Masters Degree Theses

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Effect of foam density on the imperfection sensitivity of aluminium foam sandwich panels under in-plane compression
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Mohan, Devika; Fang, Zhiyuan (Arthur)
Aluminium foam sandwich panels are attractive lightweight structural components because they offer a good combination of low mass, stiffness, strength, and energy absorption. However, their in-plane compressive behaviour is still not fully understood, especially when the foam relative density and out-of-plane geometric imperfections are considered together. This study investigates how variations in the combinations of foam relative density and out-of-plane geometric imperfections influence the in-plane compressive response of these panels, with emphasis on strength, collapse mode, and post-buckling behaviour. These findings improve the understanding of the compressive performance and support more reliable use of these panels in lightweight structural applications. Parametric studies were conducted to examine the in-plane compressive response of 200 aluminium foam sandwich panels with varying relative density and initial imperfection. For certain combinations, mode interaction was enhanced, producing a temporary increase in load carrying capacity. The resulting imperfection-dependent interaction windows do not vary monotonically with either parameter but instead reflect a balance between foam-core stiffness, and imperfection sensitivity. A sensitivity study also showed that plate modulus also has a role in the formation and extend of such mode interaction windows. To support design decisions, a multi-objective performance framework was developed using imperfection tolerance, deformation mode stability, energy absorption, and mass efficiency. In addition, as a practical aid to similar panel configurations, a FE based predictive equation was developed to predict the normalized peak load in the higher imperfection regime.
Volcanic geology and geomorphology of the kaimai rhyolite dome complex, Tauranga volcanic centre, New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Clark, Morgan; Pittari, Adrian
The Kaimai Rhyolite Dome Complex (KRDC) is an extinct rhyolite dome complex on the Waikato-Bay of Plenty border which forms a prominent feature at the southern end of the Kaimai Range. Published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and U-Pb zircon ages place dome emplacement between approximately 2.87 and 2.2 Ma, placing the KRDC within the Tauranga Volcanic Centre (TgVC) spatially, temporally, and within the transitionary phase of subduction-related volcanism within the North Island from the Coromandel Volcanic Zone to the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It is contemporaneous with the Alexandra Volcanic Group and Okete Volcanics of the western North Island, the wider Minden Rhyolite Subgroup of the TgVC, and predates the ~2.1 Ma Waiteariki Supereruption of the Omanawa Caldera. Despite its prominence on the Tauranga skyline and regional significance the KRDC has never been the primary subject of a dedicated study. This study applies modern volcanological techniques to define the complex and its place within the TgVC, incorporating field mapping, LiDAR-derived geomorphological analysis, petrography, SEM-EDS, XRD, whole-rock major and trace element geochemical analysis (XRF and LA-ICP-MS), and zircon saturation thermometry. The KRDC is recognised in this study for the first time and its six discrete dome centres, Te Weraiti, Kaimai, Kakahu, Hiwiroa, the Eastern Dome, and the Southeastern Dome, all previously mapped as Minden Rhyolite Group on Rotorua QMAP with undefined internal unit contacts and margins. Hiwiroa, the Eastern Dome, and the Southeastern Dome are recognised for the first time on the basis of geomorphology and morphometric analysis. The complex forms a coalesced composite dome ridge spanning 25.8 km along a N-S corridor with a total post erosional volume of 5.67 km3. Field and geomorphological evidence confirm that dome emplacement predates the Waiteariki supereruption. A three-tier framework was developed describing the structural control on emplacement of the dome centres derived from elongation ratios and spatial context, fault-controlled fissure emplacement (Te Weraiti, Kakahu; ER 2.81–3.16), intermediate point-source emplacement within a fault corridor (Kaimai; ER 1.44), and minimal direct fault control (Hiwiroa, Eastern, Southeastern; ER 1.47–1.85). The bimodal distribution of elongation ratios indicating two distinct emplacement modes of both fissure derived and point source rather than a continuous spectrum. Phenocryst assemblages at Te Weraiti and Kaimai are plagioclase + quartz ± biotite ± sanidine ± pyroxene. The KRDC lavas are hornblende absent distinguishing it from the hornblende bearing Waiteariki Ignimbrite. Devitrification groundmass textures are pervasive across all KRDC lavas displaying large spherulites of cristobalite + sanidine, an assemblage consistent across CVZ–TgVC Minden Rhyolites from ~7.8 Ma (Hahei) to ~2.2 Ma (KRDC). KRDC lavas are high-silica 74–78 wt.% SiO₂ high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic, peraluminous rhyolites that underwent plagioclase-dominated fractionation. Single-stage fractional crystallisation modelling could not produce these lavas from either Waiteariki Ignimbrite or the potential parental basaltic-andesite basement, requiring assimilation-fractional crystallisation. Zircon saturation thermometry produces mean KRDC melt temperatures ~40 °C cooler than the comparable Mount Misery rhyolite series within the TgVC, indicating the KRDC lavas represent a cooler, more evolved magma batch through a similar petrogenetic process but from a separate plumbing system.
The appearance of free will in artificial intelligence: How human decision-making is influenced
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Stewart, Annabelle; Perszyk, Ken; Agar, Nick
This thesis examines how artificial intelligence (AI), in particular large language models (LLMs), influences human deliberation and the experience of free will (FW). While much of the existing literature focuses on whether AI systems genuinely possess FW or consciousness, this thesis shifts the focus to how the appearance of these affects human decision-making. It is argued that LLM AI systems show an appearance of FW (AFW) and an appearance of consciousness (AC) through observable behaviours. This appearance is enough to influence human deliberation, even when users may not believe that AI systems have genuine FW or consciousness. While AI systems do not remove alternative possibilities (APs) or take away human control, they do reshape how options are perceived and evaluated, which narrows the phenomenological experience of freedom. This influence often operates below conscious awareness, affecting reasoning processes without coercion. Traditional views of FW and moral responsibility that focus on the ability to do otherwise do not adequately account for external influence on deliberation from AI systems. The thesis concludes that responsibility and accountability should remain with humans, as AI systems function as a tool rather than morally responsible entity. However, the increasing use of AI in everyday decision-making suggests the need to reconsider how influence, human cognition, responsibility, and accountability interact in an AI-mediated environment.
De-Sisters: Understanding women’s desistance from crime in Aotearoa
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Stevens, Shannon; Curtis, Cate; Curtis, Bruce
Desistance from crime is increasingly understood as a developmental and relational process embedded within social environments. Efforts to establish a life beyond crime are frequently complicated by cumulative disadvantages, including unresolved trauma, fractured or harmful relationships, economic precarity, and enduring experiences of systemic exclusion. Despite growing scholarly interest in desistance, women’s lived experiences of navigating change remain marginal within the literature, with limited empirical attention given to the specific social, cultural, and structural contexts shaping desistance in Aotearoa New Zealand. Across the narratives of twelve women once caught in cycles of recidivism, this study offers new insight into the factors which support and obstruct lives beyond crime. Desistance is revealed as a process of self-discovery, healing and relational connection. The study maps the psychological and relational terrain of change, exposing an uneven landscape produced by minimal access to therapeutic intervention and limited cultural integration. Under these conditions, efforts to reconstruct identity were further complicated by the persistent digital trace of conviction, amplifying both private and public forms of stigma. Women leaving prison are often unprepared and underdeveloped, desisting within hazardous reintegration environments. Desistance advanced when agency was restored, highlighting the need for coordinated systemic reform to strengthen human, social, and recovery capital, modernise correctional provisions, and formalise post-release advocacy.
Amara
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Bojesen-Trepka, Guy Holton; Chidgey, Catherine; Slaughter, Tracey
Amara is a satirical reimagining of the Jesus story told from a God's-eye perspective. It lightly probes the myth of the virgin birth, miracles, Christianity’s departure from the teachings of Jesus, the notion of an omnipotent God, and what might happen if a Gen Z Messiah arrived in the age of DNA testing and rolling news. In an Australian relocation of the biblical Annunciation, Mary, soon to marry Joseph, becomes pregnant while claiming to be a virgin. Joseph tries to identify the father by collecting genetic samples from neighbours in the same apartment block. When this proves unsuccessful, and after being threatened by an antagonistic angel, Joseph abandons his search and accepts a bizarre alternative explanation: that Mary conceived while sunning her perineum on their balcony. Amara is born in a barn on 1 January 2000. Three girls, children of refugees, turn up with gifts after dreaming of her birth and become part of the family. A Catholic priest and a dogmatic parishioner become aware of a possible incarnation. While Joe is receptive to the priest's interest, Mary rebuffs his attempts to become involved, determined to protect Amara and give her a normal life. Joe and Mary have a second child, Joshua, and life is mostly suburban normal. As she grows, Amara reveals herself to be an extraordinary child, with an unusually close relationship with God. When Amara is ten, she disarms a knife-wielding man with a history of mental illness – an act that inexplicably restores his sanity. A journalist is assigned the story, and her investigation uncovers possible earlier miracles. The ensuing media interest prompts the return of the priest, parishioner and angel and makes normal life impossible for the family. A Catholic bishop sees an opportunity to deflect public attention from the growing scandal of institutional child abuse and offers sanctuary to the family at a retreat in the countryside. The submitted manuscript represents the first stage of a larger narrative following Amara from birth into adulthood.
Understanding regional differences in extreme heat vulnerability in Aotearoa New Zealand: Demographic sensitivity, social vulnerability, and climate justice
(The University of Waikato, 2026-09-11) McLean-House, Cassidy; Jarallah, Yara; Whitehead, Jesse
Extreme heat is an emerging climatic and population health risk in Aotearoa New Zealand, yet its demographic and spatial dimensions remain poorly understood. While international evidence demonstrates clear associations between heatwaves and excess mortality, hospitalisations, and social disruption, limited research has examined how extreme heat intersects with demographic sensitivity and social vulnerability in New Zealand’s temperate climate. This thesis addresses that gap by providing the first national, spatially explicit assessment of extreme heat vulnerability in New Zealand, framed through the lenses of climate justice and intergenerational equity. The study adopts a quantitative, cross-sectional design integrating daily maximum temperature observations from thirty representative climate stations (2009/10–2018/19 summers) with 2023 Census demographic data and the New Zealand Deprivation Index (NZDep2023) at Statistical Area 2 (SA2) level. Extreme heat is defined using station-specific 95th percentile thresholds, reflecting relative local acclimatisation. For each station, the mean number of summer days exceeding this threshold was calculated and spatially assigned to SA2s using a nearest-station approach in QGIS. Demographic sensitivity was operationalised through age structure, focusing on children (0–14 years) and older adults (65+ years), while social vulnerability was captured using ethnic composition and area-level, socioeconomic deprivation. Results demonstrate substantial regional and interannual variability in extreme heat exposure. Warmer eastern and inland regions record higher temperature thresholds, yet relative exceedance days are not confined to traditionally hot areas, underscoring the importance of percentile-based measures in temperate climates. Exposure increased markedly in later summers, particularly in the summer of 2018/19, indicating a national upward shift in extreme heat frequency. Demographically, vulnerability is unevenly distributed. Older populations are concentrated in several South Island and coastal regions, while Māori and Pacific communities, characterised by younger age structures, are concentrated in specific North Island regions and urban areas. Overlay analysis reveals distinct spatial clusters where elevated heat exposure coincides with high proportions of either older adults or children, often alongside higher socioeconomic deprivation. By embedding these findings within climate justice and intergenerational equity frameworks, the thesis demonstrates that extreme heat is not only a climatic hazard but also an issue of equity. Communities least responsible for climate change may face disproportionate exposure due to structural inequities. Simultaneously, children represent a cohort with both heightened physiological sensitivity and greater lifetime exposure under continued warming. This research contributes to knowledge by integrating climatological, demographic, and socioeconomic deprivation data into a unified national vulnerability assessment for New Zealand. It provides a policy-relevant evidence base to inform heat-health planning, housing standards, urban design, and equitable adaptation strategies. More broadly, it demonstrates the importance of embedding justice-oriented frameworks into climate and population health research to ensure adaptation responses reduce, rather than reproduce, existing inequities.
A multi-objective decision-support framework for early-stage cost–carbon–process-hour screening of prefabricated cold-formed steel residential framing in New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Ramani, Kevin; Lim, James Boon Piang
Early-stage configuration decisions in prefabricated cold-formed steel (CFS) residential framing can influence process cost, A1–A5 embodied carbon, and construction process-hours before detailed structural verification, procurement, and construction planning are complete. In the New Zealand residential construction context, these decisions are important because panel rationalisation, truss rationalisation, opening/detailing complexity, and prefabrication level affect how work is distributed across factory production, transport, logistics, and site installation. As a result, single-objective assessment is insufficient for comparing alternative framing configurations. This thesis develops a multi-objective decision-support framework for early-stage cost–carbon–process-hour screening of prefabricated CFS residential framing in New Zealand. A project-derived residential framing package is represented using the decision vector 𝐱=[𝑅𝑝,𝑅𝑡,𝑂𝐶,𝑃𝑓], where 𝑅𝑝 and 𝑅𝑡 represent panel and truss rationalisation intensity, 𝑂𝐶 represents opening/detailing complexity, and 𝑃𝑓 represents prefabrication level. Three objectives are minimised simultaneously: CFS framing process cost, A1–A5 embodied carbon, and CFS framing process-hours. A model-calculated S2 reference configuration is used for normalisation, comparison, and robustness assessment. An LHS-initialised NSGA-II optimisation procedure was used to generate nondominated cost–carbon–process-hour alternatives within the fixed case-study boundary. The reported optimisation run produced 8,302 feasible nondominated configurations without hard constraint violations, of which 2,695 achieved simultaneous reductions in predicted process cost, embodied carbon, and process-hours relative to S2. The remaining nondominated configurations are interpreted as trade-off alternatives rather than universal improvements over the reference case. Model credibility was assessed through S2 reasonableness checking, coefficient-audit traceability, convergence diagnostics, sensitivity analysis, constraint testing, multi-seed stability checking, and Monte Carlo robustness assessment. The results indicate that improved performance is achieved through coordinated rationalisation, detailing simplification, and prefabrication control rather than by maximising any single variable independently. The contribution of this thesis is an applied-methodological decision-support workflow for screening prefabricated CFS residential framing configurations before detailed structural design, contractor pricing, life-cycle assessment, and construction scheduling.
Testing the correspondence between self-reported and actual culturally valued behaviours in Māori students across Māori and non-Māori environments
(University of Waikato, 2026) Shadrock, Mariah-Paige; Fox, Ririwai
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) views culture as a network of interrelated behaviours maintained by social reinforcement within a shared verbal community (Baer et al., 2005; Bishop et al., 2009; Skinner, 1957). Within this framework, culturally valued behaviours (CVBs) for Māori—such as helping and contributing to the collective—are shaped and sustained through social consequences that reflect shared cultural practices (Baum, 2005; Bishop et al., 2009; Skinner, 1957). Despite their importance, these behaviours are rarely observed directly; researchers often rely on self-report measures, which represent a form of verbal behaviour available only to the speaker (Nisbett & Wilson, 1977; Skinner, 1957). Studies indicate that self-reported behaviours and observable actions often correlate only modestly (Baumeister et al., 2007; Dang et al., 2020), suggesting that verbal endorsements of values or intentions may not reliably predict actual behaviour. The Māori Cultural Embeddedness Scale (MaCES; Durie, 2001; Fox et al., 2023; Mead, 2003) was developed to assess engagement with Māori cultural values and practices. However, it remains unclear whether Māori individuals’ self-reported behaviours, as measured by the MaCES, reflect their actual behaviour (Durie, 2001; Fox et al., 2023; Mead, 2003). From an ABA perspective, correspondence between reported and observed behaviours must be demonstrated empirically rather than assumed (Cooper et al., 2020; Michael, 1982; Skinner, 1953). Guided by both ABA and Kaupapa Māori principles (Bishop, 1996; Bishop & Berryman, 2006, 2009; Smith, 1999), the present study addressed this gap by examining the alignment between Māori students’ self-reported and directly observed helping behaviour in Māori and non-Māori environments. Self-reported CVB was assessed using the Culturally Valued Behaviour Scale (CVB), a Māori cultural values and practices survey. One item (Q12) was drawn from the MaCES and was explicitly related to helping and used to analyse culturally valued helping behaviour (Durie, 2001; Fox et al., 2023). Twenty-three Māori students participated and were randomly assigned to either Te Kohinga Mārama Marae or a standard university psychology laboratory. Participants set up the room, completed the CVB (during which the observer intentionally dropped papers), and then packed up, while helping behaviours were recorded. Spearman’s rho assessed the correspondence between self-reported and observed helping within each context (Field, 2018). An independent t-test examined differences by environment and sex, while ANOVA assessed differences across age groups (Cohen, 1992). Results showed no significant correspondence between self-reported helping (Q12) and observed helping in either setting. Helping frequency remained consistently high across both environments, with no significant differences by environment, sex, or age. The CVB demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = .743), although item-level analyses suggested that behaviours clustered rather than showing uniform endorsement (Fox et al., 2023). Qualitative responses indicated that participants’ helping was motivated by intrinsic prosocial values rather than direct demands or perceived obligation (Baum, 2005; Biglan & Glenn, 2013). Overall, the findings suggest limited “say-do” correspondence for culturally valued behaviour in this sample (Baer et al., 1968; Nisbett & Wilson, 1977). Verbal endorsements of helping appeared to be governed by different contingencies than overt behaviour. Contrary to expectations, the Māori environment did not increase helping frequency or strengthen correspondence relative to the non-Māori setting. These results contribute to Māori-centred behavioural research by highlighting the complexity of measuring culturally valued behaviours and emphasizing the value of multimethod approaches that combine Kaupapa Māori perspectives with direct behavioural observation (Bishop et al., 2009; Smith, 1999). Future research should explore additional culturally grounded behaviours, expand opportunities for helping, examine how environmental contingencies within Māori settings may more strongly evoke or differentiate culturally valued actions, and investigate the difference between manded versus naturalistic behaviours to better understand how culturally valued actions are expressed across contexts (Cooper et al., 2020; Michael, 1993).
Simulate your senses: Exploring the impact of sensory-focused episodic future simulation on subsequent memory in younger and older adults
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Wild, Mia J.; Devitt, Aleea
Episodic future simulation allows people to plan and prepare for the future. Previous research has shown that positive episodic future simulation can bias subsequent memory for positive details in overlapping narratives in younger adults, but not older adults. Therefore, questions remain regarding whether this simulation-related memory bias extends beyond emotional information to other core features of episodic events, such as sensory detail, and whether age-related reductions in this bias reflect a broader reduction in the influence of future simulation on later memory, or the emotional content used in previous studies. The present study examined whether sensory-focused episodic future simulation influences response bias for sensory details in later overlapping narratives, and whether this effect differs between younger and older adults. Younger and older adults imagined future events with a focus on sensory information, before later reading overlapping narratives describing how those events occurred. Recognition memory was then tested for sensory and emotion/thought narrative details. Sensory-focused simulation did not produce a more liberal response bias for sensory details in either younger or older adults. Instead, younger adults were more conservative overall, whereas older adults were more liberal overall, regardless of simulation condition or detail type. Our findings suggest that simulation-related memory bias may not generalise straightforwardly from emotional to sensory information. More broadly, the present study provides novel insight into the cognitive consequences of episodic future simulation by identifying a possible boundary condition on its influence over later memory, while also broadening understanding of how age-related changes in future simulation may interfere with the way imagined events shape later cognition.
Exploring perceptions of inclusivity through gender-inclusive language in university settings: A qualitative study among academic staff and gender-diverse students
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Bhaskar, Nivedha; Schmidt, Johanna M.
Gender-inclusive language has increasingly been recognised as a key dimension of equity and inclusion in higher education. However, limited research has explored how such language is understood, experienced, and enacted within everyday university teaching contexts, particularly from the perspectives of both academic staff and gender-diverse students. Guided by Gender Minority Stress Theory (GMST), this qualitative study examines how gender-inclusive language shapes experiences of safety, belonging, and participation in a university setting in Aotearoa New Zealand. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews with academic staff, and focus groups and individual interviews with gender-diverse students at the University of Waikato. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to explore participants’ perceptions and practices related to gender-inclusive language in teaching and institutional contexts. The findings suggest that while many staff members express commitment to inclusive language, its implementation is uneven and often constrained by institutional structures and pedagogical norms. Gender-diverse students’ accounts highlight both affirming experiences and ongoing instances of misrecognition and minority stress, illustrating the gap between institutional intentions and lived realities. Through the lens of GMST, the study demonstrates that gender-inclusive language functions as both a protective factor and a potential stressor. By bringing student and staff perspectives into dialogue, the research underscores the need for inclusion to be understood not merely as individual practice but as a collective and institutionally supported responsibility. The study foregrounds language as a critical site of inclusion and exclusion and offers practical recommendations for teaching practice and institutional policy, suggesting that sustainable inclusion requires structurally embedded approaches that move beyond symbolic commitments towards transformative change in university cultures and practices.
“They just don’t know”: Ideology and budget advisors’ work with precarious clients
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Hall, Ben; Jackson, Kimberly M.
Every day in Aotearoa, as in many parts of the world, budget advisors engage in one-on-one mentoring with individuals experiencing financial instability with the purpose of upskilling clients to help alleviate their precarious financial circumstances. Existing research on budget advisory practice largely focuses on measuring client outcomes and explaining variance between groups accessing budget advisory services. These services are shown to be largely ineffective in alleviating the financial instability characteristic of those experiencing precarity (ongoing economic insecurity) compared to other populations. The purpose of this thesis is to expand on previous findings by investigating how budget advisors themselves construct an understanding of their clients’ precarity, as well as how they understand their ameliorative role. This thesis contextualises budget advisors’ conceptualisations of their work and clients within broader political, economic, and ideological constructions of precarity, recognising how low and insecure incomes are structurally determined through capitalism and neoliberalism. This thesis deploys the concept of bricolage, flexibly drawing on scholarship from across the social sciences, notably including insights from community and societal psychology. Qualitative data was gathered through two semi-structured interviews conducted with each of six budget advisors, in which we discussed their work with low-income clients alongside vignettes that were presented to them for discussion. Analysis of the resulting interview transcripts drew on critical discourse analysis and Lacanian psychoanalytic theory to examine how the participants constructed their role and drew on ideological assumptions within their interviews. This thesis finds that participants draw on a number of ideological constructions and assumptions to make sense of their work with precarious clients. Firstly, they present their role as that of working on correcting clients’ counterproductive mindsets, or sets of internal beliefs, that impede clients’ abilities to meet their responsibilities. Secondly, participants present their clients’ families as playing a significant role in their work, with the term ‘family’ holding a contradictory position as both an ideal for budget advisors to work towards and a reason for the breakdown of this ideal when families undermine clients’ financial goals. Thirdly, participants characterise themselves as providers of important knowledge, consequently constructing precarity as an issue that emerges from a lack of knowledge on the side of the client. These three ideas demonstrate how participants navigate their role as shaped by structural forces that maintain their clients’ financial instability and sit in an antagonistic relation to the aims of the budget advisory role. Budget advisors are shown in this thesis to displace their tacitly acknowledged inability to address the structural determinants of precarity, and instead focus on clients’ individual deficiencies, maintaining a role for themselves and their expertise. This thesis highlights some of the limitations of the participants’ budget advisory role within the current political, economic and ideological context, concluding that more emancipatory possibilities would require an incorporation of precarity’s structural determinants.
Most versus least: A meta-analysis of stimulus overselectivity
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Simoné; Edwards, Timothy L.
Stimulus overselectivity (OS) occurs when a person's behaviour is controlled by only a limited subset of available cues. This phenomenon is thought to contribute to learning and social challenges in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This thesis presents a multilevel meta-analysis quantifying the magnitude of OS in individuals with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) peers. Analyses of 15 studies, producing 41 unique effects, showed a statistically significant population gap (p = .036). The average level of OS was 35.16% for ASD groups and 20.96% for TD groups. Both groups exhibited a general tendency for OS, but the effect was more pronounced in ASD. Notably, this difference was fragile: when the oldest study (Gersten, 1983) was excluded, the gap was no longer statistically significant (p = .129). A major limitation was that only 15 out of 158 relevant studies provided enough data for quantitative analysis, highlighting a widespread reporting gap. These findings were consistent with stimulus control hierarchies, suggesting that the systematic narrowing of control observed in individuals with ASD may be sensitive to non-linear diagnostic shifts within the evolving diagnostic landscape. For practitioners, the findings emphasise the importance of assessing which cues guide a learner’s responses and using targeted strategies to broaden cue control in educational settings. For researchers, these results highlight the need for consistent, standardised reporting of element-level data and variability to advance theoretical understanding of overselectivity across populations.
Indicators of fetal engagement with the environment
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Sheik-Ebrahim, Kousar; Reid, Vincent
Fetal behaviour provides a non-invasive window into early fetal development, reflecting the maturation of sensory and motor systems. This thesis investigates the developmental trajectory of spontaneous and stimulus-evoked behaviours across late gestation (33–37 weeks) to identify behavioural indicators of selective sensory engagement. Secondary analyses were conducted on high-resolution ultrasound recordings using a systematic behavioural measurement framework, incorporating standardised coding of fetal behavioural states (FBS), fetal body movements (FBM), and fetal eye movements (FEM) to enhance observational reliability and analytical rigor. Quantitative analysis, including Dynamic Time Warping (DTW), was employed to distinguish baseline behavioural activity from responses elicited by controlled auditory and visual stimuli. Study 1 (N = 57) investigated patterns of FBM and FEM to determine whether observed behaviours reflected spontaneous activity or environmentally driven engagement. Results indicated that from approximately 33 weeks’ gestation onward, FEM classifications increasingly aligned with behavioural markers of environmental engagement, suggesting progressive maturation of sensory–behavioural integration. Study 2 (N = 24) examined fetal behavioural responses to musical stimuli varying in timbre (string versus piano) and harmonic modality (major versus minor chords). We observed distinct patterns of structured FEM and FBM across auditory conditions, indicating selective behavioural modulation in response to specific acoustic properties. The findings from this cross-sectional study suggest that late-gestation fetuses demonstrate emerging capacities for selective engagement with environmental stimuli before birth. This research advances understanding of prenatal sensory and perceptual processing and supports refinement of fetal behavioural frameworks, with implications for clinical monitoring and foundational research into early perceptual learning.
The effects of passive and active warm-ups on vertical jump, stretch-shortening cycle and reactive strength index performance
(The University of Waikato, 2026-08-23) Li, Conglin; Rodrigues, Patrick
Passive warm-up, via hot-water immersion (HWI) for instance, may enhance explosive performance by increasing lower-limb temperature without imposing the metabolic demands associated with exercise. However, it remains unclear whether passive heating influences jump tasks with different concentric and stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) demands and whether its effects are comparable to those achieved following active warm-up (AWU). Hence, this thesis aimed to compare the acute effects of passive warm-up via HWI and AWU, on three different vertical jump performance tasks in physically active adults, including squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and drop jump (DJ). Twenty participants (15 males and 5 females; age: 25.9 ± 4.5 years) completed the two warm-up conditions and a control condition (CON) via thermoneutral water immersion in a randomised crossover design. Passive warm-up involved 60 min of waist-level HWI at 42°C, whereas CON involved 60 min of immersion at 34°C. AWU comprised 15 min of cycling at a rating of perceived exertion of 14 (6-20 Borg scale), followed by dynamic lower-limb movements, 10 bodyweight squats, and 10 submaximal CMJs. The three vertical jump tests, SJ, CMJ, and DJ were assessed before and immediately after each condition on a force platform. The analysed outcomes were SJ and CMJ height and peak propulsive force (PPF), along with DJ height and reactive strength index (RSI). Change scores (post minus pre) were compared between conditions using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc comparisons. Significant condition effects were observed for SJ height (p < .001), SJ PPF (p = .002), CMJ height (p < .001), DJ height (p = .006), and DJ RSI (p < .001). Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons showed that the positive changes observed following HWI differed significantly from the corresponding changes following AWU (SJ height, p < .001; SJ PPF, p = .020; CMJ height, p < .001; DJ height, p = .017; DJ RSI, p = .011) and CON (SJ height, p < .001; SJ PPF, p = .002; CMJ height, p < .001; DJ height, p = .015; DJ RSI, p < .001). CMJ PPF did not differ significantly among conditions (p = .108). These findings demonstrate that 60 min of waist-level HWI at 42°C can acutely improve concentric-dominant jump performance via SJ test and performance in jumps involving slow- and fast-SSC demands via CMJ and DJ, respectively. In addition, the passive warm-up via HWI enhanced RSI during DJ while AWU showed no difference to the CON condition. In conclusion, passive warm-up via 60 min of HWI at 42°C appears to be an effective strategy for acutely enhancing vertical jump performance across tasks characterised by concentric-dominant, slow-SSC, and fast-SSC demands.
Simulating the future, remembering the past: Effects of sensory and emotional focus on vividness and memory across the lifespan
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Kim, Joy; Devitt, Aleea
Remembering the past and simulating the future rely on overlapping constructive processes. Moreover, simulating a future event can influence what is later remembered. However, there are key gaps in our knowledge of this process when it comes to healthy ageing: older adults often report simulations as being more vivid than younger adults despite producing fewer episodic details, and they are less susceptible to simulation-induced memory biases. The present study aimed to address these gaps by manipulating the type of information prioritised during future simulation and examining influences on subjective vividness and subsequent memory across younger and older adults. Younger and older adults simulated future events while focusing on either sensory or emotional information, then read narratives describing the hypothetical outcomes of those events, before finally completing a recognition test for narrative details. Subjective vividness ratings were collected during simulation, and memory performance was assessed using discriminability (d′) and response bias (C). Despite clear differences in the type of details generated across sensory and emotion-focused conditions, neither vividness ratings nor memory accuracy (d′) varied as a function of focus condition. However, older adults demonstrated a more liberal response bias overall, and both age groups showed a more liberal bias following emotion-focused simulation. These findings suggest that the subjective experience of vividness is relatively independent of the specific type of information emphasised during simulation, indicating that vividness may reflect broader evaluative judgements about the simulation rather than the amount or type of episodic details the simulation contained. The absence of focus effects on memory accuracy further indicates that altering simulation content alone may be insufficient to bias later remembering. Instead, the influence of future simulation on memory may depend on whether the simulation meaningfully changes higher-level subjective states that persist into later encoding and retrieval.
Machine learning for nociception assessment from single-channel electroencephalography during general anaesthesia
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Mayo, Christopher; Kurz, Jason A.; Sleigh, James W.
Nociception is defined as the neural encodings of noxious stimuli, and is a key dimension of general anaesthesia that clinicians seek to control. The use of machine learning (ML) to predict intraoperative nociception from single-channel electroencephalography (EEG) data is poorly established, with existing indices relying on opaque proprietary algorithms or limited validation. A key challenge is the lack of reliable ground truth: many prior studies evaluate models solely on their ability to predict postoperative pain scores, which may not accurately reflect intraoperative nociceptive processes. This thesis addresses this problem through two complementary contributions. Firstly, a hypothesis-driven unified validation framework was created to evaluate nociception indices against multiple physiologically motivated criteria, including responsiveness to surgical incision and analgesic administration, rather than relying solely on postoperative pain scores. Secondly, a range of ML approaches were developed to predict nociception from EEG. A dataset comprising 1,541 total hours of intraoperative EEG across 567 patients from three previous studies was collated, preprocessed, and aligned with drug dosage and surgical event data. This was used to develop and evaluate putative nociception indices using a range of ML approaches, including unsupervised approaches, representation learning methods to reduce confounding, and a novel EEG-informed pharmacodynamic non-linear mixed effects model (EEG-PD-NLME) that exploits fentanyl pharmacology to provide a supervisory signal. The best-performing candidate indices were a principal component-based index (PCA-6) and an EEG-PD-NLME model with additional adversarial training (NLME+adv.), satisfying most of the criteria in the proposed framework. However, despite this, both models performed poorly when predicting postoperative pain (AUROC 0.511 and 0.388, respectively). This discrepancy suggests a mismatch between intraoperative nociception and postoperative pain, challenging the use of postoperative pain scores as a validation endpoint. A well-validated and well-described index of nociception could be utilised clinically, allowing for improved titration of analgesic medications during surgery. This may lead to improved postoperative outcomes such as reduced postoperative pain. More broadly, this thesis demonstrates the importance of comprehensive evaluation when learning latent physiological variables in the absence of ground truth data.
Palaeoenvironment and volcanic processes of the Wairēinga Falls lava, Te Mata Quarry
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Wilde, Sarah; Pittari, Adrian
This study characterises the Wairēinga (Bridal Veil) Falls lava flow and reconstructs the palaeoenvironmental and volcanic history associated with this lava flow at Te Mata Quarry through integrated field observations and laboratory analyses. Stratigraphic logging, petrographic analysis, grain-size analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and portable XRF (pXRF) were used to investigate volcanic and sedimentary units exposed throughout the quarry. The sedimentary sequence beneath the lava flow contains glauconite and abundant bioclastic material, indicating deposition in a shallow marine environment associated with the Oligocene Te Kuiti Group. In contrast, buried wood and coal horizons, and hyaloclastite beneath the basalt, which unconformably cross-cuts the Te Kuiti Group, demonstrate that a wet terrestrial valley had developed prior to lava emplacement in the late Pliocene/early Pleistocene. The Wairēinga Falls lava flow was emplaced at approximately 2.57 Ma into this water-influenced palaeovalley. Hyaloclastite preserved along flow margins provides evidence of lava–water interaction, indicating that surface or near-surface water strongly influenced cooling and fragmentation during emplacement. Petrographic and geochemical analyses reveal a compositionally homogeneous basalt consistent with previous studies of the region. However, structural features including variable columnar joint spacing, multidirectional joint orientations, and rosette jointing suggest a complex emplacement history involving multiple flow units and the development of lava tubes, indicating spatial variability in emplacement processes despite a uniform magma composition. The overlying Kauroa Ash sequence, particularly the T5 tephra, provides regional context and supports correlations with volcanic activity in the central North Island, including the Ongatiti Ignimbrite. Together, these findings place the lava flow and its emplacement environment in the Te Mata Quarry within the broader volcanic evolution of the Alexandra Volcanic Group, and improve understanding of lava emplacement processes, in a wet palaeoenvironment.
Relational engagement in engineering: Developing an indigenous engagement framework for practice with Mana Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Poulsen, Benjamin; Bertram, Danielle; Owen, Mahonri
Engagement with mana whenua (territorial rights holders) is a vital part of competent engineering practice across Aotearoa New Zealand. Despite the existence of a large number of Indigenous Engagement Frameworks (IEFs), engineers seeking to engage face challenges in accessing, interpreting, and applying the available guidance in ways that respect Māori (Indigenous New Zealander) authority. Therefore, the research conducted here aims to the development of a practical IEF and accompanying spatial map to support early and culturally appropriate engagement with Māori. Through a literature review and interviews with iwi (nation) representatives and museum curators, the study identified key gaps in accessibility and usability of existing frameworks. Many of the IEFs reviewed assumed a certain level of prior knowledge and experience from the user, which limited their effectiveness for engineers unfamiliar with engagement processes. Interviewees further emphasised the importance of relational engagement in achieving culturally appropriate and effective outcomes. While engineers often rely on structured processes, the interviews found that effective engagement with mana whenua requires flexibility, time, and relationship-building. Rather than prioritising one approach over the other, the most effective result will come from finding a balance between structured processes and relational practice. The research highlights the need for practical guidance that supports engineers in navigating relational and culturally grounded engagement practices. An iterative design process was used for the development of the IEF and accompanying spatial mapping tool, which were presented in the form of a practical booklet and interactive map that balances the desire for procedural guidance with prompts that encourage relationship-building. The study also demonstrates the practical and theoretical value of using site-specific taiao (environment) knowledge within engineering contexts, while emphasising the relational and reciprocal nature of engagement. Limitations of the study and opportunities for future research, such as including iwi-led spatial mapping and the potential for a reciprocal engagement framework, are also discussed. This thesis contributes to a culturally grounded IEF designed to support engineers in conducting respectful and effective engagement with mana whenua.
Evaluation of DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress in cancer patients in a Phase 1b dose-escalation trial of selenium compounds
(The University of Waikato, 2025) Burns, Craig; Peters, Linda M.
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element needed in a healthy human diet. Past clinical trials have shown Se to be a promising co-drug for cancer patients undergoing treatment to minimise the effect of the cancer treatment on non-malignant cells. This project is a continuation of a 2019 Phase 1 clinical study “Comparative Safety, Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Three Oral Selenium Compounds in Cancer Patients”, that set out to analyse which Se compound and what dosage point is recommended for use in a Phase 2 clinical trial at the Waikato Hospital, New Zealand. Nine cancer patients were recruited into the trial from Waikato Hospital with informed consent. They were randomised to take one of three Se compounds, the organic compounds Seleno-L-methionine (SLM) or Se-methyl-selenocysteine (MSC), or the inorganic compound sodium selenite (SS), at a starting dose of 1600 mcg/day for 28 days and then a higher dosage of 6400 mcg/day for another 28 days. Patients were then taken off the compounds and watched for the last 28 days of the trial. Patients were asked to keep a diary and record any adverse events (AEs) that they experienced while on the trial. Western blot methods were used to investigate ER stress, and the LORD-Q assay was used to investigate the genotoxicity of the three compounds. Samples were also sent away for Se speciation studies. Out of the three compounds, patients on MSC experienced the fewest AEs, with five Grade 1 and two Grade 2 events. SS patients experienced seven Grade 1 and two Grade 2 events. Patients on SLM reported the highest number of AEs, with six Grade 1 and five Grade 2 events. Notably, one case of encephalopathy was observed in the SLM cohort. In the LORD-Q assay the three Se compounds exhibited sustained mtDNA protection throughout the trial. SLM exhibited fluctuating nDNA lesions at the lower dose. As the concentration increased, no measurable nDNA damage was detected. However, a transient spike in nDNA damage was later observed, followed by a decrease towards the end of the trial. Both SS and MSC exhibited an increase in nDNA relative to the baseline which was sustained throughout the trial. Western blot analysis was performed in two out of the nine patients to provide a preliminary point of evaluation of ER stress. The western blot data showed a sustained decrease in protein expression of eIF2a and sXBP1 throughout the trial. In contrast, GRP78 decreased throughout the lower dosage phase and then increases in expression at the higher dose point. The preliminary findings of this thesis suggest that MSC should be the compound recommended to be used in the Phase 2 trial. This is based on findings on adverse events, genotoxicity, and total Se plasma levels. It is important to note that further results are required to elucidate this recommendation.
Pharmacodynamics of therapeutic dose selenium compounds: A determination study for dose/compound efficacy potential
(The University of Waikato, 2026) Goodall, Renëe Jo-Leigh; Peters, Linda M.
This research is a key part of a Phase 1(b) clinical trial that was designed to investigate a potential therapeutic dose of selenium (Se) in an oncology setting to aid in protection against toxicities caused by cancer therapies. The trial's primary objectives were to identify the most effective combination of Se dosage (1600 or 6400 μg/day) and compound using three forms of Se (Selenomethionine (SLM), methyl-selenocysteine (MSC), and Sodium selenite (SS). To achieve this, western blot methodologies were used to investigate the effect of the Se compounds on the protein expression. Three antibodies, HIF-1α, EGLN1 and EGLN3 were used to identify changes in the hypoxic pathway, CASPASE-8 was used for the apoptosis pathway and a singular GAPDH loading control was used to estimate regulation change. In addition, LORD-Q PCR was implemented to evaluate both the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage. Nine patients who provided informed consent were recruited for the trial. The trial protocol involved seven visits in which blood and plasma samples, adverse events (AE) reporting, and other safety procedures were collected. Two baseline (at the pre-check visit and on day 1) samples were taken one to two weeks apart before dosing to assess intrapatient variability. Two samples for 1600 μg and 6400 μg and a singular post-trial sample over the course of the 12 week trial. Patients kept a diary to self-record any AEs experienced over the trial period. No AEs higher than grade 2 were reported during the trial, with the most common AE being gastrointestinal-related. Western blot analysis showed minimal increase in expression for HIF-1α for four out of five patients with data, when compared to the baseline samples and showed an overall decreased protein expression when normalised against GAPDH. Except patient 29 who showed a distinct increase during the trial, peaking at 25 times the level of GAPDH. Themeasurement of the apoptotic pathway using CASPASE-8 was used however, insufficient data was gained. LORD-Q PCR data showed that damage sustained to mtDNA and ntDNA was not consistent between patients of a singular compound. Data from this trial demonstrate a potential protective effect on DNA damage at the nuclear and mitochondrial level at both 1600 μg/day and 6400 μg/day in all Se compounds. MSC and SS showed to be the least volatile compounds, indicating increased protective effects against DNA damage, which is supported by the western blots for hypoxia. SLM was volatile, showing higher mitochondrial damage and a slight upregulation in the minimal apoptosis data obtained. The difference in in protective effects and pathway regulation was minimal; further investigation into the hypothesis that they are at the same level in the U-shaped tolerance that Se has in humans is advised. Future studies should further investigate the clinical significance and potential of Se as an adjuvant therapy alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer patients.

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