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Land use transformation : exploring private small holdings and conservation opportunities along the estuary in Tasman, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) O'Connor, Katrina
This study looks at the historical land use change of an area on the Waimea Inlet, an area close to the cities of Richmond and Nelson, New Zealand. This is an area with high ecological value that supports many native and migratory bird species. The use of aerial photograph comparisons between the 1940s, 1980s and 2020s paints a picture of an area that has undergone a significant transformation from productive orchards and grasslands to higher density residential lifestyle properties. It also shows that native vegetation has become very fragmented over the peninsulas. The land cover change and interviews indicate that there is a lot of land that is not used for productive purposes on these smaller lifestyle blocks. To look at potential to utilise this unused land for conservation purposes this research developed an understanding of the perceived barriers to conservation of the current landowners of smaller lifestyle holdings in this area. The results indicated that many landowners value conservation and the amenity of the area but face barriers such as time constraints and varying levels practical knowledge. The findings suggest that policies supporting coordinated efforts between private landowners, community volunteer groups and government agencies to connect fragmented areas of native vegetation are crucial for enhancing biodiversity. These vegetative connections are necessary to ensure ecological resilience in this area for species into the future.
Exploring the impact of a sensory integration strategy within a classroom learning literacy task in Autism education : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Soma, Himali
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects one in 36 children globally, with an estimated 1.6% prevalence amongst children in Aotearoa, New Zealand (James, 2025). Many children experience sensory processing challenges that significantly impact their ability to engage and interact with conventional and traditional learning tasks presented by teachers (APA, 2013). Within the Aotearoa, New Zealand context, although inclusive education is encouraged and widely promoted, there still lacks classroom-based research. There is even less research which explores how the implementation of tailored sensory strategies being embedded into everyday learning tasks can impact learning for autistic children. Therefore, this study addresses the research gap to explore the differences in student engagement between traditional literacy tasks and sensory integrated methods. Two versions of a literacy task were evaluated in the classroom of a specialist school: one version which integrates sensory stimuli (tactile, proprioceptive, auditory, and vestibular), and the other with no sensory elements. Observational data of students' responses and interaction with the activities was collected, alongside semi structured interviews with the classroom teacher. The focus of the interview was to discuss feasibility, effectiveness, as well as the observed differences in behaviour between both the conditions. Findings revealed that when students were presented with the sensory integrated task, there were higher levels of engagement, sustained attention, emotional regulation as well as task participation as opposed to the traditional non-sensory task. The implementation of sensory stimuli supported greater ownership and independence, increased willingness to initiate learning and decreased the need for prompting and re-direction from the teacher. Furthermore, teacher feedback also highlights the practicality and feasibility of the sensory integrated approach to literacy learning, whilst also acknowledging the challenges associated with limited training and resources, as well as time constraint and workload. Overall, this study serves to provide valuable and insightful real-world evidence supporting the integration of sensory based strategies within literacy learning for autistic students, contributing deeply to the movement of inclusive education and neuro-affirming approaches in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Stories of matrescence : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Psychology - Health Psychology, Massey University, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Fox, Michelle
In Aotearoa, maternal mental health statistics are bleak, with the leading cause of maternal death being suicide. Maternal mental health has far-reaching effects, not just for a mother, but her children, whānau and the wider community. With maternal health being directly related to the outcomes of children, it is time to prioritise the health of our mothers. Mothers are not being supported as they need to be and rather than focusing on expensive psychiatric services, low cost, multidisciplinary, community-led interventions may be the answer. Matrescence, the developmental stage that a woman goes through in her transition to motherhood is largely unacknowledged within our culture and yet, could offer an opportunity to reframe motherhood as a time of growth and gain, rather than sacrifice and struggle. This research aims to explore the transition to motherhood for first-time mothers and to consider their experiences in relation to various domains of change and through the lens of matrescence. As motherhood is inherently stressful, the study also identifies perinatal maternal stress in the stories of participants and reviews how it is conceptualised. Qualitative research was used with a narrative theory framework to capture depth and context in the experiences of participants. The findings support the belief that the transition to motherhood is a developmental stage. Unrealistic expectations were identified as potentially harmful to positive adjustment; therefore, maternal education should be reviewed. Life complexities can be extensive and make it difficult for a mother to adapt without support. Effective support is essential, but there is no one size fits all and it can come from a range of places. The value of matrescence is evident as a strength-based framework that guides mothers through the transition, that understands the natural process of change and adaption. Recognising matrescence is not only important for mothers but society as a whole, as it provides a specific language to acknowledge the transition to motherhood as a vulnerable period requiring timely and accessible support. As knowledge of matrescence grows there is potential for awareness and change at a societal and political level, where the work of mothers can become valued and honoured by all.
Application of UV-C and modified atmosphere packaging to prolong the shelf life of parboiled Hokkien noodles : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Food Technology, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Xu, Yiyun
Hokkien noodles is a popular pre-cooked alkaline noodle product that is widely consumed in Asia. Despite their nutritional and sensory appeal, the high moisture content limits shelf life to 1–1.5 days at room temperature. The main challenge affecting the shelf life of pre-cooked noodles is microbial spoilage. Nowadays, traditional chemical preservatives raise health and sensory concerns, driving demand for clean-label alternatives. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light treatment is an eco-friendly, non-chemical disinfection method, that has shown promise in inactivating microorganisms on food surfaces. However, UV-C treatment alone does not prevent recontamination. This study explores the synergistic effects of UV-C treatment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in extending the shelf life of Hokkien noodles. UV-C effectively reduces surface microbial load, while MAP maintains a minimum oxygen level to inhibit microbial growth, particularly anaerobic and spoilage bacteria. Together, these technologies may ensure microbial safety and maintain the sensory quality of fresh noodles. By combining UV-C light and MAP, this research highlights the potential of this multi-hurdle method to meet modern consumer demands and improve the shelf life of commercial noodles. The current study was carried out in two stages to evaluate the effects of UV-C treatment and MAP on the shelf life and quality of pre-cooked Hokkien noodles. Phase one identified the optimal UV-C dosage with MAP to extend the shelf life of Hokkien noodles stored at 4 °C for 14 days. The pre-cooked Hokkien noodles were subjected to four different UV-C doses (50, 110, 126, and 220 mJ/cm²). Half of the samples were packaged under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions, while the remaining samples were not packaged under MAP. Standard plate count (SPC), yeast and moulds (Y&M), pH, and water activity were analysed for each dosage. Based on the findings in stage one, a UV-C dosage of 110 mJ/cm² combined with modified atmosphere packaging was selected for phase two experiments. This combination provided sufficient germicidal efficacy while preserving the texture (preventing breakage) of the Hokkien noodle product. In phase two, noodles were treated with the optimal UV-C dosage identified in phase one and stored under modified-atmosphere packaging conditions. Control samples were maintained as a baseline for comparison to evaluate the effects of the tested parameters on the treated samples. Their shelf life was evaluated over a 42-day storage period at 4°C. Physicochemical attributes and food quality changes of the noodle products were analysed for both UV-C-treated and control samples by assessing SPC, Y&M, EB, pH, colour, texture (springiness), and water activity. ANOVA revealed no significant differences in pH and water activity between control and UV-C-treated samples (p > 0.05). However, notable colour changes were observed due to non-enzymatic browning reactions, pigment degradation, and microbial activity, which stabilised over storage. Texture analysis showed a reduction in springiness throughout storage. The combined UV-C and MAP approach significantly enhanced microbial stability and extended shelf life. The combined application of UV-C treatment and MAP showed potential for improving the microbiological stability of Hokkien noodles during chilled storage. UV-C treatment effectively reduced surface microbial loads, while MAP suppressed oxygen-sensitive bacteria growth and preserved product texture. Chilled storage at 4 °C combined with lactic acidification to a pH of approximately 4.6 provided an additional hurdle to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. Microbial analysis demonstrated the efficacy of the multi-barrier method in delaying the spoilage of commercial Hokkien noodles. However, the differences between the treated and control samples were relatively small. UV-C treatment did not substantially reduce microbial counts compared with the control under the conditions investigated. Furthermore, although MAP may influence microbial growth by modifying the package atmosphere, the standard plate count (SPC) method was conducted under aerobic conditions; therefore, the present study did not specifically assess strictly anaerobic bacteria. Overall, this study shows that integrating UV-C treatment and MAP is an effective multi hurdle preservation strategy for pre-cooked Hokkien noodles. The findings provide practical guidance for manufacturers seeking clean-label solutions to extend shelf life, enhance microbial safety, and maintain product quality within the fresh noodle product category. Further studies using anaerobic microbiological methods and longer storage periods are recommended to determine the potential contribution of MAP to controlling anaerobic bacteria and to confirm any shelf-life extension.
Mechanistic-informed statistical modelling for pre-harvest apple firmness prediction using sensor-based data : a thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Information Science, College of Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Yang, Ruizhe
Accurately predicting pre-harvest apple fruit firmness is important for supporting harvest planning, fruit quality control, and post-harvest management. This thesis develops a mechanistic informed statistical framework for predicting pre-harvest firmness in ‘Royal Gala’ apples. The proposed approach combines biological information about apple softening with fruit quality measurements, Near-Infrared (NIR) spectral data, and environmental data. More specifically, a two phase one-knot spline model is first used to construct a biologically meaningful population-level baseline firmness trajectory over days after full bloom (DAFB). Two sequential statistical correction components are then considered: the h(·) model uses fruit-level variables and destructive NIR spectra, while the g(·) model uses date-level environmental information and longitudinal non-destructive NIR spectra. The model was developed using data from the 2021–2022 sea son. For the held-out cross-season evaluation using the 2024–2025 season, the two-phase decline structure was retained, the first assessment date was used to calibrate the season-specific initial firmness, and the two later assessment dates were used to evaluate prediction performance. The baseline model captured the broad decline in pre-harvest firmness. In the development season, the correction components produced only negligible improvements over the baseline, with RMSE remaining approximately 1.07 kgf and RPD remaining below 1.2. In the 2024–2025 evaluation, the environmental g(·) correction provided the best fruit-level performance, improving RMSE from 1.009 to 0.979 kgf and R² from 0.330 to 0.369. However, the corresponding RPD was only 1.285, indicating limited utility for precise individual-fruit prediction. Prediction errors were smaller when evaluated using assessment-date mean firmness, with an RMSE of 0.272 kgf for the environmental correction model, although this result was based on only two post-calibration dates. Overall, the results demonstrate a practical framework for integrating biological information with heterogeneous sensor-based data. The framework shows greater potential for describing population-level pre-harvest firmness development than for predicting individual-fruit firmness. More complete and consistently matched multi-season data are required before the model can be considered sufficiently robust for practical prediction.