North Island Research Articles

Optimal Fleet Policy of Rental Vehicles with Relocation: A Simulation Study

Popularity of one-way car rentals poses a challenge to rental car fleet management and brings to focus the importance of a strategic decision for rental car operators: whether to implement a single-fleet or a multifleet model. The single-fleet model allows movement of vehicles between regions, whereas the multifleet model does not. It is not obvious whether a single-fleet model is optimal due to its pooling effect, or a multifleet model due to shorter car relocation times. In practice, different rental car operators use different models. To answer this conundrum, we develop two simulation models and compare them in terms of fleet utilisation, branch service level, relocations, and operating profit. We have taken the New Zealand rental car industry as an example as the country consists of two well-defined regions: the North Island and the South Island. The results indicate that a multifleet model has a higher service level at key centres and higher utilisation. At the same time, the single-fleet model is relatively more profitable at the expense of a lower service level in key centres due to vehicles accumulating in the South Island due to a significant volume of one-way southbound travel. Overall, the implementation of either model should depend on the strategic goals of the rental car operator. Our work will be useful for practitioners considering whether or not to pool their fleet when allowing for one-way rentals with subsequent relocation.

“Beyond Feasibility”: A Qualitative Study of Patients, Their Whānau (Family) and Staff Perspectives and Experiences of a Non- Pharmacological Delirium-Prevention Intervention in Two Aotearoa/New Zealand Hospices

ContextDelirium is prevalent in the hospice population. Despite causing significant distress to patients and families, delirium is under-recognised. There is a need to better understand delirium prevention and outcomes in this population including people's experiences of delirium-prevention strategies in different cultural contexts. ObjectivesTo determine whether the "PRESERVE Aotearoa" delirium prevention intervention was feasible and acceptable for Māori (indigenous peoples of Aotearoa/ New Zealand) and non-Māori patients with advanced cancer, their families (called whānau in this paper), and clinical staff. MethodsA qualitative semistructured interview substudy of a cohort PRESERVE Aotearoa feasibility study codesigned with a Māori partner to ensure inclusion of Māori-centred values. The study was underpinned conceptually by He Awa Whiria (braided rivers)—combining Western and Māori knowledges. Data were analysed using Hopwood and Srivasta's framework. ResultsTwenty-six patients and their whānau, 21 clinical staff and five researchers from two stand-alone hospices in the North Island, Aotearoa/New Zealand. Finding showed that, for the most part, participants considered the study interventions feasible and acceptable. Inductive analysis resulted in four themes highlighting the importance to whānau of their participation in the study: benefits of learning about delirium; the affirmation of the caregiver role and whānau-centred care; valuing fundamentals of care; and research as legacy. ConclusionThis qualitative study found that it is feasible and acceptable to study multicomponent nonpharmacological delirium-prevention interventions in Aotearoa/New Zealand hospice inpatient units. The study also highlights the value of Māori-centred approaches and whānau involvement in these settings.

Automatic Detection of Phytophthora pluvialis Outbreaks in Radiata Pine Plantations Using Multi-Scene, Multi-Temporal Satellite Imagery

This study demonstrates a framework for using high-resolution satellite imagery to automatically map and monitor outbreaks of red needle cast (Phytophthora pluvialis) in planted pine forests. This methodology was tested on five WorldView satellite scenes collected over two sites in the Gisborne Region of New Zealand’s North Island. All scenes were acquired in September: four scenes were acquired yearly (2018–2020 and 2022) for Wharerata, while one more was obtained in 2019 for Tauwhareparae. Training areas were selected for each scene using manual delineation combined with pixel-level thresholding rules based on band reflectance values and vegetation indices (selected empirically) to produce ‘pure’ training pixels for the different classes. A leave-one-scene-out, pixel-based random forest classification approach was then used to classify all images into (i) healthy pine forest, (ii) unhealthy pine forest or (iii) background. The overall accuracy of the models on the internal validation dataset ranged between 92.1% and 93.6%. Overall accuracies calculated for the left-out scenes ranged between 76.3% and 91.1% (mean overall accuracy of 83.8%), while user’s and producer’s accuracies across the three classes were 60.2–99.0% (71.4–91.8% for unhealthy pine forest) and 54.4–100% (71.9–97.2% for unhealthy pine forest), respectively. This work demonstrates the possibility of using a random forest classifier trained on a set of satellite scenes for the classification of healthy and unhealthy pine forest in new and completely independent scenes. This paves the way for a scalable and largely autonomous forest health monitoring system based on annual acquisitions of high-resolution satellite imagery at the time of peak disease expression, while greatly reducing the need for manual interpretation and delineation.

The Performance Enhancement Model for Coconut Processed Products Cooperatives through the Value Chain and Livelihood Assets Approach in North Maluku Province, Indonesia

Objective: This research aims to formulate a model of value chain and livelihood assets in an effort to enhance the performance of cooperatives focusing on processed coconut products in the North Maluku Province. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a fruit plant with a crucial role on a global scale, providing a food source for millions of people, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the numerous benefitsit yields, the coconut is often referred to as the "tree of life" or the "rescuer tree Method: A total of 206 samples were used in this study, and the analysis was conducted using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method. The determination of the research location is purposive, primarily in the largest coconut-producing areas in North Maluku. The selection of the research location is based on the consideration that this region is one of the largest coconut producers in Indonesia and has the presence of cooperatives in the coconut plantation sector. North Maluku Province produces coconut products in several regencies, including North Halmahera Regency, South Halmahera Regency, West Halmahera Regency, Central Halmahera Regency, Morotai Island Regency, Sula Regency, Taliabu Regency, and North Maluku Regency. Results: The research results indicate that primary activities, social capital, physical capital, entrepreneurship, and political capital have a positive and significant influence on the value chain and livelihood assets. On the other hand, support activities, human capital, natural capital, and financial capital do not have a significant impact on either the value chain or livelihood assets. The value chain and livelihood assets significantly contribute to the performance of the cooperative. Conclusions: factors such as support activities, human capital, natural capital, and financial capital do not have a significant influence on the value chain or livelihood assets. These results can serve as a foundation for policymakers and stakeholders to develop more effective strategies and programs to enhance the value chain, livelihood assets, and cooperative performance in the North Maluku Province.

Holocene black carbon in New Zealand lake sediment records

Black carbon emitted from incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuel burning is an important aerosol; however, available long-term black carbon data are limited to remote polar and high-alpine ice cores from few geographic regions. Black carbon records from lake sediments fill geographic gaps but such records are still scarce, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. We applied a new incandescence-based methodology to develop Holocene refractory black carbon (rBC) records from four lake-sediment archives in New Zealand and compare these with macroscopic charcoal records. Our rBC records suggest periods with substantial rBC deposition during the Holocene before human arrival in the 13th century reflecting long-range transport and possibly local wetland fires. With Polynesian settlement, rBC deposition increased on the South Island in agreement with macroscopic charcoal records, and it is this period of burning that is proposed as the source of rBC increases evident in Antarctic ice cores. However, sites on the North Island show no contemporaneous rBC increase suggesting regional differences in biomass burning patterns between the North and South islands. None of the New Zealand records show an increase in rBC from fossil fuel sources during the Industrial Era post-1850 CE.

Post-mortem examinations of New Zealand birds. 3. Shining cuckoos (Chrysococcyx lucidus Aves: Cuculinae)

ABSTRACT I examined 107 shining cuckoos that died accidentally in the northern North Island, New Zealand, during 39 years. Birds arriving on migration in spring were all in adult plumage. Juveniles occurred mainly from January to March. The sex-ratio of adults was 1:1. In several measurements, females were slightly larger than males on average, and adults slightly larger than juveniles. Gonad size suggested readiness for breeding from September to January (inclusive). Ninety-one gizzards held a total of 3754 arthropod food items. Insects (10 orders) made up around 94% of items and just two orders accounted for 79% of food items: caterpillars (larval Lepidoptera, 55%) and beetles (Coleoptera, 24%). ‘Spiny’ caterpillars made up roughly 8% of total caterpillars. Ladybirds (Coccinellidae) made up 21% of beetles. Shining cuckoos ate small prey, mostly 1–10 mm long (44%) and 11–20 mm long (43%). By eating hairy caterpillars and ladybirds, shining cuckoos exert predatory control on insects that other birds avoid. By gorging (up to 258 insects per stomach) the cuckoo might dampen the impact of herbivorous insects (e.g. caterpillar infestations) on plants.

Using detection dogs for surveillance of invasive dama wallaby (Notamacropus eugenii) in North Island, New Zealand

Using detection dogs for surveillance of invasive dama wallaby (Notamacropus eugenii) in North Island, New Zealand

Optimizing the Hospital Discharge Process: Perspectives of the Health Care Team.

Prior research capturing pharmacists' perspectives on the discharge process has shown that their involvement is essential. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the hospital environment, it is important to understand the perspectives of nonpharmacist health care providers. To explore the perspectives of nonpharmacist health care providers concerning current discharge practices, components of an effective discharge plan, and perceived barriers to an optimal discharge, and to explore their expectations of pharmacists at discharge. This qualitative study used key informant interviews of allied health professionals and prescribers at Vancouver General Hospital and North Island Hospital Comox Valley (British Columbia). Participants primarily working on general medicine, family practice, or hospitalist wards were invited to participate. A total of 16 health care providers participated, consisting of 12 allied health professionals and 4 prescribers. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed 5 themes for each group. The following 3 themes were common to both groups: systems-related barriers to an optimal discharge; patient- and community-related barriers to an optimal discharge; and patient involvement and education. For allied health professionals, themes of prioritization of patients for discharge and direct communication/teamwork were also key for an optimal discharge. Prescriber-specific themes were limitations related to technology infrastructure and inefficiency of existing collaborative processes. Key responsibilities expected of the pharmacist at discharge included preparing the discharge medication reconciliation and prescriptions, addressing medication-related cost concerns, organizing adherence aids/tools, and providing medication counselling. Further studies are warranted to investigate optimization of the discharge process through implementation of standardized discharge protocols and electronic health record-related tools. The primary responsibilities of the pharmacist at discharge, as perceived by study participants, were consistent with previous literature.

Gastrointestinal helminths of the Australasian harrier (Circus approximans Peale, 1848) in New Zealand, and description of a new species of nematode, Procyrnea fraseri n. sp. (Habronematidae).

The Australasian harrier Circus approximans, a native of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, is an opportunistic hunter of small prey, although a large part of its diet consists of carrion, mainly from roadkill. Besides a record of a single, unnamed species of capillariid nematode there have been no investigations into the parasites of Australasian harriers in New Zealand. In this study, a helminthological survey of sixty-five deceased harriers from southern New Zealand uncovered a gastrointestinal helminth fauna consisting of six parasite species. Porrocaecum circinum (Nematoda) was previously described only from fragmented females, and a redescription is presented here. Procyrnea fraseri n. sp. (Nematoda) is described, and distinguished from its congeners by its slender body shape and shorter spicules. Strigea falconis (Trematoda) is reported for the first time in New Zealand. Cladotaenia anomalis (Cestoda) and Polymorphus circi (Acanthocephala) were previously described as new species elsewhere. An unnamed species of capillariid appears to be mainly confined to North Island and is rare in South Island. Prevalence and intensity metrics are given, and DNA sequences provided to accompany new re/descriptions. Potential intermediate hosts are discussed, and the origins of the helminths and their potential for pathogenicity are considered.

Relation between liquefaction resistance and shear modulus of crushable volcanic soils

Pumice-rich soils originating from volcanic eruptions are deposited in various parts of the world, such as in the central region of North Island, NZ. The pumice sand components of these natural pumiceous (NP) soils are known to be crushable and lightweight, resulting in a significant difference in their cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) and small-strain shear modulus (Gmax) when compared to hard-grained (quartz) sands. In this paper, the results of a number of cyclic triaxial and bender element tests performed on reconstituted specimens of three types of NP sands having different pumice contents (PC), as well as on quartz-type Toyoura sand specimens, are discussed. Then, the concept of modified cyclic yield strain, εay,m, which relates the CRR of the specimen to its Gmax, is used. The results indicate that εay,m appears to be dependent only on the soil type, and independent of the confining pressure applied and the relative density of the specimen. All NP sand specimens show higher εay,m when compared to Toyoura sand because of their higher CRR and lower Gmax, with values of εay,m increasing as the PC of the specimen increases. Based on the results obtained, an empirical chart is developed to estimate the CRR of NP sands from their shear wave velocity (Vs) values under field conditions.

Prevalence of Chinook salmon is higher for southern than for northern resident killer whales in summer hot-spot feeding areas.

Differences in the availability of prey may explain the low numbers of southern resident killer whales and the increase in northern resident killer whales in British Columbia and Washington State. However, in-situ data on the availability of their preferred prey (Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the core feeding areas used by these two populations of fish-eating killer whales have been lacking to test this hypothesis. We used multi-frequency echosounders (38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz) to estimate densities of adult Chinook (age-4+, > 81 cm) within 16 hot-spot feeding areas used by resident killer whales during summer 2020 in the Salish Sea and North Island Waters. We found Chinook were generally concentrated within 50 m from the bottom in the deep waters, and tended to be absent near the surface in the shallow waters (< 50 m). In general, the densities of Chinook we encountered were highest as the fish entered the Salish Sea (from Swiftsure Bank in the south) and Johnstone Strait (from Queen Charlotte Strait to the north)-and declined as fish migrated eastward along the shoreline of Vancouver Island. Median densities of Chinook for all sampled areas combined were 0.4 ind.·1000 m-2 in northern resident foraging areas, and 0.9 ind.·1000 m-2 in southern resident killer whale areas (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). Thus, Chinook salmon were twice as prevalent within the hot-spot feeding areas of southern versus northern resident killer whales. This implies that southern resident killer whales have greater access to Chinook salmon compared to northern residents during summer-and that any food shortage southern residents may be encountering is occurring at other times of year, or elsewhere in their range.

Hydrochemical dynamics of stream following rainfall events at agricultural catchments in New Zealand

One of the prerequisites for efficiently managing lake water quality is reliable data regarding the quantity and quality of inflows water, mainly the export of nutrients from the catchment area during rainfall events. We investigated the dynamic characteristics of hydrochemicals concerning rainfall events in agricultural stream waters flowing into eutrophic lakes situated on the North Island’s central plateau of New Zealand. We utilized isotopic composition of water (δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O) and nitrate (δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3-) along with high-frequency hydrochemical data for source identification of water and nitrate during a drought period (2020). Our findings indicate that it is essential to initially grasp the fundamental mechanisms associated with rainfall events to formulate effective strategies for minimizing nutrient losses. The methodology outlined in this research integrates stable isotope hydrology with water quality monitoring initiatives, facilitating the understanding and managing the primary governing mechanisms behind diverse contaminant losses from land to adjacent water bodies, explicitly focusing on nitrates. This approach establishes a framework that can assist in devising measures for water quality improvement capable of anticipating the repercussions of substantial rainfall events more effectively.

Geotourism And Cultural Prospects of Rupat Island, Bengkalis, Riau

The area of interest is located on Rupat Island, in the north of the Central Sumatra Basin, and faces directly the Malacca Strait, specifically in the North Rupat District, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, with the development of natural tourism objects and attractions. The geology of this area consists of two main formations, namely the Old Superficial Sedimentation Formation (QP) consisting of silt, clay, gravel, and plant residues, and the formation of young sedimentation (QH) consists of clay, silt, slippery gravel, residual plants, and peat swamps. There is also silica sand that is only found on the coastline in the north of Rupat Island, which is greatly influenced by the current of the Malacca Strait as a sediment transportation agent from Indian Ocean and South China Sea. There is a fault structure along with the silica sand deposition creating the main objects of geotourism that are found in the northern Rupat area in the form of Lapin Beach, Pesona Beach, Tanjung Api Beach, and Beting Aceh Beach. To visit the geotourism area both road and sea by boat, also made supporting facilities such as homestays, local road points, and signboard. There is also a diversity of flora and fauna in the form of pine trees, and mangrove forests, mammals such as deer, birds such as hombills, crows, and primates such as long-tailed monkeys, beruk and lutung are quite easy to find along the mangrove forest. There is a diversity of Malay cultures such as Zapin Dance and Safar Bathing. This research was aiming to develop geotourism prospects that have not been explored and create new potential for tourism products in North Rupat, Rupat Island.

Reconstructing a palaeotsunami: Geomorphological and cultural change associated with a catastrophic 15th century event, Kāpiti Coast, Aotearoa/New Zealand

An understanding of the geomorphological processes instigated by seismic-related catastrophes such as tsunamis is important to our understanding of their potential impacts on both past and present human populations. Due to the relative scarcity of human records of such events in prehistory, it is necessary to rely on the geological record to identify and interpret the environmental changes caused by such catastrophes. A multi-proxy analysis of geological and geomorphological data is used to identify a local signal of a region-wide 15th century palaeotsunami that inundated the SW North Island coast of Aotearoa/New Zealand. A comparison with regional geological and archaeological evidence enriches our understanding of the nature and extent of this event and its impact on human settlement that complements similar findings in other countries.

Anoectangium stracheyanum and Pseudocrossidium hornschuchianum (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in New Zealand

The first author has made six bryological expeditions to New Zealand, in 1959, 1968, 1973–1974, 1982, 1993 and 2000 (van Zanten 2019). In 1993 both authors collected in 106 sites, from both the North and South Island, resulting in a collection of about 1700 numbers. All the material is deposited in the herbarium Leiden (L), except for a smaller part that is at the moment not yet fully accessible. The first author did many preliminary identifications in his large New Zealand collections. Experiments were conducted from these collections utilizing the spores from fruiting material with several resulting publications, including van Zanten (1978) and van Zanten &amp; Pócs (1981). The second author gathered mainly tiny acrocarpous mosses, on the whole pottiaceous material. We found it worthwhile to publish here two mosses that are apparently new records for New Zealand.

Critical re-assessment of Middle and Late Miocene submarine fans in offshore southern and western Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, to update the paleogeography

The purpose of this paper is (i) to re-assess the presence of submarine fan systems of Middle and Late Miocene age (Moki and Mount Messenger formations) previously mapped on the continental slope in offshore southern and central Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, and (ii), to demonstrate the occurrence of two newly mapped Late Miocene submarine fans in the deep-water part of offshore western Taranaki Basin, based on accepted seismic stratigraphic criteria for submarine fans. In our work we have found that the fans previously mapped amongst canyons and channels in the Moki and Mount Messenger formations on the upper and middle continental slope in southern and central Taranaki Basin do not fulfil established stratal criteria for submarine fan deposits. Moreover, detuning of 3D seismic reflection volumes for the Moki and Mount Messenger formation intervals ahead of amplitude attribute extraction, shows that the strata previously mapped as submarine fans based on amplitude alone, are merely artifacts of bed thickness. The two new fans systems of Late Miocene age that we map here, both attributed to the Mount Messenger Formation, principally comprise mudstone and represent a minor proportion of the Late Miocene succession that accumulated in southern and central parts of the basin. Our remapping of slope canyons and channels in the southern part of the basin and the identification of the two new fan systems in the western part of the basin are embodied in three new paloegeographic maps for the Middle and Late Miocene development of Taranaki Basin. A modern analogue for the two new Late Miocene fans in Taranaki Basin is the Hikurangi Fan at the terminus of the Hikurangi Channel, located outboard of the modern subduction zone of the Hikurangi margin along Eastern North Island. The new Taranaki Basin deep-water fans documented here, may have significance for hydrocarbon exploration in deep water parts of Taranaki Basin, which is largely unexplored.

Cross infection of Haemonchus contortus between calves and lambs

Haemonchus contortus can frequently be found infecting pre-weaned beef calves on sheep and beef farms around the North Island of New Zealand. The purpose of this study was to determine whether parasites cycling in young cattle constitute a potentially important source of infection for sheep.A field isolate of H. contortus was cycled through either calves or lambs for 3 generations. The larvae resulting from the third cycle of infection were then used to infect both lambs and calves and the resulting faecal nematode egg count (FEC), worm burden, adult worm length and in utero egg count were measured.Larvae derived from lambs inoculated into calves exhibited lower establishment rates, the adult worms were shorter, had lower in utero egg counts, and the resulting faecal egg counts were also lower than when inoculated into lambs (p < 0.01).H. contortus' lack of ability to passage freely between lambs and calves indicates that large populations are unlikely to occur under mixed grazing, resulting in limited potential as a source of infection in sheep. However, indications of an ability to adapt to the alternative host suggest that some investigation of infection in cattle dominant farming operations in the north of the country might be warranted.

Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Computational Thinking: Enactment in Elementary Classrooms

Technology has increasingly permeated many aspects of everyday life and this evolution raises the need for individuals to understand how the digital world works and what opportunities and risks it brings (Nouri, Zhang, Mannila &amp; Norén, 2019). For this to be an experience for everyone, we need to rethink how we integrate computational thinking (CT) and provide teachers with tools to center their students’ identities, experiences, and cultures in the classroom. In this paper, we present two case studies of primary (elementary) teachers from a full primary (student ages 5–13) semi-rural school in the North Island of New Zealand that showcase examples of their current CT integrated culturally responsive lessons and activities. Our findings show how elementary teachers implement culturally responsive approaches in CT lessons. Although a positive example of how CT can be integrated in a culturally responsive manner, we discuss our findings and their implications.

Towards A Radically Relational Post-Grotowskian Performance Paradigm

Jerzy Grotowski chose to name his College de France lecture series La „lignee organique” au theatre et dans le rituel (The „Organic Lineage” in Theatre and Ritual), and the author, who attended and documented these final public talks, contends in this article that organicity constitutes a through-line connecting Grotowski’s theatrical and post-theatrical research. The author draws from these talks, as well as from her Grotowski-based training, including her work with Rena Mirecka, and her research collaborations with Indigenous artists and scholars from Turtle Island (North America), including Floyd Favel, who worked with both Grotowski and Mirecka. The author points out that in diverse traditional cultural practices whose role it is to enhance, restore, and sustain balance between human and non-human forms of life, organicity is understood as a living force endowing performative processes with energy, power, and efficacy. The post-Grotowskian performance paradigm envisioned by the author hinges upon a non-anthropocentric perspective informed by the ecological and spiritual dimensions of relationality articulated by several generations of Indigenous scholars. She contends that such a paradigm shift, which challenges artistic practices glorifying human creative agency, can provide a viable alternative to the dominance of (Eurocentric) new materialist/posthumanist theories of non-human agency.

Identification of sandy nourished sediments using end-member analysis (EMMAgeo) applied to particle shapes distributions, Sylt Island, North Sea

Sediments occurring in clastic depositional coastal and marine environments share similar sedimentary characteristics despite their different provenances. Identifying the deposits' origin found at a specific site may be essential, but also a challenging task. This paper discusses a fast methodology to recognise the primary source of sediments using end-member modelling, applied specifically to particle shape distributions instead of the classical approach of using grain-size distributions only. Artificial mixtures of coastal cliff and nourished sediments from Sylt Island (North Sea) were measured with a dynamic image analyser. Roundness, sphericity, convexity, and aspect ratio shape descriptors were analysed using the EMMAgeo R-based algorithm to compare mixtures to original sediments. Roundness distribution appeared to be a useful shape descriptor for distinguishing nourished sediments and their content in mixed samples. This method may be applied for future sediment pathway analyses, e.g., for tracking nourishment materials.