Environment Waikato Research Articles

Comparison of Decision Tree Methods in Classification of Researcher’s Cognitive styles in Academic Environment

In today's internet world, providing feedbacks to users based on what they need and their knowledge is essential. Classification is one of the data mining methods used to mine large data. There are several classification techniques used to solve classification problems. In this article, classification techniques are used to classify researchers as "Expert" and "Novice" based on cognitive styles factors in academic settings using several Decision Tree techniques. Decision Tree is the suitable technique to choose for classification in order to categorize researchers as "Expert" and "Novice" because it produces high accuracy. Environment Waikato Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) is an open source tool used for classification. Using WEKA, the Random Forest technique was selected as the best method because it provides accuracy of 92.72728. Based on these studies, most researchers have a better knowledge of their own domain and their problems and show more competencies in their information seeking behavior compared to novice researchers. This is because the "experts" have a clear understanding of their research problems and is more efficient in information searching activities. Classification techniques are implemented as a digital library search engine because it can help researchers to have the best response according to their demand.

Environmental planning and consenting for Wairakei: 1953–2008

In the early 1950s, the Wairakei geothermal power scheme was “fast tracked” as a project of national importance. In 1991, the Government enacted the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) which changed the focus of environmental planning and management from control of activities to control of the effects of activities on the environment. Existing generation schemes, such as Wairakei were deemed by statute to have resource consents expiring on 1 October 2001, by which time new resource consents had to be applied for. In preparing resource consent applications for Wairakei in 2001, the owner of the Wairakei power station, Contact Energy, compiled a comprehensive Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE). Although applications were lodged in March 2001, the process of securing resource consents took more than 6 years—significantly longer than anyone involved in the process expected at the outset. The applications were delayed by another company, seeking to establish a geothermal power station in the Wairakei field, pursuing legal action to have its resource consent applications heard and determined before those of Contact Energy. This action ultimately failed. A further delay resulted from Environment Waikato, a consenting authority, embarking upon a re-write of the policy regime against which the resource consent applications were to be assessed and determined. This was resolved through lengthy mediation with the assistance of the Environment Court. Also delaying the consent approval was Taupo District Council seeking complete and targeted infield reinjection of waste geothermal fluid from Wairakei with a view to avoiding ground subsidence, particularly in the Tauhara area. This was rejected by the Environment Court in May 2007. The appealed consents were granted in August 2007. In late 2007, the New Zealand Government's energy strategy set the target of 90% of New Zealand's total electricity generation coming from renewable sources by 2025, and that no further baseload thermal generation capacity will be developed unless required for security of supply. In accordance with this strategy, Contact Energy has filed resource consent applications for a 225 MW geothermal power station at Te Mihi to replace the 50-year-old Wairakei station and is preparing resource consent applications for a similar sized new geothermal power station at Tauhara. The Government considers the Te Mihi proposal one of national significance, and has appointed a Board of Inquiry to decide the Te Mihi applications.

Harnessing Community Opportunities to Achieve Large-Scale Possum Control in Rural New Zealand

The brush-tailed possum is an introduced mammalian pest from Australia. This ubiquitous, nocturnal animal occupies every suitable habitat throughout New Zealand and causes over $40 million (NZD) per annum of direct damage to the country’s economy. To this must be added the intrinsic values associated with possum damage to the conservation estate and native flora and fauna. Rural landowners arguably suffer the greatest effects of possums through grass loss resulting in competition with stock, and the possibility of bovine tuberculosis being spread by possums to farmed cattle and deer. In the upper North Island, the Waikato Regional Council (also known as Environment Waikato) has developed a fresh approach to working with rural landowners to achieve effective and sustainable possum control over large (20,000 ha plus) areas of private and government owned lands. There are currently 12 schemes managed, covering in total 155,000 ha and involving over 770 landowners. The procedure for implementing schemes is necessarily comprehensive but flexible enough to have seen seven modifications to the process since 1998. The process is constantly evolving to ensure that control remains effective and meets the expectations of scheme members and the Council. Environment Waikato, having secured a community mandate of at least 75% of support in each proposed area, undertakes and funds initial control to a predetermined residual trap catch density. Leaving landowners to maintain low possum numbers themselves through trapping, shooting, and poisoning techniques has not proved sustainable in the long-term. Now, maintenance work is carried out by professional contractors and funded by landowners through a targeted property rate (dollars per ha owned). Such an approach has produced significant results, better utilizes contractor time and expertise, and frees farmers up to concentrate on their core task of farming.

Contracting Out Local Government Services: A Comparative Study of Two New Zealand Regional Councils

Studies of New Zealand’s public sector reforms since the mid-1980s have tended to focus on the application of New Public Management principles to the central government. Yet local government in New Zealand too has experienced drastic restructuring with a view to ensuring greater rationalisation, efficiency and effectiveness. This article examines contracting out in New Zealand local government, focusing on the delivery of plant pest management by Environment Waikato (the Waikato Regional Council) and the Wellington Regional Council. The study reveals distinct differences in approach by the two councils, determined in each case by pragmatic responses to situational context rather than mere adherence to NPM principles.

Implementation of regional pest management strategies

With the enactment of the Biosecurity Act 1993, New Zealand obtained enabling legislation which makes it possible to develop and implement regional pest management strategies (RPMSs) which are integrated in terms of multi species approach, funding, and outcome objectives. Up until this time local authorities, government departments, and landowners had mixed signals in terms of resource versus pest values, dated legislation, no long-term strategic approach to pest control, and certainly no guarantees for funding. The Waikato Regional Council (Environment Waikato) experience in developing and implementing a regional pest management strategy under the Biosecurity Act is studied and reported on for this paper.

A method for improving farm practice: a case study of pugging

Historically farmers made little distinction between farming for product or farming to maintain the physical resources for future generations but now have to demonstrate the latter. With this challenge, Federated Farmers, AgResearch, Livestock Improvement Corporation and Environment Waikato initiated study groups in the Waikato, linking farmers, scientists and policy agents. A case study of pugging (stock treading) management is used to demonstrate the group participatory process. The key stages in the group's development over time are explained. Throughout these stages, exchange of principles, experiences, ideas and data about pugging were aligned to the group's needs. Management guidelines to minimise pugging damage in both winter and spring were identified. The economic impact of pugging damage to paddocks was analysed at the farm level using UDDER. A comparative discussion of the group process compares the experiences of participants with published claims about study groups. Discussion of the group process calls for the need to develop methods for analysing group process. Keywords: decision-making, farm system, monitoring, participatory process, pugging, resource management, study groups

Inflows of geothermal fluid chemicals to the Waikato River catchment, New Zealand

Abstract Data collected from two monitoring programmes conducted by Environment Waikato, New Zealand, have been used to estimate the mass flows of Li, B, As, SO4, and Cl from geothermal fluids entering the Waikato River up stream of Lake Whakamaru. Chloride is the major anion in geothermal waters and is closely related to Li, B, and As. The total river water mass flow of Cl is 4600 g s−1 at the outlet of Lake Whakamaru and of this, 78% originates from geothermal fluids; 13% flows into Lake Taupo, and 65% enters the river down stream of Lake Taupo. The Wairakei field contributes the largest fraction of 45% and geothermal fluid flows which were not directly measured in the monitoring programmes contribute 23%. The remaining 10% derives from measured flows from 14 of the 16 known geothermal fields. The origins of Li, As, and B closely follow those of Cl. Geothermal SO4 is produced from the oxidation of H2S carried by geothermal steam and the estimates made of the mass flows originating from geothermal fluids...

Farmer perspectives on sustainable farming

Waikato Federated Farmers has recently taken a proactive role in land management issues which has involved developing for farmers an operational definition of sustainable farming and ways of promoting and demonstrating sustainable practices on farm. In partnership with AgResearch and Environment Waikato, the operational definition, management practices and user friendly indicators to aid monitoring were obtained, Sustainable farming recognises socio-economic goals of farmers (viable business, enjoyable lifestyle, good living standards, good short term profitability, satisfied farmers) and resource goals (efficient, contented animals, productive pasture, clean water, control of feral pests, unrestricted market access, adequate rural services, family heath). Grazing guidelines have been produced using the above information and on-farm study groups set up to demonstrate these practices in a whole-farm system. Userfriendly indicators have also been developed and are in use. Keywords: farming goals, guidelines, participatory process, sustainable farming

Present Government policy on pest control

Abstract The staff of Environment Waikato are to be congratulated for their initiative in setting up this important meeting. More public discussion on the pest problem in New Zealand is needed, although my mailbag suggests that there is already a keen awareness of the daunting problem that we face. The possum is most often cast in the villain's role, but we should not ignore the rats, rabbits, deer, feral sheep, pigs, cats, mustelids, wasps, and feral cattle that are also pests in some ecosystems.

Pests, a bipartisan issue: Can legislative reforms help?

Abstract Environment Waikato is to be commended for conceiving and organising this meeting. The issues involved are of enormous importance to the whole country, and the provision of a forum to discuss them is a national service. Here I outline the problems from the perspective of the Labour Opposition.