Island New Zealand Research Articles

The mid-Cretaceous Hohonu Batholith (South Island, New Zealand): Identifying magmatic sources and processes during onset of crustal extension

The Hohonu Batholith is an aggregation of mostly mid-Cretaceous granitoid plutons on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand emplaced during a transitional period between subduction-related compression and continental lithospheric extension. This study reports an integrated dataset, comprising in-situ UPb, O and Hf isotope compositions and REE, Ti and other trace and major elements (ZrHf, ThU) for zircons extracted from four representative plutons within the batholith. Our results provide detailed insight into the protracted thermal, chronological and geochemical histories. LA-ICPMS UPb zircon ages indicate a primary episode of magma genesis and emplacement from 107 to 113 Ma, confirming published SIMS dating. However, a younger previously unrecognized age population of ~91–96 Ma is identified, primarily (although not exclusively) in zircon rims. This younger age event coincides with the timing of protracted lithospheric extension and crustal thinning of the Zealandia continent. The cryptic younger zircon ages suggest that Hohonu granitoids experienced a partial thermal overprint (accompanied by Pb loss) mostly recorded in rims. Differences in bulk rock geochemistry between plutons are inferred to reflect variable conditions of partial melting controlled by source mineralogy and H2O content. Isotope and trace element compositions, along with Ti-thermometry, measured on the same micro-volume of CL-imaged zircons, are used to test if source characteristics were imparted from melt to minerals in zircon-saturated silicic systems. Similarities are revealed in the zircon record of the selected plutonic rocks, confirming their broadly consanguineous relationship and the fundamental role of open-system behaviour, involving hybridization or assimilation between mantle-derived (or juvenile mafic) and a crustal-derived components, as previously inferred from whole rock NdSr isotope systematics. However, intra-sample decoupling of zircon OHf isotope systematics may also be linked to residual source component unmixing. This possibility, in addition to mafic recharge, may have obscured melt source compositional characteristics, and hence zircon REE appear as unsuitable fingerprints of source(s) and conditions of partial melting in this granitoid system. Simple compositional and thermal magma evolution trends appear punctuated by episodes of mafic recharge, presumably during lithospheric thinning.

The New Zealand spread and distribution of the South American weevils Floresianus sordidus Hustache and Atrichonotus taeniatulus (Berg)

ABSTRACT The South American Flores weevil (Floresianus sordidus Hustache, 1939) and little fringed weevil Atrichonotus taeniatulus (Berg, 1881) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) are now common in northern areas of the North Island of New Zealand. Historic records were investigated to determine the distribution and prevalence of these flightless weevils during five decades following their initial establishment in the Hawke’s Bay region in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Both were slow dispersers: the first detection outside Hawke’s Bay was in the 1990s and they were only confirmed present in Taranaki from 2017 onwards. Dispersal between regions likely occurred via human transport, with both detected for the first time in the South Island in 2000 at Christchurch airport. Based on the number of sites where the weevils have been collected, both species have been found more often in the warmer regions but will eventually colonise most of New Zealand. Parasitism by Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was detected in A. taeniatulus adults but not in F. sordidus.

Craspedia blepharia (Compositae/Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae), a new species from Garibaldi Ridge in Nelson/Tasman, South Island of New Zealand

ABSTRACT Craspedia G.Forst., a genus of tribe Gnaphalieae (Compositae/Asteraceae), is confined to Australia and New Zealand. Twelve species, including Craspedia blepharia Breitw. & Courtney, which we are describing here, are now recognised in New Zealand. Craspedia blepharia is known only from Garibaldi Ridge in Nelson/Tasman, South Island of New Zealand. It is a strong calcicole, confined to exposed, vertical surfaces of limestone cliffs and dolines and quartzose sandstone cliffs which receive calcium-rich seep-water. Its rosettes grow either individually or in dense clumps on cliff faces, thus allowing the plants to receive water from surface water flow. It is distinguished from other New Zealand Craspedia by its rosette leaves clad with a hispid adaxially very dense and abaxially sparse indumentum of very long (2.2–3 mm), usually curved, uniseriate, multiseptate, usually slightly brown or colourless, translucent trichomes that may have a very thin curly, flagellate tip, and leaf margins with a thin white rim formed by the flagellate tips of these long, curved trichomes. We are providing the formal taxonomic treatment together with illustrations and descriptions of its morphology, distribution, habitat, ecology, phenology, and etymology, as well as an assessment of its conservation status.

Authenticity and Divine Accommodation in a 19 Century Māori Context

How did early 19th Century Māori assess the authenticity of the gospel narrative based on their own traditional worldview? This essay explores the thoughts of Whangataua, an ancestor of the author from the Ngāi Tahu and Rangitāne tribes of the upper Manawatū River region in the North Island of New Zealand. How might Whangataua and his contemporaries have negotiated the authenticity of the gospel narrative shared by the missionary William Colenso between 1846 and 1852? This paper explores the cultural and intellectual negotiation that took place when Māori first heard the gospel message by comparing the story of the virgin birth of Jesus from the book of Luke with the traditional narrative of Tamatea-ure-haea and his wife Iwipupu. The intersection between the virgin conception narrative and Māori tribal beliefs held by 19th Century rangatira (principal chiefs) reveals an overlapping of realities where Māori worldview could become an agent of divine accommodation and authenticity for the gospel narratives.

Identification of the best viticultural areas by spatial optimisation. Application in New Zealand South Island in the context of climate change

The global winegrowing sector is under pressure due to the effects of global climate change. This is particularly true for New Zealand, where the wine industry is limited to a few regions. This study focuses on the South Island of New Zealand. It uses the Multi-objective Optimisation for Agrosystems (MOA) model to (i) investigate how potential exposure to climate risks and phenological stages will evolve under climate change, (ii) assess the suitability of current vineyards for viticulture in the future, and (iii) investigate potential emerging areas favourable for viticulture.The results show that a significant shift in the phenological stages of veraison and ripeness can be expected in the future due to the warming of the South Island of New Zealand. The projected phenological stages advancement is around one week in the near term for both Shared-Socioeconomic Pathways studied (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and is more than three weeks and one month in long-term for SSP2–4.5 and SSP5-8.5 respectively. A regional to local increase in frost risk (Canterbury, Otago, and Southland) and a slight increase in disease risk (especially on the coast) are also projected in the future, while the South Island of New Zealand is not expected to be affected by heatwaves. The results show that Marlborough, New Zealand's most important winegrowing region, will continue to be one of the best areas for viticulture in the 21st century. On the other hand, new winegrowing opportunities are expected to emerge inland and southwards.Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the impact of climate change on the New Zealand wine industry and emphasises the need to adapt to changing climate conditions. It also provides insights into the future suitability of vineyards and identifies potential expansion areas for the New Zealand viticulture sector.

Redistribution of fine gold from hydrothermal sources to sedimentary sinks, Rakaia River, Canterbury, New Zealand

ABSTRACT The Rakaia River in the South Island of New Zealand is a unique catchment in which to trace active detrital gold transport, deformation and concentration from near-coeval orogenic sources. The catchment hosts widespread small late Cenozoic hydrothermal alteration zones, some of which are gold-bearing, in actively rising and eroding mountain headwaters. Detrital gold liberated from the sources is distinctively porous with abundant micron-scale silicate inclusions, especially albite. Fine gold (∼200–100 µm) has been transported >100 km downstream, but coarse gold remains highly diluted in proximal fluvial sediments. Fine gold is also diluted by coarse fluvial sediments that form the upper kilometre of the Canterbury sedimentary basin southeast of the mountain front. Minor re-concentration of fine gold occurs in a bedrock gorge at the mountain front, and on steep ocean beaches beyond the river mouth. Despite the long-distance transport, the fine gold particles have been only superficially modified by surface smearing and minor flattening. The gold may have travelled in suspension in the river, buoyed by electrostatically adhering fine micas, in contrast to detrital garnets that were rounded in bed-load. In contrast, detrital gold on the western side of the mountains has been flattened to thin flakes during bed-load transport.

Upper-mantle seismic anisotropy in the southwestern North Island, New Zealand: Implications for regional upper-mantle and slab deformation

We employed shear-wave splitting analysis on both teleseismic SKS and S waves, and S waves from deep (150–250 km) local earthquakes collected from a dense array with 43 temporary broadband seismic stations and nine long-term seismic stations centered at Mount Taranaki to characterize the upper-mantle dynamics in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand, in areas previously unexamined for shear-wave splitting. We observed predominantly trench-parallel fast polarizations and strikingly large delay times over 3 s from teleseismic analysis. In contrast, local S analysis yielded a sharp transition of fast-polarization from trench-parallel in the northeast to trench-normal in the southwest. Trench-parallel fast-polarization from teleseismic analysis may be attributed to sub-slab trench-parallel flow or to trench-parallel fractures in the subducting slab. More importantly, we attribute large delay times to deep upper-mantle (200–400 km depth) deformation, possibly associated with the dynamic interaction between the downgoing slab and the 410-km discontinuity or with the lithosphere delamination near the Taranaki-Ruapehu line. In contrast, the trench-parallel anisotropy from the local S waves in the northeast could be caused by fluid-bearing cracks in the crust of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and/or by trench-parallel fractures in the subducting slab resulting from outer rise bending. The abrupt change to trench-normal may be related to stress variations in the downgoing slab at different depths.

Seismic characteristics of the 2022-2023 unrest episode at Taupō volcano, Aotearoa New Zealand

Taupō is a large caldera volcano located beneath a lake in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand and most recently erupted ~1800 years ago. The volcano has experienced at least 16 periods of unrest since 1872, each of which were characterised by increased seismic activity. Here we detail seismic activity during the most recent period of unrest from May 2022 to May 2023. The unrest was notable for the highest number of earthquakes detected during instrumented unrest episodes, and for one of the largest magnitude earthquakes detected beneath the lake for at least 50 years (ML 5.7). Relocated earthquakes indicate seismic activity was focused around an area hosting overlapping caldera structures and a hydrothermal system. Moment tensor inversion for the largest earthquake includes a non-negligible inflationary isotropic component. We suggest the seismic unrest was caused by the reactivation of faults due to an intrusion of magma at depth.

The potential of deep learning to counter the matrix effect for assessment of honey quality and monoflorality

The complexity of biological matrices affects Near-infrared (NIR) signals. Honey, a complex food matrix, changes in chemical and physical properties over time indicating strong matrix effects when capturing NIR spectra. The varied floral sources in most honeys also contribute to this effect. A real dataset of 1656 honey samples spanning eight geographic districts of the North Island of New Zealand captured by NIR hyperspectral camera was analyzed with machine learning and deep learning models to assess mānuka honey quality and identity. One-dimensional neural network (1D-CNN) showed high capacity to accommodate the complexity of the honey matrix, better than did linear machine learning models, particularly for prediction of a trademarked continuous quality score of mānuka honey, known as Unique Mānuka Factor (UMFTM). Monofloral mānuka honey was distinguished well from multi-floral and non-mānuka when classified with 1D-CNN, achieving > 90 % class accuracy, better than conventional classifiers. Interestingly, 1D-CNN models could precisely identify important spectral regions such as Visible (666–725 nm) & NIR (991 and 1435 nm) supporting the evaluation of mānuka honey quality and determining botanical origin as Leptospermum scoparium. Both are useful for future model development and application to automated assessment of honey quality and monoflorality before lumped extraction.

Respectful tolerance, misrecognition, and religious diversity: reflections on the New Zealand government’s response to the 2019 Christchurch massacre

ABSTRACT This paper shows that the traditional framing of diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand in terms of ethnicity hampers the government’s ability to give due recognition to Muslim communities in the wake of the Christchurch massacre. It first examines the New Zealand government’s response to the Royal Commission’s inquiry into the massacre with specific focus on the establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic Communities. The analysis draws from government documents and data, media reports, and nine semi-structured qualitative interviews with members of Muslim communities in the South Island of New Zealand. It then examines the participants’ responses to two questions: first, whether they think the government leadership has done enough to promote respectful tolerance and second, the key factor or factors they believe need to be addressed for New Zealand to become a more tolerant society. The article highlights how the government’s failure to listen attentively has led to the misrecognition and non-recognition of Muslim communities to the detriment of its stated goals of promoting religious tolerance, social cohesion, and inclusion in the interests of national security.

A new, high‐resolution atmospheric dataset for southern New Zealand, 2005–2020

AbstractThe regional climate of New Zealand's South Island is shaped by the interaction of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies with the complex orography of the Southern Alps. Due to its isolated geographical setting in the south‐west Pacific, the influence of the surrounding oceans on the atmospheric circulation is strong. Therefore, variations in sea surface temperature (SST) impact various spatial and temporal scales and are statistically detectable down to temperature anomalies and glacier mass changes in the high mountains of the Southern Alps. To enable future studies on the processes that govern the link between large‐scale SST and local‐scale high‐mountain climate, we utilized dynamical downscaling with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to produce a regional atmospheric modelling dataset for the South Island of New Zealand over a 16‐year period between 2005 and 2020. The 2 km horizontal resolution ensures realistic representation of high‐mountain topography and glaciers, as well as explicit simulation of convection. The dataset is extensively evaluated against observations, including weather station and satellite data, on both regional (in the inner domain) and local (on Brewster Glacier in the Southern Alps) scales. Variability in both atmospheric water content and near‐surface meteorological conditions is well captured, with minor seasonal and spatial biases. The local high‐mountain climate at Brewster Glacier, where land use and topographic model settings have been optimized, yields remarkable accuracy on both monthly and daily time scales. The data provide a valuable resource to researchers from various disciplines studying the local and regional impacts of climate variability on society, economies and ecosystems in New Zealand. The model output from the highest resolution model domain is available for download in daily temporal resolution from a public repository at the German Climate Computation Center (DKRZ) in Hamburg, Germany (Kropač et al., 2023; 16‐year WRF simulation for the Southern Alps of New Zealand, World Data Center for Climate (WDCC) at DKRZ [data set]. https://doi.org/10.26050/WDCC/NZ‐PROXY_16yrWRF).

Effects of heading date and Epichloë endophyte on persistence of diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). 1. Heading date

Context Data are lacking on the effects of heading date of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) on ryegrass persistence. Aim We aimed to determine the impact of heading date on perennial ryegrass persistence. Method Two mid-heading (Samson, Bronsyn) and two late-heading (One50, Rohan) cultivars, infected with Epichloë endophytes (AR37, nea2/6 or standard toxic), were established in a replicated plot study grazed by cattle in a subtropical environment of the upper North Island of New Zealand. Persistence characteristics were quantified at least five times per annum, over 4 years. Key results Late-heading cultivars had higher yield, nutritive value, perennial ryegrass content in pasture dry matter, ground cover and tiller density than mid-heading cultivars. There were large seasonal impacts on all ryegrass characteristics, with a major decline over summer and recovery during late autumn into early spring, with less recovery in the final year. Overall, there was a strong linear decline in ryegrass content measured during spring (2018–21). Conclusions The two late-heading cultivars were more persistent than the two mid-heading cultivars, although persistence declined over 4 years for all cultivars. Implications Results support industry recommendations of choosing late-heading cultivars for improved pasture quality and persistence.

Effects of heading date and Epichloë endophyte on persistence of diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). 2. Endophyte strain and interactions with heading date

Context Data are lacking on the effects of selected endophytes of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) on ryegrass persistence. Aim We aimed to determine the impact of Epichloë endophyte on the persistence of mid- and late-heading perennial ryegrass cultivars. Method Two mid-heading (Samson, Bronsyn) and two late-heading (One50, Rohan) cultivars, infected with selected endophytes (AR37, nea2/6) or with standard toxic endophyte, were established in a replicated plot study grazed by cattle in a subtropical environment of the upper North Island of New Zealand. Persistence characteristics were quantified at least five times per annum, over 4 years. Key results Endophyte strain had an effect on persistence; infection with standard endophyte resulted in higher ryegrass ground cover percentage, ryegrass content in pasture dry matter and autumn yield than infection with nea2/6 on many occasions, and with AR37 on some occasions. There were negligible impacts on ryegrass tiller density or nutritive value. Trends were dominated by the main effect of endophyte; interactions with heading date were inconsistent. Conclusions Cultivars were more persistent when infected with standard endophyte than with selected endophytes, although persistence declined over 4 years for all cultivars and irrespective of heading date. Implications Reliance on selected endophyte is unlikely to prevent persistence decline of perennial ryegrass in a subtropical environment. Other strategies will be required to maintain the persistence of high-quality pastures based on perennial ryegrass.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Mountain Heights on Heavy Rainfall in the Hokitika Region of New Zealand

In the Hokitika region, on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand on 18 June 2015, very heavy stratiform precipitation (>200 mm/per day) occurred under north-westerlies with small CAPE (<25 J/kg). Analyses of model simulations and observations showed that this heavy rainfall was due to cold-front lifting enhanced by orographic lifting over the Southern Alps. At 1.5 km grid-length, the model terrain underestimated the average height of the 103 tallest mountains over the South Island by ~800 m. This led to weaker orographic lifting and mountain blocking, and a faster-moving and stronger cold front in the Hokitika region. As a result, large errors in the heavy rainfall prediction occurred. By increasing either the resolved or the sub-grid mountain heights, the simulated rainfall errors were largely reduced through stronger orographic lifting and mountain blocking, and simulation of the cold front movement and strength was improved. All the experiments have the same “flow-over” regime with mountain waves and/or wave breaking (Fm ranges 0.61–1.21). However, the rainfall amount and distribution on the windward side of the mountains varied significantly. Our new findings were that the Southern Alps can have significant indirect effects on heavy rainfall by altering the speed and strength of the cold front, in addition to the well-known direct dynamical effects (i.e., orographic lifting and mountain blocking). A combination of these direct and indirect effects makes the heavy rainfall simulation sensitive to mountain heights even under the same “flow-over” regime.

#2435 Calciphylaxis: patient demographics, risk factors and outcomes in a single regional centre in New Zealand

Abstract Background and Aims Calciphylaxis, a condition associated with microvascular calcification and subsequent formation of non-healing tender skin lesions, has previously been estimated to affect only approximately 1% of patients with ESRD each year. However, clinicians practicing in a regional renal unit in the North Island of New Zealand have noted an increase in the frequency of clinical diagnoses of this condition over recent years. The aim of this review was to analyze patient demographics and risk factors and attempt to identify any correlation with subsequent outcomes. Method A cross sectional retrospective review of dialysis patients from Palmerston North Hospital's Renal Unit who were found to have diagnoses of calciphylaxis, was performed. The following factors were assessed: gender, ethnicity, smoking status, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, dialysis modality, prescription of phosphate binders, vitamin D analogues, and sodium thiosulphate (STS). We included patients with both histologically proven calciphylaxis and clinical diagnosis only. Levels of serum PTH, calcium and phosphate at the time of diagnosis were reviewed, though only PTH levels were included in the final analysis. Results A total of nineteen patients were identified having calciphylaxis as a diagnosis in the period studied. Findings were limited due to the small patient cohort size, but of those identified and reviewed some commonalities were found. Included were 9 NZ European people and 8 NZ Māori people. There were 8 females. One patient was a current smoker at time of diagnosis and five were documented as ex-smokers. Fourteen patients (74%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Twelve patients (63%) were obese. Eighteen patients (95%) had hyperparathyroidism. Warfarin use was seen in 10 of the patients studied (52%) and twelve (63%) had used phosphate binders. Nine patients (47%) were diagnosed in the period between 2011 and 2021, with the remaining ten (53%) diagnoses occurring in 2022 or 2023. The majority (90%) were treated with STS, however 84% died. Dialysis modality at time of diagnosis and throughout disease span was also reviewed. Eight patients (42%) used only haemodialysis (HD), six patients (32%) used both modalities and five patients (26%) used only peritoneal dialysis. The majority (63%) of patients were on haemodialysis at time of diagnosis. Conclusion Calciphylaxis appears to be increasing dramatically in the single center studied in this review. Positive correlations were identified between high levels of PTH, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and use of warfarin. Unfortunately, due to small case numbers, and poor historical documentation, further conclusions could not be drawn easily. A further RCT would be required to investigate the efficacy of STS as a treatment for calciphylaxis.

Evidence From Intermediate‐Depth Earthquakes of Slab‐Derived Fluids Beneath the Taupō Volcanic Zone

AbstractAhi Tupua, the central section of the Taupō Volcanic Zone in the central North Island of New Zealand, encompasses Taupō and Ōkataina calderas and has been the most frequently active and productive silicic magma system worldwide during the Quaternary. The entire Taupō Volcanic Zone is underlain by the Hikurangi Subduction Zone where a Large Igneous Province, the Hikurangi Plateau, is being subducted, but Ahi Tupua exhibits much higher rates of magma output than either the northern or the southern sections. Trace element signatures of Ahi Tupua eruptive products suggest that both decompression melting and flux melting play a role in this rifted arc setting, with fluid flux signatures being more prevalent in regions of active caldera volcanism. Intermediate‐depth (50–300 km) earthquakes provide a means of studying faulting and fluid flow processes within and around the subducting slab beneath Ahi Tupua. Using data from the national seismic network and a 13‐station temporary network (“ECLIPSE”), we repick and relocate 397 intermediate‐depth earthquakes of magnitudes M2.5+ that occurred in a 29‐month interval, and compute focal mechanisms for a subset of 47 earthquakes. We observe some seismicity that may be within the mantle wedge but most of the relocated earthquakes occur within the crust and uppermost mantle of the subducted slab and exhibit a weak transition from predominantly normal‐faulting in the slab crust to predominantly reverse‐faulting in the slab mantle. No double seismic zone is observed beneath Ahi Tupua. These observations are consistent with dehydration of the slab and flow of slab‐derived fluids along existing faults into the mantle wedge, that drives flux melting and accounts for the distinctive geochemical signatures and voluminous output of Ahi Tupua calderas.

Low‐Frequency Earthquakes Downdip of Deep Slow Slip Beneath the North Island of New Zealand

AbstractWe report the first catalog of low‐frequency earthquakes in the Hikurangi subduction zone, located beneath the Kaimanawa Range of the North Island at 50 km depth, downdip of regularly recurring (every 4–5 years) deep M7 slow slip events. To systematically detect low‐frequency earthquakes within the regional continuous seismic data, we utilized a matched‐filter approach with template waveforms derived from previous observations of tectonic tremor. We built our catalog of 36 low‐frequency earthquake sources, that produced almost 21,000 events over more than a decade, with two matched‐filter search iterations. In each iteration, the detections were gathered into families and their coherent waveforms processed and stacked to extract high‐quality waveforms, allowing us to pick seismic phase arrivals to locate the low‐frequency earthquakes. We highlight three characteristic features to validate that our detected events are indeed low‐frequency earthquakes: the eponymous deficit of high frequencies in their seismic waveforms, the episodic swarms of activity that define their activity through time, and their location at the plate boundary with a double‐couple source mechanism and geometry consistent with the subduction interface. Considering the observed low‐frequency earthquakes' relationship to neighboring slow slip, we observe the event swarms to occur much more frequently than the M7 slow slip events located just updip. Similar to other deep low‐frequency earthquakes in other subduction zones, we suggest that this characteristic clustering in time is driven by more frequent, smaller slow slip events that are not clearly observable at the surface.

Evaluating Success and Challenges of a Primary Care Youth Mental Health Programme Using Complexity, Implementation Science, and Appreciative Inquiry.

Background Using an innovative framework of complexity and implementation science, with underpinning core values of appreciative inquiry (CIS-A), this paper describes the evaluation of a pilot service in New Zealand aiming to deliver integrated psychological therapy services within primary care, to young people (aged 18-24) experiencing mild to moderate mental distress. Method Using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods and multiple data sources,there was a strong focus on local innovation and co-design with service users, young people and multiple care providers. Data is drawn from service users, stakeholders and providers of the service in three areas of the lower North Island of New Zealand. Results The Piki pilot provided a significant and innovative enhancement of mental health care to this population. The service supported 5307 individuals with a range of therapy options, with the majority having between one and three therapy sessions. From 730 service users who completed a survey, 591 (81%) were 'very satisfied' with the service provided. The CIS-A framework was used successfully to provide rapid feedback and encourage adaptation to evolving issues. These included unexpected workload pressures, changes to therapy delivery, the integration of co-design and prioritising the needs of vulnerable groups. There was a successful incorporation of youth/service user input to co-design the programme, introduction of a peer-to-peer support service, and integration of a digital resource platform. The framework was also used to address challenges encountered and to support necessary adaptations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions We describe the use of an embedded evaluation to support and inform the implementation of a novel and innovative youth mental health programme. Complexity and implementation science, underpinned by the core values of appreciative inquiry (CIS-A), were successfully utilised providing potential learning that can be applied locally, nationally and internationally. This study has a focus on youth mental health but the principles and utility of applying a complexity and implementation science approach have application in many different health care settings. The use of a framework such as CIS-A can support complex innovation and implementation and can be used to enable rapid course correction and turn 'hindsight to foresight'.

The attitudes of nurses towards seclusion: A New Zealand in-patient mental health setting.

Seclusion is a form of restraint practised in mental health services world-wide, and has been criticised as unethical and traumatising to patients. Several countries have committed to reducing or eliminating seclusion. In New Zealand, there has been a focus on reducing seclusion of the indigenous Māori population, who experience particularly high rates. Nurses typically lead decisions to place patients in seclusion and their attitudes towards seclusion likely influence this process. This study aimed to address the primary question: what are the attitudes of registered nurses towards the use of seclusion? A mixed methods pragmatic approach was used involving qualitative interviews of nurses working in a high seclusion mental health ward located in the North Island of New Zealand, and a quantitative analysis of the seclusion data from this ward. This report is adherent with COREQ and STROBE. Thirteen nurses were interviewed and four main themes were identified: seclusion is necessary; seclusion is being used unnecessarily; nurse characteristics influence the use of seclusion; nurses perceived their ward culture to be improving in the use of seclusion. However, analysis of seclusion data indicated that rates had been increasing for this ward prior to this study, and the rates for indigenous Māori patients were especially elevated. This pattern of increasing rates was congruent with the 'supportive' attitudes of nurses towards seclusion. Interestingly, during the time of this study, the seclusion rates began to decline, including for Māori patients. This decline may have been partially due to the increased awareness prompted by the study.

New insights into avian malaria infections in New Zealand seabirds.

The past few years have been marked by a drastic increase in pathogen spillover events. However, the extent and taxonomic range at which these events take place remain as crucial unanswered questions in many host-pathogen systems. Here, we take advantage of opportunistically sampled bird carcasses from the South Island of New Zealand, with the aim of identifying Plasmodium spp. infections in native and endemic New Zealand seabird species. In total, six samples from five bird species were positive for avian malaria, including four of which were successfully sequenced and identified as Plasmodium matutinum LINN1 lineage. These results provide new Plasmodium infection records in seabirds, including the first documented case in Procellariiformes in New Zealand, highlighting the potential disease risk to these species.