Theses and Dissertations

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    Boundary lost : postcards from New Albion : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the postgraduate degree of Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Jago, Alexander
    Boundary Lost is a lyrical documentary photographic project, interrogating themes related to memory, meditating on how we interact with our physical and social environment. Through the exploration of architecture and landscape, I explore capitalist notions of commodification and colonial history as they sit within the built environments and landscapes of Aotearoa. This project draws heavily from and is influenced by my Pākehā upbringing and historical research into the colonisation of Aotearoa. My work is explicitly an exploration of the world I know, the landscape in which I grew up and have lived in for many years. The work affords an audience the opportunity to consider the remnants of a ‘dying empire’ that litter the small and medium sized towns of our country. Drawing from the relics of once prosperous towns and industry, Boundary Lost is a collection of ambiguous locations that come together to create a sense of commonality, forming common language through the creation of the colonial landscape. With this work, I explore how colonisation has shaped the built environment with cultural and capitalistic enterprise and conversely how the landscape has pushed back upon it. I am asking ‘if we hold our landscape in such high reverence, why are we so blind to the inequalities of our people and infrastructure?’. The use of traditional photographic methods both nods toward a historical positioning and also offers the most meditative practice for myself as the photographer. The role of Pākehā culture is particularly relevant in the context of the increasingly conservative and reactionary stance of our current Government. The weaponisation of anti-intellectualism and anti-Māori rhetoric, reflects a colonial settler mentality, prioritising the perceived supremacy of British and imperialist traditions. Increasingly dictated to by neo-liberal imperialism, it is important to confront and examine the role of colonisation in the formation and influence in Pākehā identity. Boundary Lost navigates the journey of understanding the role of colonisation on the national image of New Zealand and how this identity emerges from the human landscape.
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    AfterImage : family folklore and the plurality of memory : an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Bain, Amber-Jayne
    AfterImage - Family Folklore and the Plurality of Memory is a site-responsive, archivally motivated investigation of memory and its permeability. It draws upon the narrative legacies of the Moleta family and the Rangitoto ki te Tonga | D’Urville Island property they inhabited throughout the twentieth century. This exegesis examines the complexity of making work that responds to acts of personal and collective remembering. Passing time, discrete perspectives and their influence on memory, and the fickle kinship of memory and truth are discussed. I attend to the uncomfortable history of my colonial settler ancestry, and in conjunction with this, consider female domestic experience through critical analysis of experimental test works that engage with photography and moving image, including Matrilineal Residue and A Family Folklore. The use and manipulation of archival sources is discussed in relation to the work of artist Emily Parr, including my exploitation of biographical objects as indexes of the transmission of intergenerational knowledge. A Lonely Place Facing The Sun and Her Oscillating Care are among the moving image installation works discussed in relation to the intermediality of still photography and moving image combinations, and modes of poetic documentary. The intersecting binary of movement and stillness makes room for a plethora of others - past and present, dead and alive, fixed and transforming. The materiality of light and surface take on new significance, in both moving-still and moving image installation works, leading to ideas about the immersive qualities of digital projection and the occupancy of a darkened three dimensional space. I describe the framework of decision making that leads to metaphorical expressions of memory and time, and the punctuating and repeating moments that hold meaning in the creative work.
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    Kakahuria ki te atawhai : clothed in kindness : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master in Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 27th May 2027
    (Massey University, 2024) Walden-Moeung, Nan
    The need to indigenize spaces in Aotearoa (New Zealand) arises from the impact of colonization that began in the 1840s, which has led to the marginalization of Māori culture and perspectives in many public and educational spaces. The process of re-indigenisation is essential to ensuring a positive and authentic representation of Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview) across these spaces, fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment. This will be especially poignant at the Wananga Noho Marae at Te Rau Karamu Marae where participants will weave a collaborative Kaupapa. This project aims to create a contemporary korowai (traditional Māori cloak/s) that serves as both an artistic statement and a tool for decolonization. Beyond its aesthetic value, the Korowai will act as a cultural beacon, inviting viewers to engage with and reflect on the significance of Māori culture in modern Aotearoa. These Korowai will be the world’s first 3D-printed Korowai. By employing design-led prototype iterations and Māori methodologies, the Korowai will be craft ed to be visually appealing, thought-provoking, and impactful. It will address the need to indigenize spaces by challenging colonial narratives and offering a powerful representation of Māori identity and artistry. This will especially be done through Maori methodologies including, Noho, Wananga, Ako, Te Aonui, and Whakapapa. Education and design The Korowai will be exhibited in various locations across Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), creating opportunities for broader community engagement and dialogue around the importance of decolonization and the celebration of Māori heritage.
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    Hōmai ō taringa kia ngaua e au : give me your ears so I may chew on them : an exhibition report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Māori Visual Arts at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Millar, Aroha Rose Matchitt
    This exhibition report navigates the connection to tīpuna through the customary practice of skinning manu. Skinning and pelting manu is a mana enhancing process that connects me to mātauranga held in my whakapapa. I follow in Tāne’s footsteps in search of ngā kete o te wānanga. Te Kete Aronui, Te Kete Tuauri, and Te Kete Tuatea. The knowledge inside these kete, the knowledge of the skinning process, is told through taonga tuku iho. Each taonga depicts a step in the process, and when worn, is able to communicate that process to the wearers. They speak, in the voices of aunties, nannies, and tīpuna. Connecting me through time, space, and death to my nan, who did this process before me.
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    Blue threads : a design exploration into uniform apparel systems : an exegesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 14th March 2027
    (Massey University, 2025) Riordan, Finn; Mora-Hill, Finn; Shepherd, Ryan
    Uniform apparel for the New Zealand Police (NZP) plays a significant role in the visual identity and legitimacy for both officers and the public, while improving functional performance and safety for frontline staff. Currently the uniform is developed without a formal process to understand it at a systematic level. This collaborative design research project proposes a product architecture-based methodology to support the New Zealand Police’s operational capability group. This mixed methods approach visualises and responds to the needs of the uniform as a system, allowing adaptive improvements of existing garments, implementation of new garments into the uniform system and speculative outcomes to prepare for potential future contexts. This proposal is validated by three design interventions used as case studies which result in designs. These include, patterns and construction samples for an improved men’s trouser and new knit long sleeve base layer, and conceptual design visualisations for future uniform options. These designs respond to the innovative product architecture mapping, and iterative technical design developments. This design strategy highlights design opportunities to help the New Zealand Police transition towards a more effective uniform apparel system, informing and assisting the management of procurement processes.
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    Assessing fatigue in adult blood cancer patients : a 24-hour repeated cardiopulmonary exercise test in New Zealand (a pilot study) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of a Masters in Health Science at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Fuller, Toby Christian
    Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue is a persistent issue in long-term survival for cancer patients in remission. This study assessed the effects of cancer-related fatigue/post-exertional malaise in adult blood cancer patients aged 20-35 years of age. Methods: Five adult blood cancer (ABC) patients in remission and five healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Each participant completed a maximal incremental cycle exercise test on day one and again 24 hr later. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), oxygen consumption (VO 2), carbon dioxide production (VCO 2) and workload (WL) were recorded during the 24-hour repeated CPET. Data analysis investigated these responses at anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak work rate (PWR). Results: On day one, VO 2 at PWR were similar between both groups (ABC 38.62 +/- 16.21 ml.kg.min -1, HC 38.91 +/- 14.14 ml.kg.min -1), despite a difference in WL (ABC: 186 +/- 44.49 Watts; HC: 222 +/- 35.81 Watts). On day two, ABC saw a decrease in WL (165 +/- 45 Watts) alongside VO 2 (35.34 +/- 16.67 ml.kg.min-1) at PWR, despite no change in WL (D2: 222 +/- 38.83 Watts) and a slight increase in peak VO 2 for HC (40.19 +/- 14.61 ml.kg.min-1) at PWR. Across the two-day comparison, there was a significant decrease in VCO 2 (P=0.32), Time to completion of the test (P=0.17), WL (P=0.05), and HR (P=0.02) at PWR in ABL compared to no significant changes in HC. No significant changes were seen at AT in either group. On the second day, ABC could only increase HR to 87% +/- 6.84% of Max HR, compared to achieving 95.09% +/- 4.69% of Max HR on day one. Conclusion: These results highlight significant cancer-related fatigue/post-exertional malaise in adult blood cancer patients in remission. This fatigue will affect participants' emotional, social, and physical well-being and reduce their ability to lead everyday lives. This study forms an important stepping stone for how fatigue is assessed and exercise prescribed in cancer survivors.
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    Evaluating consumer affective thresholds in high protein beverages using different approaches : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Food Technology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Waddell, Elise
    Understanding how sensory attributes influence consumer rejection is critical for guiding the development of functional foods, such as high-protein dairy beverages. This study compared three consumer affective threshold methodologies: paired preference, liking, and binary rejection to determine thresholds for three sensory attributes in protein beverages. Consumers (N=142) performed 2-AFC preference tests and evaluated four sample series: a control and four samples with decreasing sweetness (sucralose at 0–5% sugar equivalence), four with increasing thickness (50– 350 cP), and four with increasing powdery mouthfeel from added whey protein (0– 10%). Seven additional samples completed a central composite rotational design to examine sweetness and thickness thresholds simultaneously. Sensory panel descriptive analysis, instrumental characterisation, and ingredient composition were used as stimulus intensity measures. Thresholds varied significantly by methodology, with sweetness thresholds ranging from 1.7% to 4.2% sugar equivalence, thickness thresholds from 245 cP to beyond the tested range, and powderiness thresholds from 3.6% to 8.7% WPC. Consumer segmentation greatly influenced threshold positioning, highlighting individual differences. Sweetness was the strongest driver of rejection, both individually and in combination with thickness. Methodological comparisons demonstrated distinct strengths and limitations, reinforcing the need to tailor threshold methodology selection to research objectives. Paired preference was effective for detecting small changes relative to a control, whereas liking and binary rejection provided greater flexibility in assessing broader acceptability. Integrating consumer reasoning behind acceptability added insights; sensory properties were the primary drivers of acceptability, but factors such as ease of drinking, expected purchase satisfaction, and product expectations also influenced consumer decisions.
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    A history of the development of table tennis (ping pong) in New Zealand c. 1890 – 1939 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History, Massey University, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 12th February 2027
    (Massey University, 2024) Ngo, Song Ze (Amos)
    This thesis is a study of the history of table tennis (ping pong) in New Zealand from c. 1890 to 1939. Table tennis has a long history in New Zealand and was one of many sports that thrived and established an enduring foothold in the country’s sporting world during the interwar period. Its history, however, has not been extensively recorded. Moreover, scholarly literature on the history of table tennis remains scarce. The period between c. 1890 and 1939 saw table tennis become a popular sport at both recreational and competitive level. This thesis investigates what factors helped and what factors hindered the development of table tennis in New Zealand. In doing so, it also provides insights into the place of so-called “minor sports” in New Zealand’s sporting history. Through a detailed examination of local newspapers and periodicals, this thesis examines the different perceptions of table tennis within society. Beyond its characterisation as a sport, this research explores other interpretations and expressions of table tennis, particularly its uptake as a social and recreational activity within New Zealand society. Through investigating recreational forms of participation and engagement with table tennis, this thesis identifies constituencies sometimes overlooked in the current historiography of sport in New Zealand. In doing so, it provides a more complete picture of New Zealanders’ relationship with sport and sporting activities.
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    Not all angels : an ecofeminist reading of dualism, domination and rebellion within The Hunger Games : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters of Creative Writing at Massey University, Albany, Aotearoa New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 17th February 2027
    (Massey University, 2025) Clark, Brittany
    This thesis is comprised of two sections: a critical section analysing the young adult, speculative novel ‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins, through the lens of ecofeminist theory, and the initial 24’600 words of a 60,000 word novel of the same genre entitled: ‘Above Ground’. Both sections explore the young, female protagonist and her relationship with individualism, dualism, rebellion, nature, and the dominance that presents itself alongside these themes. In the critical portion of the thesis, I outline the concepts of speculative fiction, ecofeminist theory, western dualisms such as the Nature vs Reason dualism, and the Angel in the eco system construct. I utilise these concepts in my close reading and literary criticism of The Hun ger Games (2008) by Suzanne Collins by analysing where they are present or could be observed within the novel. I then continue this close reading through an examination of the novel through an ecofeminist lens. I draw from the work of theorists such as Val Plumwood, Greta Gaard, Carol J. Adams, and Patrick D. Murphy to support my argument that The Hunger Games protagonist Katniss Everdeen, challenges dualistic structures of dominance that link the oppression of women with the exploitation of nature, within the narrative. By rejecting the "Angel in the Ecosystem" trope, Katniss reveals how both dominance and environmental manipulation are interlinked. This highlights the interconnectedness of dualism, othering, ecological abuses, and societal control. In applying ecofeminist theory to a contemporary novel, I aim to develop my own understanding and implementation of ecofeminist themes within my creative work ‘Above Ground’.
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    What are the considerations for selection and introduction of a speech generating device for a preschool autistic child in Aotearoa New Zealand? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master of Speech and Language Therapy at Massey University, Albany Campus, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025) Palmer, Cheryl
    A speech generating device (SGD) is a high-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system that supports communication by producing an electronic voice activated by the user. In recent years, advances in technology have enabled more SGDs to support people who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood. Autistic children (Takiwātanga tamariki) may have speech that is unreliable, intermittent, or insufficient to communicate effectively and hence benefit from the use of SGDs. Early intervention supports better language and social communication outcomes generally and is essential for autistic children to thrive. AAC is recommended as early as possible for those who may benefit and, hence, forms a crucial part of early intervention. Selecting and introducing an SGD for a young autistic child requires consideration of many factors. There are models and frameworks to support AAC and SGD selection generally, but none specifically for autistic children or for Aotearoa New Zealand. This study aimed to gather information to support the potential development of a framework to support teams in the selection and introduction of SGDs for young autistic children in Aotearoa New Zealand. This thesis describes a study with 19 participants from four groups: (1) Whānau of autistic children (people from the child’s home environment), (2) educators, (3) speech-language therapists, and (4) those with a kaupapa Māori perspective. Qualitative data was collected using interviews and focus groups. Resulting data was coded and organised into six themes with related subthemes: (1) Aotearoa New Zealand Considerations, (2) Autistic Child Considerations, (3) SGD System Considerations, (4) Whānau Considerations, (5) Team Considerations, and (6) Selection and Introduction Considerations. The Bioecological Model is explained and used to present the findings. The study provides a range of considerations to support decision-making when selecting and introducing SGDs for preschool autistic children within Aotearoa New Zealand.