. The narrative follows Gráinne Redman as she investigates a series of deaths linked to the square while confronting questions surrounding women's autonomy, reproductive rights and the gendered power structures of early twentieth-century Britain. The novel further engages with contemporary and historical debates surrounding eugenics, bodily autonomy and social conformity, exploring how individuals respond to trauma through resistance, accommodation or self-destruction. By combining conventions of Golden Age detective fiction with literary historical fiction, The Care and Cultivation of Poisonous Plants contributes to traditions of female-authored crime writing while reimagining the role of the woman detective as both investigator and advocate. The novel serves as the first in a projected series examining transgressive roles for women and the limitations imposed upon them within twentieth-century society.
Understanding the psychosocial impact of endometriosis-related persistent pain in Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Mouton, Estie-Lomé; Curtis, Cate
Endometriosis-related persistent pain is often understood through biomedical frameworks focused on diagnosis, lesions, surgery, and symptom management. However, persistent pain also has emotional, cognitive, social, relational, and healthcare-mediated dimensions that shape how pain is lived and made meaningful over time. This qualitative study explored the psychosocial factors, dynamics, and processes that shape the lived experience of endometriosis-related persistent pain among women in Aotearoa New Zealand. In particular, it examined how emotional distress, meaning-making, interpersonal relationships, social recognition, support, and healthcare experiences influenced the ways in which pain was understood, managed, and lived with. The study was informed by a biopsychosocial understanding of persistent pain and sensitised by feminist health perspectives on gendered pain, legitimacy, and healthcare dismissal. Thirteen women with clinically diagnosed endometriosis and endometriosis-related persistent pain participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were developed: “No amount of pain should be normal”: struggling to legitimise pain; Waiting in pain: care pathways, uncertainty, and the cost of access; Living with an unpredictable and invisible body; Carrying pain internally: distress, self-doubt, and self-compassion; and Making pain liveable: support, relief, and whole-person care. Together, these themes showed an analytic movement from pain being questioned, to pain being prolonged, socially managed, internally carried, and made more liveable. Participants’ accounts showed that persistent pain was not only endured in the body, but also negotiated through healthcare systems, relationships, social expectations, internal meaning-making, and access to support. The findings suggest that endometriosis-related persistent pain cannot be understood through symptom severity, diagnosis, or treatment history alone. Instead, it is shaped by recognition, waiting, invisibility, distress, self-trust, and the forms of care and support that help restore agency, participation, and liveability.
Quaternary stratigraphy of the Tauranga basin
(The University of Waikato, 1983) Harmsworth, Garth; Nelson, Campbell S.; Briggs, Roger M.; Kamp, Peter J.J.
A 1:25000 scale geological map of the southern part of the Tauranga Basin is presented together with numerous stratigraphic columns to illustrate the late Cenozoic stratigraphic development and depositional patterns of the Basin. The Tauranga Basin lies 40 km north of the Taupo Volcanic Zone and immediately east of the Kaimai Range where Beesons Island Volcanics, aged 16 - 7 m.y. B.P., outcrop as an effective basement to the west and south of the Basin. The Basin originated by the northeast tilting of a large fault block, the western upturned edge now comprises the Kaimai Range and the Quaternary sequence infills the downtilted eastern margin. The tilting and hence age of the Basin mainly post-dates emplacement of the Waiteariki Ignimbrite, aged 0.84 m.y. B.P., which now immediately underlies both the Whakamarama Plateau of the southeastern Kaimai Range and the Quaternary succession in the Basin. At a few localities within the Basin Waiteariki Ignimbrite surrounds and laps onto Minden Rhyolite (4.34 m.y. B.P.) and Aongatete Ignimbrite (∼1.26 - 0.86 m.y. B.P.); these older rocks are sometimes overlain by Pleistocene deposits. The Matua Subgroup is formally erected to classify the Quaternary sequence within the Tauranga Basin. It comprises up to 240 m of terrestrial and estuarine sediments with interdigitating pyroclastic deposits both of an air-fall and flow origin (ignimbrites). The ignimbrites are classified and mapped as formations where they are subaerially exposed, and in stratigraphic order are: Wairoa Ignimbrite (∼0.6 m.y. B.P.), Te Puna Ignimbrite (∼0.4 m.y. B.P.), Te Ranga (∼0.3 m.y. B.P.) and the Waimakariri Ignimbrite (∼0.18 m.y. B.P.). The ignimbrites are unwelded and have suffered substantial post-depositional erosion thus providing the major source of the interstratified sediments of the Matua Subgroup. In many cases individual sedimentary units throughout the stratigraphic succession can be related by petrofacies studies to source ignimbrites. This enables the discrete tongues and lenses of sediments to be mapped as post-ignimbrite units. However these sedimentary units have not been formally defined as formations. A sequence of white to grey rhyolitic tephras up to 20 m thick and named the Pahoia tephras, are invariably part of the upper 40 m of the Subgroup and are intercalated with or overlie fluvial and pyroclastic flow deposits. Brown Hamilton Ash beds inturn overlie the Pahoia tephras and/or Matua Subgroup. The 42,000 yr B.P. Rotoehu Ash and younger Late Pleistocene-Holocene tephras mantle the present topography, and may overlie any of the stratigraphically older units. The pyroclastic flow deposits of the Matua Subgroup each show distinct but different textural and morphologic characteristics. These deposits are distinguished from air-fall units by their poorly sorted nature, coarser grain-sizes, and valley ponded distribution. The air-fall units are invariably thinner, shower bedded and mantle the paleo-topography. The fluvial sediments are dominated by planar stratification (Lenticular, Horizontal parallel, Horizontal discontinuous, Graded), and cross-stratification (Rho, Nu, and Alpha), and are interpreted as mainly braided river facies. The Taupo Volcanic Zone is considered the source of the Waiteariki Ignimbrite and younger pyroclastic flow deposits of the Matua Subgroup. A more northern, Coromandel Range, source is suggested for the older Aongatete Ignimbrite (∼1.26 - 0.86 m.y. B.P.). The Quaternary geological history of the region has been informally considered as three main periods: early Ignimbrite period (0.84 - 0.50 m.y. B.P.), a late Ignimbrite period (0.50 - 0.14 m.y. B.P.), and an upper Matua Subgroup period (∼0.16 m.y. B.P. - Present). The principal influences on the stratigraphic development and depositional patterns of the Basin are attributed to block faulting and tilting of the basement and adjacent Kaimai Range, volcanic activity in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, and to a lesser extent, climatic and glacio-eustatic sea-level changes.
An experimental approach to assessing climate sensitivity in juvenile Yellowbelly Flounder (Rhombosolea leporina): Methodological insights and applications
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Carter, Taylah R.; Battershill, Christopher
As anthropogenic CO₂ emissions continue to rise, marine ecosystems face the dual threats of ocean acidification and ocean warming. A number of studies have examined the effects of ocean acidification and warming on coastal marine fin fish species, but little attention has been paid to estuarine species, the assumption being that they are likely to be tolerant to fluctuations in seawater parameters given freshwater and large tidal dynamics. This thesis investigates the impacts of these stressors on the early life history of the estuarine yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina), an ecologically and culturally significant taonga species in New Zealand. Research was conducted in two phases; a larval pilot study focusing on the transition to exogenous feeding, and a behavioural study on juveniles assessing olfactory mediated responses to food and predator cues. The larval pilot study, carried out in aquaria, revealed an extreme developmental bottleneck at approximately 14 days post-hatch (dph). Mass mortality occurred across all treatments, coinciding with the onset of metamorphosis and the “critical period” of first feeding. The extent of the mortality event masked any possible treatment effects imposed in terms of pH and temperature combinations. These results highlight the high physiological sensitivity of R. leporina during early ontogeny, independent of climate stressors. In the second phase, juvenile flounder were exposed to a fully-crossed factorial design of pH (~7.3 & ~8.0) and temperature (20°C & 25°C). Behavioural trials using a two channel choice chamber measured the proportion of time spent in stimulus streams (Perna canaliculus food cues & Notolabrus celidotus predator cues). A three-way ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of stimulus type (p = 0.017) and temperature (p=0.040), but no significant effect of pH and no interactive effects. Interestingly, 66.7% of individuals remained in the neutral mixing zone, particularly during predator trials and under elevated temperatures. These findings suggest that while R. leporina larvae remain highly vulnerable to intrinsic developmental bottlenecks, juveniles exhibit a degree of behavioural resilience to reduced pH, potentially due to their evolved tolerance of fluctuating estuarine environments. The preference for remaining stationary (crypsis) in the neutral zone is interpreted as a natural, risk-averse strategy for this benthic species. This research underscores the importance of considering species-specific ecology and life stage transitions when predicting the impacts of climate change on New Zealand fisheries. Overall, this research apparently represents the first study to experimentally examine the effects of ocean acidification and warming on estuarine flatfish species across critical early life stages. Although no clear pH-driven effects were detected in the juvenile behavioural trials, the study remains valuable in testing hypotheses around the resilience of marine species that naturally experience highly variable environmental conditions. In particular, species with significant estuarine habitat phases may possess inherent tolerance to fluctuations in seawater chemistry, yet may still face vulnerability during key developmental transitions. Investigations such as this are therefore important for improving our understanding of how climate change stressors interact with species-specific ecology and life history bottlenecks, and for informing future research on the adaptive capacity of estuarine-associated marine fishes.
The Soul of Sybil Jane Armstrong and other short stories
(The University of Waikato, 2026) McClintock, Kate; Slaughter, Tracey; Chidgey, Catherine
A care home worker learns a dark secret about her favourite resident. A young man with a brain injury desperately tries to warn his small town of impending disaster. A doctor is haunted by a dissatisfied patient. In 1930’s Alabama, a woman sells her soul to the devil to escape an asylum. The Soul of Sybil Jane Armstrong and Other Stories is a meditation on disability, horror, and the monsters we make and are made into by the world around us. This collection maps diverse experiences of disability, caretaking and unruly bodies and minds onto the horror genre, subverting expectations around agency, harm and the monstrous to explore how ableism shapes the things we fear and the things we ignore. I was inspired to write this collection by my own experiences of disability as a woman with cerebral palsy. Disabled bodies and minds feature heavily in traditional horror stories, from Frankenstein to Friday the 13th, but disabled characters are usually reduced to villains, monsters, or, at best, objects of pity. I sought to expand this framework, highlighting the horror present not in simply existing in a disabled body or mind, but in the navigation of a world designed to be hostile, and, indeed, in the harm which each individual is capable of, regardless of ability.
Can you trust what a robot says? The influence of robot morphology on trust
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Jones, Ben; Turner, Jessica; Vanderschantz, Nicholas
As social robots are increasingly used for sharing information, it is essential to determine whether people can trust them. Too little trust and people abandon a useful tool; too much and it may cause over-reliance. Morphology is part of communication, a channel that operates in parallel to spoken words, and it can affect perceptions before the interaction has even begun. Human-like appearances are often thought to make a robot more trustworthy, but our review of the literature shows that trust is not determined by embodiment type alone. Features such as resemblance, gaze, and expressive movement act as social heuristics, signalling what a robot is for and what it can do. Because trust arises only where a person is vulnerable and relying on the robot, information-seeking represents a meaningful context for studying trust even when the stakes are low. Within this context, trust is multidimensional, encompassing performance, relational, and moral judgements. Existing research has examined trust in information from websites, search engines, and disembodied agents, and trust in robots performing industrial or collaborative tasks, but little is known about how morphology affects trust when a robot is itself the information source. In this thesis, we address this gap by examining how a robot's physical form shapes the trust people place in it as an information source. Two studies were conducted using the same four devices: a disembodied smart speaker and zoomorphic, mechanomorphic, and humanoid robots. Each robot performed the same information-seeking task, allowing reported and enacted trust to be separated. First, in a survey, 252 participants watched a video of the robots and rated them using the Human-Robot Interaction Evaluation Scale and the Trust Perception Scale-HRI. Under passive observation, morphology had no significant effect on reported trust and only small effects on social perceptions; prior familiarity predicted perceptions instead, and the humanoid did not receive a trust benefit from anthropomorphic attributions. An observational user study then brought the scenario into the real world, where 54 participants chose to approach a robot in person and ask their own questions. Once people sought information themselves, morphology produced large effects, but the dimensions of trust moved in different, sometimes opposing, directions. The humanoid was rated as the most helpful and fit-for-purpose, yet participants were most likely to double-check what it said. The mechanomorphic robot was most relied upon because its form legibly signalled its communicative purpose. This appearance-function fit, rather than human-likeness, determined whether a robot was trusted appropriately. Cuteness and emotion encouraged people to approach, but cuteness alone did not signal credibility, as the zoomorphic robot was cute yet poorly received as an information source. Morphology's effect on trust is thus conditional on engagement, moving the facets of trust independently rather than uniformly. This thesis contributes an early empirical account of how morphology shapes trust in robots as information sources. Our findings indicate that a form that honestly signals what a robot is for, rather than one that is simply human-like, better supports users in calibrating trust. Systematically varying morphological features is a clear next step for tracing these effects to specific design choices.
The impact of self-compassion writing on chronic disease self-efficacy
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Greenway, Maia; Evelo, Andrew J.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic and unpredictable condition associated with substantial psychological burden. Self- efficacy—the belief in one’s ability to manage health-related challenges—is a key predictor of effective chronic disease management, and prior research suggests that self-compassion may provide emotional and cognitive resources that support self-efficacy. The present study examined whether a brief self-compassion writing intervention could increase self-efficacy for managing IBD. Adults with IBD (N = 83) completed a negative IBD-related recall task before being randomly assigned to either the self-compassion writing condition or the control condition. Participants then completed measures of self-compassion and self-efficacy for managing chronic disease. Contrary to our hypotheses, the self-compassion writing task did not significantly increase self-efficacy or self-compassion relative to the control condition, suggesting that the manipulation was insufficient to shift these constructs. However, in line with hypotheses, correlational analyses revealed a moderate positive association between self-compassion and self-efficacy, indicating that individuals who reported greater self-compassion also reported greater confidence in managing their condition. In other words, although a brief, single-session self-compassion writing may not be sufficient to enhance IBD-specific self-efficacy, self- compassion and self-efficacy are meaningfully related in this clinical population. These findings are consistent with theories of chronic disease management and warrant further research into psychological self-management techniques for those with IBD.
On the Fringes: Identity development for taitamāhine Māori in one secondary kura auraki
(The University of Waikato, 2026-09-29) Johnston, Emma; Berryman, Mere; Virtue, Arihia
Despite Aotearoa NZ’s progress in the last 50 years towards enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi and realising educational success for Māori as Māori, remnants of colonial ideologies remain in educational structures, systems, pedagogies and curriculums. The intergenerational cultural degradation that Māori have experienced through 200 years of racialised and assimilative educational policies are being exacerbated through the current government’s educational reforms. This research shows that educators and schools have the power to and must pushback against the government’s systemic attacks on the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori identity. The strength of this thesis lies in the voices of the participants; the students, their mothers and teachers, which are presented through collaborative stories. Together they illustrate the barriers to positive tribal identity development for taitamāhine Māori as being cultural essentialism, racial micro and macroaggressions, and teachers not taking full agency to address these. The enablers to positive Māori tribal identity are identified as unfettered support and access to te ao and mātauranga Māori, positive peer recognition as Māori, culturally safe and responsive learning environments, and the conscientisation and agentic discursive (re)positioning of teachers to become agents of change. This thesis uses a metaphor of weaving to illustrate how a kākahu or cloak of self-sustaining positive tribal identity for taitamāhine Māori can be nurtured and woven through secondary education. When school leaders and educators power-share with Māori and listen to the voices of whānau, hapū, iwi, and work with Māori institutions and organisations within the framework of Ka Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia, they can support the tribal identity of taitamāhine Māori to flourish. While this research focusses on experiences in one urban single-sex girl’s secondary kura auraki, the findings have implications for all schools and educators committed to addressing inequity in education.
Blue light as a performance enhancer: Impacts on decision-making, reaction time and agility in field hockey
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Irwin, Emma; Beaven, Martyn
Short-wavelength (blue) light has consistently been shown to enhance alertness and cognitive performance by stimulating intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells that activate arousal-related brain regions. Despite this mechanistic basis, its application as a pre-performance tool in open-skill team sport remains largely underexamined. Field hockey, which places substantial perceptual-cognitive demands on athletes, requiring rapid decision-making, reactive agility, and perceptual-motor integration under time pressure and physical fatigue, therefore, represents a theoretically appropriate context in which to examine whether these effects translate to applied sports performance. Chapter One critically reviews the existing literature on the performance demands of field hockey, the physiological and neurological mechanisms underpinning short-wavelength light exposure, and its established effects on alertness, cognitive performance and physical readiness. The review identifies a clear gap in sport-specific evidence, noting that while laboratory-based research consistently supports blue light as an acute cognitive enhancer, its translation to ecologically valid athletic environments, particularly open-skill team sports requiring rapid perceptual cognitive processing, remains largely underexplored. Chapter Two presents a randomised crossover study investigating the acute effects of blue light exposure on reaction time, reactive agility and change-of-direction performance in eleven competitive field hockey players. Participants were exposed to either short-wavelength blue light (~480nm, 6500K) or a placebo condition for 15 minutes before testing, with performance assessed using a reaction time protocol across four time points, a reactive Y-agility test, and a 505 change-of-direction test, each completed with and without a hockey stick and ball. A small-sided game provided an ecologically valid fatigue stimulus. Blue light had no meaningful effect on change-of-direction performance, consistent with its proposed mechanism of action on cognitively loaded tasks rather than tasks reliant on neuromuscular capacity. Reactive agility improved significantly within the blue light condition in the without-stick conditions (3.04s to 2.89s, p = .027), and reaction time decreased progressively under blue light from baseline through to halftime, associated with a large within-condition effect (d = 0.91) and a moderate between-condition difference at halftime (d = 0.60). A near-significant elevation in pre-small-sided game heart rate was also observed under blue light relative to placebo (128 vs. 117 bpm, p =.051). Chapter Three synthesises these findings within the broader literature, arguing that the convergent pattern across reaction time, reactive agility, and pre-exercise heart rate reflects a coherent picture of cortical arousal difficult to attribute to placebo response alone. Key limitations include sample size, absence of neurophysiological measures, and risks of poorly timed evening use of light on melatonin suppression and sleep. Future research should prioritise adequately powered and sex-stratified replication, dose-response investigations, and neurophysiological outcome measures to directly assess the cortical arousal mechanism. Taken together, this thesis provides preliminary but directionally consistent evidence that blue light exposure can enhance cognitively demanding aspects of field hockey performance, extending a body of evidence largely confined to laboratory settings into a more ecologically valid, sport-specific context and supporting its potential as a simple, accessible pre-performance tool in open-skill team sport.
Self-selected and control cadences: Considerations for calf raise test standardisation and interpretation
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Gutry, Noelle; Hébert-Losier, Kim
Background The calf raise test (CRT) is an endurance test commonly used to assess triceps surae (TS) muscle tendon unit (MTU) function. The CRT usually involves performing repeated unilateral concentric-eccentric plantar-flexor contractions to fatigue, with repetitions the primary outcome measured. The most common CRT cadence is 60 beats per minute (bpm), though varying cadences are used in the literature (e.g., 30 bpm, 40 bpm, 120 bpm, self-selected, as fast as possible). Recent research reported that changing cadences (30 bpm, 60 bpm, 120 bpm) significantly influenced several CRT outcomes, including total vertical displacement (cm), total work (J), peak height (cm), and peak power (W), but not repetitions. There is speculation that 60 bpm may closely reflect a self-selected cadence, which has not yet been explicitly identified in research. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to compare cadences maintained during 10 calf raise repetitions (CR10) and the CRT between three conditions: control (60 bpm), self-selected, and as fast as possible. A secondary aim of this thesis was to explore the influence of cadence on CR10 and CRT outcomes. An additional aim was to explore predictors of sex, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity levels (PAL) as potential influences of CR10 and CRT outcomes, with age and calf muscle training examined as additional potential predictors in the CRT. Methods This thesis contains two randomised crossover studies, with repeated measures designs. Study one focused on CR10 and study two on CRT to fatigue. Each experimental study was performed barefoot on the right leg, starting from a foot position of 10° incline (slight dorsiflexion). In study one, 35 healthy participants (16 males, 19 females) aged 19 – 25 years completed the CR10 at three randomised cadence conditions (60 bpm, self-selected, as fast as possible) during a single testing session, 15 minutes apart. In study two, 38 healthy participants (23 males, 15 females) aged 19 – 43 years completed the CRT to fatigue at three randomised cadence conditions (60 bpm, self-selected, as fast as possible) over three testing sessions, seven days apart. For both experimental studies, 60 bpm was the control condition, going up on the toes and back down to the starting position to the beat of a metronome, up in one beat and down in one beat. The self-selected condition required repetitions be performed at a pace that felt most natural and comfortable, whereas the fast condition required repetitions to be performed as fast as possible. The CR10 and CRT outcomes were recorded using the validated Calf Raise application, tracking vertical displacement of a black circular marker beneath the lateral malleolus. Descriptive statistics of CR10 and CRT outcomes were reported as medians with interquartile ranges [25th, 75th]. Mixed-effect linear models were used to analyse log-transformed CR10 and CRT outcomes, with multilevel mixed-effect Poisson models used for CRT repetitions. Stepwise regressions were used to remove non-significant predictors across models. Results In the CR10 experiment, cadence had a significant effect on repetitions per minute, total time, peak power, and displacement variability (P < 0.001), but not total work or vertical displacement (P ≤ 0.337). Median self-selected cadences (75.6 bpm) were 24% faster than 60 bpm, and median as fast as possible cadences (196.8 bpm) were 218% faster than 60 bpm. The fast condition reached the 10 repetitions in less time than self-selected (61%) and 60 bpm (69%), with self-selected completed in 19% less time than 60 bpm. The fast condition exhibited greater displacement variability (53%) and greater peak power (52 – 57%) than the other two conditions, with no significant difference in these outcomes between 60 bpm and self-selected cadence. Self-selected cadence ranges (minimum – maximum) were 48.4 – 129 bpm. Males generated greater peak power and total work than females (P < 0.001), with females exhibiting less displacement variability than males (P < 0.001). As BMI increased, so did peak power and total work (P ≤ 0.013). PAL did not significantly influence CR10 outcomes. In the CRT experiment, cadence had a significant effect on repetitions per minute, vertical displacement, displacement variability, peak power, total time, and total work (P ≤ 0.011), but not repetitions (P = 0.081). Median self-selected cadences (69.8 bpm) were 14% faster than 60 bpm, and median as fast as possible cadences (109.4 bpm) were 94% faster than 60 bpm. Median self-selected cadences produced less peak power (9%), total time (19%), total work (11%), and displacement variability (17%) compared to 60 bpm, with no significant difference for vertical displacement per repetition. Self-selected cadence ranges (minimum – maximum) were 44.6 – 121.4 bpm. Vertical displacement was greatest in the as fast as possible condition, with displacement variability being 29% greater than self-selected cadences. As fast as possible generated 29% greater peak power than 60 bpm and 42% greater peak power than self-selected cadences. Females generated less peak power and exhibited less vertical displacement, yet achieved greater total test times than males (P < 0.001). Individuals with greater BMI completed fewer repetitions and achieved greater peak power (P < 0.001). Age and PAL did not significantly influence CRT outcomes, whereas individuals who trained their calf muscles performed greater repetitions, generated greater peak power, had longer total test times, and completed more total work (P ≤ 0.017) than those who did not. Summary Results from the experimental studies show that varying cadences (60 bpm, self-selected, as fast as possible) influenced most CR10 and CRT outcomes. Additionally, sex, BMI and calf muscle training were identified as significant predictors of certain CR10 and CRT outcomes. Furthermore, results show that median self-selected cadences in the CR10 (75.6 bpm) and CRT (69.8 bpm) are greater than, but close to, the commonly used 60 bpm. However, the range of self-selected cadences in the CR10 and CRT suggest that larger differences in outcomes between conditions may exist at an individual level. Therefore, our findings suggest the continued use of 60 bpm as the test cadence in the CRT to provide standardisation and given its confirmed test-retest reliability until evidence can be provided showing repeatability of self-selected cadences.
Future global wellbeing assessment: Conceptual foundations, governance & artificial intelligence
(The University of Waikato, 2026) MacKinnon, Lewis; Weijers, Dan M.
This thesis examines how global wellbeing assessment might evolve in an increasingly globalised and digital society. It argues that, as wellbeing becomes a more explicit objective of global governance, a challenge arises over how it should be conceptualised and assessed across diverse cultural settings. Part 1 evaluates dominant approaches to wellbeing assessment, tracing the history to several key Western traditions in psychology and philosophy. It includes an argument against a bounded, individualised self being the foundational unit of societal wellbeing, and argues for societal wellbeing to be evaluated beyond the aggregation of self-evaluating individuals. It also explores alternative ontologies of who and what might be capable of experiencing wellbeing, and advocates considering views in which wellbeing exists not only within individual people, but also in the connections between people, in animals, and possibly in the environment more widely. It also argues for the importance of considering a wider range of cross-cultural ontologies in wellbeing assessment frameworks if they are to be used in global contexts, and the risk of ‘wellbeing imperialism’ if culturally biased views are applied globally. Part 2 explores a parallel trend of how technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way wellbeing is assessed. It explores the use of data from online platforms, large corpus analysis, and the use of sensor and wearable technology to infer aspects of wellbeing, like emotion and mental health. It speculates on how these may advance and be used to understand the wellbeing of society at scale, and may be incorporated into future wellbeing assessment systems in an increasingly digitised world. It evaluates both the promise of such systems and the risks, including privacy loss, bias, and misuse for corporate profits and government control. Technology and AI are presented as raising the stakes on the conceptual and ontological issues in Part 1. Overall, the thesis presents a broad exploration and synthesis of foundational concepts, ontologies, and technologies in assessing wellbeing, and forms connections across diverse disciplines and cultural contexts. Ultimately it aims to contribute to the discussion on the future of global wellbeing assessment frameworks.
Investigating the effects of acute photobiomodulation on submaximal rowing performance and physiological responses in trained female rowers
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Barrell, Amelia; Beaven, Christopher Martyn
It is well established that Red Light Therapy (RLT), or Photobiomodulation (PBM), can enhance mitochondrial function, reduce markers of muscle damage, and improve exercise performance and recovery. As a result, RLT has become an increasingly popular non-invasive intervention within sport and exercise settings. Recent research has shown that pre-exercise application of red and near-infrared light may improve time to exhaustion, reduce fatigue, and enhance recovery in activities such as cycling, running, and resistance exercise. However, there is currently no research examining the effects of RLT on rowing performance, particularly during submaximal exercise in trained female rowers. This thesis is separated into three chapters. Chapter one provides a review of the literature on RLT, beginning with its historical development and underlying physiological mechanisms of action. This review includes a discussion of the interaction between RLT and mitochondrial chromophores, effects on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, oxidative stress modulation, and nitric oxide-mediated processes. The chapter further examines the role of RLT in exercise performance and recovery, with particular emphasis on muscle fatigue, endurance capacity, and post-exercise recovery markers. The literature review also critically evaluates the application of RLT across a range of exercise modalities, including resistance exercise, cycling, and running, while highlighting the variability in outcomes reported across studies. Particular attention is given to inconsistencies in methodological approaches, including differences in wavelength, dosage, timing of application (pre- versus post-exercise), and participant characteristics. Chapter One also identifies key gaps in the current literature, notably the limited research in endurance -based, sport-specific contexts and the underrepresentation of female athletes. These gaps provide the rationale for the present study, with a specific focus on rowing as an endurance sport requiring sustained submaximal performance and efficient recovery. Rowing has continuous physiological demands on both the upper and lower body and relies heavily on sustained submaximal power output and efficient recovery between repeated efforts. As a result, Chapter Two investigated the acute effects of PBM on submaximal rowing performance and exercise physiology in trained female athletes. Twelve trained female rowers participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized crossover design. Each participant completed five laboratory sessions, beginning with a maximal graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and establish individualised workload targets for subsequent submaximal trials. The remaining four sessions involved identical rowing protocols performed following one of four treatment conditions: red light (630 and 660 nm), near infrared (810, 830 and 850 nm), combined red and near-infrared light, or placebo condition. Treatment order was randomised, and participants were blinded to the condition. A minimum of 48 hours recovery was maintained between sessions to minimise potential carryover effects. Primary outcome measures included oxygen uptake (VO2), blood lactate concentration, and blood glucose concentration during progressive submaximal exercise. Secondary measures included respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), providing a comprehensive assessment of both physiological and perceptual responses to PBM. Statistical analysis revealed participants completed a greater number of submaximal rowing intervals following the red light (7.25 ± 0.75 intervals; p = 0.046) and infra-red light (7.25 ± 0.45 intervals; p = 0.012) conditions compared with the placebo condition (6.67 ± 0.98 intervals) indicating improved exercise capacity. PBM was also associated with lower blood glucose concentrations during the exercise intensity closest to the lactate threshold in the infra-red condition (p=0.0300; d= 0.58 ±0.51). There were also differences in RER responses between the red light and placebo conditions suggesting alterations in energy utilisation during exercise. However, no significant differences were observed in VO2, blood lactate concentration, or RPE between conditions. These findings suggest that pre-exercise PBM may enhance submaximal rowing performance through alterations in metabolic responses, including utilisation and glucose regulation, while producing only limited changes in broader physiological responses. Chapter Three summarises the findings from Chapter Two, identifies the strengths and limitations for the present study, and provides recommendations for future research. Overall, this thesis identified key gaps within the existing literature on PBM (RLT), particularly in relation to sport-specific endurance performance, female athlete populations and submaximal exercise protocols.
Finite element study on the flexural behaviour and edge-stiffening effect of cold-formed steel C-channel beams with elongated web holes
(The University of Waikato, 2026-09-23) Lei, Junhong; Fang, Zhiyuan (Arthur)
Cold-formed steel (CFS) channel beams are commonly provided with web openings to allow building services to pass through the member. In practice, larger openings are often preferred because they provide more space for services. However, increasing the opening size may reduce the flexural resistance of the beam, especially when elongated web holes are used. This thesis investigates the flexural behaviour of CFS channel beams with elongated web holes under four-point bending. The main aim is to examine whether larger web openings can be introduced while maintaining an acceptable level of moment capacity. The effectiveness of edge stiffening around elongated web holes is also evaluated. A nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element model was developed in Abaqus. The modelling approach was first validated against published experimental and numerical results for CFS channel beams with web holes. After validation, a parametric study including 282 finite element models was carried out. Two section sizes, C240 and C290, were considered. Their no-hole moment capacities were 13.591 kN·m and 20.058 kN·m, respectively. The main parameters included hole radius, elongated-hole aspect ratio, number of holes, clear spacing between adjacent holes, edge stiffening, and lip angle. Three hole radii of 70, 75, and 80 mm were examined. The elongated-hole aspect ratio was varied from 1.25 to 2.00. One-hole, two-hole, and three-hole arrangements were included, with clear spacings of 50 and 100 mm for the multi-hole models. For the edge-stiffened models, the stiffener depth and fillet radius were kept as 13 mm and 4 mm, respectively. The results show that increasing the web opening area generally reduced the moment capacity of the unstiffened-hole beams. For the more severe practical cases, the strength retention ratio decreased to about 0.78–0.85. By contrast, edge stiffening was able to recover a considerable part of the lost strength. The maximum stiffening efficiency obtained in this study was approximately 26.6%. In several edge-stiffened three-hole models, the strength retention ratio remained above 0.85 even when the opening ratio exceeded 12%. The lip-angle study also showed that the flange-lip inclination can affect the flexural response. Among the investigated C290 EH1-HS80-ab15 models, the 60° lip-angle model gave the highest moment capacity. Overall, the results indicate that elongated web holes can be used more efficiently when suitable edge stiffening and geometric configurations are adopted.
Investigation of the geometric effects of corrosion pits on the tensile behaviour of structural steel
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Thu, Kaung Myat; Fang, Zhiyuan (Arthur)
Pitting corrosion removes parts of the structural steel’s cross section in a localised manner, therefore introducing localised stress concentrations which can cause decreased tensile and deformation capacity in a more pronounced effect than uniform cross sectional mass loss. With aging infrastructures using structural steel used in chloride environments, there is a growing need for reliable assessment of corroded steel. Therefore, a methodology that can provide insights with the linkage of measurable corrosion parameter such as mass loss to mechanical response of the corroded steel material can prove to be a clear contribution for corrosion analysis. The methodology should also consider the localised and stochastic nature of pit formations. This thesis develops and applies a reproducible numerical workflow for this purpose and evaluates it against an experimental tensile programme on low-carbon structural steel coupons immersed in a 5% sodium-chloride solution for up to 42 days. Flat dog-bone coupons conforming to ISO 6892-1 were corroded for 0, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days, cleaned and weighed gravimetrically, and tested in uniaxial tension. The coupons were protection wrapped for the grip and shoulder regions and only the gauge section were exposed to the chloride immersion. Measured average effective mass losses ranged from 1.29% to 2.49%, with a power-law mass-loss-time relationship indicative of a diffusion-controlled process. Finite element analyses were conducted with a stochastic pit-generation algorithm developed in MATLAB which was used to create randomised distributions of flat-bottomed cylindrical pits, with the total pit volume matched to the measured mass loss. The resulting pit fields were then converted into discrete cavities in an Abaqus/Explicit coupon model using a Python script that conducts automated pit insertion through reading the MATLAB pit generation output data. The material model was calibrated once using a representative lab-tested experimental uncorroded Day-0 tensile response and was subsequently kept unchanged, thereby isolating the simulated influence of corrosion to geometrical material loss. This calibrated geometry-isolated workflow was subsequently applied to a numerical mass-loss projection study, extending the corrosion severity beyond the experimental range to 12% gauge-section mass loss. At this higher severity, the ultimate tensile strength showed a more pronounced decrease compared to lower mass-loss levels, while the ductility loss obtained from the FE simulations remained strongly influenced by the pit geometry and spatial distribution of each stochastic realisation. The uncorroded finite-element model reproduced the experimental ultimate tensile strength to within approximately 0.4% and was shown to be mesh-converged and quasi-static through an energy-balance study. Across the corroded cases, the experimental coupons showed no statistically clear monotonic reduction in either ultimate strength or fracture strain at the studied mass-loss levels. It was observed that the corrosion-induced change was smaller than the coupon-to-coupon scatter. On the other hand, geometry-isolated finite-element model, resolved a small reduction in ultimate strength (of order 2% over the exposure range) and a substantially larger reduction in fracture strain and toughness (of order 7-14%). This suggests that ductility is the corrosion-sensitive quantity and that strain localisation at pits are key factors of the loss of deformation capacity. Based on these findings, simple normalised predictive relationships are proposed in which the residual strength, fracture-strain and toughness factors decrease approximately linearly with mass loss, the ductility coefficient being about an order of magnitude larger than the strength coefficient. These relationships come with limitations which are discussed in the later section. The principal contribution of the thesis is a single, seed-controlled, mass-loss-verified workflow combining stochastic pit generation, idealised-pit finite-element realisation and quasi-static tensile simulation, together with a quantified experimental demonstration which shows that at low-to-moderate mass loss, the geometric effect of pitting on steel coupons is concentrated in ductility rather than strength. The cylindrical pit idealisation, the fixed material card and the coupon scale are acknowledged as part of the limitations of this study.

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