New doctorates at Palmerston North

Doctors of Philosophy.

Maria Alejandra Ayanegui Alcerreca – PhD in Veterinary Clincial Science
Dr Alcerreca’s research deals with the epidemiology and control of leptospiral infection in New Zealand farmed deer, prompted by concerns about the prevalence of leptospirosis in the national farmed deer herd. The objective was to provide the deer industry with an enhanced understanding of the epidemiology and distribution of leptospirosis, and the role of a vaccine as a possible control measure to reduce animal and human risk of disease. A survey confirmed 80 per cent of the tested herds across the country were infected.

Samuel Thomas Vaughan Alexander– PhD in Computer Science
Dr Alexander’s research focused on the effects of emotion in educational software, with an initial study of interactions between students and human tutors, using facial expressions as a measure. An artificial intelligence method for adapting to student emotions in tutoring systems was developed. The mathematics tutoring system featured an animated tutoring character, “Eve”, which can detect expressions of student emotion using a web-cam, and respond with her own expressions. Results showed that enhancing educational software with emotional awareness can increase student motivation and learning.

Ahmed Mohammed Rida Amerah – PhD in Nutritional Science
Dr Amerah studied the effect of feed particle size, whole wheat feeding and exogenous enzyme supplementation on broiler performance and digestive tract development. In New Zealand, medium grind is typically used for grinding grains, with the primary aim of maintaining good feed quality. The findings suggest that energy savings during feed processing could be achieved by coarse grinding of grains with no adverse effect on broiler performance. Further, cereals used in broiler diets can be ground more coarsely than the current practice.

Andre Luis Chautard Barczak– PhD in Computer Science,
Dr Barczak studied rapid object detection in computer vision. His work focused on overcoming some of the limitations of current methods used when objects are subject to geometric transformations. A new feature extraction method was developed which extends the usability of moment invariants. Advantages of the method include rapid computation and invariance to rotation, scaling and lighting conditions. His work can be applied to areas such as video processing, surveillance, optical character recognition, and image-based quality assurance.

Shirley Jean Barnett – PhD in Management
Dr Barnett’s research explored guest retention in New Zealand accommodation establishments. Findings confirmed that owners and managers actively worked to retain their guests, and knew the value and importance of retention. However, an in depth case study of three establishments found that few actual retention strategies were implemented and owners and managers focused more on guest satisfaction and building relationships with customers. Dr Barnett proposed an alternative to the ‘Service Profit Chain’.

Jan Elizabeth Binnie – PhD in Plant Biology
Dr Binnie investigated the presence and properties of a key enzyme, ACC oxidase, involved in ethylene biosynthesis, studying Royal Gala apple trees. Ethylene is a plant hormone which plays an important role during leaf senescence, fruit ripening and leaf and fruit abscission. Her findings may allow improvement of the quality of apple fruit, if leaf senescence can be delayed by the down-regulation of ACC oxidase in leaf tissue. This could lead to increased photosynthate and carbohydrate storage for fruit growth.

Stewart Roger Collie – PhD in Chemistry
Dr Collie’s research addressed the requirement for durable, electrically conductive textile materials in the development of smart textile systems – which will become a key feature of future communication, medical and entertainment systems, if their electrical properties are durable in everyday use. He developed a method that allowed more durable inherently conductive polymers to be deposited. The research also highlighted the critical role of the substrate structure and fibre type in the composite’s electrical properties.

Gillian Mary Craven – PhD in Psychology
Due to high rates of depression and anxiety in older adults, Dr Craven researched the connection between vulnerability and protective factors among older adults. Attachment was a unique predictor of decreased family support, increased friend support and increased received family support. Higher independence resulted in increased positive effect, while sensitivity predicted increased negative effect. Findings contribute to cognitive interventions for enhancing older adults’ mental well-being.

Ahmed Ali Didi – PhD in Education
Dr Didi explored how an urban primary school in the Maldives dealt with school improvement. Findings suggest that three major dimensions, namely change, leadership and culture, strengthened improvement efforts. These translated into managing change, attending to specific leader actions and influencing the school’s culture. This study has contributed to understanding of school improvement efforts. It highlighted aspects of school leadership that contribute more towards improvement and suggests schools should pursue sustainable change to reap long -term benefits.

Venkata Sayoji Rao Dukkipati – PhD in Animal Science
Dr Dukkipati’s research focused on identifying genetic markers for immune responses to paratuberculosis vaccination in sheep. The study identified six genotypes and four alleles at six marker loci as either “probable” or “most likely” to be associated with immune responses to vaccination. Based on published data regarding the role of the host’s immune responses in protection against paratuberculosis, the identified markers may be useful in selective breeding of resistant sheep. This has the potential to curtail incidence of the disease in breeding as well as commercial flocks.

Andrew Richard East – PhD in Food Technology
Dr East investigated the influence of disruptions to optimal storage conditions during commercial cool chain operations on apple physiology and quality.
To aid future prediction of fruit quality changes in commercial cool chains, mathematical models were formulated to predict ethylene production of apples in variable temperature scenarios. In contrast to breaks in temperature control, short breaks in controlled atmosphere storage while fruit remained refrigerated were found to have no effect on fruit physiology or quality. The results provide indications of the potential influence of commercial cool chain practices on fruit quality and value.

Nawal El-Gack – PhD in Development Studies
Dr El-Gack examined the experiences of participatory development projects in Sudan. Several factors were shown to influence participation: development providers’ policies, the credibility and behaviour of staff, the nature and amount of resources, socio-cultural norms, power relations, communities’ previous experiences, organisation, and the level of education. The research identifies factors for improving the practice: an in-depth understanding of social, economic, political and physical environments; adopting a moral-obligatory approach; and, providing communities with resources, information and skills.

Jacobus Meindert Evers – PhD in Food Technology
Fat in milk is present as tiny droplets, enveloped in a thin membrane called the milk fat globule membrane. Dr Evers investigated changes in the composition and structure of the membrane after fat globules are excreted by mammary cells. These changes have important implications for processing cow’s milk and the quality of manufactured dairy products. His results suggest that the membrane of fat globules in expressed milk of different species differs in structure and composition. Other analytical techniques developed will have potential benefits in a number of fields.

Damien James Fleetwood – PhD in Genetics
Dr Fleetwood characterised genetic determinants for the production of ergot alkaloids by epichlöe fungal endophytes of pasture grasses. These alkaloids are thought to deter some insects but are toxic to grazing stock. Research confirmed the role of a gene in ergot alkaloid biochemistry and provided insight into its regulation and the role of ergot alkaloids in deterring insects. This provides a foundation for understanding further biochemical steps in the ergot alkaloid pathway, the ecological role of individual alkaloid compounds,the evolution of genes and their regulation in the host plant.

Koong Hean Foo – PhD in Psychology
Dr Foo’s thesis compared the characteristics, self-reported practices and experiential skills of mental health practitioners in New Zealand and Singapore. He found that practitioners in the two countries were trained similarly in Western therapies and interventions and both groups had modified these for their respective populations. Both also made extensive use of cognitive behaviour therapy and both provided valuable experiential skills in the handling of therapist self-disclosure , religious/spiritual issues and the traditional healing systems of clients.

Barrie Arthur Gordon – PhD in Education
Dr Gordon examined implementation of the Responsibility Model, an alternative approach to teaching physical education, in a New Zealand secondary school. The implementation was successful in developing positive, supportive, and well-behaved classes. The majority of students became more personally and socially responsible within the classroom. The addition of learning associated with personal and social responsibility did not disadvantage students in meeting physical education curriculum goals. This has implications for teachers considering introducing the modes into their teaching.

Jenness Margaret Guthrie – PhD in Chemistry
Dr Guthrie studied laccases from a native white-rot fungus. The fungus was selected from a group of 261 native fungi based on its ability to break down pentachlorophenol, a timber preservative that has contaminated soil at many former timber-processing sites in New Zealand. Her studies show that the white-rot fungus, and its laccases have potential to be used for the clean up of contaminated sites.

Donald James Houston – PhD in Education
Dr Houston adopted a critical systems approach to exploring quality in a university. He makes a case for local intervention based on an action research/Total Systems Intervention paradigm. It documents a number of cycles of action research within a university unit, comprising data gathering and consulting with participants, analysis and reflection, structural or process intervention and evaluation. The study concludes with a reflection on the fit between the selected approach and the continuing challenge to ensure quality.

Zaker Hussain – PhD in Forestry
Dr Hussain’s research focused on the environmental effects of densely planted young willow and poplar trees to reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses from grazed and fertilised pastoral lands. The findings encourage the planting of trees to reduce surface runoff, soil erosion and nutrient losses from farms. The negative effects of trees on pasture growth can be minimised through density management. The timing and intensity of livestock grazing and the use of some fertilisers need managerial skills and scientific knowledge to avoid deleterious effects on New Zealand waters.

Alexander Bryan Wilfried James – PhD in Ecology
Dr James assessed the impact of stream flow reduction on habitat and macroinvertebrate behaviour using experimental manipulations in natural and artificial stream channels. Findings showed that reduced flow altered instream habitat causing some invertebrate species to enter the water column. There was no evidence that animals moved deeper into the substrate in response to severe flow reduction. While some stream macroinvertebrates may detect and respond to reduced flows, overall, New Zealand macroinvertebrates are resilient and resistant to reduced flow conditions.

Jinsoo Jeong – PhD in Information Engineering
Dr Jeong proposed a robust method for improved performance of real-time speech enhancement and noise cancellation in a real reverberant environment. He presented the kepstrum approach, based on a fundamental theory of kepstrum analysis, and its application to a speech enhancement method. The research shows that the front-end application of this method to speech enhancement methods provides an improved performance and noise cancellation with several favourable effects.

Elizabeth Jaya – PhD in Plant Biology
Dr Jaya studied the regulation of the developmental processes of phase change and the floral transition in Eucalyptus occidentalis and Metrosideros excelsa (pohutukawa). A comparative investigation between the two species was undertaken to understand the tranition to flowering and apply the knowledge to accelerate flowering in Metrosideros excelsa. The investigation has contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in phase change and flowering in woody species.

Michael Knapp – PhD in Plant Biology
Dr Knapp used genetic and fossil data to study the history of New Zealand beeches and kauri. He found that beeches, considered as an icon of New Zealand’s Gondwanan heritage, did arrive on the archipelago only 20 - 30 million years ago, 50 million years after separation from the ancient super continent. However, kauri was identified as a potential Gondwanan relic, rejecting the hypothesis of a temporary, complete submergence of New Zealand. This increases understanding of the biogeographic history and diversity of New Zealand forests and the effects of Pleistocene climate change on flora.

Henning Koehler – PhD in Information Systems
Dr Koehler studied new methods for designing good databases. This resulted in the characterisation of designs that minimise the amount of space required for storing data, which was strongly related to the elimination of redundancy. Fast algorithms were developed to solve several problems of high computational complexity, arising during the design process. These algorithms can be used in automated design tools to facilitate the development of large database systems.

Janina Kuhn – PhD in Food Technology
Dr Kuhn investigated interactions between milk proteins and flavour compounds, and factors which influence these interactions. She also studied the in-mouth release of a flavour compound from commonly used milk protein products. Her findings contribute to knowledge of the interactions between flavour compounds and proteins. This is required to improve food flavouring and to make protein based foods, such as low-fat dairy products, more sensorily acceptable to consumers. The results also emphasize a careful choice of food processing conditions.

Yu-hsin Kung – PhD in Veterninary Science
Dr Kung’s researched the epidemiology of avian influenza viruses in the Hong Kong live poultry marketing system. Results showed that virus transmission dynamics differ in various subtypes of avian influenza viruses in different species of poultry, especially chicken and quail. Ms Kung’s research contributed to a sound understanding of the Hong Kong live poultry market dynamics. The findings were also a significant consideration in the implementation of effective control measures by the authorities, thereby minimising the risk of disease spread and human infection.

Hui Ma – PhD in Information Systems
Dr Ma investigated a method for designing distributed databases which guarantee performance gains in executing the most relevant queries. While most existing methods adopt an ad-hoc approach, in which the optimisation of queries is neglected, Dr Ma combined standard distribution techniques with known query optimisation techniques. She showed that the problem can be separated and only very simple queries have to be dealt with. The results are likely to revive research on distributed databases and impact on the practice of future database systems.

Ahmed Ali Maniku – PhD in Education
Dr Maniku’s research explored higher education quality assurance policy and practice in the Maldives from a global, national and local perspective. The thesis argues that quality assurance policy in higher education, as promoted by transnational agencies such as the World Bank, is primarily legitimated within a neoliberal discourse. His research shows that global neoliberalism has had partial effects on quality assurance policy, combined with other national and local influences. The thesis argues for a model that acknowledges the need for compliance, and seeks to assure quality of teaching and learning.

Pyseth Meas – PhD in Agricultural Engineering
Dr Meas’ research focused on the optimisation of low cost rice sun-drying systems used in rural Cambodia. Experiments were conducted using a range of methods practised by rice farmers. A model of heat and moisture transport within the rice bed was developed to predict the drying time and to identify factors that affected or were correlated with the key rice quality metric. The research allows for the determination of optimum drying conditions for best rice quality, combined with the fastest practical drying rate. Results will inform practical advice to Cambodian rice farmers.

Kassim Mohammed Mahmoud Mohammed – PhD in Management
Dr Mohammed examined the way employees perceive risk in a non-governmental organisation, which provides healthcare and support for people with mental, intellectual and physical disabilities. Emerging themes pointed to the interrelated link between perception and risk. The study found risk is culturally-constructed, individualistic, and subjective. For effective risk management, all perspectives should be considered. This requires a participatory system of managing risk, improving people’s awareness about risk, and modifying the culture of risk.

Pitsini Mongkhonsiri – PhD in Nursing
Dr Mongkhonsiri explored concepts of self and the impact of Thai culture on the motivation of female tertiary students to engage in health-promoting behaviours. Relationships between sense of coherence, identity status and health-promoting lifestyle behaviours were explored. Further analysis revealed the strong impact of Buddhist-based traditions and common societal values on participants’ sense of self and health-related behaviours. Strategies to promote healthy behaviours in Thai tertiary-educated women need to take these cultural influences into account.

Noorzaid Bin Muhamad – PhD in Physiology
Dr Noorzaid investigated the enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism in abomasal parasites of sheep. Increasing resistance to chemical drenches by parasites has led to the need to identify new targets for worm control. Kinetic properties of key enzymes were studied. The most important findings were the identification of three enzymes in the parasites: creatinase, aspartase and glutamate synthase. These enzymes are not believed to be expressed in the sheep host or other mammals, making them possible candidates for developing novel therapies.

Robert Ian Murray – PhD in Agricultural Engineering
Dr Murray’s research focused on variable rate application technology in the New Zealand aerial topdressing industry. A case for technology assisted fertiliser application was developed.
This involved investigating the field performance of conventional and enhanced flow control systems and the effect of variable rate application on hill country pasture production. The research showed that automating the fertiliser flow control system can reduce off-target fertiliser application. Increased profitability should result, based on the potential pasture production outputs of the farmland.

Amsha Nahid – PhD in Bioprocess Engineering
Dr Nahid focused on mathematically modelling the freezing and thawing behaviour of butter products. Studies showed that water in butter supercools many degrees below its initial freezing point before freezing. The release of latent heat was observed as a temperature rebound, controlled as much by the rate of crystallisation of water in each droplet as by the rate of heat transfer. Various models were developed and applied successfully. These have been used by the project sponsor (Fonterra) to help assess the impact of production and distribution practises on butter quality.

Simon Joseph Nash – PhD in Social Policy
Dr Nash considered the problem of ensuring that citizens have meaningful opportunities to participate in local government environmental planning and decision-making. The research showed that there is considerable potential to reduce conflicts and to better integrate citizens’ agendas when actors deliberate and seek compromises based on common understandings of one another’s values and preferences. The thesis argues that councils should foster deliberative perspectives among actors and that this will contribute to more democratically legitimate and durable decision-making.

Ernest Laryea Okorley – PhD in Agricultural and Horticultual Systems and Management
Dr Okorley identified factors critical for improving a decentralised agricultural extension. Using a Ghanaian case study of a government extension organisation, his study emphasised the importance of external and internal factors, including the political will to decentralise, and a clear legal framework. Not previously reported included the need to develop a needs-based programme, expand the extension service focus, and use needs-based groups in service delivery. Findings have implications for theory development to guide decentralised agricultural extension services seeking to improve performance.

Te Hereripine Sarah-Jane Elizabeth Paine – PhD in Public Health
Dr Paine’s research focused on whether differences in sleep timing are related to differences in the circadian biological clock or driven by societal demands, such as work patterns and family commitments. It found that morning-type people slept earlier and had an earlier biological clock, compared to evening types. Both groups used the weekend to catch up on their sleep, although this practice was more evident for evening types. Using a kaupapa Mäori framework, Dr Paine also investigated Mäori hopes and concerns for genetic research in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Kalansooriyage Chandrathilaka Kalyani Perera – PhD in Veterinary Pathology
The bacterium Salmonella Brandenburg is a major cause of abortions in South Island sheep.This project aimed to identify immunogenic proteins for their usefulness in diagnostic tests and vaccines. An assay was developed to detect serum antibodies against the phase-1 flagellin gene FliC in naturally infected sheep and a further assay targeted four genes, including phase-1 FliC, for the identification of S. Brandenburg in pure cultures. The assay correctly identified the bacterium, suggesting it may also be a useful tool in the surveillance of this pathogen.

Dipti Wilhelmina Pitta – PhD in Animal Science
Dr Pitta examined the use of willow browse to improve the productive and reproductive performance of ewes under drought conditions. Summer/autumn droughts are a regular feature of East Coast regions, with predicted severity in the future. Ewes mated on willow fodder blocks and ewes grazing low quality drought pasture during mating were compared on reproductive rate. Ewes grazing willow fodder blocks had a consistent increase in reproductive rate and better maintained live weight compared to control ewes grazing low quality pastures.

Raewyn Carol Poulsen – PhD in Biochemistry
Dr Poulsen studied the effects of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) on bone in models of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Inflammation is a major contributor to the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Results showed that n-3 LCPUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly protected against bone loss. DHA combined with the oestrogen used in Hormone Replacement Therapy had significantly greater protective effects than either treatment alone. The research findings may have implications for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Yvan Richard – PhD in Ecology
Dr Richard proposed an integrated approach for understanding the effects of habitat fragmentation on species distribution and persistence. He applied this approach to robins in forest remnants in the central North Island. Findings showed that habitat quality was not affected by forest fragmentation. However, the distribution of robins was strongly affected by isolation of remnants. This research highlights the need for the consideration of habitat isolation and species dispersal abilities in New Zealand conservation strategies.

Nicholas Roskruge – PhD in Soil Science
Dr Roskruge focused on mätauranga Mäori, aligned to horticulture and pedology, as the basis of an assessment model or tool for the future economic development of Mäori land resources. The crux of the cultural assessment tool is its ability to apply a cultural layer drawn from a body of knowledge, not previously included in decision models relative to land utility in New Zealand. The thesis discusses the beneficial use of the model by Mäori and how it can be continuously refined to meet the needs of Mäori land owners.

Brett Nicholas Ryland – PhD in Mathematical Physics
Multisymplectic integration is a developing field of numerical integration, suited to the simulation of wave-like phenomena occurring in such areas as meteorology and quantum mechanics. Dr Ryland researched the construction of the integrators by applying Gaussian Runge-Kutta or partitioned Runge-Kutta discretisation to a multi-Hamiltonian, partial, differential equation. He showed that application of one of the popular Gaussian Runge-Kutta methods, in general, does not lead to a well-defined integrator. The results have important implications for the numerical simulation of systems exhibiting wave-like phenomena.

Sanjay Saikia – PhD In Biochemistry
Dr Saikia studied the biosynthesis of paxilline, a fungal metabolite that belongs to a family of compounds called indole-diterpenes. This group of compounds is best known for their neurotoxic effects on mammals, causing syndromes such as ryegrass staggers in sheep and cattle.
There is considerable interest in their pharmacological potential. For the first time, this research has validated the steps involved in indole-diterpene biosynthesis, which were speculative until now.

Arne Schwelm – PhD in Molecular Bioscience
Dr Schwelm studied the plant-pathogen system of the fungus Dothistroma septosporum and pine. The study focused on genes required for synthesis of the mycotoxin dothistromin, produced by the fungus, thought to be a major factor in pine needle blight disease.
While the potential for it to have an essential role in pine needle blight disease was ruled out, the thesis provides new hypotheses about the role of dothistromin in competition between D. septosporum and other microorganisms in the forest environment.

Richard Seaton – PhD In Zoology
Dr Seaton’s research established that if the management of commercial pine plantations is suitable, this habitat can support relatively high densities of New Zealand falcon. Further, commercial pine plantations have a significant role to play in the New Zealand falcon’s conservation. Findings showed that production landscapes in New Zealand should not be ruled out as important habitats for the conservation of threatened species and the enhancement of indigenous biodiversity.

Yongjin Shang – PhD in Plant Biology
Dr Shang studied the molecular mechanism controlling the formation of coloured stripes in snapdragon flowers. These flowers proved a useful model for the broader question of how a gene can be differentially regulated across a population of similar cells. A method was developed to quickly check whether isolated genes could be expressed in the flower petals of tobacco and petunia. Mr Shang also detected a gene that may control the production of yellow pigments in snapdragon flowers.

Gillian Ray Skyrme – PhD in Linguistics and Second Language Teaching
Dr Skyrme investigated the experiences of Chinese undergraduate students studying business and information sciences in a New Zealand university. She found that students’ preparations focused on the English language dimension rather than other requirements of the experience. This left them subject to bewilderment and threatened their sense of competence during the early period of their study. She concludes that entry criteria should include specific university preparation, and suggests measures by which the university might improve the experience for such students.

Avril Janis Thesing (nee Winks) – PhD in Education
This research looks at the nature of support for mothers in early childhood centres, at a time when disruption of networks has occurred. The study showed support to be a product of mothers’ own activity in building relationships and contributing to their centre community. Informal systems were the most effective. This research will help teachers develop more collaborative systems to facilitate support for mothers and ensure partnerships that make better use of their services to the mutual benefit of early childhood centre communities.

Yvonne Peeyee Ting – PhD in Chemistry
Dr Ting focused on the structuring and functionalisation of titania. The mode of dye binding to titania and the stability of adsorbed dyes was investigated. The research has shown that while dyes are adsorbed and intimately associated with titania, the mode of dye binding is different on a dry electrode than upon dispersed and solvated titania. The knowledge gained on nanostructuring titania and dye binding will speed the development of self-assembled titania arrays formed using small molecular linkers.

Simone Megan Titus – PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology
Dr Titus addressed the need to determine the safety of pork chops produced in New Zealand. She developed a novel suite of mathematical models that described and evaluated the likelihood that three potentially destructive bacteria were present on chops on sale. She also investigated methods to reduce these pathogen numbers. The models predicted distributions of bacteria concentrations and prevalence, and the process facilitated greater understanding of pathogen dynamics in the pork food chain. These models can be adapted for use by government agencies.

Edmundo de Silva Soares Viegas – PhD in Agricultural Engineering
Dr Viegas examined sustainable crop production technologies in East Timor. Case studies in East Timor and New Zealand, provided a better understanding of tillage and no-tillage effects on soil structure and crop production. This work has particular relevance to East Timor where collaborative efforts, led by the Government, are attempting to develop its subsistence agriculture sector. To be sustainable, a selective agricultural mechanization is proposed, based primarily on local knowledge and a sound use of fragile soil and scarce water resources.

Angela Rosamund Ward – PhD in Education
Dr Ward’s research explored the nature of friendships and social relationships of secondary school pupils with physical disabilities. She concluded that there are personal and socio-ecological factors that impact on their social experiences. The findings suggest the need for teachers to examine values, attitudes, knowledge and pedagogy in the context of their schools and to adopt a multi-level approach to address the academic and social needs of all pupils.

Kirsten Leila Wild – PhD in Development Studies
Dr Wild’s research explored the long-term impact of development scholarship schemes on women’s lives. She examined the experiences of women from developing nations who have completed tertiary training in New Zealand through a scholarship scheme funded by the New Zealand Agency for International Development. She found that opportunities provided by this scheme have translated into a number of key benefits for participants, including new opportunities to represent their organisations at home and abroad.

Bronwyn Louise Wildbore – PhD in Decision Science
Dr Wildbore studied the two-stage capacitated plant location problem, which is part of an important class of mixed-integer linear programming models. A new mathematical formulation and approach allowed quality solutions within a relatively short computational time. Dr Wildbore’s research has applications for organisations across many business sectors including the dairy industry, appliance manufacturing, forestry and telecommunications.

Susan Lillian Williams – PhD in English
Dr William’s thesis focuses on the work of five playwrights: Bruce Mason, James K. Baxter, Mervyn Thompson, Renée and Robert Lord. All set out to identify an authentic New Zealand “voice” and brought about a metamorphosis in the nature of drama in New Zealand, regarded as on ‘the margin’ in relation to the dominant culture of the coloniser. By setting plays in their birth country, highlighting New Zealand social issues and persuading audiences that plays about this country are worth watching, they have given new life to “the inner margin”: the culture of New Zealand.

Doctor of Education
Richard Anthony Dowden
Dr Dowden investigated the origins and development of curriculum integration, predominately in Britain and the United States; to document New Zealand schools’ historical adoption and use of curriculum integration and variants; and to examine its suitability as a preferred direction for schooling of early adolescents.
A key conclusion is that the integrative curriculum model developed by James Beane, in the tradition of John Dewey, is best justified educationally, developmentally and ethically. It builds on and extends pioneering curriculum work based principally on Dewey’s ideas.