Mavora : development of a planning process for reconciliation of interests in wilderness

Published by Centre for Resource Management for Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute Lincoln College, New Zealand, September 1982.The Mavora Lakes area has been a subject of regional interest and some controversy for a number of years. Geographically, the Mavora is intermediate between an acknowledged zone of preservation and a zone of land development. Historically it represents a zone of interaction between different agency interests, notably those of the New Zealand Forest Service and those of both the nature conservation and pastoral administration and development arms of the Department of Lands and Survey. Extensive pastoralism as private enterprise has yielded ground in the district to pastoral development and farm settlement. The limits to this process have tended to be set by progressive experience on the land available for farm settlement. A working plan had been drafted for the adjacent Snowdon Forest. More active management planning for lands administered separately by these two major central government agencies served to bring into sharper contrast any differences between such development proposals if they remained ineffectively co-ordinated. Meanwhile the long-valued fishery resource of the Mavora Lakes and the Mararoa River has itself commanded greater attention because of increased use by anglers and the improved road access to the area which has itself increased boating and other shoreline recreation. While discharge from the lakes in the Mararoa River is being directed down-stream into Manapouri for power production, some thought has been given to using it in part to augment the summer low flows of the Oreti to Invercargill. Different communities of interest show varying degrees of support and aversion for the different kinds of resource use outlined above. Decisions are needed to determine the optimal use of resources before any further development which may irreversibly change the resources and their character

The ecology and management of Southland's black-billed gulls

The black-billed gull (Lams bulleri) is a small gull that nests in dense colonies on gravel-bedded rivers in southern New Zealand. This dissertation describes research undertaken in Southland in 2004-2006 that investigates black-billed gull population decline and its causes. Historical ground counts of nests were calibrated with aerial photography of colonies and population trends analysed. The decline in breeding birds on Southland's four main rivers was equivalent to 6.0%/year (SE 1.8) or 83.6% in 30 years justifying the species' present listing as Endangered. Aerial monitoring is a poor index of the breeding population and major temporal variation was identified in counts. All re-sighted second-year birds exhibited natal dispersal and -70% left the natal catchment. Forty one percent of birds banded as adults also dispersed to other catchments. Breeding dispersal is apparently unrelated to previous breeding success and the availability of the previous year's colony site, and dispersing birds did not move as groups. Southland's black-billed gulls constitute a single inter-mixing population. Black-billed gulls selected sites on islands and banks according to availability, and selected rivers consistent with the number of gravel patches. Site vulnerability to floods varied significantly. Re-use of colony sites was positively influenced by use in previous years, the extraction of gravel, site stability and low weed cover. Widespread introduced weeds on colony sites preventing nesting and may have increased flooding risk. Colony size was related to colony area, which was related to gravel patch size. Investigation of historical changes in breeding habitat availability in Southland indicated a major reduction in gravel habitat on the Lower Oreti River between 1976 and 2002 due to river works including gravel extraction. On the Waiau River, Manapouri Dam construction in 1970 initially increased gravel areas, since reversed in the mid Waiau, and caused a 75% decline in the number of islands. Gravel patch sizes are still declining on the Lower Oreti and possibly the Mid Waiau. Hundreds of gravel patches remain on Southland rivers. Over 5000 nests in 21 colonies were monitored during incubation. Colony nest success was most influenced by colony location, averaging 90.1% (SE 2.1) on islands within rivers, and 66.8% (SE 2.2) on riverbanks, indicating that terrestrial predators exert the greatest influence on productivity. Breeding success, the mean number of fledglings produced per nest by colony, varied between 0 and 0.88 fledglings (mean 0.32, SE 0.08). Both parameters were positively related to colony size. The three smallest colonies failed to breed successfully, suggesting the presence of an Allee effect. Deterministic matrix models were used to investigate population trends using survival and productivity estimates for the closely related Kaikoura red-billed gull (L. novaehollandiae scopulinus). Adult survival, followed by breeding success and survival of first year birds, had the greatest influence on population projections. Improvements in most parameters are probably required to reverse the decline of Southland's black-billed gulls. Predation and disturbance by introduced mammals and the native black-backed gull (L. dominicanus) had the greatest impact on black-billed gull productivity. Most human disturbance is insignificant compared to predator disturbance, but illegal shooting of large numbers of adult gulls has major impacts in smaller sub-populations. Damming and excessive water abstraction reduces island habitat due to lowering of flows. Major climatic events such as droughts, and chemical ingestion through a diet dominated by agricultural invertebrates, are potential major threats about which little is known. Management actions including the collation and analysis of all unpublished black-billed gull count datasets, a thorough test of the accuracy of aerial monitoring, trialling of decoys to attract colonies to nest on islands, predator control at bank colonies, targeted weed control on high quality sites, advocacy and education and further research are recommended

Analýza ústupu zalednění vybraných oblastí Nového Zélandu a přírodní ohrožení z GLOFs

This thesis analyses the glacier fluctuations in New Zealand since late Pliocen until today (2017) and evaluates GLOFs (Glacier Lake Outburst Floods) hazards from all proglacial lakes of New Zealand. Background research of a wide range of scientific sources was used to describe New Zealand glacier fluctuations during the last ~2.6 Ma, uncover local climatic and tectonic specifics, describe uneven behaviour of different glacier types and summarise current knowledge about climatological forcings to New Zealand glaciers. Compared to the timing of glaciations in the Norther Hemisphere, an earlier onset of LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) and LIA (Little Ice Age) was recorded in New Zealand. A dramatic glacier advance of short- to medium-response time glaciers was recorded between 1983 and 1999. This advance was caused by changes of atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns around New Zealand. A detailed study of the past events revealed that really few events were recorded in New Zealand history. While englacial outburst floods are relatively common from Franz Josef Glacier, no moraine dam rupture and only two GLOFs from a proglacial lake were recorded in New Zealand history. Inventory of proglacial lakes of New Zealand completed from remote sensing data was done to further evaluate the hazards of GLOFs. 25...Tato diplomová práce analyzuje vývoj zalednění Nového Zélandu od období pozdního Pliocénu až do současnosti (2017) a hodnotí přírodní ohrožení z GLOFs (Glacier Lake Outburst Floods) pro všechna proglaciální jezera Nového Zélandu. Široké spektrum vědecké literatury bylo použito v rešeršní části k popisu vývoje zalednění během posledních ~2.6 Ma, k odhalení místních klimatických a tektonických specifik, k popisu rozdílného chování různých ledovcových typů a ke shrnutí dosavadního poznání o působení klimatu na ledovce Nového Zélandu. Nástup LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) a LIA (Little Ice Age) byl, v porovnání s průběhem zalednění na severní polokouli zaznamenán dříve. Mezi lety 1983 a 1999 byl zaznamenán dramatický postup ledovců s krátkým až středním časem odezvy. Tento postup byl způsoben změnami proudění v atmosféře a oceánu v oblasti Nového Zélandu. Detailní studium historických GLOFs na Novém Zélandu odhalilo pouze několik událostí. Zatímco průvalové povodně englaciálního typu jsou poměrně běžné z ledovce Franz Josef, protržení morénové hráze nebylo v historii Nového Zélandu zaznamenáno. Přelití proglaciálního jezera bylo zaznamenáno pouze ve dvou případech. Za účelem pozouzení míry ohrožení z GLOFs byla dále pomocí dat DPZ provedena inventarizace všech proglaciálních jezer Nového Zélandu. Celkem bylo...Katedra fyzické geografie a geoekologieDepartment of Physical Geography and GeoecologyFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult

Evaluation of Meridan Energy's asset management process

Meridian Energy Ltd (Meridian) is a leading generator of renewable energy and retailer of electricity to customers in New Zealand and Australia. Meridian’s Asset Management (AM) is essential to realise value from its assets. This project report evaluates the planning accuracy of timing, duration and costs of non-annualised major projects within Meridian’s hydro AM. It aims to give recommendations for actions in the areas of improvement. Meridian’s AM is divided into the AM planning process and the project delivery. Specifically, in the Asset Management Plan (AMP), the CAPEX and time estimates for major projects are widely underestimated. There are various technical, psychological and political-economic root causes that create these inaccuracies. In the initial AM planning, for the project delivery and the feedback loop, mitigation techniques to tackle the underlying factors of inaccurate planning data in the AMP were found. The key benefits of improving AMP estimates are to encourage the present continuous improvement culture as a whole and to maintain the good relationships with the executive team

Ranger : the evolution of the role of a protected natural resource manager

This thesis traces the evolution of the ranger in New Zealand's protected natural resource management from 1874-1987. Rangers were employed by three government departments - the Department of Lands and Survey, the New Zealand Forest Service, and the Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs - at the operational level of protected natural resource management for over a century. Six types of rangers, from the three departments, were identified; forest ranger, environmental forest ranger, crown land ranger, national park ranger, reserves ranger, and wildlife ranger. Archival data provided official information over the last 113 years. Interviews were conducted with former rangers from the three departments, (from a spectrum of positions of responsibility), and provided data on personal experiences, perceptions and attitudes towards protected natural resource management. Stinchcombe's historicist explanation provided a theoretical perspective based upon two assumptions; the phenomenon is produced by a system of constant causes, and some social patterns cause their own reproduction. Historicist explanation can be used as a means to understanding and explaining social phenomenon. The evolution of the ranger was seen as a self replicating phenomenon. Analysis of the evolution of the ranger highlighted six categories seen to influence ranger duties and responsibilities. These included the environmental, governmental, departmental policies, public pressure, key individuals, and other rangers and institutions. 'Meanings' of the New Zealand ranger were analysed. Meanings are considered both in terms of ranger duties and responsibilities, and meanings ascribed by those involved in protected natural resource management. Three distinct periods in the evolution of the ranger are identified; protection, control and management. These three represent changes in ranger duties and responsibilities, and management techniques

The occurrence and origin of salinity in non-coastal groundwater in the Waikato region

Aims The aims of this project are to describe the occurrence, and determine the origin of non-coastal saline groundwater in the Waikato region. High salinity limits the use of the water for supply and agricultural use. Understanding the origin and distribution of non-coastal salinity will assist with development and management of groundwater resources in the Waikato. Method The occurrence of non-coastal groundwater salinity was investigated by examining driller’s records and regional council groundwater quality information. Selected wells were sampled for water quality analyses and temperatures were profiled where possible. Water quality analyses include halogens such as chloride, fluoride, iodide and bromide. Ratios of these ions are useful to differentiate between geothermal and seawater origins of salinity (Hem, 1992). Other ionic ratio approaches for differentiating sources and influences on salinity such as those developed by Alcala and Emilio (2008) and Sanchez-Martos et al., (2002), may also be applied. Potential sources of salinity include seawater, connate water, geothermal and anthropogenic influences. The hydrogeologic settings of saline occurrence were also investigated, to explore the potential to predict further occurrence. Results Numerous occurrences of non-coastal saline groundwater have been observed in the Waikato region. Where possible, wells with relatively high total dissolved solids (TDS) were selected for further investigation. Several groundwater samples are moderately saline and exceed the TDS drinking water aesthetic guideline of 1,000 g m-3 (Ministry of Health, 2008). Selected ion ratios (predominantly halogens) were used to assist in differentiating between influences on salinity such as seawater and geothermal. Bromide to iodide ratios, in particular, infer a greater geothermal influence on salinity, although other ratios are not definitive. The anomalously elevated salinity observed appears natural but nevertheless has constrained localised groundwater resource development for dairy factory, industrial and prison water supply use. Further work may show some relationship with geology or tectonics, which could assist prediction of inland saline groundwater occurrence

Politics of the Huntly Power Project

The political activity associated with the Huntly Power Project was examined in relation to a number of case studies using a Symbolic Interactionist approach to illustrate processes of power. A broad view of the politics of energy use in New Zealand provided the setting to understand why there was continued Government Support for the project. An analysis of the case studies and their relationship to the Huntly Power Project Planning Forum permitted an appraisal of the influence of the Forum on Political interaction. It was confirmed that political activity was characterised by negotiation through the processes of symbolic manipulation and control of information. The influence of the Forum for discussion primarily benefitted Government Departments for in conflict situations it promoted compromises which supported the overall goal to complete the project. It provided an opportunity to accommodate local interest group concerns and problems. The Forum was largely successful as a device for the amelioration and mediation of conflict among groups which voiced reservation, about the effects of the project on the local area, when it was proposed and in its initial stages of development

Potential Chemical and Energy Uses for Lignite at Hawkdun and Ashers-Waituna, New Zealand

This preliminary study brings together publically available information and work from earlier studies of the South Island Lignite resources in order to examine the potential value of the lignite deposits held by Kenham holdings to meet New Zealand’s emerging demand for primary energy

Business, state and environment: the political economy of environmental conflict and the investigation of business power: a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Lincoln University

Appendix I has been scanned as a separate file.This thesis investigates the ability, exercise and consequences of business power in environmental conflict in advanced capitalist society. Research into this subject has tended to fall into either of two camps; system-wide theoretical studies from within political economy or narrower empirical studies by neo-pluralist scholars. It is argued there is a need to reconcile these levels to see how the various mechanisms of influence coincide. The critical realist philosophy of science is used to clear the path for the project, detailing, among other things, an understanding of the nature of social being and of social scientific investigation. The various strands of literature on business power and the environment are reconciled in a two stage analytical framework. The first part of that framework deals with the dilemma of theorising about class in environmental conflict. The solution to that problem is found in value-form. This approach allows structural connections to be made between socioeconomic class and types of substantive value relations with the natural world. The second part of the framework deals with the issues of power and politics. It integrates the wider political economy approach and the narrower mechanisms of business power studied usefully by neo-pluralists. Two in-depth historical case studies of environmental conflict are carried out; the Black Head conflict over a quarry operation near Dunedin, and the much larger Whanganui River Minimum Rows dispute, both throughout the 1980s. At the end of each study the principles of the analytical framework are investigated in turn. It is ultimately concluded that the ability of business to dominate within this context is not absolute, yet it is real and pervasive. Such dominance poses a serious impediment to the achievement of sustainable relationships with the natural world, and the ability of people to participate in decision-making in respect to their environments