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    Foxton Loop conflict : an investigation of nature : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Low, Mark
    This thesis examines the social construction of nature. The focus of this thesis is on how conflict can arise from different social constructions of the same 'natural' phenomenon. A 'constrained constructivist' approach is used through which it is argued that in addition to people's constructions of nature, nature retains an inherent physicality. Social constructions of nature are explored through the examination of the Foxton Loop, a cutoff meander bend on the Manawatu River. The Save the Foxton River Association contested the changes to the Loop through a petition to Parliament in 1986. They sought to re-establish a flow through the Loop to benefit Foxton and the greater Manawatu region. The way in which the two primary groups, the Manawatu Catchment Board and Save the Foxton River Association constructed the river environment is discussed, and how these constructions were used to legitimate their positions within the conflict is highlighted. Discourse analysis of key texts and semi-structured interviews is used to determine how nature was constructed. The Save the Foxton River Association drew from a Judeo-Christian perspective, which identified 'right' and 'wrong' nature, and a conventional Western discourse which understood nature primarily as a resource. The Manawatu Catchment Board also utilised this latter perspective, but within the context of a scientific worldview that upheld them as the 'managers' of the river environment for the good of the Manawatu Region. The Manawatu Catchment Board and Save the Foxton River Association differed in their interpretations of 'true' nature, although a technocentric worldview of nature underlined both of their arguments regarding the Loop. These technocentric ideas were used in opposition to each other. It is argued each of these perspectives were inscribed with differing amounts of power which defined their influence in the debate. The thesis concludes with the suggestion that a balance between a constructionist viewpoint and one that acknowledges the inherent physicality of nature may assist in creating an approach to nature which ensures its intrinsic value is not threatened.
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    The good fight : power and the indigenous struggle for the Manawatū river : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Bennett, April Leanne
    Power is the central theme of this research. This thesis examines how power structures iwi contributions to freshwater planning and decision-making. Power has received little attention in literature on Māori and natural resource planning, even though it reproduces and potentially transforms existing inequalities among Māori, other actors and planning institutions. In failing to analyse power, scholars have left a significant gap in the literature. In New Zealand, the deleterious effects of agricultural expansion on water have significant implications for iwi, as water is linked to tribal identity and mana. Both past and current generations have struggled to protect water. Contemporary strategies to restore degraded water bodies and reclaim mana, as control and authority, over water include co-management arrangements. Simultaneously, Government has taken an enthusiastic, uncritical stance to promoting collaboration as an approach to freshwater planning, including iwi as one among multiple actors. In this pro-collaboration climate, however, power has been ignored. So, this research asks: How does power structure iwi contributions to freshwater planning and decision-making? To answer this question, a case study was undertaken of the Manawatū River, a highly degraded water body in the lower North Island of New Zealand. Two main methods were used to collect data: semi-structured interviews with 13 key informants and an analysis of 214 documents, including 180 newspaper articles. To interpret the data, the theoretical framework used Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of field, capital and habitus. The research found that power structures all contributions to freshwater decisionmaking into a hierarchy, with iwi contributions typically marginalised. The hierarchy is a colonial legacy which continues to be reproduced in multiple ways. So, while collaboration, as advocated by the Crown, has some benefits for iwi, it will not help re-structure this hierarchy to enable iwi to regain control over water. Other strategies, such as Treaty of Waitangi settlements, are liable to be more effective. This finding implies that iwi must assess whether co-management or collaboration strategies will enable them to reshape power imbalance. Gaining power is critical to transform inequality, reclaim authority and restore the mauri of water for future generations.
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    Exploring the potential of New Zealand gravel-bed rivers like the lower Manawatu river for outrdoor [sic] and resource-base recreation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2002) Santos, Poncianito E
    Recreation is a significant feature of the New Zealand lifestyle. New Zealanders love to participate in outdoor recreation, particularly those activities that utilise a natural environment or resource from which they derive much enjoyment and satisfaction. In New Zealand for example, rivers and lakes are valued for their aesthetic or amenity, recreational and cultural values. However, government authorities are known to adhere to strict environmental laws and regulations implemented through various governmental institutions to protect and conserve the country's natural and physical resources. This has somehow limited recreational opportunities in utilising a resource base like the Lower Manawatu River in an urban setting like Palmerston North which is chosen to be the case study for this study. To examine current practice in recreation planning, authorities from the Palmerston North City Council and Horizons.mw staff were interviewed. Current plans, policies and strategies were also examined to determine how leisure and recreation issues are considered, particularly those which utilise the Manawatu River. River users and recreationists were also interviewed concerning their perceptions about the river as a recreational resource, and the leisure and recreation activities carried out along the Manawatu River. While local authorities and river users agree on the importance of the Manawatu River as a recreational resource, they however differ in both ideas and perceptions on how it is to be managed, improved and developed to provide a diversity of recreational opportunities. Two approaches were examined to explore the potential of the lower Manawatu River as a place for outdoor and resource-base recreation: Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) and Landscape Ecology. The ROS method's three distinctive components, namely activity, setting and experience can provide resource managers and planners with valuable information for better recreation planning, while Landscape Ecology demonstrates its usefulness in improving and enhancing the Lower Manawatu River's aesthetic and amenity values, along with biological diversity. However, the local authorities' focus attention on the Manawatu River's physical limitations have prevented further developments along the river. Both PNCC and Horizons.mw have not used other methods and approaches to integrate leisure and recreation in their planning and policy-making.
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    Effects of the Lower Manawatu River flood control scheme on the farming in the Lower Manawatu : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1968) McNeill-Adams, Jennifer
    The Lower Manawatu River Flood Control scheme came into operation in 1963. It was designed to protect 70,000 - 80,000 acres of land in the Lower Manawatu from flooding. The aim of this thesis is to examine the effects this scheme has had on the farming in the protected area. Removal of the risk of frequent and severe flooding has improved conditions for farming, and it is expected that these improved conditions should be reflected in changes in farming activities. Land which was susceptible to the most frequent inundations of floodwater should have received the most benefit from flood protection, while land on which the chance of flooding was remote, should have received the least benefit. The effects of the scheme, therefore, should be reflected to a proportionately greater or lesser extent according to the frequency with which flooding was experienced. Selection of Criteria In order to examine the effects of the flood control scheme, four criteria were selected to be discussed at pre- and post-scheme dates. These weres land values, changes in land use, stock numbers, and production levels. A fifth factor, that of income, would also indicate the effects, but to evaluate the influence of the scheme from income figures would entail carrying out a complete cost-benefit analysis. Taking into account the amount of detailed analysis required by such a method, and the short period of time involved since the completion of the scheme, the results gained from an analysis of this sort would probably not justify the method, since conclusions reached from a cost-benefit analysis could not be expected to differ greatly from conclusions reached by examining the four criteria selected.
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    The Manawatu River water quality improvement project : an economic policy study : a thesis submitted in partiao fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Agricultural Sciences in Resource and Environmental Economics at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1995) Omwenga, Richard Marucha
    Rivers arc open access, environmental amenities from which the public derives a wide range of economic benefits. Because rivers arc public amenity resources, with public good characteristics, they arc often managed by governments. Policies that govern such public amenities should aim at allocating the resources to achieve their highest valued use. To achieve this aim resource managers need to consider the total costs and benefits that society might incur or gain as a result of implementing the policies. Some cosL'i and bencfiL<> that society incur as a result or policies an~ not observed explicitly in the market place. These costs and benefits arc often overlooked in policy formulation . The management of the Manawatu River is a responsibility of the ManawatuWanganui Regional Council. It is hoped that if the public complies with council policies affecting the river, society's needs may be met. However, if these policies arc implemented without considering society's preferences, implicit costs are likely to he imposed on society. Involvement of the public in the decision making process is one way of ensUiing that society's preferences arc considered, and upholds decision makers accountability and transparency in resource allocation. This study aimed at measuring tl1e nonmarket benefits in dollars that the public places on improved water quality in the Manawatu River using the contingent valuation method. A total or I 500 households in the Manawatu River catchment area were sent a mail questionnaire to elicit their willingness-to-pay for water improvement in the river. A return rate of 25% was obtained. The results show that 69% of the households visit the river during the summer spending their time participating in non-rigorous activities. Lack of interest in 1ivcr related activities may be one of the most important factors that hinders households' visitation to the river, rather than pollution. The lack of interest may be due to a poor general river environment. The majority of households arc unlikely to alter their visitation habits to the river even if water quality was improved. Nevertheless they place a collective value ranging from $2,002,652 - $4,084,747 per year on improved water quality in the Lower Manawatu River.
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    Periphyton and water quality in the Manawatu River, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1983) Freeman, Michael Conrad
    The factors responsible for the establishment and summer proliferation of attached filamentous algae in the Manawatu River were investigated. The life cycle of the dominant alga Cladophora was observed to be closely linked with the seasonal river and climatic changes. The magnitude and frequency of flush events were the major factors responsible for reducing the attached algal biomass. During steady low flow conditions, the results of phosphorus nutrient availability tests demonstrated that phosphorus availability frequently limited the growth rate of the Cladophora proliferations. The concentration of dissolved reactive phosphorus during these periods was 3-4 mg P m-3. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations during steady low flow conditions were low, compared to overseas rivers that experienced similar filamentous algal proliferations, and the results of nitrogen nutrient availability tests never indicated nitrogen limitation of the Cladophora growth rate. The water quality effects of these proliferations were also investigated. The two effects monitored were; diurnal fluctuations of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and pH. These could become quite severe and consequently affect the river's ability to adequately assimilate effluent discharges from Palmerston North and its associated food industries. Of the two algal-induced fluctuations, DO was the more important. Frequently, maximum daily DO deficits (DODms) of 3.0 g m-3 were observed and these severely limited the river's ability to satisfy the oxygen demands of all discharges while maintaining the minimum desirable DO concentration. A regression equation was developed using the data from both the 1981/82 and 1982/83 seasons to predict the daily DODm. The largest contribution to the total predicted DODm was from the total river community respiration followed by a seasonal effect, the river flow, the regression constant and the terrestrial insolation. The regression equation accounted for 72% of the observed variation in the daily DODm during the two seasons. Fluctuations in the pH of the Manawatu River were also important, as a component of the effluent discharges is ammonia, the toxicity of which increases exponentially with a linear rise in pH. However, algal-induced pH fluctuations were reduced downstream of the discharges by bacterial respiration associated with the oxygen-demanding effluents. This phenomenon and the timing of both pH and ammonia fluctuations meant that toxic concentrations were not observed, although the temporal variation of ammonia was often erratic. However, future discharge changes may alter this situation, and continued surveillance of downstream pH and ammonia is warranted.
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    Wastewater effects on epilithon, particularly sewage fungus, and water quality in the Manawatu River, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1985) Quinn, John Martin
    Epilithon development, in relation to the discharge of domestic sewage, dairy factory and meatworks wastewaters, and its effects on water quality were studied in laboratory channels and in the Manawatu River. During the three year period of the study the organic material inputs to this river were progressively reduced to meet the requirements of water rights designed to limit the in-river BOD5 to 5 g.m-3 at the end of a defined mixing zone with the objective of maintaining adequate oxygen levels and controlling sewage fungus growth. Laboratory channel studies demonstrated that, for a given BOD5 addition, untreated dairy factory wastewater increased the heterotrophic growth 2-3 times more than primary treated meatworks wastewater. Similar observations were made in the Manawatu River. These varied growth responses could be accounted for by the different relative contributions of dissolved and low molecular weight (< 1000 daltons) organic compounds in the different wastewaters. The dissolved or low molecular weight (determined after sample ultrafiltration) BOD5 therefore provide more reliable general sewage fungus control parameters than BOD5. Current velocity and spates had marked influences on the development of benthic communities. Maximum sewage fungus biomasses on the natural bed were observed at current velocities of 0.2 to 0.45 m.s-1. Short heterotrophic fronds occurred at the maximum current velocity investigated of 1.16 m.s-1. Small spates of up to 50 to 70 m.s-3 caused preferential sloughing of heterotrophs over epilithic phototrophs which had developed on concrete plates at river flows of approximately 25 m3.s-1. Flows in excess of approximately 150 m3.s-1 removed growths of Cladophora glomerata which had developed at sites where the pre-spate current velocity was 0.3 to 0.4 m.s-1. Much higher flows, in excess of 400 m3.s-1, were required to remove the dense growths of the macrophyte Potamogeton crispus. Observations of sewage fungus biomass at various depths in the Manawatu River and growth rates on both upper, sunlight exposed, and lower, shaded, surfaces of concrete plates suspended in the water column indicated that solar radiation inhibition of heterotrophic growth is not important in the Manawatu River. These heterotrophic growths in the river were replaced by heavy phototroph-dominated epilithon as organic concentrations were reduced. Both communities had significant impacts on the suspended biomass and dissolved oxygen levels in the river. A computer model simulating summer low flow conditions in the Manawatu River predicted that the river can sustain average respiration rates of 20 and 24 g 02 m-3 d-1 at mean river temperatures of 21°C to 12°C respectively without breaching the statutory minimum permissable dissolved oxygen concentration of 5 g.m-3. A multiple regression model of the factors influencing epilithon respiration was developed from in situ chamber studies of a range of epilithic community types. This gave adequate predictions when tested against measurements over reaches below the discharges and predicted that the benthic biomass resulting in the maximum permissible respiration rates decreased from approximately 143 g AFDW m-2 at 12°C to 34 g AFDW m-2 at 21°C. A management strategy limiting the organic, but not the nutrient, inputs to the Manawatu River was shown to be unlikely to ensure consistent maintenance of the statutory minimum dissolved oxygen concentration. The implications for management of the river are discussed,