Zero Carbon Building Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

In the light of climate change, the drive for zero carbon buildings is known as one response to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Within New Zealand, research on climate change mitigation and environmental impacts of buildings has received renewed attention. However, there has been no detailed investigation of zero carbon building practices. This paper undertakes an exploratory study through the use of semi-structured interviews with government representatives and construction industry experts to examine how the New Zealand construction industry plans and implements zero carbon buildings. The results show that New Zealand’s construction industry is in the early stage of transiting to a net-zero carbon built environment. Key actions to date are focused on devising a way for the industry to develop and deliver zero carbon building projects. Central and local governments play a leading role in driving zero carbon initiatives. Leading construction firms intend to maximise the carbon reduction in building projects by developing a roadmap to achieve the carbon target by 2050 and rethinking the way of designing and constructing buildings. The research results provide an insight into the initial practices and policy implications for the uptake of zero carbon buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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The incorporation of Māori environmental values as part of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Implementation Programme in the Wellington Region, Aotearoa New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17151569.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Bryn Cal Hickson Rowden

Keyword(s):

Environmental Management ◽

Decision Making ◽

New Zealand ◽

Theory Approach ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Environmental Decision Making ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Management Processes ◽

Local Government Level ◽

Implementation Programme

In recent years, there has been significant efforts to create frameworks in which Māori values are incorporated as part of environmental management processes in Aotearoa New Zealand(Forster, 2014; Harmsworth et al., 2016). This research explores the factors that influence the incorporation of Māori values at the local government level, and what barriers Māori values face to being incorporated in environmental management. This research focused on a case study of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committe Implementation Programme process in the Wellington region. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect information on the opinions of members of the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee. The interviews were analysed using a critical theory approach. The research found that there was a clear discrepancy between the values and behaviours expressed by some non-Māori members of the Committee. The result of such a discrepancy was that Māori values were not sufficiently part of environmental decision making. Such a discrepancy was a result of the political structures of the Regional Council’s Whaitua Implementation Programme process. The majority of the decision-making power was found to be situated ‘higher’ up in the organisation, outside of the Committee. Overall this research found that there are important opportunities to make sure iwi values are not only included, but form the basis of decisions.

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Life cycle costing: evaluating its use in UK practice

Structural Survey ◽

10.1108/ss-06-2014-0026 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 73-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Anthony Higham ◽

Chris Fortune ◽

Howard James

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Built Environment ◽

Construction Industry ◽

Early Stage ◽

Project Evaluation ◽

Life Cycle Costing ◽

Evaluation Tool ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish the extent to which life cycle costing (LCC) is used as an early stage project evaluation tool by practitioners in the UK construction industry. The use of this evaluation tool has long been advocated by academics as a means of ensuring best value rather than lowest cost is a driver for business decisions related to potential built environment projects. Therefore there is a need to appraise its current uptake levels amongst built environment professionals and assess whether there are any barriers affecting its use in UK practice. Design/methodology/approach – Using a mixed methods approach, the authors present the findings from a survey of construction professionals located in the UK and the results from a series of follow up semi-structured interviews designed to further explore the factors found to affect the use of LCC in practice. Findings – The study shows that LCC is still not widely used by built environment professionals in the UK. The greatest inhibitor on the take up of the tool is the need of clients to budget on short-term horizons. Other factors such as a lack awareness of the tool by practitioners and clients, unreliability of data into the long term and the overriding need for commercially driven projects to achieve maximum return on investment continue to inhibit the widespread adoption of LCC as an early stage project evaluation tool. These findings have implications for the capability of the UK construction industry to deliver on its commitment to enhance the sustainability of the built environment. Originality/value – The paper offers insights into the current use of LCC and the factors affecting its use in the UK.

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Preparing for Sea-Level Rise through Adaptive Managed Retreat of a New Zealand Stormwater and Wastewater Network

Infrastructures ◽

10.3390/infrastructures5110092 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (11) ◽

pp. 92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rick Kool ◽

Judy Lawrence ◽

Martin Drews ◽

Robert Bell

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

New Zealand ◽

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Local Governments ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Adaptation Option ◽

Levels Of Service ◽

Over Time

Sea-level rise increasingly affects low-lying and exposed coastal communities due to climate change. These communities rely upon the delivery of stormwater and wastewater services which are often co-located underground in coastal areas. Due to sea-level rise and associated compounding climate-related hazards, managing these networks will progressively challenge local governments as climate change advances. Thus, responsible agencies must reconcile maintaining Levels of Service as the impacts of climate change worsen over the coming decades and beyond. A critical question is whether such networks can continue to be adapted/protected over time to retain Levels of Service, or whether eventual retreat may be the only viable adaptation option? If so, at what performance threshold? In this paper, we explore these questions for stormwater and wastewater, using a dynamic adaptive pathway planning (DAPP) approach designed to address thresholds and increasing risk over time. Involving key local stakeholders, we here use DAPP to identify thresholds for stormwater and wastewater services and retreat options, and for developing a comprehensive and area-specific retreat strategy comprising pathway portfolios, retreat phases, potential land use changes, and for exploring pathway conflicts and synergies. The result is a prototype for an area near Wellington, New Zealand, where a managed retreat of water infrastructure is being considered at some future juncture. Dynamic adaptive strategies for managed retreats can help to reduce future disruption from coastal flooding, signal land use changes early, inform maintenance, and allow for gradual budget adjustments by the agencies that can manage expenditure over time. We present this stepwise process in a pathway form that can be communicated spatially and visually, thereby making a retreat a more manageable, sequenced, adaptation option for water agencies, and the communities they serve.

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Māori environmental knowledge of local weather and climate change in Aotearoa – New Zealand

Climatic Change ◽

10.1007/s10584-007-9372-y ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 90 (4) ◽

pp. 385-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

D. N. T. King ◽

A. Skipper ◽

W. B. Tawhai

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

New Zealand ◽

Environmental Knowledge ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Weather And Climate ◽

Local Weather

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Decision-making through the grapevine: Winegrowers' perceptions on climate change and the barriers to adaptation planning in New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17136506.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Alyssa Ryan

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

New Zealand ◽

Climate Science ◽

Wine Industry ◽

Adaptation Planning ◽

Climate Projections ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Wine Production ◽

Climate Change Research

New Zealand wine is cultivated in cool climates that produce distinctive flavours and wine-styles, which are representative of the terroir of the region. The effects of climate change can impact the quality and quantity of winegrapes, and the production of premium wine. The aim of this research was to investigate adaptation planning in the New Zealand wine industry by evaluating winegrowers’ decision-making and perceptions of climate change. Research was conducted using primary survey data from New Zealand winegrowers and semi-structured interviews with winegrowers from three case study regions of Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay. The study was designed to assess how climate change is understood throughout the industry, whether adaptation plans are being developed or employed and the barriers hindering winegrowers’ implementation of adaptation strategies. The results show that winegrowers are somewhat informed about climate change with some adaptation planning occurring. However, the majority of winegrowers have no plans to adapt to climate change. The uncertainty in the climate science and the availability of information were indicated as a barrier to adaptation planning. Winegrowers convey the need for regional information with a focus on reliable forecasting and climate projections for the next few years. The New Zealand wine industry is in a positive position to undertake adaptation with the opportunity to exploit the benefits of climate change for wine production.

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Climate Change Adaptation in the Environment Court: Revisiting the 2010 Holt Case

Victoria University of Wellington Law Review ◽

10.26686/vuwlr.v50i4.6304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 609

Author(s):

CJ Iorns Magallanes ◽

MJ Dicken

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

New Zealand ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Coastal Area ◽

Common Law ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Court Case ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand

Common law precedents for some resource consent approvals in Aotearoa New Zealand are out of date due to the rapid increase in the science and understanding of the effects of climate change. This article considers one 2010 Environment Court case on a resource consent for building in the coastal area. It examines how the case would be decided if it arose today, with the benefit of the relevant law, policies and guidance now available to decision-makers. It suggests that the option taken by the Court in 2010, whereby the owners assumed the relevant inundation risks, would not be so available to a court today. This case is thus no longer good law.

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Cultural health literacy: the experiences of Māori in palliative care

Global Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/1757975918764111 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 15-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jacquie Kidd ◽

Stella Black ◽

Rawiri Blundell ◽

Tamati Peni

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

New Zealand ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Resources ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Palliative Care Setting ◽

Maori Health

Abstract: Health literacy is a concept that is frequently applied to the patient’s ability to find and comprehend health information. However, recent literature has included the skill of the health professional and the accessibility of health resources as important factors in the level of health literacy achieved by individuals and populations. In 2014 a qualitative study undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand, investigated the context of health literacy for Māori in a palliative care setting (Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand). The study included the experiences of patients, whānau (families), and health professionals. Method: Individual semi-structured interviews were held with 21 patients, whānau and six key informants: a medical specialist, a service leader involved in developing culturally specific responses to patients, two Māori service managers, and two Māori health team leaders. Focus groups were held with a total of 54 health professionals providing palliative care services. Data analysis: A thematic analysis was undertaken using a general inductive approach. The trustworthiness and reliability of the analysis was supported by sharing analysis of the transcripts among the research team. Member checking or respondent validation was used in seeking confirmation of the interim findings at five hui (meetings) with the research communities involved. Findings: This study found that the shock and grief that attends a life-limiting illness made hearing and processing health information very difficult for patients and whānau. Further, ‘hard conversations’ about moving from active treatment to palliative care were often avoided by health professionals, leaving patients and whānau distressed and confused about their choices and prognosis. Finally, poor cultural health literacy on the part of organisations has likely impacted on late access to or avoidance of palliative care for Māori.

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The role of “not for profits” (NFPs) in disaster preparedness in Aotearoa New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.14198567.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sharon Torstonson ◽

Denise Blake ◽

Darrin Hodgetts ◽

David M Johnston

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Single Parents ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Group Setting ◽

Staff Members ◽

For Profit ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

The Right

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to highlight the role of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in enhancing disaster preparedness. The authors set out to understand their perspectives and practices in regard to disaster preparedness activities to support people who live precarious lives, especially those who live as single parents who are the least prepared for disasters.Design/methodology/approachThe research draws on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 staff members, either in a group setting or individually, from seven NFP organisations, who were located in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and Kaiapoi in Aotearoa New Zealand. These participants were interviewed eight years after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.FindingsFour key narrative tropes or elements were drawn from across the interviews and were used to structure the research results. These included: “essential” support services for people living precarious lives; assisting people to be prepared; potential to support preparedness with the right materials and relationships; resourcing to supply emergency goods.Originality/valueThis research contributes to disaster risk reduction practices by advocating for ongoing resourcing of NFP groups due to their ability to build a sense of community and trust while working with precarious communities, such as single parents.

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'The Powerful Ones': Exploring Young Men’s Understandings of Sexual Violence and Rape Culture in Aotearoa New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17148494 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Jahla Lawrence

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Violence Prevention ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Sex Education ◽

Rape Culture ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Sexual Violence Prevention ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Institutional Responses ◽

Response Measures

The centralising of women within institutional responses to sexual violence (Ministry of Justice, 2019) and sexual violence scholarship (Fanslow & Robinson, 2004a, 2011; Fanslow, Robinson, Crengle, & Perese, 2010; Gavey, 1991; Jordan, 2004, 2008) consequently means that despite men being both the primary perpetrators of sexual violence, and whose privileged identities create and maintain rape culture, men often remain invisible within sexual violence discourse. To gain insight into how young men understand sexual violence, rape culture, and their own identity within these structures, this research involved (n=11) qualitative semi-structured interviews with cisgender men aged between 18-30 who identified as heterosexual. These interviews highlighted the complexities of participant’s comprehension of sexual violence, particularly regarding the typology and motivations of offenders, the relationship between gender, alcohol, power and consent, and the various perceived causes of sexual violence. Participants also signalled the importance of comprehensive consent and sex education as a method of sexual violence prevention. This research is essential to responsibilise sexual violence prevention as the obligation of men, effectively inform prevention, intervention and response measures, and work towards ultimately eradicating sexual violence and the wider rape culture in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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