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    Late Holocene environmental history of Northland, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1999) Striewski, Bernd; Striewski, Bernd
    This thesis describes the environmental changes inferred from sedimentological investigations of sediment sequences at three lowland swamp and lake sites of Late Holocene age in Northland, northern North Island. The sites investigated are Wharau Road Swamp (coastal Bay of Islands), Lake Tauanui (inland Bay of Islands) and Lake Taumatawhana (central Aupouri Peninsula). The purpose of this sediment-based study was to reconstruct aspects of the environmental histories at these localities which would reflect the different environmental changes, natural and anthropogenic, that the sites proper and their drainage basins underwent through the passage of time. Particular emphasis was placed on human-induced environmental changes in order to address the on-going debate over the date of arrival of people in New Zealand. To this end the sediment sequences collected from the drainage basins of the above sites were analysed for a number of sedimentary parameters, including texture, sediment chemistry, mineralogy and organic matter content. In order to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic disturbances the results of these analyses were compared against the results of pollen and charcoal counts performed on the same sediment sequences. Wherever significant breaks in the sedimentological and palynological record of the sediment sequences were encountered, (bulk) samples were submitted for radiocarbon dating to establish a chronology of environmental changes. At Wharau Road Swamp the radiocarbon chronology was enhanced by the occurrence of one macro-tephra layer within the sediment sequence. The establishment of a radiocarbon chronology finally allowed one to determine the onset of sedimentologically-palynologically-demonstrated anthropogenic catchment disturbance at the respective localities. At Wharau Road earliest human presence was dated to ca. 600 (uncalibrated) years B.P. (about A.D. 1350) and at Lake Taumatawhana at ca. 900 (uncalibrated) years B.P. (about A.D. 1050). At Lake Tauanui sedimentological and palynological evidence for the beginning of human activities provide different dates. While sedimentological data only supported a date of ca. 350 (uncalibrated) years B.P. (about A.D. 1600) for the onset of human-induced catchment disturbances, the pollen and charcoal record suggested that anthropogenic deforestation began at ca. 1100 years B.P. (about A.D. 850).
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    Current and future climate change adaptation of a vulnerable coastal community on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand : a thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Planning at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Schneider, Paul
    Scientific as well as anecdotal evidence indicate that climate change impacts are being experienced and are affecting communities vulnerable to climate change along the Coromandel Coast. It is therefore imperative to deepen understanding about adaptation to predicted changes, vulnerability and environmental governance efforts in the context of an ephemeral world and given distinctive local conditions, values, interests and experiences. Effective climate change adaptation requires authentic public participation and integration of scientific and local and traditional environmental knowledge. The aim of this research is to recognise the impacts of climate change on a coastal community on the Coromandel Peninsula and analyse the guidance required to facilitate effective adaptation. The approach chosen examines the relationship between local perceptions and national and international guidance in order to identify key principles for meaningful local adaptation. This thesis outlines key principles to manage climate change impacts based on a process of adaptation, sustainability, avoidance, remedy or mitigation of adverse effects, adoption of the precautionary principle, kaitiakitanga, local and traditional environmental knowledge, education and public awareness, governance, responsibility and liability, mainstreaming of climate change information, vulnerability, risk and preparedness for planning and policy decisions. The applied focus is on the local scale to establish an understanding of how vulnerable coastal communities like Te Puru, on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, are affected by projected climate change and how adaptation can be achieved meaningfully and successfully. This research thus contributes to a comprehension of local relevance of climate change and identifies key factors in the light of national and international climate change guidance.