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Achieving English proficiency : a qualitative study of Chinese students’ language learning strategies while studying in Aotearoa New Zealand : a research report in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies, School of Humanities, Media, and Creative Communication, Massey University, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) You, Sylvia
Chinese students invest considerable effort in English learning to achieve the required English test scores to enroll in New Zealand universities. However, many of them still struggle to use English effectively in real-life communication. These challenges include language, academic study, social integration and emotional factors. The reasons for students’ uneven English skills are complex and involve cultural, contextual, and affective influences. Existing studies have not sufficiently explored how students select and interact with language-learning strategies in real communication contexts, from both students' and teachers’ perspectives. This study employs a qualitative approach to explore the effective language-learning strategies that Chinese students use to address various challenges in real-life contexts. It examines students’ perceptions of English proficiency, the challenges they encounter, and the strategies they take and the reasons for those actions. Teachers’ perspectives are also included to identify any issues that may be overlooked by students and to provide professional interpretation of the challenges. The analysis is informed by Oxford’s S2R model to interpret how students address these challenges in their lives. Findings show that cognitive strategies are mainly used to deal with language and academic tasks, social interaction is valuable for improving English proficiency through communication with people in the host environment, and affective strategies are used throughout the process to reduce stress and maintain motivation. Overall, effective language learning requires learners to be flexible, select and combine cognitive, social interaction, and affective strategies to meet individual needs and learning context.
Mātauranga māori of the mouth and teeth among Tairāwhiti māori : thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements the degree of Master of Health Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2025) Reihana, Wiremu
Ko te waha te kuaha ki te ao — the mouth is the doorway to the world. Māori understand the waha (mouth) as a taonga carrying whakapapa, mana, and identity. Colonisation disrupted these relationships, reducing the waha to a biomedical object and contributing to persistent oral-health inequities among Māori, particularly in Te Tairāwhiti. Tamariki experience some of the highest rates of preventable decay, and whānau often inherit the normalisation of toothlessness as inevitable (Haag et al., 2021; Ministry of Health, 2024). This thesis addresses that problem by reframing oral health within a kaupapa Māori worldview. Using a mixed approach—literature review grounded in mātauranga Māori and thematic analysis of interviews with kaumātua, practitioners, and whānau—the study explores the cultural, spiritual, and ecological dimensions of the waha. Data were analysed through reflexive thematic coding aligned with whakapapa and tikanga principles (Smith, 2012; Pihama, 2010). Findings reveal that the waha remains a vessel of identity, ceremony, and relational authority. Despite colonial disruption, mātauranga Māori persists in everyday practices such as karakia, waiata, and rongoā, and is being revitalised through whānau-led initiatives (Royal, 2003; Kāretu, 1993). Reclaiming the waha emerges as both a health strategy and a decolonising act—restoring cultural confidence, strengthening whānau authority, and challenging systemic inequities (Reid et al., 2014; Stuart et al., 2011). The thesis contributes to academic scholarship by advancing a kaupapa Māori framework of oral health that integrates cosmology, ecology, and relational ethics. For community practice, it offers practical recommendations for whānau-centred models, Kaupapa Māori-led service design, and policy reforms that embed tikanga, reo, and mātauranga Māori (Durie, 1994; Robson et al., 2011). Ultimately, it calls for an Aotearoa where Māori oral health is not defined by loss, but by sovereignty, resilience, and mauri ora.
Identification of key mid-infrared wavelengths associated with red deer milk composition : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Anderston, Leith
Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy has been applied to predict composition of milk from different animal species, but no study has reported the key mid-infrared wavelengths associated with the concentrations of main milk components. The objective of this study was to identify the MIR wavelengths most strongly associated with each milk component to improve understanding of the spectral regions contributing to prediction accuracy in deer milk. A total of 202 milk samples collected from lactating red deer hinds at the Aratiatia Deer Milk Farm, Wairakei, Taupō, New Zealand, were analysed using a MilkoScan 4000 MIR spectrometer. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) models were developed using MIR spectral data to perform an external validation of the equations already integrated in the MilkoScan 4000 MIR spectrometer machine. Model performance was assessed using calibration, 10-fold cross validation, and independent hold-out validation datasets based on the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEₚ), and residual predictive deviation (RPD). PLSR coefficient profiles were examined to identify the most influential spectral regions contributing to prediction accuracy. The PLSR models achieved excellent agreement with the FOSS-derived reference values for all major milk components. Validation models produced R² values of 0.9994 for fat, 0.9975 for protein, and 0.9953 for lactose, with corresponding RMSEₚ values of 0.0405%, 0.0282%, and 0.0281%, respectively, demonstrating close agreement between predicted and reference values. The influential spectral regions corresponded closely with established absorption bands associated with lipid, protein, and carbohydrate functional groups, indicating that the models captured chemically meaningful information rather than random statistical relationships. This study provides a greater understanding of the spectral basis of these predictions supporting the development of herd testing systems, genetic improvement programmes, and the emerging deer dairy industry.
Characteristics associated with the financial performance of private chiropractic practices in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies (Management) at Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Cleave, Jesse Gareth
This thesis examines the owner, practice, and operational characteristics associated with the financial performance of private chiropractic practices in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Although most chiropractors work in privately owned practices and commonly report gaps in their business preparedness, little empirical evidence was found that identifies the characteristics associated with differences in practice financial outcomes. Financial performance was assessed using three related but distinct outcomes: net profit, revenue, and operating expenses. Data were collected through an anonymous cross-sectional online survey of chiropractic practice owners between January and April 2026. Sequential ordered logistic regression models were estimated separately for each outcome, with ordinary least squares models used as a supplementary consistency check. Analytical samples ranged from 68 to 74 practices. Operational and practice-scale characteristics showed the most consistent associations with financial performance. Greater regular visit volume and clinical capacity were associated with higher revenue and operating expenses, while regular visit price and Patient Visit Average were positively associated with revenue. Staff administrative hours were positively associated with both revenue and net profit. Marketing spend was associated with higher operating expenses and lower net profit, while its association with revenue was not statistically significant once operational characteristics were included. Contrary to the study hypotheses, formal business education was negatively associated with net profit, self-rated business acumen was negatively associated with revenue, and coaching showed no statistically significant associations. Practices aged 11 years or more had higher operating expenses, while New Zealand practices had lower operating expenses than Australian practices in some specifications. The findings suggest that how patient demand is converted into delivered and priced services, and how administrative capacity supports that process, is more consistently associated with financial performance than the owner capability measures examined. Based on the literature reviewed, this study appears to provide the first multivariable analysis of net profit, revenue, and operating expenses among chiropractic practices in Australasia and identifies priorities for future research.
Fertilisers and chemicals use on vegetable farmers in Lao PDR : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agibusiness at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
(Massey University, 2026) Bounlu, Paliphon
The research study concentrates on vegetable production to study the use of fertiliser and chemicals in vegetable growing processes, which helps to improve our understanding of the characteristics and nature of fertiliser and chemical applications among farmers in the study areas. Vegetable farming is increasingly important to people as a source of food and for sustaining food security within the country. On the other hand, vegetable farming contributes significantly to the low-income community, especially in rural areas, where limited capital and few opportunities to access skills, markets, and other development opportunities. However, fertilisers and chemicals play a crucial role in crop production, which farmers who produce for commercial purposes describe as indispensable; without them, the desired quantity and quality of vegetable production would not be achieved. The expansion of the market is increasingly through commercial vegetable farming activities, which are related to the use of fertilisers and chemicals in commercial vegetable production. Given the importance of fertilisers and chemicals, as described by farmers, the study primarily focuses on how farmers use them in vegetable farming. This research study describes the vegetable farming in Lao PDR and how fertilisers and chemicals are used in vegetable production. The research also examined the nature and characteristics of vegetable farming practices, which help provide a deeper understanding and greater knowledge of farming. This research is based on data from interviews with 25 participants, including 21 vegetable farmers, along with 4 key informants such as a village head of the agricultural group, a village head, a district-level o icer, and a provincial o icer. A qualitative methodology was employed to analyse the interview data, which was examined in terms of individual-provided information and categorised into themes, aligning with the study's aim to explore factors influencing the use of fertilisers and chemicals by vegetable farmers in the Lao PDR. The study found that the farming practices among vegetable farmers were varied; individual farmers used different methods of applying fertiliser and chemicals. The use of fertilisers in vegetable farming revealed the existence of various types for growing the same crop (coriander— Coriandrum sativum L.) and the usage rate of fertilisers and chemicals was higher than the officially recommended rate. Unlabelled and banned chemical products were still found in active and regular use among most farmers interviewed, including plant supplements and liquid fertilisers. Most farmers who participated in the study expressed the challenge that farming is unpredictable and unstable, with variable vegetable market prices, which prevented long-term planning and led to unsustainable farming practices as the use of fertilisers and chemicals is based on vegetable prices, such as times of application, quantity, type and methods. The study findings presented evidence related to food safety, as some farmers grew vegetables in separate plots for consumption and sale. Growing vegetables for sale, they applied fertilisers and chemicals at higher rates and more frequently. For their own consumption, farmers grow separately and apply a lower level of chemicals. Farmers expressed concerns about the safety of vegetables grown with high levels of chemical input. Based on the study, the vegetable products available in the market may contain high levels of chemical inputs, raising concerns about safe consumption. The study indicated that a high quantity of fertilisers and chemicals is used in vegetable farming, especially the use of unlabelled fertilisers and chemicals without instructions and chemical information. The market preference for vegetable production was for good appearance, while product safety and standards seemed to be ignored. The study provides information on the use of fertilisers and chemicals, identifies factors that influence their application, and thus enhances understanding of farming practices, conditions, and farmers' perceptions as producers. The findings from this study can serve as initial data on vegetable farming production, offering valuable insights for further research to improve vegetable farming, the agricultural system, and effective policies that promote sustainable agriculture and a stable, safe, and secure food supply for the population.