Pūhau ana te rā: Tailwinds

Anticipating Future Technologies

Jodie Evans — 2024-03-04

This paper explores the social dimensions of a potential green hydrogen transition in New Zealand. As an emerging technology, green hydrogen development and implementation is limited and therefore it is difficult to predict how such innovation will influence wider society. Social research is currently limited to acceptability studies which fail to capture the wider ideologies at play. Media articles offer a good opportunity to explore how the topic of green hydrogen is being introduced to the New Zealand public, helping us to understand how technical discourse is converted into conventional understanding. This research analyses contemporary media to identify the dominant narrative being presented to the public. Critiques of the dominant green hydrogen narrative show that this technology’s ‘business as usual’ approach has the potential to perpetuate contemporary energy system issues, suggesting that replacing fossil fuels is not enough to encourage social transformation. However, these critiques also suggest that there are opportunities to reimagine green hydrogen applications that better align with notions of energy justice and democracy.

Supervised by: Abbi Virens

Scholarship Project Funded by: GNS Green Hydrogen Programme NZ

Carbon Loss from Earthquake Induced Landslides in Fiordland

Charlie Cox — 2024-03-04

Landslides triggered by two earthquakes in Fiordland, New Zealand, were mapped using Google Earth Pro retro satellite imagery (eye altitude of 1.5-2.5 km, enabling ± 50 m precision), then catalogued and classified in a GIS inventory. Ground acceleration during the 2003 M_w 7.2 Secretary Island Earthquake resulted in at least 1852 landslides, but the larger M_w7.8 2009 Dusky Sound Earthquake had lower accelerations and produced only 313. Both events dislodged large swaths of native forest, grassland vegetation and soil from Fiordland’s steep slopes in similar proportions, some landing in rivers and fiords. The landslide maps and magnitude-frequency distributions show close similarity to a published Global Forest Loss dataset derived from 2001-2022 satellite imagery. Assuming forest loss in this wilderness is predominantly landslide-related, it enables the more-precise earthquake-induced landslide mapping to be placed in a longer-term context of other vegetation loss, mostly rainfall-induced landslides, during the past two decades. The total area of forest loss during the 2003 earthquake was anomalous, whereas during 2009 the earthquake losses were similar to areas of forest loss assumed to be rainfall-induced landslides throughout Fiordland each year. Carbon concentrations of landslide vegetation and soil were calculated by defining vegetation types from a published Land Cover Database, and soil organic carbon concentration from a 1 km resolution raster dataset. Total carbon loss from earthquake-induced landslides amounts to 2.05E+06 tonnes for the 2003 M_w7.2 and 2.17E+05 tonnes for the 2009 M_w 7.8. By way of comparison, New Zealand’s total annual carbon sequestration was 6.3E+06 tonnes in 2020. Earthquake-induced and rainfall-induced landslides are shown to account for significant changes in stored carbon and available carbon sequestration, especially in areas of densely vegetated land, such as Fiordland. Processes of landscape disturbance should be included in carbon accounting and estimates of national greenhouse gas emissions.

Supervised by: Caroline Orchiston

Scholarship Project Funded by: Centre for Sustainability

Biostimulants and Microbial Bioformulations

Georgie Burdon — 2024-03-04

Agricultural biostimulants enhance crop performance through improved nutrient uptake and increased resilience. These substances positively influence plant metabolism, promoting superior photosynthesis and nutrient absorption. They also contribute to soil health. Parameters such as dry matter yield were closely examined to evaluate the performance of kale crops under the influence of the biostimulant, providing insights into its potential benefits within both conventional and regenerative farming contexts. These glasshouse trials were carried out in the Department of Botany at the University of Otago, along with field trials on Lake Hawea and Glen Dene Stations. Bacteria samples were prepared in the Centre for Innovation before being planted out onto the trials. Information for the report was gathered from several sources including journals, literature reviews, on field trials, and laboratory visits at the University of Otago. Embracing biostimulants aligns with sustainable agriculture, offering an eco-friendly approach. They complement traditional fertilizers, optimizing effectiveness, and fostering early plant development. Rye seeds coated with beneficial microbes represent an innovative application, promoting nutrient absorption, root development, and crop resilience. This technology aligns with eco-friendly farming. Field trials of kale cultivation, to evaluate a biostimulant impact on growth, yield, and stress resilience, guiding farmers in seamless integration for enhanced productivity sustainably. This report provides an insight into the uses of kelp biostimulants and microbial coatings for future farmers to integrate into sustainable farming practices.

Biostimulants for Rye and Kale

The research project involved planting rye and kale seeds in the glasshouse and introducing selected biostimulants to assess their impact. The study focused on evaluating the yield, specifically the dry matter, of both grass and kale. The goal was to understand how the application of specific biostimulants influenced the growth and productivity of rye and kale, with a particular emphasis on quantifying dry matter yield as a key outcome measure.

Rye Seeds Coated with a Beneficial Bacteria

This study explored the glasshouse cultivation of rye seeds coated with a beneficial microbe. This involved applying a microbial coating. The research aimed to investigate the impact of this coating on the growth and productivity of rye. The goal was to determine the efficacy of rye seeds coated with beneficial microbes (including their stability during storage) in enhancing the yield, offering a promising avenue for advancing modern agricultural practices.

Kelp Biostimulant on Kale - Field Trial

The field trial focused on the cultivation of kale on two distinct farms – one employing conventional practices and the other following regenerative farming methods. In this study, a biostimulant derived from kelp was introduced to assess its impact on kale growth and yield in both farming systems. The research aimed to compare and contrast the effects of the kelp-based biostimulant on two different agricultural approaches.

Supervised by: Craig Bunt

Scholarship Projects Funded by: Riddet Otago Scholarship, Kelp Blue, RAGT

Brazil Nut Injections for Happier Cows

Martha Thay — 2024-03-04

Selenium (Se) is a vital nutrient for both humans and animals. However, the soil in Aotearoa is notably deficient in this essential element. While humans can often compensate for the deficiency through diverse food sources, livestock in Aotearoa faces a substantial threat to health and productivity due to Se deficiency. This deficiency can result in adverse effects such as compromised immune function, diminished fertility, and heightened susceptibility to various diseases. Despite existing supplements and injections aimed at addressing this issue, many (e.g., BaSeO₄) have proven either harmful to consumers or insufficiently effective. This project seeks to explore and characterize a new Se supplementary injection that has demonstrated promising outcomes, including enhanced immune responses, improved reproductive performance, and increased growth rates.

Supervised by: Craig Bunt, Greg Walker

Scholarship Project Funded by: Agilis Vet Ltd

Te Whatu Ora EV

Bethany Plant — 2024-03-04

This research project looks at the implications of Te Whatu Ora Southern transitioning their 300 fleet vehicles to EVs, with the primary focus of this study being Wakari hospital. The key questions this study focuses on are: How would this transition to EVs affect the transport emissions by Te Whatu Ora Southern? What would the cost savings of this transition be? What time of day would be best for Wakari hospital to charge the vehicles and how much would they save by charging at specific times? As Te Whatu Ora Southern ranges from Oamaru to Invercargill and Queenstown, and with around 300 fleet vehicles, the problems to solve were tackled by first looking at Wakari hospital and using results from this hospital to scale to the whole fleet. This research was done by analyzing data supplied by Te Whatu Ora Southern and appropriate literature exploring EVs and emissions reduction. The main results of this research showed that by switching the fleet vehicles to EVs, the road travel emissions would decrease by 80-90%, and that it would be cheapest for Wakari Hospital to charge their vehicles from midnight to 8am, however more research would need to be done in order to implement a more detailed charging plan. The key impact of this research is carbon emission reduction and how Te Whatu Ora could scale these results for not just the southern region but the whole of New Zealand.

Supervised by: Arjan Abeynaike, Craig Cliff

A Pilot Food Waste Audit in Aged Care Using Method InSight Technology

Zahrah Hatraby — 2024-03-04

This study aims to pilot the use of Method Insight technology, in the form of bins and smart scales, to carry out a non-manual food waste audit in an aged care facility in Ōtepoti, Dunedin. There is very little literature on food waste in the aged care sector, and existing research uses manual food waste audits. In comparison to the present study, manual food waste audits are known to be time consuming and require in-depth knowledge of measurement protocols. This study provides information on the quantities and sources of food waste, reasons for disposal, and staff perceptions of the technology used and the process followed for the food waste audit. The research hopes to inform on the implications and design of future research on food waste in the aged care facility in Aotearoa.

Supervised by: Margaret Thorsen and Sheila Skeaff, Food Waste Innovation

Auckland Council Food Scraps Project

Max Doyle — 2024-03-04

This research project delves into the complexities of Auckland City Council's food scraps collection rollout, spanning from kerbside collection to the Anaerobic Digestion Facility in Reporoa, Rotorua; where collected food scraps are transformed into environmentally friendly fertilisers and renewable gases. The project comprises two key components: assisting in the creation of a dashboard to display weekly and monthly collection and disposal data to monitor ongoing participation rates and collected tonnage requirements are met; and assisting with the continuation of the food scraps rollout initiative in wider Auckland regions and help increase consumer knowledge and involvement. This is in conjunction of aligning with Auckland Council's aim for zero waste by 2040. The initiative aims to keep food scraps out of landfills, minimising harmful greenhouse gas emissions and return valuable nutrients to the land through biofertiliser production. This project required me to learn about Auckland's circular economy solution which emphasises prevention of food waste, supporting redistribution initiatives, and promoting home and community composting. As part of helping with the rollout and helping create an easy way for residents to separate their food scraps from general rubbish, individuals have gained a raised awareness of wastage, leading to considered meal planning and cost savings. The government's commitment to nationwide food scraps services by 2030 underscores the urgency of sustainable waste management practices which it why it was crucial for me to be familiar with the whole process and sectors within the rollout to assist Auckland Council to meet this commitment. This project has also meant that I was able to understand the whole process of the Anaerobic Digestion Facility's innovative technology which processes organic material into biogas and nutrient-liquid fertiliser, contributing to New Zealand's sustainability goals. Through comprehensive monitoring and filtration systems, the facilities uphold environmental standards while pioneering large-scale food scraps processing in the country.

Supervised by: Sarah Nicholls

Scholarship Project Funded by: Auckland City Council

Sustainability Neighborhood

Demi Lawrence — 2024-03-04

This project explores the opportunities for not only for individuals aiming to increase sustainability in their lifestyles, but, for other landlords and universities nationally to incorporate the grassroots innovation of Sustainable Neighbourhood/s to their practices. Connecting innovation and community action enables a new lens on individual and community-level sustainability efforts, further highlighting the importance of community action which is often as an overlooked source of innovation (Seyfang & Smith, 2007). Otago University’s Sustainability Neighbourhoods fosters a sense of environmental responsibility, community engagement, and lifelong learning, contributing to a more resilient and eco-conscious future for both the residents and the broader community. The practical aspect of this project has been conducted through providing an interactive and locally specific online platform with resources, information, and tools to enhance for both residents and other students understanding and commitment to sustainable living. By enabling open online platform to the University of Otago’s Sustainability Neighbourhoods, this concurrently acts as a manual for other universities and landlords seeking to establish similar Sustainability initiatives, communities and/or neighbourhoods.

Supervised by: Ray O’Brien & Jesikah Triscott

Planting in Paradise

Eden Holley — 2024-03-04

The One Billion Trees project is an initiative led by the Ministry of Primary Industries where they aim to plant 1 billion trees by the year 2030 to transform New Zealand forests in a way that improves the productivity of the land, as well as helping the natural environment. Notably, a large proportion of the trees that have already been planted and established are Pinus radiata (exotic pine trees) which have a detrimental effect on the natural environment due to outcompeting native flora and compromising soil stability due to their shallow root systems. P. radiata are a fast establishing and cost effective option for landowners and farmers that are participating in the One Billion Trees project. Our project's aim was to understand what is required to support the establishment of native beech trees, using both on-campus and field trials, with a primary focus on assessing methods of delivering mycorrhizal inoculation to native beech seedlings. This would allow us to educate the Ministry of Primary Industries and to provide these landowners and farmers with information on how to regenerate their land using native trees instead of exotic. The field trial, located within the Motutapu Covenant at Mahu Whenua, incorporated various treatment options, such as planting beech with or without bracken rhizomes, Manuka seeds, Manuka duffpods, and beech duffpods. The on-campus trial was established in a controlled environment where beech and Manuka seeds were planted with or without their respective duffpods. Currently the results of these experiments are inconclusive, requiring additional time to observe the effects of different treatments on the planted seedlings and seeds which will in future contribute to sustainable and effective reforestation practices using native trees.

Project Funded by: The Ministry for Primary Industries and The University of Otago

Workshop Analysis on Behaviour Changes Towards Minimising Food Waste for Waste-Ed

Charli May Christensen — 2024-03-04

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Waste-Ed with Kate, a community-directed food waste reduction workshop, in instigating behaviour change among participants. This study used a combination of pre-attendance, on the night and both three and six week post attendance surveys to gain insight into participant behaviours. The data collected, focuses on understanding the dynamics of reported food waste amounts. Alongside the focus of investigating change in behaviour following workshop attendance, this study also investigated the best form of communication. The purpose of looking into communication methods, was to determine the most effective way to collect data about household food waste practices following the workshop. Three different communication methods were tested, and reported on to determine the highest response rate, which can be used in future. Graphical representations and Likert scale analyses illustrate participants' behaviour’s pre-attendance and at three and six weeks post-workshop. The findings indicate a significant reduction in reported post-workshop food waste, suggesting a positive impact on participants' practices. The study, commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment, contributes valuable insights into the success of workshops as behaviour change interventions. Continued evaluation of behaviour change initiatives that address the complex issue of food waste is recommended.

Supervised by: Miranda Mirosa and Grace Clare

Scholarship Project Funded by: Waste-Ed With Kate

The Risk of Modern Slavery in the University Supply Chain

Rebecca Stewart — 2024-03-04

This research project aims to identify the risk of modern slavery in the University of Otago’s supply chain and to advise the procurement department on how to address this risk. Modern slavery legislation in New Zealand is anticipated in the near future and the University of Otago must be prepared to meet their obligations under this law. This report introduces and advises on four proposals of varying cost and practicality that the University of Otago may implement in their procurement operations. Data to inform these proposals was gathered through interviews conducted with experts, and through a questionnaire sent to all of the University of Otago’s suppliers. These findings not only inform the University’s procurement practices but also contribute to broader discussions on corporate responsibility and supply chain ethics. By anticipating and proactively addressing modern slavery risks, the University of Otago sets a precedent for ethical procurement practices in the academic sector and beyond.

Supervised by: Ray O’Brien, Stephen Hall

Scholarship Project Funded by: University of Otago Procurement Department

Green Island Rummage Waste

Grace Wilton — 2024-03-04

Secondhand shops are overlooked waste diverters in the sustainability sector, in order to measure their impact, my research seeks to understand their processes so that quantification strategies can be identified. The Green Island Rummage store is looking for data-gathering strategies so that the carbon emission reductions from their waste diversion efforts can be calculated. This is a difficult issue to tackle because of the pressures faced by secondhand shops due to limited resources. I interviewed local secondhand stores to identify barriers and strategies for waste diversion quantification and then surveyed Rummage employees to determine the applicability of potential measures. This research highlights the pressures being faced by secondhand stores and their significance in our move to a circular economy.

Supervised by: Ray O’Brien

Scholarship Project Funded by: Dunedin City Council

Reducing Emissions Caused by Student Air Travel to and from Dunedin

Brooke Muirsmeath — 2024-03-04

Students travelling in between their city of study and their hometowns is one of the largest emissions generators for both the University of Otago, and the city of Dunedin as a whole (Rutherford & Cliff, 2023). To address this, this report will cover the question ‘How can an ‘event specific’ train to and from Dunedin be utilised to reduce the emissions created by student’s travel behaviour and what other benefits could this deliver for students and Dunedin?’ This inquiry aims to analyse solutions to the issue of emissions resulting from student travel, with a particular focus on travel between Dunedin and Christchurch for events and University breaks. Current underutilisation of existing rail and public transport infrastructure contributes to high rates of flying and driving. The effective use of rail is a key tool to reducing transport emissions, in its current state, the reinstatement of passenger rail is complex and facing barriers, the introduction of irregular passenger rail would aim to be a more feasible solution. This report endeavours to bridge the gap in formal research, offering insights into the viability of this method and provide further understanding to allow for more work to be done on the introduction of this service and additional supporting initiatives. This report may also provide insights for other possible institutions interested in implementing a similar service to further explore the idea.

Supervised by: Craig Cliff, Ray O’Brien

Scholarship Project Funded by: Dunedin City Council

The Drop for Good ‘Toolkit’

Phoebe Wood — 2024-03-04

A reuse scheme such as Drop for Good achieves circularity within a student flatting community. This ‘how to’ guide on the running of Drop for Good exists to ensure the initiatives continued success and empower other institutions to reduce student flatting waste. The handbook provides guidance around the important relationships, messages and features of a tertiary reuse scheme. Insights from semi-structured interviews with experts in zero-waste and community engagement have informed these recommendations. Surveys conducted on Otago students and event volunteers revealed the initiative’s strengths and determined the Drop for Good ‘wish list’. The key questions of this study are: What are the possible models for a tertiary reuse scheme? How can we best engage students in the circular economy? What are the potential barriers to implementing a reuse scheme at other tertiary institutions? How can Drop for Good become more accessible to students at Otago University? Keeping materials circulating and functioning at their highest potential helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the creation and distribution of goods. The primary aim of this research is to empower other tertiary institutions to challenge students’ linear thinking and reduce waste created by student flatting.

Supervised by: Jesikah Triscott, Ray O’Brien

Transforming the E-waste Management System

Sarah Ibrahim — 2024-03-04

The aim of this research is to inform the transformation of the e-waste management in Dunedin by shifting the focus from recycling to activities higher in the waste hierarchy (for example, redesigning, reducing and refurbishing). Previous research has identified the importance and potential solutions of creating a circular economy for e-waste, but few have addressed the context of Dunedin's social and environmental economy. To gain insight into how Dunedin’s climate influences the e-waste management system, semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved in the production, processing and diversion of e-waste.

The interviews focused on understanding current e-waste management practices, identified barriers and explored opportunities for collaboration with other stakeholders. This research hopes to generate recommendations to improve e-waste management in Dunedin that may be adopted in other areas to support sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Supervised by: Craig Cliff, Ray O’Brien

Scholarship Project Funded by: Dunedin City Council

Opportunities for Dunedin’s Mobile Library Service

Tessa Worthington — 2024-03-04

This project delves into the potential opportunities for Dunedin’s mobile library service, with a focus on emissions and social sustainability. The research is particularly significant for this community, as a comprehensive review of Dunedin's mobile library services and user transport behaviours has not been conducted previously. Employing a mixed-methods and community-based approach, this project involves surveys of current mobile library and city library users to understand their travel behaviours and assess interest in additional mobile library services. Interviews with mobile library managers around Aotearoa also provide insights into the diverse scope of mobile library and outreach services. Subsequent data analysis offers a range of recommendations tailored for the Dunedin City Council and Dunedin Public Libraries, serving as a valuable guide for their future decision-making processes, in line with the Zero Carbon Plan 2030. Beyond the local context, this project includes insights applicable to a broader spectrum of organizations, councils, and communities, contributing to the larger discourse on emissions reduction and sustainable practices.

Supervised by: Craig Cliff, Ray O’Brien

Scholarship Project Funded by: Dunedin City Council

Stable Isotope Analysis Reveals Feral Cat Diet on the Chatham Islands

Hadley Muller — 2024-03-04

Feral cats are significant invasive predators in New Zealand and are widely associated with drastic declines in breeding seabird populations. Suppressing or controlling feral cat populations has been a major conservation focus in large island ecosystems, including Rēkohu (The Chatham Islands). The Chatham Island tāiko (Pterodroma magentae) naturally persists in a single breeding colony after experiencing rapid population declines in the 19th & 20th centuries. A deeper understanding of feral cat ecology and diet is required to ensure control methods maximise conservation benefits. We used stable isotope analysis of feral cat fur, claws, and bone collagen to investigate the ecology and diet of feral cats trapped in the Tuku Nature Reserve on Rēkohu (The Chatham Islands). We predicted that cat diet would be highly specialised among individuals but relatively stable over time. To estimate the relative contribution of available prey to feral cat diets we employed Bayesian mixing models. Standard ellipse areas were used to understand diet stability over time. Our results have implications for the ongoing management of the Chatham Island Taiko.

Supervised by: Cilla Wehi

Food Waste Initiatives Across Tertiary Sectors in the Pacific Region

Ana Gibson — 2024-03-04

Preventing food waste is becoming a global priority, with approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted annually contributing to 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. The United Nations has established the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 12.3, aiming to halve food waste by 2050. Pacific nations are at risk of becoming food insecure, due in part to their hot climate and limited resources to store food properly. This research paper investigates food waste initiatives at universities across the Pacific region. The aim of this project was to identify current proactive measures addressing food waste, assess the effectiveness of existing initiatives, and pinpoint actions that could enhance sustainable food consumption. This project involved both primary and secondary data collection, to investigate the practices of 34 universities from 17 islands in the Pacific Region.

Supervised by: Miranda Mirosa

Scholarship Project Funded by: Riddet Summer

Review of On-Farm Food Waste and Loss

Jackson McBreen — 2024-03-04

The global challenge of food waste has gained increasing attention in recent years, highlighted by Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve global food waste by 2030. On-farm practices are pivotal in influencing the amount of food lost before it reaches consumers. It is estimated globally that 15% of food is wasted before it leaves the farm. This project conducts a review of existing tools, technologies, management practices, and strategies designed to prevent, minimise, and manage on-farm food waste. This project is in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor to support them with their upcoming report on food waste prevention.

Supervised by: Jacques de Satgé, Miranda Mirosa, Grace Clare

Supplier Perceptions Towards Providing Surplus Food to a Social Enterprise

Cinamin Collins — 2024-03-04

Social enterprises are organisations that adopt business models to achieve their social and/or environmental goals. The use of surplus food by a social enterprise may help support de-growth, lessen food insecurity, create community spaces, and/or be more environmentally friendly. In the case of acquiring surplus food, social enterprises may either receive donated surplus food from producers or manufacturers, or they can purchase the surplus food thereby creating a secondary market for food that would have otherwise gone to waste. The purpose of this project was to explore food producers' and manufacturers' perceptions on the provision of surplus food to a social enterprise, to provide a better understanding of the opportunities to grow this beneficial practice. The project consisted of a series of semi-structured interviews with food producers and manufacturers in the Otago region. These interviews were transcribed and then thematically analysed, to identify themes in the data.

The report found that the food suppliers interviewed, though they did not currently have systems in place, were open to the idea of providing surplus food to a social enterprise. In terms of opportunities, frequently mentioned were “capacity”, “public perception”, “community” and "attitude". In terms of barriers, frequently mentioned were “capacity”, "logistics", “cost/benefit”, “current use” and “communication”." These results will form the basis of recommendations on how social enterprises can more effectively source surplus food from the region.

Supervised by: Miranda Mirosa, Food Waste Innovation

Archival Research on Early Settler Relationship to Place

Abbi Virens — 2024-03-04

This research project explores early settler relationships to place, land, and the environment in Dunedin from the mid to late 1800s. The project aims to provide a new perspective by looking at the affective responses of settlers to the environment/nature and how they helped create a sense of belonging. This project has drawn on various ephemera from the Hocken Collection, primarily settler letters and diaries, to analyze the emotional connections and/or disconnections being formed. The project highlights the individual relationships to place through these personal accounts. Themes reflected on in the project also include the idea of utopia and the physical ‘improvement’ of the landscape. Key questions have been asked, such as, how do we feel like we belong in place? Did the physical transformation help to make settlers feel at home? How do we (pākehā) belong to a place that is not ours, but constructed to be ours? Ultimately, this research project aims to understand the affective dimension of belonging by exploring the early settlers' emotional responses to place/environment in Dunedin.

Supervised by: Dr. Abbi Virens

Scholarship Project Funded by: Centre for Sustainability

Resilience and Sustainability in the Context of Future Disruption

Catherine Fairbairn — 2024-03-04

This literature review is focused on the resilience and sustainability discourse within New Zealand. The aim of the review was to inquire how the Espiner et al (2017) paper had been used in other literature; and also to conduct research to create a library of other relevant articles based on resilience and sustainability specific to New Zealand. As a result of climate change, sustainable futures and understanding resilience has been pushed to the forefront of hazard management. This project therefore aims to condense the research surrounding resilience and sustainability within New Zealand to a singular resource. This has created a comprehensive catalogue of all the research available from a New Zealand context that also highlights the areas that require further research. From a base point COVID and tourism is well researched within New Zealand however the value of relationships and communities doesn’t appear to be as well researched. Overall, this literature review can act as a resource to others researching the ever-pressing realities New Zealand and the world will face due to climate change.

Espiner, S., Orchiston, C., & Higham, J. (2017). Resilience and sustainability: A complementary relationship? Towards a practical conceptual model for the sustainability–resilience nexus in tourism. Journal of sustainable tourism, 25(10), 1385-1400.

Supervised by: Research Associate Professor Caroline Orchisten

Consumers' Response to Food Date Labels

Saffron Elliott — 2024-03-04

This research project delves into consumers' responses to food expiry date labels, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, to reduce global food waste by 50% at consumer and retail levels by 2030. The project utilises biometric (eye tracking) data collection to investigate consumer interpretation of expiration labels and the potential correlation between inadequate understanding and household food waste. The research methodology involves an in-depth literature analysis, focusing on distinctions between best-before and use-by dates, particularly concerning food safety. The study addresses crucial questions, including consumers' responses to expiry dates, comprehensions, awareness of best-before versus use-by distinctions, and the correct utilisation of these labels. The key innovation lies in uncovering consumer behaviours and proposing a streamlined labelling approach with fewer best-before dates, offering opportunities for the food industry to reduce household food waste, consequently mitigating the environmental impact on landfills, and contributing to climate change mitigation.

Supervised by: Erin Young, Grace Clare, Miranda Mirosa, Food Science Department, University of Otago

Scholarship Project Funded by: New Zealand- China Food Protection Network

Are You Ready to Shake, Dunedin?

Rhys Latton — 2024-03-04

In 1974, I was one and a half years old. We didn’t own a TV in my family’s home, but if we had, we would have perhaps been watching Coronation Street on the evening of the 9th of April (there was only one channel - black and white). My mother remembers the quake quite vividly - the sound like a train roaring outside confused her for a moment. Once she realised what was happening, Mum rushed her little family under the strong, oaken kitchen table as our little bungalow shook.

I have been making a short film in which we find out about Dunedin’s moderate intensity 1974 earthquake through the firsthand memories of residents of the time and through our local earthquake experts. How did the earthquake manifest in our city? What damage was caused? How prepared were we?

Taking this experience further: what is the potential for a larger quake to happen here - could nearby fault lines deliver an earthquake to Dunedin of catastrophic proportions? Have we learned from 1974 enough to be prepared for such an event?
In my presentation, I’ll discuss my process for finding a narrative approach to this documentary in order to bring about audience engagement and even entertainment to this communication resource, thus amplifying retention of the important messaging of resilience and preparedness.

Supervised by: Caroline Orchiston

Scholarship Project Funded by: The Centre for Sustainability