2018 RESEARCH REPORT | KIMIHIA TE MEA NGARO Produced by Research & Innovation and Student Services and Communications, University of Canterbury. Design by Student Services and Communications, University of Canterbury Key: when you see this symbol, read to find out Writers: Margaret Agnew, Aleisha Blake, Corrina Donaldson, the real world application Frances Harrison, Travis Lawson, Kim Newth, Kate Spence of this research – how this work Photos by Corey Blackburn (unless otherwise credited) will improve society. Publication printed by Caxton

University of Canterbury E ngā muka tangata nō ngā hau e whā, nāia te owha o Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha e rāhiri atu ki a koutou katoa. E mōhiotia whānuitia a UC mō āna mahi rangahau e puta ana i te ao. Ahakoa te hākari a te mahi kua hora e tēnei whare wānanga i te tau nei, kua tīpako noa mātou i ēnei kaupapa rangahau, hai paramanawa mā te hinengaro - arā, ko te rangahau e aro ana ki te oranga tonutanga o te kai. Nā reira, e ngā ringa whero o ēnei kaupapa rangahau o te whare wānanga nei, he kai kei ā tātou ringa! Tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings from the University of Canterbury (UC). UC is well known for its research reputation and although this is only a small selection, the excellence and quality of UC’s research can be seen through these stories from our activities during the 2018 year, with an emphasis on securing the future of food through food equity, food intelligence and food innovation.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 1 Research & Innovation Connecting UC’s research with the world The role of Research & Innovation is to provide services that facilitate and support all stages of research and innovation at the University of Canterbury, from initial funding of the research through to commercialisation of the outcomes, where appropriate. Research Doctoral student Katie Coluccio & Innovation is the first point of contact for external organisations that are interested in: discussions on how UC resources might help their organisation; assistance in accessing UC expertise and facilities; consulting services and contract research; opportunities to Doctoral student Katie Coluccio is working to use or commercialise UC’s intellectual property and assistance in identifying business or understand groundwater seepage of Te Waihora investment opportunities. Please contact us if you are interested in engaging with UC. Lake Ellesmere. The lake is a biodiversity hotspot Phone: +64 3 364 2688 that supports an abundance of fish species and has Email: [email protected] long served as a key food source for local iwi Ngāi Tahu. Read more on page 45. www.canterbury.ac.nz/research

Research Report 2018 Theme: This report highlights UC’s bold vision working towards securing the future of food and the contribution our UC Research Profile researchers are making in A showcase of UC research the areas of food equity, UC Research Profile is a searchable website that showcases UC’s research. You can search it for food intelligence and food information about individual researchers, the projects they are working on, the research groups innovation. they belong to, the specialist equipment that they use, and their affiliations. UC Research Profile provides a comprehensive view of research at UC. https://researchprofile.canterbury.ac.nz/

2 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Contents

4 Research 2018 34 Food preservatives and household products driving 58 World-leading electrical engineer receives UC Research 6 2018 in review antibiotic resistance Medal 2018 8 Kaimangatanga – Māori perspectives on plant-based kai 36 Scrutinising meat culture in Aotearoa New Zealand 60 Internationally respected Physics professor awarded 2018 UC Innovation Medal 10 Biodegradable coating to help achieve food security 38 Spreading the load on fisheries through balanced harvesting 62 $4 million to study space junk, lava, glaciers and 12 Biosecurity boost from trap and track research 40 Land policy research leads to dramatic law change, quake stories 14 Change agents – proteins in our food protecting over a million hectares 63 Microbiologist recognised with emerging career 16 Towards sustainable prosperity for children and youth 42 Scion assists innovative biosecurity and researcher award 18 Aotearoa New Zealand algae on pathway to biodiversity research 64 College of Arts | Te Rāngai Toi Tangata high-value product 44 Analysing groundwater seepage into Te Waihora 64 College of Business and Law | Te Rāngai Umanga 20 Blockchain benefits sustainable food production Lake Ellesmere me te Ture 22 Adding value to food waste 46 Community capacity – searching for hope in Mataura 65 College of Education Health and Human Development | 24 Securing sustainable kai: a conservation 48 Studying pāua production on the earthquake coast Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora genomics approach 50 Exploring the offshore extent of groundwater in 65 College of Engineering | Te Rāngai Pūkaha 26 Finding balance in the Mekong Basin Ōtautahi Christchurch 66 College of Science | Te Rāngai Pūtaiao 28 Winegrowing and sustainability in Australia and 52 Leading the world in shellfish farming innovation 66 Research supporters Aotearoa New Zealand 54 Exploring the holistic benefits of urban farming 67 Research Institutes and Centres 30 Increasing ryegrass harvests for Aotearoa 56 Waitaha Canterbury researchers join forces on 70 UC7 New Zealand livestock electrostatically enhanced agricultural spray 72 UC Statement of Strategic Intent 32 Tapping northern nectar in Aotearoa New Zealand

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 3

It is a great pleasure, as Deputy Vice- Chancellor | Tumu Tuarua, to write the foreword to the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 2018. This report continues to highlight the evolution of UC’s research and demonstrates the excellence and impact of our research. The pillar of research excellence is built around UC having academics who are thought-leaders in their respective fields who provide intellectual leadership, nationally and internationally. The benefit of our research continues to be felt across the spectrum of economic, environmental, and societal impacts, ranging in scale from immediate benefits to Ōtautahi Christchurch and Waitaha Canterbury, through to Aotearoa New Zealand and on a world scale.

In 2018, the Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) concluded its most recent six-yearly assessment of research quality for the period Research 2018 of 2012 – 2017. Given this period was the most disruptive to UC academics following the Waitaha Canterbury earthquakes (with either temporary or no access to many on-campus This year’s report highlights the breadth of UC's research facilities), we are extremely proud st to have improved our overall institutional research capability to address 21 century food research quality, and in numerous areas be at the forefront of Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary production and consumption. research. The resilience and dedication of our academics has been truly remarkable and impressive. As we come to the conclusion of the campus rebuild, the University is reflecting on its academic future (including its research) over the next decade – a process being led by our new Vice-Chancellor | Tumu Whakarae,

4 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha

Professor Cheryl de la Rey. An early initiative of farming’, the use of algae for high-value food (MARS Bioimaging) which is selling the first this post-rebuild vision is UC’s contribution to supplements, the application of blockchain commercial, pre-clinical imaging systems the future of food production, both globally and technology for food traceability, ‘genetic around the world. The first clinical trials for in Aotearoa New Zealand. This encompasses rescue’ of mahinga kai to improve freshwater cancer patients are being conducted in Ōtautahi a range of issues including capturing more aquaculture success, through to understanding Christchurch in 2019. value, changing consumer choice, increasing the constraints of water extraction in Waitaha Finally, Dr Mitja Remus-Emsermann, Te Kura sustainability, establishing new policies for Canterbury, the changing social norms of meat Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, mitigating climate change, the complexity consumption and rise of vegetarianism, and was the recipient of the Early and Emerging of global supply chains, the demand for food the legal and land policy framework for high- Career Researcher Award for his research on traceability, the complexity of trade regulation, country pastoral farming. how bacterial communities develop on plant creating value from food wastage, producing Our UC Council | Te Kaunihera o Te Whare leaves, which is an exciting development at the innovative new foods, and the social and Wānanga o Waitaha recognised internationally intersection of microbiology, ecology and plant economic inequities of food production and ranked excellence and innovation in 2018. science. This research may potentially lead to consumption, which underline the fact that Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor the prevention of plant pathogen colonisation ‘more of the same’ is not going to work. UC Rick Millane was awarded the Research Medal and disease outbreaks during agriculture will actively seek collaboration nationally and for his outstanding research in macromolecular production. internationally to pursue this research agenda. imaging for structural biology. His research Elsewhere, UC researchers continue to be university with teaching and research at its UC is bringing to bear its research strengths is rooted in developing a new theory and recognised by national and international heart. The University bid farewell to Dr Rod Carr in this domain under the banner of Kia Tōpū, computational algorithms from new x-ray, free- peers for contributions to their research fields, as outgoing Vice-Chancellor | Tumu Whakarae, bringing a ‘disruptor’ view at the nexus of electron lasers to image biomolecular structure. including Royal Society Te Apārangi fellowships and looked forward to the arrival of our new science, engineering, e-commerce, marketing, This imaging advance underpins understanding for Professor Jason Tylianakis Vice-Chancellor | Tumu Whakarae, Professor law, business, big data and artificial intelligence, of disease process and pharmaceutical drug (Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Cheryl de la Rey. and crucially the social sciences where social design. His recent work is contributing to Sciences), and Professor Angus Macfarlane I put forward this report for your reading, and acceptance and ethics, trends in consumerism, understanding mis-folded proteins potentially (Te Kura Whakangungu Kaiako | School of hope you gain an appreciation of the potential and indigenous and cultural considerations associated with neurogenerative diseases. Teacher Education), Rutherford Discovery at UC to collaboratively research how Aotearoa could provide an alternative trajectory for Professor Phil Butler, Te Kura Matū |School of fellowships, and numerous discipline and New Zealand and the world will sustainably food production and consumption. This Physical and Chemical Sciences, was awarded professional body awards. In particular, UC is and ethically produce and consume food over research report highlights the underlying the Innovation Medal for his outstanding proud that Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase generational timescales. breadth of UC’s research, from which our Kia research in the field of medical physics, was the recipient of the 2018 MacDiarmid Medal Tōpū initiative will evolve with a clear focus particularly the development and translation for his research on physiological modelling of Tēnā koutou katoa, around research. The following research stories of this technology into 3D colour X-ray imaging human metabolism as the basis for treating give insight into exciting new developments which provides multi-coloured 3D images intensive-care patients in Aotearoa New Zealand already occurring at UC including dealing with of the human bone structure and chemical and overseas. food waste, biodegradable coating for food constituents (like water, calcium, disease 2018 was a watershed year for UC – our campus crops to minimise herbicide and pesticide markers) in soft tissues such as fat, muscle transformation draws to a close, and there is Professor Ian Wright use, understanding protein integrity in food and tendons. This technology breakthrough a re-focusing to our core mission of being a Deputy Vice-Chancellor | Tumu Tuarua processing, holistic approaches to ‘urban underpins a fast-developing spinout company

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 5 UC received 3114 scholarly Two UC academics were appointed $40,650,000 outputs Fellows of the Royal Society in research income were produced in 2018 Te Apārangi in 2018 in 2018

We welcome people from many countries UC’s postgraduate students come from all over the world 88 69 countries countries represented by represented by PhD & Masters academic staff students Masters Doctorate

79 international academics visited UC in 2018 as part of the Erskine Programme. And 23 UC academics were funded to visit and teach at Domestic 63% Domestic 35% international universities International 37% International 65%

Eight visiting Fellows from Seven UC research projects Cambridge and Oxford received $4million Marsden Universities Funding in 2018.

6 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Gender Split: Academics / Post Doctorates 772.2 53.3 Academic staff1 Post-doctoral fellows 2

Post Postgraduate degrees completed Academics Doctorates

169 245 PhD Masters Females 44% Females 46% Males 56% Males 54%

Performance-based UC ranked first in New Zealand in: Research Fund (PBRF): • ecology, evolution and behaviour • marketing and tourism UC has ranked in the top three • political science, international relations in over half of the subject areas and public policy within which it submitted. • public health

1. Annualised FTE of academic staff 2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 7 2. Annualised FTE of post-doctoral staff Research into kaupapa or plant-based kai and ethics Kaimangatanga is the word for vegetarian, could act as an intermediary and is used by both vegans and vegetarians between Western intensive to describe their ethics. Ms Dunn uses the animal agricultural practices word and “plant-based” purposefully to and vegan ethics. Ngata Centenary Doctoral encompass both. Scholar Kirsty Dunn

8 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Kaimangatanga – Māori perspectives on plant-based kai

Gathering together many different “In different spaces we exchange recipes, provide • Tino rangatiratanga captures ideas about tautoko (support) and explore the influences exercising sovereignty over oneself and ‘These may be seen as perspectives on kaupapa Māori that Māori values, concepts, narratives and making decisions that don’t necessarily part of wider initiatives veganism or plant-based kai and experiences have on our approaches to kai and align with the status quo – in this case, the ethics is just a starting point plant-based kai in particular. There has also dominant meat culture in Aotearoa New with similar kaupapa been some news coverage of Māori plant-based Zealand. It may also involve drawing on the for Ngata Centenary Doctoral ethics and initiatives including recent coverage practices and knowledge of tūpuna (ancestors) (themes, ethics, ideas), Scholar Kirsty Dunn, who is also a of Tūrangawaewae marae in Ngāruawāhia and and of decolonial diets, namely eating such as those centred postgraduate member of UC’s New the incorporation of plant-based kai information endemic plants species and using plants as Zealand Centre for Human-Animal into the marae menu.” rongoā (medicine). around healthy kai, Studies. These may be seen as part of wider initiatives • Kaitiakitanaga encompasses guardianship, with similar kaupapa (themes, ethics, ideas), not only of the environment but also of other food sovereignty and such as those centred around healthy kai, food species, of mātauranga (knowledge) and of It is work she hopes will lead to a deeper kaitiakitanga.’ sovereignty and kaitiakitanga. resources for current and future generations. understanding of kaimangatanga and the Wrapped up in this thread is the concept of broader issues surrounding food sovereignty. sustainable kai. Different perspectives, This research is an ongoing side project for During her MA research studies at UC, Ms Dunn common whenu (threads) considered representations of Western meat Finding common ground Ms Dunn. Her main PhD research, “’Into the Dark, production and consumption in contemporary Common threads or whenu run through different We Are Moths’ – Representing and Reimagining fiction and the portrayal of concerns about perspectives of 'kaimangatanga' (veganism or Debate on food in the Western context can Animals in Māori Writing in English”, is intensive animal agriculture. plant-based ethics), which Māori have drawn on become polarised between the rationale being undertaken under the supervision of in different ways. The following are among the supporting intensive animal agricultural Senior Lecturer Mr Garrick Cooper (Māori and For her current research, which began as part whenu she highlights. practices and vegan ethics. Indigenous Studies) and Professors Annie Potts of a UC Summer Scholarship in 2016, she has (Cultural Studies) and Philip Armstrong (English). switched her primary focus from Western • Whakapapa encompasses relationships, Ms Dunn suggests that the ethics she is ideas and perspectives to Māori perspectives connections, origins and layer-making, as exploring have the potential to act as an Though born in Tāmaki-makau-rau Auckland on alternative and plant-based diets and how well as relationships between people, other intermediary between the two, as well as in and completing her secondary schooling these relate to dominant ideas about kai and species, the environment, ancestors and discussions about alternative plant-proteins and in Southland, Kirsty considers Ōtautahi associated concepts such as health, cost, atua. It is also used in regard to the origins issues such as genetic modification and lab- Christchurch her home town. She completed her production, sustainability and animal welfare. of kai and production processes. Whakapapa grown meat. BA in English with First Class Honours at UC in informs Ms Dunn's research into both Māori 2012 and her MA with Distinction in 2015. She It is the start of a journey for Ms Dunn, whose “Perspectives from tangata whenua regarding literature and kaimangatanga. was awarded the prestigious Ngata Centenary iwi are Te Aupōuri and Te Rarawa from Te Tai plant-based kai ethics, food sovereignty and Doctoral Scholarship in 2017 for her PhD research Tokerau. She is discovering many entry points to • Manaakitanga (or uplifting the mana of decolonial diets based on the principles I and received the Australasian Animal Studies kai and its surrounding issues: online searches others, reciprocal hospitality) is a concept that identified in my research can provide various Association award for best postgraduate paper at have revealed a growing community of Māori underpins the provision of more nutritious avenues for critique: they are particularly the association’s 2017 conference in Adelaide. discussing kaupapa Māori plant-based kai kai, such as wholefoods, fresh fruit and valuable because they are in and of this place, and ethics via social media sites, websites and vegetables, to visitors. this whenua.” podcasts.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 9 Biodegradable coating to help achieve food security

Associate Professor David Leung’s Non-degradable pesticides, herbicides “We believe the public, the people consuming Additionally, a large amount of food around the biodegradable coating can help and biocides can damage the surrounding the food, will appreciate this option because it is world is wasted due to improper storage, another environment by contaminating soil, water, turf safer and more environmentally friendly.” problem that the biodegradable coating has the achieve food security in an and other vegetation. Although they are effective potential to address. environmentally friendly and in killing insects, they can be toxic to a host of Producing a safe solution According to the Food and Agriculture other organisms, including humans. consumer-conscious way. Associate Professor Leung explains that if Organization of the United Nations, “roughly toxic chemicals are used to protect crops over one third of the food produced in the world for Biotechnology Associate Professor David Leung, a long period, those substances will destroy human consumption every year – approximately in Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College of Science, is the surrounding elements, which are critical to 1.3 billion tonnes – gets lost or wasted”. working on a nontoxic, biodegradable coating to ‘Right now, we have to supporting the plant’s life process. Furthermore, Associate Professor Leung agrees. “Food spoilage protect edible plants against diseases, pests and toxic residues can accumulate in the local is a serious problem and this could potentially be environmental hazards, including the effects of use these undesirable environment, resulting in long-term damage to used to combat that. This is another real-world climate change. substances or we simply the ecosystem. impact we are thinking about.” The research could prove vital in protecting plant “Copper sulfate is a classic case. For example, the The research began after Associate Professor food without compromising consumer health. would not be able to avocado industry – without copper sulfate, there Leung was awarded a Tech Jumpstart Award Because the coating is biodegradable, it would is no avocado industry.” grant in 2017, as part of UC’s annual competition also provide an environmentally sustainable harvest enough food Avocados are just one example of fruits and that helps researchers turn their ideas into solution and avoid the negative impacts of to support the world’s vegetables protected using chemicals such as commercial reality. The project is funded until agrochemicals commonly used to protect plants. copper sulfate. A variety of agrochemicals is used October 2019 and, while he has already created In addition to being eco-friendly, the coating is needs. This is why we every day to harvest nearly all of the world’s a useable solution, Associate Professor Leung nontoxic, which Associate Professor Leung says commercial produce. hopes to acquire more funding to keep building need to have another on his current idea. is key to protecting the people consuming the “Right now, we have to use these undesirable end product. option – a safer and substances or we simply would not be able to Associate Professor Leung is continuing to evolve “It is counterproductive to protect plants harvest enough food to support the world’s the coating into one that will have broad use in using toxic methods. Even though you may more sustainable needs. This is why we need to have another the agricultural industry. In conjunction with provide security for a food source, you are still option – a safer and more sustainable option.” the commercialisation team, Associate Professor option.’ Leung is currently working on further improving missing the mark if you have contaminated Potentially harmful substances are not only used the coating to make it as appealing to investors the environment you are growing the plants in during harvesting but also are applied to protect as possible, an important step in bringing his during the process and delivering a food product food being stored and shipped to overseas “There is a demand for environmentally work to the public. with toxic residues,” says Associate Professor markets. The coating will also be adaptable to sustainable ways of doing things and, in food Leung. protect foods post-harvesting. “We have already come up with a patentable production, it is important because we cannot “It’s not just about the quantity of food that we formulation; however, we are continuing to work continue using these chemicals without causing “This biodegradable coating can also be adapted care about; it is also about producing safe food on enhancing it to ensure the most effective and major, long-term harm to the planet,” Associate to solve post-harvest challenges, including that doesn’t harm the surrounding environment.” impactful product is brought to market.” Professor Leung says. storage and shipping.”

10 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Associate Professor Leung’s biodegradable coating can help achieve food security in an environmentally friendly and consumer-conscious way. Associate Professor David Leung

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 11 Technology to tag and track tiny insects could improve Aotearoa New Zealand’s biosecurity, safeguarding sustainable food production From left: Dr Graeme Woodward, Associate and export market access. Professor Barry Wu, Dr Steve Pawson and doctoral student William Sloane.

12 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Biosecurity boost from trap and track research

Smarter ways to monitor and track collaboration called Better Border Biosecurity Her involvement follows other collaborative Their prototype uses a solar panel and (B3), seeking to reduce the number of new plant research with Scion that involved painting incorporates an innovative trap-clearing process. pests are being developed and pests and diseases entering and establishing in insects with retroreflective paint and tracking Two UC engineering students spent the 2018/19 trialled by UC’s Wireless Research Aotearoa New Zealand. them using infrared light. Wireless radio tagging summer break doing further field testing. Plans Centre as part of collaborative work Dr Woodward says harmonic radar technology, of insects has also been trialled. for more advanced prototypes are in the pipeline. aimed at improving Aotearoa New being researched in conjunction with Scion, has These innovative tracking systems are being Traditional insect traps simply catch the bugs Zealand’s biosecurity. The research the advantage of being very target-specific. It explored because traditional methods using and then a field worker has to go out and collect also does not require batteries, meaning it could traps laid down at a distance from a release the pot at the bottom of the trap to analyse its could help safeguard sustainable be used to create tiny tags for tracking insects. point can produce ambiguous or patchy results. contents. Adding instrumentation to traps opens food production, along with export Better insect tracking could pave the way to a up the potential to remotely check and monitor market access. better understanding of what leads to insect traps, as often as every 15 minutes. infestations, in turn helping reduce Aotearoa “You could then start to unlock behaviour New Zealand’s reliance on border fumigation of Attaching a tiny harmonic radar tag to an insect ‘Some of the insects patterns and work out what insects are flying export products such as timber. and then tracking it using a swarm of drones we’re tracking also have around at particular times of day, for example,” may sound far-fetched, but the approach has “Some of the insects we’re tracking also have a says Dr Woodward. the potential to deliver a level of cutting-edge a particular threat to the particular threat to the food industry,” says Dr Work to develop ways of automatically tracking accuracy for use in biosecurity that until Woodward. identifying insects remotely is ongoing. now has been beyond Aotearoa New Zealand's food industry.’ A separate project with potential biosecurity Ultimately, camera or video technology in traps reach. applications, conducted in conjunction with could be used to detect biosecurity threats and It is just one of a number of interdisciplinary Scion and Āta mātai, mātai whetū | AgResearch, generate alerts. “It should be possible to create a lightweight tag research projects in the biosecurity area has involved investigating the potential of low about one centimetre in length. Once tagged, “The trap could sit in a field for weeks on end, involving staff and students at UC’s Wireless power–wide area network (LP-WAN) technologies you could then radar-track the insect using a sending updates several times an hour.” Research Centre. Leading the engineering to gather field data. swarm of four or five unmanned aerial vehicles Other past research projects at UC associated research at UC is Dr Graeme Woodward, (UAVs). Building the tag and making it small A team of four UC students – with backgrounds with biosecurity have included remote wireless supported by Associate Professor Barry Wu, who enough is the number one challenge. The second spanning electrical engineering, computer monitoring of possum traps in conjunction is an expert in the field of sensor networks. They hurdle involves getting enough range so as not science and mechatronics – undertook research with Manaaki Whenua | Landcare Research, and are working closely with entomologists from to interfere with the insect’s flight behaviour.” in this area for their major final-year engineering identifying insects using wing beat frequency. Scion, including Dr Steve Pawson on traps and project. The goal has been to create and develop tracking projects, and with Āta mātai, mātai Scion postdoctoral scholar Dr Anastasia Lavrenko effective insect trapping instrumentation. whetū | AgResearch’s Dr Scott Hardwick on is undertaking research in this area, with her “They started with computer modelling and trap development. Both Scion and AgResearch time split between Scion and UC. She started design work before building a prototype that are member agencies of a cooperative science working with the Wireless Research Centre in June 2018. could be tested,” says Dr Woodward.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 13 Change agents – proteins in our food

Proteins have a huge influence “I’ve used milk as a starting point in my research interest is located but we know that it occurs “Yet in a food system, where you have on the quality of the food we eat. because it’s such a fundamental food source and and not just in milk. As this family of protein unregulated chemistry going on, it’s another I’m studying a specific type of modification that modifications is present across different foods order of complexity on top of that again,” When food is processed its proteins happens during processing.” and beyond food as well, the research is highly Professor Dobson says. change structure and, in turn, so too Ms McKerchar began her doctorate in February applicable to a range of science fields.” The added challenge with food is that it’s all do features such as taste, texture, 2016 with a UC Connect Doctoral Scholarship, If the ‘where’ part of the puzzle is solved, the treated, or processed, differently. colour and nutritional value. UC in collaboration with Āta mātai, mātai whetū next step would be to build digestion models to “The way we treat food is very complicated and Biochemistry student Hannah AgResearch and with the advisory support of varied and that’s true even of a product like Professor Renwick Dobson. The biological study milk,” says Ms McKerchar. McKerchar is seeking a deeper of proteins and food is a key focus for Dobson's understanding of particular protein lab, whose research is associated with the Riddet ‘Heat and acidic By late 2019, she hopes to be in a position to test a putative diagnostic fragmentation pattern changes that could influence the Institute, a Centre of Research Excellence that conditions can induce brings together Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading of the modification that she has identified in future of food nutrition. scientists in food and nutrition. a simplified model system, and extend this a less-than-desirable knowledge to milk proteins. In fact, she has already trialled her first models, with plans to Smashing proteins into little bits, charging them Protein modifications protein modification up and sending them flying to an analytical test against a protein in cow’s milk. bull’s-eye target are tasks that are all in a day’s As Ms McKerchar observes, proteins in food in milk that may Before enrolling in postgraduate studies in research work for UC doctoral student Hannah change even when the type of processing used is affect digestibility and science at UC, Ms McKerchar worked as a McKerchar, who is using mass spectrometry to very simple, such as cooking or heating. You only litigation lawyer. She had earlier completed a create protein pandemonium at Āta mātai, mātai need to think about how an uncooked croissant nutritional value.’ Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science with whetū | AgResearch. compares to the completely different smell, taste First Class Honours in Biochemistry, but curiosity and texture of a freshly cooked, puffy croissant. led her back to UC to pursue her fascination with It is all for a good cause – namely to investigate Yet not all protein modifications that take place find out how this protein modification affects biochemistry. protein modification during processing. Āta during processing are necessarily desirable. mātai, mātai whetū | AgResearch’s suite of digestive systems. Ultimately, the research could Other research into proteins and food from mass spectrometers is perfectly matched to Ms Heat and acidic conditions can induce a less- pave the way to improved processing and more UC’s Biomolecular Research Centre includes a McKerchar's research task, which involves pulling than-desirable protein modification in milk that nutritious food. study of differences between cow and goat milk may affect digestibility and nutritional value. The apart and analysing tiny and complex proteins in While the potential is exciting, the challenges proteins by postdoctoral Research Fellow Jennifer focus of Ms McKerchar’s research is to find out food that change as they are processed. As she are considerable. The questions of how cells Crowther; and a new PhD study that Amanda more about this particular change and where it explains, mass spectrometry delivers extremely organise and how they regulate their chemistry Board is just getting under way with funding happens during processing. accurate results that enable her to pinpoint of cells already represent an extremely complex from the Riddet Institute. minute changes in protein structure. “It’s hard to detect and even harder to map research field. specifically where the protein modification of

14 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Understanding protein modification during processing could lead to improved processing and developing more nutritious food. Doctoral student Hannah McKerchar

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 15 In exploring the everyday lives of young people, the aim is to better understand how a new generation can be supported Postdoctoral Fellow Kate Prendergast, doctoral student to achieve a low-carbon, Mehedi Hasan, Dr Sylvia Nissen and Associate Professor equitable future. Bronwyn Hayward look at and discuss photos taken by 12–24 year olds documenting their day.

16 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Towards sustainable prosperity for children and youth

The Children and Youth in Professor Tim Jackson. Associate Professor To date, the study has focused on the qualitative combined with environmental change is Cities: Lifestyle Evaluations and Hayward is a co-primary investigator of CUSP. picture, building up ‘a day in our lives’ restricting young people’s access to clean understanding of what life is like for young running water in four of the seven cities. Air and Sustainability (CYCLES) study, led by “We’re interested in finding out what cities can do to better support quality of life for people in these cities. This perspective has been noise pollution along with inadequate public UC’s Associate Professor Bronwyn young people in low-carbon ways and that gathered through photos and drawings young transport and physical safety are other issues Hayward, is exploring everyday includes understanding their aspirations and people have created and through interviews to reported alongside huge educational stress lives of young people in seven life satisfaction and their energy use across find out what they value and what they would in many cities as young people strive to use five domains: what they are eating, how they’re like to change. A touring exhibition of images education to escape poverty. global cities. The aim is to better getting around, how their homes are being associated with the study was featured in Other UC-based researchers involved in the understand how a new generation heated or cooled, their time use (study, work London for three months as part of the ESRC CYCLES project include Postdoctoral Fellow Kate can be supported to achieve a low- and leisure activities) and their methods of Social Science Impact Festival 2018/19 and is due Prendergast, who is leading the next quantitative to come to Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2019. Award- carbon, equitable future. communication.” wave of large-scale survey research globally winning British–Australian film-maker Amanda together with Research Fellow Dr Sylvia Nissen, Blue is also making short films to go alongside of Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki | Lincoln University, Young people’s lives can look very different the research and add to its wider public impact. who led the focus group study and completed from each other, depending on where they live ‘At a global level, initial her doctoral research at UC, and PhD researcher in the world. Yet, as UC’s Associate Professor results are highlighting Initial findings Luisa Leo. PhD student Mehedi Hassan, whose Bronwyn Hayward observes, what connects them background is in urban planning in Bangladesh, is urbanisation. By 2050 seven out of 10 young In Ōtautahi Christchurch, 60 students shared a water crisis in their photographs, thoughts and aspirations is leading the study within CYCLES on children’s people will live in an urban area. It follows that lives in Dhaka. if the world’s young people are to have a more many cities as poor in eight focus groups. Initial results indicate sustainable and prosperous future than the one that the city’s green spaces matter to them and “Another great spin-off has been the opportunity they currently face, then change has to start in governance combined young people value and benefit from public to also involve masters and undergraduate the world’s cities. activities – everything from festivals to low-key students as interviewers and research assistants; with environmental street activity. Very different food consumption this builds their capability for future research. As the research leader for CYCLES, Associate patterns are being observed across the city, More widely, we are also gaining important Professor Hayward identified seven cities, change is restricting ranging from traditional high-meat and high- insights into new methods for cross-cultural including Ōtautahi Christchurch, and worked dairy diets in some communities to food research,” says Associate Professor Hayward. to establish international research partnerships youth access to clean insecurity reported by others. Cold housing also to study young people’s lives in those places. The CYCLES study, due to be completed in running water.’ emerged as a big issue across many suburbs 2020, supports a new focus on cities in social The study itself is an international collaboration locally. funded through the United Kingdom’s Economic sciences globally. For example, the next and Social Research Council (ESRC), as one “It was striking how many children and young Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The four-year study is now into its second year, adults here in Christchurch talked about wearing Assessment – of which Associate Professor of several related projects established by the looking at the lives of young people in Ōtautahi international Centre for the Understanding of puffer jackets at home to save on heating costs,” Hayward is a coordinating lead author – will Christchurch, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Makhanda Associate Professor Hayward says. examine cities and infrastructure. Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) based at Surrey (South Africa), Jagdamba Camp, New Delhi At a global level, initial results are highlighting University and headed by ecological economist (India), Lambeth, London (UK), São Paulo (Brazil) a water crisis in many cities as poor governance and Yokohama (Japan).

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 17 Aotearoa New Zealand algae on pathway to high-value product

Microalgae from southern Aotearoa wetland for testing at the Manaaki Whenua | “One of the key challenges has been to find out Another UC PhD student studying under Landcare Research laboratories in Lincoln. why this alga grows EPA. We’ve worked out it’s Professor Morison’s supervision is Daniel Smith, New Zealand are rich in omega-3 Since 2016, UC scientists have been a part of the not for energy storage but instead is being used with funding from a UC doctoral scholarship. His fatty acids that could be tapped research team too. The goal is to develop the in cell membranes as part of photosynthesis,” focus is on scaling up the production process for commercial use. Doctoral commercial potential of this wetland resource, Associate Professor Morison says. by using a 50-litre tubular photo-bioreactor to researchers at UC’s Department of with possible applications as a vegetarian maximise biomass and EPA. Chemical and Process Engineering alternative to fish oil health supplements, or as a “Earlier in my PhD, I spent a couple of months feed product for aquaculture. in Spain with world experts in algae production, are investigating this exciting ‘One of the key One of the reasons why this research is so who have developed commercial-scale plant. I resource as a precursor to further exciting is that while similar algae have been challenges has been learnt how to design and build a bioreactor there development. found in Europe, there are very few known and then built a similar one here for our lab,” Mr sources for this type of EPA omega-3 fatty acid. to find out why this Smith says. In a biological lab at Manaaki Whenua | Landcare Fish is currently the main source for commercial alga grows EPA UC master’s student Alivia Alfiarty, from Research, UC PhD student Mehrnoush Tangestani production of omega-3s. Yet fish don’t actually Indonesia, has also contributed to this research, has spent many hours studying a green liquid produce these fatty acids – instead they get it [eicosapentaenoic acid]. with her thesis focused on optimising the algal that bears a remarkable resemblance to ordinary from eating microalgae. From a sustainability We’ve worked out it’s growth medium. pond water. perspective alone, growing algae for omega-3 To date, results are promising though further provides a promising alternative to harvesting In fact, the algae in the samples she’s been not for energy storage work will be needed to determine how the algae fish for that purpose. studying are anything but ordinary. At Manaaki could be presented as a commercially viable Whenua | Landcare Research, Aotearoa New Ms Tangestani, a microbiologist from Iran, but instead is being used health food product. One option could be to Zealand’s leading algae expert Dr Phil Novis was started her PhD in June 2016. Her goal has been in cell membranes as market it in a natural, unprocessed form and as the first to notice that this particular type – from to fine-tune how to best grow the algae and a dry product. a Southland wetland that is also a mahinga kai maximise EPA production. Glass-sided photo- part of photosynthesis.’ Beyond nutraceuticals, other potential markets site for Ngāi Tahu – has unusually high levels bioreactors containing the algae have been include the pet food industry and aquaculture. of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 tested in various ways, using variables such as “You can feed it to mussels, for example, to polyunsaturated fatty acid. With Ngāi Tahu light, pH and temperature. EPA production appears to be somewhat produce high-EPA shellfish – it’s a very functional alongside as a partner and with funding from the Along with Dr Novis, Ms Tangestani's supervisory temperature dependent and the key is to get the and potentially commercially useful application,” ‘Science for Technological Innovation’ National team includes biochemical engineer Dr Gabriel right mix of nutrients and light. Results from the Ms Tangestani says. Science Challenge, he began researching the Visnovsky (previously from UC) and UC Associate research are promising, showing EPA comprises A future avenue of inquiry for the team could algae’s special properties. The project is aligned Professor Ken Morison, her academic supervisor. up to 40% of the cells’ oil and 7% of the total be to investigate applications for algae biomass with Vision Mātauranga values: Ngāi Tahu has Her practical work has been completed at dry matter. been closely involved from the outset, with iwi Manaaki Whenua | Landcare Research and she beyond EPA. representatives gathering samples from the has met weekly with her supervisors.

18 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Aotearoa New Zealand algae on pathway to high-value product

Research into microalgae, high in omega-3 fatty acids, could produce commercially viable health food products, pet food and shellfish rich From left: Doctoral student Daniel Smith, in omega-3. Associate Professor Ken Morison and doctoral student Mehrnoush Tangestani.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 19 Blockchain technology is being explored as a tool to ensure sustainable food production for everyone. Associate Professor Michaela Balzarova

20 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Blockchain benefits sustainable food production

Adapting new data technologies that may have added no value to the product or based on mathematical algorithms and financial ‘We need to focus on may lead to fairer food prices for service and consumers have no way of knowing incentives. if the price they have paid is fair. The transactions creating models that consumers and producers, by “We need to focus models on how we can feed are not transparent and are not direct. everyone on a fair basis, improving comfort and increasing transparency. standard of living for everyone on this planet. It’s can feed everyone on Limited benefits to current not just an issue of getting rid of intermediaries. a fair basis, improving Associate Professor Michaela Balzarova of Te labelling schemes We need to encourage users to take ownership Rāngai Umanga me te Ture | College of Business of data stored on their behalf and blockchain Eco-labels were created to address increased comfort and standard and Law is conducting theoretical research enables this,” says Associate Professor Balzarova. consumer demand for environmentally sound into eco-labelling schemes and voluntary of living for everyone on and ethical production processes and to provide “Right now, I have been exploring benefits of environmental systems that businesses adopt to the consumer with better information about blockchain technology in sustainable food this planet.’ mitigate their environmental and social impacts. the product, allowing them to make more production theoretically, by looking at what She is also exploring alternative schemes and environmentally friendly purchases. However, blockchain offers versus experiences with to what extent blockchain technology helps to literature is inconclusive about the social, labelling schemes that try to mitigate adverse address sustainability challenges that arise from economic and environmental effectiveness of production impacts. In the field of food problems of production and consumption of eco-labels. In other words, it is not clear whether production and agriculture, I see a clear overlap goods and services. eco-labels deliver what they promise – that is, of my research interests with UC’s Kia Tōpū Using blockchain in future, she suggests, creating conditions for indefinite sustainable programme.” could be a way of ensuring transparency of production and overcoming inequalities within Associate Professor Balzarova first discovered transactions, gathering more accurate data the supply chain – or if they are promoting blockchain during a short visit to Vienna in and eliminating the need for intermediaries. unsustainable trends in the consumption 2017. She is returning there in 2019 to join a Associate Professor Balzarova believes that once of goods. Eco-labels are facing challenges in team of colleagues from the University of present problems related to trust and a lack terms of measurability. This is mostly due to a Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) of experience with blockchain technology are lack of data, inconsistent record-keeping and that will assist Grüne Erde GmbH – the first addressed, using blockchain platform for future confidentiality issues, with the result that it is Austrian company certified under Fair Wear transactions could result in reduced prices for not possible to assess the entire programme’s Foundation – to set up a system for monitoring consumers and fairer returns for farmers. economic, environmental and social impact. and remediating the labour conditions of its For example, Fair Trade labels have been This is where blockchain technology promises suppliers. Furthermore, Associate Professor developed to improve the livelihoods of farmers improvements. It provides a novel way of Balzarova will be presenting the outcomes of her in developing countries. In the case of coffee, the recording data and confidence in peer-to-peer conceptual study at an international conference problem with this approach is that products may trading transactions. It keeps records of digital of the European Academy of Management, have gone through as many as 26 intermediaries asset transactions in a decentralised manner, EURAM 2019, in Portugal later in the year.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 21 Adding value to food waste

New Zealanders throw away Creating a catalyst “This waste stream carries opportunity and approved, this latest project is on track to start in financial costs. What we’re trying to do is October 2019 and would also involve researchers thousands of tonnes of leftover The project’s goal is to extract three key chemical add value to that waste by converting it into at the University of Auckland | Te Whare components, including polylactic acid (PLA) food every year, but an ingenious something useful while at the same time also Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau. and the organic compound 5-HMF, from the new solution being engineered at responding to another environmental problem food waste stream. These could then be used If successful, it would represent a pioneering in Aotearoa New Zealand, which is the plastic UC aims to turn such waste into as building blocks to make bioplastics with breakthrough for catalytic conversion of food waste problem.” valuable chemical components that various properties to suit consumers’ needs in a waste for this particular purpose. The project’s sustainable way. first goal would be to prove the concept could could be used to make bioplastics. work before moving to the pilot phase. Long “At the moment we’re designing the catalyst for term, the objective is to scale up the process for the process and we’re planning to collaborate From household scraps to café leftovers and ‘The ultimate objective commercial application. date-expired supermarket goods, food waste is with Eco Stock in Tāmaki-makau-rau Auckland, “We’re convinced that our process with this a big problem in Aotearoa New Zealand. Most which is the biggest food-waste collector in New is to produce a high- specific catalyst is very promising,” says Dr Yip. of this uneaten food is thrown out and left to Zealand,” says Dr Yip. value product from food rot, but what if something really useful could be Eco Stock has been recycling surplus food He also notes that Hong Kong research in this done with it instead? into stock feed at its plant in South Auckland waste. To date, we have field relies on a catalytic process that is less environmentally friendly and has a higher At UC’s Department of Chemical and Processing for more than a decade and also supports completed a proof of process cost, though the objectives are similar. Engineering, Dr Alex Yip is leading research composting and worm farms as a way of into food waste conversion. He has already minimising waste. If this innovative project is concept showing that it’s Dr Yip’s research interests range widely, from undertaken collaborative work to design and successful, food waste could wind up having an design and development of new catalysts with develop a catalyst to achieve this outcome with exciting new use as raw material for valuable feasible.’ environmental and economic benefits through the Hong Kong Polytechnic. bioplastics. to the design of advanced nanomaterial. He studied engineering at the University of New “The ultimate objective is to produce a high- Bioplastics produced from food waste would South Wales and completed his doctorate at the value product from food waste. To date, we have be 100% recyclable or fully biodegradable. The future of food waste Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. completed a proof of concept showing that it’s They could be used for products such as Clearly then, being able to convert food waste He was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the feasible,” Dr Yip says. biodegradable bin liners. into bioplastics would deliver the dual benefit University of California, Berkeley, in the United Sending food waste to rot is still the most Funding is now being sought from Hīkina of lowering greenhouse gas emissions while States of America. Whakatutuki | Ministry of Business, Innovation common outcome for it in Aotearoa New also reducing the amount of non-biodegradable He has been a senior lecturer at UC’s Department and Employment to fully develop the technique Zealand. Once in landfill, food waste breaks plastics going into the country’s landfills. down and emits gases such as carbon dioxide of Chemical and Process Engineering for the past for the Aotearoa New Zealand context, Currently UC has two PhD students working in and a particularly powerful greenhouse gas – three years and is director of Third Professional using food waste from retail, restaurant and the specialised field of catalytic conversion for methane. Year Studies. supermarket sources. food waste valorisation. Provided funding is

22 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Extracting chemicals from food waste could provide the building blocks to make valuable bioplastics.

Dr Alex Yip

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 23 A pioneering conservation approach aims to enhance sustainability of species and commercial outcomes for kēkēwai freshwater crayfish.

Doctoral student Aisling Rayne

24 University of Canterbury Securing sustainable kai: a conservation genomics approach

UC scientists, in partnership with with more genetic variation are better equipped “Until now, we haven’t been able to directly test data with traits of commercial interest to primary industry and Te Ngāi to evolve. Thus, conservation geneticists these questions using established populations. determine whether genetic rescue is attributed prioritise the co-development of strategies that However, the unique set-up at KEEWAI has to an overall increase in genome-wide diversity Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, mana whenua, seek to minimise the loss of genetic variation enabled a replicated experimental design that or introgression of novel variants at specific are pioneering a conservation over time. will translate to clear commercial outcomes and genes. The effects of genetic rescue are likely genomic approach to enhance inform conservation management of the species to vary across generations, so the experimental Genetic rescue elsewhere,” Ms Rayne says. ponds at KEEWAI will be monitored for at least commercial, customary and several years. The introduction of unrelated individuals into conservation outcomes for a Resolving the genetic mechanisms underlying declining mahinga kai species. small inbred populations to increase survival and reproduction has potential as a management ‘The unique set-up at genetic rescue will inform the management of tool to enhance commercial productivity. aquaculture ponds. For example, if increased UC’s Conservation, Systematics and Evolution Although the approach is gathering widespread KEEWAI has enabled a productivity in the ‘genetically rescued’ ponds Research Team (ConSERT) is at the forefront of an interest, the genetic mechanisms underlying is due to an overall increase in genome-wide interdisciplinary research approach that includes genetic rescue remain unclear. To better replicated experimental diversity, then any source population that is Ernslaw One’s aquaculture company KEEWAI and understand these mechanisms, and to develop design that will translate genetically different can be used for genetic is harnessing diverse expertise for the mutual broadly applicable best-practice guidelines, rescue. However, if increased productivity is benefit of conservation and primary industry. Ms Rayne and her colleagues co-designed an to clear commercial due to introgression of new variants at specific Threatened species and species in primary innovative genetic rescue experiment. genes, then only source populations with those industry face similar challenges associated with outcomes and variants should be used. Mr John Hollows, manager of KEEWAI, has small population size, including low genetic established over 1,800 aquaculture ponds in The team will extend the results of its research diversity and high levels of inbreeding. ConSERT’s inform conservation Ōtākou Otago and Southland forestry blocks, beyond KEEWAI. For example, in an aligned research shows that collaboration between offering an unprecedented opportunity to management of the project with Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, Ms conservation geneticists and primary industry determine the genetic mechanisms underlying Rayne and kaitiaki mahinga kai are actively co- can lead to better science and, in turn, better genetic rescue. Many of the ponds at KEEWAI species elsewhere.’ developing research to better enable sustainable conservation and commercial outcomes. were stocked with small numbers of kēkēwai, customary harvest. These actions may include The group co-developed a ‘genetic rescue’ each from a single source population. As a strategies to re-establish or augment existing Genomic data produced in the genetic rescue project, led by UC PhD student Aisling Rayne, result, the productivity of KEEWAI ponds may be populations, or to establish new populations in experiment will be enhanced using a platinum- to enhance commercial outcomes for kēkēwai compromised due to low genetic diversity and suitable habitat. standard ‘reference’ kēkēwai genome that is freshwater crayfish (Paranephrops zealandicus) inbreeding. Mr Hollows says he is happy to be involved in the by increasing short-term productivity and long- being developed in an aligned project. Ms Rayne “These genetic rescue experiments are important project. term resilience. explains that until recently, geneticists have been for the future of KEEWAI, as this work hasn’t limited to using a handful of ‘neutral’ genetic “Achieving important outcomes for aquaculture From a conservation genomics perspective, been done before,” says Mr Hollows. markers. However, now tens of thousands of and conservation is our operating plan – we resilient populations include those that are To date, the research team has performed a ‘neutral’ and ‘adaptive’ genomic markers can want to farm kēkēwai commercially, but we able to evolve – or adapt – in response to genetic rescue experiment using aquaculture be used to measure genetic variation across the also want to ensure the species itself is secure environmental change. Generally, populations ponds previously stocked using wild populations. genome. Ms Rayne will combine these genomic moving forward.”

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 25 Finding balance in the Mekong Basin

Economic development in the productive land, which further upsets the from the United States of America, Vietnam, More than just being concerned with economic Mekong Basin is altering the natural ecosystem. Cambodia, Thailand and Finland. development, the area is facing climate change food-water-energy nexus in the area “We start to see a decline in species, and the “We are providing our skill and knowledge in challenges. Rising sea levels and extensive ecosystem as a whole, as the habitat they modelling ecological systems, environment groundwater pumping for agricultural purposes – and UC researchers are working to usually live in is destroyed. Overall, this is an and agriculture, and sharing our understanding are slowly causing the Mekong Basin to sink – find a balance. economic risk,” Professor Cochrane says. of how these development projects affect the an issue that has become a focus of Professor Cochrane’s research. As more hydropower dams are constructed to local environment. We are also investigating For eight years, Professor Tom Cochrane has support economic growth, the natural flow of thresholds that will affect the ecology and “The land in the basin is quite low-lying and been conducting research in the Mekong Basin sediment and seasonal water level in the area are agriculture of the Mekong in a more permanent some of the modelling conducted on sea-level in Southeast Asia. He began by looking at the altered. way.” rise forecasts a number of villages will be under water by the 2060s. However, the villages are development of hydropower schemes in the area “A lot of people live in this region and depend on only there because of the agriculture and if that following intense economic development in the the water supply, food resources, protein from is no longer viable, the villages won’t remain. It is late nineties. Subsequently his focus has been fish and aquatic lifestyle. All the development ‘We start to see a decline a very complex situation.” on how this development has altered the food- is changing the way people are living, their water-energy nexus and could continue to do so. livelihood, the agriculture, and causing big in species, and the Professor Cochrane is working to find a balance “When researching the catchment, we found a impacts on their food productivity.” in the food-water-energy nexus of the Mekong ecosystem as a whole, as Basin so that he can make recommendations very clear link between how energy production In response to these changes, farmers in the to governments and other environmental was affecting water flow and food productivity Mekong Basin are constructing levees and stock the habitat they usually organisations. down the line, particularly in the Mekong Basin” banks to manage the flow of water through Professor Cochrane says. their land and protect the productivity. These live in is destroyed. “We aim to be able to provide advice on where The advancement of hydropower has supported initiatives have flow-on effects for neighbours to develop hydropower schemes, how to operate the economic development of countries such as further downstream. Overall, this is an them and reduce impact, and how to manage irrigation schemes in the basin and adapt to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand since the nineties, Conservation International, the Mekong River economic risk.’ climate change. This might mean engineering but it has also upset a number of natural Commission and the governments of Laos, ways to adapt to sea-level change through balances. Before hydropower was developed, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia are working engineered ways or restoring vegetation buffers the natural water flow of rivers would carry and together to develop these areas in a sustainable Professor Cochrane and doctorate students from and preserving native mangroves. disperse sediment, which served as a natural way, while minimising impact on their UC have been visiting the Mekong Basin twice a fertiliser and supported food production and the neighbours and those further downstream. year to take water samples, observe the area and “There are lots of potential adaptation strategies water flow. It also varied naturally, creating wet work with local researchers and students. and that is what we are trying to explore.” and dry seasons that in turn supported fisheries Professor Cochrane has led a team of six and crop production. doctoral and three postdoctoral students over “It is good to stand back and spend time really the years, and works in collaboration with the understanding what is going on and how all of To support the development of countries in the organisations named above and a number these things are interrelated,” Professor region, new large hydropower schemes are being of other institutes and university researchers Cochrane says. proposed and more areas are being turned into

26 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Professor Tom Cochrane is exploring adaptive strategies to help areas like the Mekong Basin find the balance between economic advancement and ecological conservation.

Professor Tom Cochrane

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 27 A comparative winegrowing study has highlighted a gap in the biosecurity system in one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biggest export industries.

Doctoral researcher Tim Baird

28 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Winegrowing and sustainability in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

How cool-climate winegrowing unhappy with this mandatory stance and felt “The end result is a group of wineries that ‘The programme regions are responding to they were not getting any economic benefit out regard themselves as penalised in terms of of it. As a result, they were starting to question export potential purely by the inflexibility of the reinforces the sustainability issues has been put its value. sustainability indicators of SWNZ, rather than under scrutiny by UC PhD researcher For his PhD, Tim also turned his attention to the their preferred strategies. The mandatory nature impression that it has Tim Baird, now a lecturer in tourism cool-climate winegrowing areas of Tasmania of the programme for exporters also reinforces the impression that it has been developed as been developed as and entrepreneurship at Lincoln and Western Australia to provide the first internationally comparative data on approaches much to reinforce the brand positioning of New much to reinforce the University. His findings point to to sustainable winegrowing. Zealand wine, rather than any commitment to actually be ‘sustainable’,” Mr Baird says. unresolved tensions and issues “We took the template of the New Zealand brand positioning of within the industry. survey and modified it for Tasmania and Western He has observed an apparent lack of meaningful Aotearoa New Zealand Australia with the help of Curtin University in communication between industry bodies and winegrowers themselves. Some pioneering Attitudes and practices of Aotearoa New Perth. As well, we were able to draw on the New wine, rather than any winegrowers also expressed frustration at being Zealand winegrowers have been on Tim Baird’s Zealand longitudinal study, including the latest charged to be part of a national programme that research radar for almost a decade now. His survey in the series done in September 2015. commitment to actually they felt simply echoed what they’d already put interest in this area was first piqued while Effectively, it’s a supply-side perspective looking into action. be ‘sustainable’.’ studying for a master’s degree in management at wine producers and what the reality of making and marketing at UC's Te Kura Umanga wine is like for them,” Mr Baird says. In Aotearoa New Zealand, he suggests another Business School. Professor C Michael Hall and Professor Pavel issue is that the industry has been somewhat “There will be more papers coming out in due Castka, of UC’s Department of Management, slow off the mark with addressing biosecurity In 2010 he completed a national survey as part of course. I hope that New Zealand’s national body Marketing and Entrepreneurship, supervised the issues associated with wine tourism. a longitudinal study of wine tourism in Aotearoa looks at all of this, because they do seem to be research. “By way of comparison, in Tasmania they have New Zealand, which included questions on on a somewhat different page to the wineries a really proactive biosecurity system through sustainability. It paved the way to a PhD, starting Its findings reveal not only conflicting themselves,” Mr Baird says. in March 2013 and now nearing completion. definitions between winegrowers of what Wine Tasmania and also have a system of Another important thread in the research is actually constitutes sustainability but also, in winegrowing programmes that incorporate One key difference he observed in Aotearoa social justice as an aspect of sustainability. the Aotearoa New Zealand context, a sense of biosecurity elements. They’re very aware that New Zealand’s industry-wide sustainability In both Tasmania and Western Australia, the disengagement from Sustainable Winegrowing a disease outbreak could wipe out their wine certification programme, compared with other surveyed groups placed a high value on social New Zealand (SWNZ). Some smaller wineries industry.” parts of the world, is that winegrowers here justice and migrant workers’ rights whereas noted they simply could not afford to sign up to Last year, Mr Baird and his supervisors had must sign up to the programme’s sustainability Aotearoa New Zealand winegrowers were the programme, while others reported feeling a paper based on this research published in practices in order to be a part of the industry. somewhat less committed on that issue. Similar programmes elsewhere take a voluntary short-changed because they never saw anyone the journal Sustainability under the title ‘New approach. The 2010 survey revealed that some from the organisation and were left wondering Zealand Winegrowers’ Attitudes and Behaviours Aotearoa New Zealand winegrowers were what the levy was actually for. towards Wine Tourism and Sustainable Winegrowing’.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 29 Increasing ryegrass harvests for Aotearoa New Zealand livestock

Altering genes that cause seed “What we did in this project is look at non- The findings have the potential to dramatically ‘Ryegrass is the most shattering in ryegrass could shattering genes in other cereals and use that lower the cost of perennial ryegrass seed, genetic information to go and look in perennial and in turn fodder, which means a significant valuable plant to New dramatically curtail harvest loss ryegrass for those genes, which we found. There expenditure reduction for farmers using and, in turn, produce considerable are many commonalities across all the grasses’ the grass. Zealand because it economic benefits. genetic makeup.” “Ryegrass is the most valuable plant to New underpins the entirety Zealand because it underpins the entirety of Experts consider ryegrass to be the most Isolation and gene editing the grazing system. If you think about the of the grazing system. valuable plant species in Aotearoa New Zealand. Samples of plant material were studied at the meat industry, the milk industry, all of the If you think about the In 2012, it had an estimated $14.5 billion impact UC glasshouses and in field plots in Waitaha animals that graze on ryegrass, all of them are on the country’s GDP, primarily because it is Canterbury. Some of the plants for the study reliant on ryegrass seed that has been grown in meat industry, the highly valued as fodder for the livestock industry. were also grown and analysed at Yantai New Zealand.” Ryegrass is difficult to harvest, because the plant University in China. Ryegrass, sometimes referred to as Lolium, is a milk industry, all of the is developmentally programmed to shed its seed, “We carried out a comparative genomics genus of tufted grasses in the bluegrass sub- animals that graze on an abscission event known as seed shattering, approach to isolate these genes in perennial family used as the principal grazing grass in during harvesting. As a result, up to 50% of the ryegrass. We also conducted morphological and Aotearoa New Zealand, where over 10 million ryegrass, all of them are seed yield may be lost. histological analysis of the abscission process in kilograms of certified seed are produced each this species.” year. The soil and climate in this country are ideal reliant on ryegrass seed Compared with cereal crops, perennial ryegrass is for harvesting ryegrass seed. less domesticated, having been actively bred for Results of the study were published in January that has been grown in fewer than 100 years. Due to its short breeding 2019, outlining the isolated putative seed- It is the most common grass found on farms cycle, it has kept its seed-shattering trait. shattering genes of perennial ryegrass. By throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The main New Zealand.’ identifying these genes in their research, advantage of the plant is its ability to keep Professor Paula Jameson in Te Rāngai Pūtaiao growing over a long period. The grass also College of Science is leading a team to tackle Professor Jameson and her team have opened the door for plant breeders to develop reduced recovers well in wet winters, which is crucial in the seed-shattering problem by studying the areas like Te Waipounamu South Island. genes that cause seed shattering in certain grass shattering lines of ryegrass. species, like perennial ryegrass, and the genes “We were able to provide useful information on Ryegrass is also used in other parts of the world, that prevent seed shatter in other crops, such as the genetic mechanism of seed shattering in including Asia, North Africa, Australia, South rice and sorghum. perennial ryegrass, which can be used to provide America, the United States of America and Canada. “The yields can vary really significantly and for targets for functional analysis,” says Professor ryegrass, for instance, the seed falls off. If you are Jameson. The team working on the research included thinking of your main domesticated cereals, like “The idea now would be to go in and use gene Dr Zeyu Fu, who received a PhD scholarship from wheat, barley and maize, the seed doesn’t fall editing to mutate a specific gene in the way the New Zealand Foundation for Arable Research, off because over 10,000 years of domestication that it has been mutated in cereals and see and Professor Jiancheng Song from Yantai retaining the seed has been selected for,” says what happens. Ideally, that is where this work is University, who was previously a senior research Professor Jameson. headed in the future.” fellow with Professor Jameson at UC.

30 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Increasing ryegrass harvests for Aotearoa New Zealand livestock

Altering genes that cause seed shattering in ryegrass could dramatically curtail harvest loss and, in turn, produce considerable economic benefits.

Professor Paula Jameson

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 31 Research into a maple syrup industry in Aotearoa New Zealand could produce a sustainable, affordable and natural product with overarching benefits to our agricultural industry and our economy. Doctoral student Tenaya Driller

32 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Tapping northern nectar in Aotearoa New Zealand

A family connection has seen UC of sap necessary to produce syrup (43 litres of such frigid weather, and without the decades- workers, as maple trees can be grown alongside sap makes just one litre of syrup), genuine maple long wait required for mature trees.” doctoral student Tenaya Driller other crops, which could allow two or more syrup is an expensive product unlikely to be Building on work accomplished by harvests from one plot of land. travel to the other side of the world found in the pantries of Aotearoa New Zealand. undergraduate research and honours projects, The trees are also not picky as to where they to research the viability of maple But new research out of North America has the UC research team considered seven are grown and can be planted in rocky or steep syrup production outside of North demonstrated a way to produce sap from environmental factors when determining the terrain previously thought unfit for agriculture. best location for a local experiment: minimum America. smaller, younger trees by removing the top The success of this experiment could have run- and maximum daily temperatures, sunshine and using a vacuum rather than a tap to on effects for a variety of other produce that hours, annual rainfall, soil moisture, soil remove the sap. growers had previously assumed couldn’t grow Ms Driller grew up watching her grandparents temperature and soil type. tap maple trees in the New England state of in the Aotearoa New Zealand climate. With those criteria, using a geographical system Vermont, so when she was considering her Over 70% of all maple syrup is currently and weather stations around the country, they options for postgraduate study, maple syrup produced in Canada and exported around the overlaid maps and found inland of Whakatū production was the immediate standout among ‘Smaller, locally grown world. The benefit of a local product for everyday Nelson was one of the regions that ticked all the a proposed list of doctoral subjects. New Zealanders would be the more accessible trees should exude sap boxes. Having a maple syrup producer already price and the potential export to our closest “I quickly latched onto that – I love maple syrup, established within the region was an exciting as they do in North neighbours. I love trees and, of course, there was a family added bonus for the research team. connection,” Ms Driller says. Australians are the fourth-largest importer of America but without That the grower was able to produce syrup with Canadian maple syrup globally and, given our Through her research, Ms Driller hopes to better bigger trees in the Tasman climate was further proximity, the Aotearoa New Zealand production understand the process of sap exudation in requiring such frigid encouragement for Ms Driller’s project – of a high-quality, natural product at a lower price maple trees by using a wide range of enhanced a positive sign that using smaller trees could weather, and without would be certain to make an impact. imaging techniques, and then use her findings be successful. to assess the viability of maple syrup production the decades-long wait For Ms Driller, the potential is limitless. within Aotearoa New Zealand. Nature’s golden sweetener “I’ve really enjoyed being a part of establishing a Traditionally maple trees are left to mature for 20 required for mature potential maple syrup industry within Aotearoa What would the local production of a distinctly to 30 years before holes are drilled into the trunk New Zealand, to find out what’s actually working trees.’ North American product mean for New and tapped, allowing the sap to drip out. But and why. I’m excited to see what comes of our Zealanders? A sustainable, affordable and natural first, the weather must be just right. research.” product with overarching benefits to Aotearoa Throughout winter the tree will freeze to a It’s this process Ms Driller believes could prove New Zealand’s agricultural industry and our Ms Driller acknowledges the support and temperature of –23˚ Celsius (–10˚ Fahrenheit) maple syrup production is viable in Aotearoa economy. assistance of her senior supervisor, Associate before warming in spring and exuding the sap Professor Matthew Watson, co-supervisor New Zealand. Maple syrup is harvested in the spring, unlike that will become maple syrup. Associate Professor Daniel Holland and the PhD most other domestic agriculture products. This is “Smaller, locally grown trees should exude sap as scholarship of Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College Because of the combination of the time required a bonus for both local growers and seasonal they do in North America but without requiring of Engineering. for trees to reach maturity and the great volume

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 33 Food preservatives and household products driving antibiotic resistance

Active ingredients in food environments. They can turn on a set of tolerance of bacteria to our antibiotics. It is “My focus is the environment and where the preservatives and household genes specifically when toxins are present to called minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) resistance is coming from in these bacteria make themselves less likely to be killed. If the creep and adaptation is rapid. that eventually colonise us. I liken it to a match products have been linked to an concentration of a toxin is not high enough to “We have simultaneously exposed bacteria to around gasoline: it’s not the cause of the increasing resistance of bacteria to kill the bacteria, it has a chance to adapt, even off-the-shelf herbicides and what should have resistance but it lowers the barrier to igniting the antibiotics. to develop an immunity to that level and type been lethal concentrations of antibiotic. The gasoline,” says Professor Heinemann. of toxin. herbicide made the bacteria resistant to the Maximum residue limits apply to food and Professor Jack Heinemann from Te Kura Pūtaiao “This creates a population of physiologically antibiotic before the antibiotic could kill them,” produce, reducing the level of ingestion for Koiora | School of Biological Sciences is looking adapted bacteria. From that population, there says Professor Heinemann. people. For livestock, however, farmers are at the social issue behind antibiotic resistance is a much larger possibility of mutation and the One way of describing this process might be that free to spray paddocks and graze livestock and how the social environments we create lead bacteria might acquire a gene from somewhere it is an unstoppable cycle. The products we use simultaneously, creating a very different to antibiotic resistance. else that further increases their resistance,” says in food production and preservation, agriculture environment for those living and working rurally. Professor Heinemann. “I’m not studying human medicine; what I and household products are aimed at protecting Professor Heinemann’s research has moved want to know is why our options for some of our food, along with its longevity, production out of the lab and into the environment. He is the most wonderful chemistries ever invented and environments, but they are in turn building using water samples from the Ōtākaro Avon are running out.” ‘What I want to know the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and River in Hagley Park (urban environment) and reducing their effectiveness. Silver Stream (rural environment) to study and The chemistries behind antibiotics are amazing is why our options compare the antibiotic resistance and adaptation for their relatively low toxicity to people and of E. coli in the two different environments. relatively high toxicity to bacteria. Professor for some of the most Focus on the environment Heinemann believes one of the issues that has The three main ways people are exposed to “Long term, I want to restore the effectiveness of led bacteria to resist antibiotics so rapidly is the wonderful chemistries herbicides are ingestion (such as of food), our antibiotics by understanding the ecology of commercial component of drug manufacture. ever invented are contact (such as with pet fur) and inhalation resistance and how big the problem is. “We allowed these global non-renewable (such as of spray drift). Our environment plays “Step one is to acknowledge we are not going to resources to be turned into market-driven, running out.’ a large part in how we, and our bacteria, are control bacterial resistance simply by controlling private-wealth forces where companies aim to exposed. Ingestion exposure in people is thought antibiotics. What we need is to understand the sell as much of the product as they can during to be relatively low, but can be high in livestock combination of chemicals we are exposed to and pets. If we live on a farm, then we might be the life of the patent.” Preservatives in our food, emulsifiers, surfactants every day in our environment that is increasing exposed to bacteria from the livestock; equally in herbicides and household kitchen cleaners antibiotic resistance.” city dwellers might be exposed to bacteria from are toxic to bacteria. Sub-lethal exposures to Adaptable bacteria pet faeces. these can act like a vaccine to antibiotics. In Bacteria have an incredible ability to change combination, they are generally lifting the which genes they express in different

34 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha By understanding the effects of chemical combinations used in food production, preservation, agriculture and household products on bacteria, Professor Jack Heinemann and Sophie van Professor Heinemann hopes to restore the Hameslveld watch on as Dr Brigitta Kurenbach effectiveness of antibiotics. takes water samples.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 35 Research into society’s ‘meat culture’ reveals an increase in awareness of the consequences of food production and consumption.

Professor Annie Potts

36 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Scrutinising meat culture in Aotearoa New Zealand

More New Zealanders than ever environmental impacts have also been examined recognised that beef production consumes Coupled with these issues comes mounting are switching to plant-based (Dr Alison Loveridge, NZCHAS and Sociology). vastly more water than plant food crops like root research into the health costs of eating meat. In 2016 Professor Potts edited Meat Culture, a vegetables, pulses and grains. A recent article in medical journal The Lancet diets. Researchers at UC’s New book containing contributions from leading “In 2016 I was invited to speak at a public forum reports that “the health-related costs directly Zealand Centre for Human-Animal international scholars. and workshop on interspecies sustainability, attributable to the consumption of red and Studies (NZCHAS) are exploring A PhD programme in Human-Animal Studies, funded by Sydney University. As a result of this processed meat will be US$285 billion in 2020 or 0.3% of worldwide gross GDP”. changing food beliefs and practices established by NZCHAS, is attracting high-calibre workshop, we published an article called ‘A candidates from within Aotearoa New Zealand Sustainable Campus: The Sydney Declaration In her own work, Professor Potts has closely and themes of food justice and and around the world. on Interspecies Sustainability’ in Animal Studies examined ideas and expectations about ‘kiwi sustainability. “I am over the moon, particularly at the Journal,” says Professor Potts. manliness’ and how these create difficulties for enthusiasm of the postgraduate students men who want to move to plant-based diets or ‘Meat culture’ has been an important subject coming through,” says Professor Potts, who is co- who are already vegetarian or vegan. of study at NZCHAS for more than a decade, director of NZCHAS. ‘Consumer preferences “I’m heartened to read in studies that it is involving researchers from UC and associates These students are driving much of the actually young men who are increasingly opting from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. It innovative new research on meat culture. For and awareness of for plant-based diets in contemporary Aotearoa.” is a theme that encompasses food justice example, PhD student Brad Rea is examining In turn, consumer preferences and awareness and sustainability, along with ‘carnism’ (the the consequences of masculinity, primitivism and carnism in of the consequences of food production are ideological assumptions, values and practices futuristic novels, while PhD scholar Kirsty Dunn increasingly creating a need for new products. attached to meat-eating) and its opposite, food production are has won an international award for her research veganism. A 2007 nationwide survey on “High-protein plant-based alternative non-GMO on Māori plant-based food ethics. Political increasingly creating a ethical consumption in Aotearoa New Zealand, [genetically modified organism] meats, such as Science MA student Eilish Espiner is investigating conducted by Professor Annie Potts and Mandala Aotearoa New Zealand’s own Sunfed Chicken- interspecies sustainability and how plant-based need for new products.’ White, first established the theme within free Chicken, will make an impact on those who foods can alleviate global poverty and improve NZCHAS. care about their own health, the environment health, while Marketing PhD scholar Samantha and animals’ wellbeing, but want to continue to It has since produced a number of cultural This article urges universities to actively promote White is researching the consumption and enjoy the taste of meat.” histories on sheep and sheep farming (Professor promotion of meat substitutes. plant-based diets, include interspecies ethics Philip Armstrong, NZCHAS and Cultural as part of social justice commitments and Factors driving research interest on meat culture Studies); chickens and global intensive chicken recognise animal agriculture as a key contributor – and a rapidly increasing demand for plant- farming (Professor Potts, NZCHAS and Cultural to climate change. based meat, dairy and egg substitutes – include Studies); and animal agriculture and the rise of concern about the suffering and slaughter of Social justice and human rights issues are vegetarianism and veganism (which Professors other species farmed for consumption, along undoubtedly driving change too. In the spotlight Potts, Armstrong and Brown explored in their with environmental and sustainability issues. of late, for example, has been Aotearoa New landmark bicultural text, A New Zealand Book According to a 2009 United Nations report, Zealand’s controversial import of phosphate of Beasts: Animals in Our Culture, History and global agribusiness accounts for 18% of the for farm fertiliser from Morocco, taken from Everyday Life). Aotearoa New Zealand's farming world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is also disputed territory in Western Sahara. practices and associated animal welfare and

Editorial. (2018). "We need to talk about meat". The Lancet, 392(10161: 2237). 2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 37 Spreading the load on fisheries through balanced harvesting

A more balanced approach to Law, of the University of York, who was here on “When you target larger fish, it induces of an ecosystem is probably unachievable, a visit at that time. I then became interested in evolutionary pressure that leads to a reduction harvesting fish could slow down but the findings of Professors Plank and Law modelling various scenarios to see what they in the size of that fish species over time. We suggest that seeking a better balance could fisheries-induced evolution and would look like,” says Professor Plank. compared balanced harvesting with current yield more sustainable results in the long term result in other conservation benefits, The two researchers have since worked on a fishing strategies and found that balanced than is currently achieved. The research lays according to collaborative research number of collaborative projects to compare harvesting can mitigate that impact by reducing the groundwork for constructive discussion on the number of large fish being caught,” says from UC’s School of Mathematics the balanced harvesting approach with current fisheries management and how practices could fishing practices and test the respective Professor Plank. potentially change in future. and Statistics. ecosystem impacts. Sources of funding have Since 2015, Professor Plank has held the role of included Te Pūtea Rangahau a Marsden principal investigator with Te Pūnaha Matatini. A sixth-floor office at UC’s Erskine building may Marsden Fund and Te Pūnaha Matatini, a New ‘When you target Hosted by Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki seem a world away from the rolling deck of a Zealand Centre of Research Excellence. Makaurau | University of Auckland, it brings working trawler, yet research that Professor In their latest joint paper, published in the larger fish, it induces together experts from the academic research Michael Plank is undertaking there has journal Fish and Fisheries in June 2018, Professors community, industry and government. As potentially far-reaching implications for how fish Plank and Law focused on fisheries-induced evolutionary pressure principal investigator, Professor Plank is tasked stocks could be managed in the future. evolution. The test method involved coupling that leads to a reduction with steering research projects that build a The mathematical biologist has been studying an ecological model of marine size-spectrum better understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s what would happen if fisheries were managed dynamics to an adaptive dynamics model of life in the size of that fish environment. Linking into his research on using a balanced harvesting approach. history evolution. balanced harvesting, he has also been exploring species over time.’ the evolutionary history of the country’s fish Mathematical models he has tested suggest “The idea that drives this type of modelling is species. that this alternative, balanced approach simple: you are tracking biomass around an would better serve biodiversity than current ecosystem in which there are predators and prey, “I’ve done some work with anthropologists approaches. Balanced harvesting requires a In essence, balanced harvesting would likely through Te Pūnaha Matatini, looking at New big fish and small fish. You can then study the have a lower evolutionary impact because the broad understanding of how species interact consequences of both predation and fishing and Zealand archaeological records on fish that have and how a whole ecosystem functions. Its goal overall distribution of mortality in the fishery been found here and trying to get more of a track the loss of biomass out of the ecosystem would stay relatively close to what would happen is to try to keep a natural balance in that system using different variables,” says Professor Plank. long-term perspective on how fishing activities rather than, for example, fishing for set volumes naturally. have changed over the years.” of target species of a particular size. The research findings indicate that balanced Population dynamics underpin the harvesting would have spin-offs for conservation “The idea of balanced harvesting is to spread the mathematical modelling approach used. While of aquatic ecosystems. It would also lend weight these models are essentially theoretical, the load as widely as possible across the ecosystem to the argument that big, old fish should be … I first began looking into this in 2012 after work is grounded in empirical data on how fish protected for both ecological and evolutionary interact and grow. Perfectly balanced harvesting hearing a talk on the subject by Professor Richard reasons.

38 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Finding a balanced approach to harvesting fish could slow down fisheries-induced evolution and result in conservation benefits.

Professor Michael Plank

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 39 Research into land use in the Mackenzie Basin has led the government to scrap land review and instead to focus on sustainable farming and the protection of landscape values. Dr Ann Brower

40 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Land policy research leads to dramatic law change, protecting over a million hectares

Dr Ann Brower is pleased to see the The tenure review of Te Waipounamu South According to Toitū te whenua | Land Information “The controversial land carve-up of high country carve-up of the high country of Te Island high country is a land reform that has New Zealand, tenure review was “a voluntary stations was only ‘half-heartedly’ protecting been quietly transforming key regions like the process that gives pastoral lessees an landscapes and biodiversity. In fact, the more Waipounamu South Island has been Mackenzie Basin since 1992. The law affected 10% opportunity to buy some of their leasehold land. rare and threatened the ecological values of the halted and that the government of Aotearoa New Zealand's land mass (20% of Te The rest of the land returns to Crown ownership, land, the more likely it was to be freeholded,” will now bring the Land Act 1948 Waipounamu South Island), or one-fifth of the usually for conservation purposes”. Dr Brower says. mainland. into the 21st century to consider “What these maps show is that the land environmental, cultural and “Everything about owning, selling and buying that offered the most biodiversity was being land is controversial. Everything about land is ‘The controversial freeholded and the land that offered the least economic impacts. close to people’s hearts. Plus, it’s 10% of New ecosystem services was more likely to be put Zealand. Anything that affects that much of the land carve-up of high into conservation.” Why did the carve-up of the high country of Te country is a big deal,” says Dr Brower. Dr Brower also notes that while large areas Waipounamu South Island fail to adequately Impacting our agricultural industry prior to the country stations was of land were at least somewhat protected protect land with high ecological value? That is tenure review, the land was primarily used for only ‘half-heartedly’ under tenure review, either by Te Papa Atawhai the question Senior Lecturer Dr Ann Brower of pastoral purposes (extensive sheep farming Department of Conservation management Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College of Science sought dispersed with beef); however, after the land protecting landscapes or through covenants on at least 5%, or 3,033 to answer through her ongoing research on the privatisation in tenure review, the area is now hectares, of private land, many of the region’s high country ‘tenure review’ process in special being used for a variety of interests, including and biodiversity.’ most sensitive and ecologically important areas places like the Mackenzie Basin. Her work is grape growing for wine production, deer were being sold to private entities with little highly regarded in Aotearoa New Zealand. ranching, residential subdivisions and golf oversight. However, Dr Brower believes this process was not In 2018, Dr Brower was awarded the Critic & courses. The change in ownership has reduced Update: The coalition government announced Conscience of Society Award, which aims to the availability of agricultural land in the being properly followed in the Mackenzie, home to famed sites like Lakes Tekapo and Pūkaki and on 14 February 2019 that it is scrapping tenure encourage the academic staff at Aotearoa New Mackenzie. review altogether, and that new management Zealand universities to provide the public with The Dark Sky Reserve. Her research found that According to Dr Brower, these shifts in some of improper application of the law was having of Crown-owned pastoral land will be developed independent, expert commentary on issues Aotearoa New Zealand’s key food industries have focusing more on sustainable farming and the affecting the community and future generations. a dramatic impact on one of Aotearoa New had negative consequences for the agricultural Zealand’s most renowned parts of the country. protection of those landscape values that remain The award recognised Brower’s work with industry. in the high country. the previous government for evidence-based In a research paper, Dr Brower and John Page of “Where you once saw sprawling lands of sheep UC prepares and exhorts our students to reforms of the Building Act, culminating in the Australia’s Southern Cross University reported pasture, mixed in with some cow, now you ‘Change the World’. Through her contributions ministerially titled ‘Brower Amendment’ to the their findings that under the tenure review see irrigators and residential subdivisions. So to the Land Act and the Building Act, this UC Building Act 2016. Though the new government’s process, important landscapes and threatened the Mackenzie and its landscapes have been environmental scientist is teaching by example. announced changes to the Land Act will not habitat went into private ownership, often with profoundly shaped by land ownership and that be named after Brower, her research has been limited protection. will have food implications for New Zealand for a central in the government’s stated reasons for long time,” says Dr Brower. changing the law.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 41 Scion assists innovative biosecurity and biodiversity research

UC doctoral student Carol Bedoya Biosecurity collaboration “Until now, there has been very limited activity “Bioacoustics is an interdisciplinary area in the area of acoustic insect detection in New involving several seemingly unconnected topics Of particular interest to Hīkina Whakatutuki is helping advance new concepts Zealand and no previous research has addressed such as animal behaviour, signal processing, Ministry of Business, Innovation and and tools aimed at protecting and the use of acoustic detection for pathway risk zoology and acoustics, therefore having a Employment (MBIE) has been the facilitation of management in the border biosecurity context,” supervisory team from different disciplines preserving Aotearoa New Zealand’s mutual research interests identified between says Mr Bedoya. has been immensely beneficial to my research. precious natural environment, with Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States The advice I have received from their different Department of Homeland Security. Detection support from Scion. perspectives outside my area of expertise has of unwanted insect species is an area of undeniably made me a better scientist and mutual interest. Doctoral student in Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora ‘Until now, there has improved the quality of my research. I could not School of Biological Sciences, Carol Bedoya is “We structured Carol’s project so it would be been very limited have asked for a better supervisory team,” Mr receiving scholarship assistance through Scion of particular benefit to biosecurity agencies Bedoya says. to conduct research into insect detection at and researchers in New Zealand by identifying activity in the area of our borders. potentially invasive insect species in the US Close connection yields that we didn’t want coming here,” says Dr acoustic insect detection A Crown Research Institute (CRI), Scion outstanding results specialises in research, science and technology Eckehard Brockerhoff, who is a forest ecologist in New Zealand.’ The close connection between Scion and UC goes development for the forestry and wood sectors. and entomologist with Scion and an Adjunct back many years. Until recently, Scion was co- It has worked closely with UC to support Associate Professor at UC’s Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences. located with the University and shared a building valuable doctorate research for over 20 years. Mr Bedoya is co-supervised by animal behaviour Originally from Colombia, Mr Bedoya studied with Te Kura Ngahere | School of Forestry. and physiology expert, Associate Professor electronic engineering before completing “Our collaboration with the University of Listening for unwanted insects Ximena Nelson from Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora a Master’s degree in signal processing and Canterbury gives us the ability to think a little School of Biological Sciences, and electrical and Mr Bedoya is investigating proof-of-concept bioacoustics. He has travelled to the US several more broadly and go beyond the more applied computer engineer Associate Professor Michael tools for acoustic detection to stop unwanted times for his doctorate project, working research context. What Carol is doing is not well Hayes, from Te Rāngai Pūkaha | College of pest insects entering Aotearoa New Zealand. collaboratively with researchers from the US developed in New Zealand. He is the perfect Engineering. Effective acoustic tools could make it easier to Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service, person to do this research as he had worked detect insect infestations hiding inside cargo and Northern Arizona University. in a similar area for his Master’s. He has been containers or timber shipments in future. Much of the research has involved studying the outstanding and has achieved much more than behaviour of tiny bark beetles inside trees and we could have ever wished for,” says honing prototype acoustic detection methods. Dr Brockerhoff.

42 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Research on biosecurity and ecosystem services can protect and preserve natural environments.

Doctoral student Carol Bedoya

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 43 Better understanding of how groundwater seepage affects Te Waihora is crucial to helping organisations working to improve the lake’s water quality.

Doctoral student Katie Coluccio

44 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Analysing groundwater seepage into Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere

Better understanding of how Improving water quality A biodiversity hotspot, the brackish lagoon ‘Broadly, I hope my supports an abundance of fish species and rare groundwater seepage affects Te Many organisations are involved in the complex waterfowl. It is also a key migratory stopping work will help us better task of improving the lake's water quality and Waihora Lake Ellesmere is crucial to point for many of the region’s birds. understand these types of helping organisations working to Ms Coluccio's research could provide them with many insights they could use in this work. “Broadly, I hope my work will help us better coastal features, as well improve the lake’s water quality. understand these types of coastal features, as “Is it shallow groundwater? Is it deep well as similar coastal lagoons internationally. as similar coastal lagoons groundwater? Deeper groundwater suggests Because of their unique makeup, they tend Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere is a coastal lagoon that it is older, while shallower indicates younger internationally.’ to have a significant degree of ecological and in Waitaha Canterbury with significant cultural, groundwater, which may indicate poorer water cultural importance, including their role as an ecological, social, recreational and economic quality due to adverse effects of land use, such important local food source,” says Ms Coluccio. values. However, over the past several decades, as higher nitrate levels,” says Ms Coluccio. “This will give me a broad idea of what is water quality in the lagoon has seriously Eight months through the project, the PhD “Understanding where groundwater comes from happening across the lake, and then I can declined. candidate is looking forward to executing the can help us locate the source and figure out if hone in on the spots of interest and do further initial stages of her data collection in 2019, Doctoral student Katie Coluccio of Te Rāngai we need to better protect that source and better analysis by calculating the amount of seepage using a small plane to gather thermal and Pūtaiao | College of Science is investigating address any pollution that may be occurring across the lake, while analysing water quality multispectral imaging, as well as mapping groundwater seeping into the lakebed of Te there.” such as nitrate levels in the groundwater.” the chemistry (such as salinity, temperature Waihora in an effort to determine how much Te Kaunihera Taiao ki Waitaha | Environment The lake has long served as a key food source and radon concentrations) of the lake by boat. groundwater is entering the lake, where the Canterbury (ECan) and the New Zealand for local iwi Ngāi Tahu, and it remains central to These data will help her locate places where water is coming from and how its chemistry Hydrological Society are providing funding affects water quality in the lake. many of the rūnanga of the area as a place of groundwater is entering the lakebed. cultural significance. The traditional name for the support for the project. In addition, Ms Coluccio “Ideally, the thermal imaging will reveal the cold It has been nearly 30 years since extensive lake was Te Kete Ika a Rākaihautū, meaning ‘food is supported in her PhD research by a Te Rāngai patches where groundwater is coming in, which research was conducted on this component basket of Rākaihautū’. Pūtaiao | College of Science Doctoral Scholarship. of the lake’s water balance, which makes Ms will help me determine where in the lake I need She is working with a team of supervisors: Coluccio’s work that much more important. Today, Te Waihora is used for commercial and to collect samples,” says Ms Coluccio. Dr Leanne Morgan from the Waterways Centre recreational fishing, while the surrounds are “For the survey by boat, I will measure specific at UC, Dr Marwan Katurji from the Geography “There has only been a limited amount of work popular for recreational hunting, tramping and parameters that are often used to differentiate Department at UC and Dr Fouad Alkhaier done on this issue and that was in the early biking. nineties, but this is critically important to how between ground and surface water in places at ECan. the lake is managed and for understanding some Te Waihora, while referred to as a lake, is actually where they mix. For example, radon is present “A lot of effort is being made by many different of the lake’s water quality issues,” Ms Coluccio a shallow coastal lagoon. Situated one hour’s at some level in nearly all groundwater, but groups to improve the state of the lake. I hope explains. drive south of Ōtautahi Christchurch, it is once it is exposed to air (such as in a lake), the my research feeds better understanding and Aotearoa New Zealand’s fifth largest ‘lake’ (by radon levels quickly drop. That difference in improved management of this important and area only). concentrations can help me determine where unique coastal feature.” groundwater is entering the lake.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 45 Community capacity – searching for hope in Mataura

Changes in food production have really interesting opportunity to see the effect survey results from people living in similar- retirement or unemployment for most of the economic setbacks had on that community sized towns. We wanted to know whether the self-described ‘Muttonheads’ who worked on the been shown to affect community capacity,” Dr Lovell says. changes in community capacity we were seeing mutton-chain and participated in the qualitative capacity in the small town of in Mataura were isolated to this town.” aspect of Dr Lovell’s study. Mataura, Aotearoa New Zealand. Community capacity Studying the experience of community members These workers narrated a life structured around Community capacity building is grounded in the as Mataura transformed economically from a shift work that provided them with a sense In the late eighties and early nineties, food belief that the skills, resources and networks of dynamic manufacturing economy to become of purpose, routine and social connection. production in Aotearoa New Zealand began a community will enable members to identify dependent on nearby towns for employment has Biographical interviews highlighted the personal to change. As dairy farming emerged and the and act on problems independently. Towns with yielded some fascinating insights on economic implications of economic decline as jobs were economy became increasingly dependent on strong community capacity are believed to be decline and its direct impact on the short-term lost, social networks were eroded and a once- it, people began shifting away from traditional more resilient in the face of setbacks. resilience of the community. vibrant main street was replaced with empty sheep farming. Fewer sheep were being sent “There is this belief that community capacity storefronts. to the slaughterhouse and, consequently, is somewhat separate to economic setbacks; “Our findings from Mataura suggest that a small mutton-chains began to close, affecting rural however, we very much disproved that theory, at town’s perceptions of community capacity may communities. ‘Our findings from least in the short term,” Dr Lovell says. be much more sensitive to economic change Nestled in lower Te Waipounamu South Island, Mataura suggest that a This is not all a bad news story for Mataura. than previously recognised,” Dr Lovell says. Mataura is a small town of approximately 1,500 Despite its economic challenges, the town “Competition from offshore is driving change residents. When the mutton-chain at the local small town’s perceptions was boosted by government funding for in food production and manufacturing. This freezing works, a refrigerated slaughterhouse a community development worker, local research clearly shows we need to think about where meat is processed, was shut down, 225 of community capacity governance was supported by the establishment the impact these industries have on community workers’ jobs were affected. may be much more of a community board, and the rejuvenated capacity, especially in rural towns, and what this For health researcher Dr Sarah Lovell, a senior marae was a social hub. These social change might mean for its residents.” lecturer in Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora | College sensitive to change than development initiatives did not protect the town Dr Lovell is planning to go back to Mataura in of Education, Health and Human Development, from further industry withdrawal but they did 2019 to reassess the five-year impact of this shift the changes created a rare opportunity. It was previously recognised.’ enable a strategy to minimise the social impact in food production and analyse whether the her chance to observe the impact on local on the town. short-term effects she observed will have long- residents of removing an industry that had been “Our findings suggest that towns recovering term consequences for Mataura. a major employer and contributor to the local “When people are well connected and can use from economic setbacks may require additional economy for decades. their own resources, they can solve all sorts of outside support and that reductions in problems without relying on government or “We were interested in how community capacity community capacity may have a personal cost other sources,” Dr Lovell says. was affected over time. We were already in the for affected residents.” area, and then to find out that the freezing “We surveyed randomly identified people from The closure of sheep processing facilities at the works were about to downsize, it created a the town and compared these findings with Mataura freezing works led to job transfers,

46 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Observation of major shifts in food production are shown to have a profound impact on community capacity.

Dr Sarah Lovell

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 47 Experimental reef structures are being used as part of a long-term study that will assess the growth, survival and sustainability of pāua fishing in Kaikōura. Distinguished Professor David Schiel Photo supplied by Distinguished Professor Schiel

48 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Studying pāua production on the earthquake coast

The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake they reach a stage where they cannot recover,” After two years of coastal surveys conducted hatchery juveniles. A long-term study will assess greatly disrupted marine habitats, explains Distinguished Professor Schiel. by Shawn Gerrity and Tommaso Alestra, growth and survival. Distinguished Professor Schiel is pleased with resulting in mass mortality and During such a massive disruption, pāua can “Juvenile pāua live under small rocks in very be affected in many ways, ranging from being the results and believes the juveniles are not shallow water for up to three years, when they habitat loss of valuable and quickly killed by heat stress or burial from cliff suffering from sub-lethal effects. However, some reach about 90 millimetres in total length, and culturally significant pāua. falls, to sub-lethal effects such as compromised unanswered questions remain. then they wander out and move offshore to live reproduction. “We’ve had two good recruitment years, but we in open habitats as adults. Early indications are In November 2016, 130 kilometres of productive “Two problems were that many adult and haven’t yet been able to determine what that that both wild and hatchery-reared pāua are coastline of Te Waipounamu South Island juvenile pāua died from massive landslips along means for the fishery. We haven’t fully quantified growing and surviving well, but time will tell how was propelled upwards by a 7.8 magnitude the coastline, and their rocky habitats were how much juvenile habitat remains or has been this will eventually translate into a sustainable earthquake. The shoreline was lifted up to six buried in many places during the earthquake and replaced by new habitat. We are attempting that fishery,” says Distinguished Professor Schiel. metres within two minutes and many marine in subsequent rain events that washed sediment now with more field sampling, aided by drone These surveys and experiments are no easy task. habitats and resident organisms were left high into the coastal zone. imagery.” The team waded through the shallow ocean for and dry. “In one region, 24% of the habitat for weeks assessing habitats, and they individually Tidal zones and rocky habitats were commercially fished pāua populations was tagged thousands of small pāua. He heaped redistributed, and the marine life that survived destroyed.” praise on his team members for their diligent ‘In one region, 24% efforts. was pushed upwards into a different light and Distinguished Professor Schiel’s team focused wave environment. One prominent casualty on the recruitment stage – the time when pāua of the habitat for Pāua fishing has still not been reopened in was the region’s pāua, which died in their larvae settle from the plankton into shallow- Kaikōura. Distinguished Professor Schiel hopes thousands after they were left exposed. Cultural, water habitats. These juveniles will enter the commercially fished his team’s research will help policy makers recreational and commercial fisheries for pāua ‘fishable’ population in about six years. reach informed decisions about how to manage were subsequently closed, at a high financial pāua populations was the region’s stressed pāua populations. This “We did extensive surveys for juvenile habitats, cost to the Kaikōura district. research has also been of great interest to local what was in them, what remained. We were destroyed.’ communities along the coast, especially around Marine ecologist Distinguished Professor particularly interested in seeing if any juvenile Kaikōura where the University has a long- David Schiel and his team in Te Rāngai Pūtaiao pāua were produced in the years following the College of Science are studying the effects of the standing commitment to marine research. earthquake and how the event might affect the The team is also working to compare growth and Kaikōura earthquake and recovery of the marine future fishery,” Distinguished Professor Schiel survival of wild juvenile pāua with those grown “One of my primary goals is to be able to provide ecosystem, including the pāua population. says. in land-based hatcheries and then outplanted to communities and management agencies with the data and knowledge to make the best “Pāua can withstand some emersion at low “We found peak recruitment of juveniles in May the coast, a common practice of Aotearoa New decisions for the sustainable use and governance tide but must have water lapping over them. through July of 2017 and 2018, which we knew Zealand’s pāua industry. They don’t have the biochemical mechanisms of the area’s marine ecosystems and wildlife.” must have come from spawning events after the Experimental reef structures were installed in that allow them to compensate for severe heat earthquake, so it appeared that recruitment was key locations to provide optimal habitat for and dehydration, so when they are stranded not compromised, at least in remaining juvenile wild pāua, and used as platforms for seeding of habitat.”

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 49 Exploring the offshore extent of groundwater in Ōtautahi Christchurch

How far do the groundwater aquifers increasingly dense human occupation of Dr Morgan’s research aims to explore knowledge ‘Despite widespread of Ōtautahi Christchurch extend coastal zones, climate change and excessive gaps surrounding Ōtautahi Christchurch’s groundwater pumping are causing what is coastal aquifers. offshore beneath the sea? UC potential for offshore termed a ‘coastal groundwater squeeze’, whereby “We know the groundwater quality is generally researchers are on a mission to groundwater is threatened from onshore very good in deeper aquifers below Christchurch fresh groundwater, find out how sustainable our contamination, as well as seawater intrusion. city, but will this continue to be the case in coastal groundwater freshwater is. Seawater intrusion is the inland encroachment the context of climate change and increasing of seawater into fresh coastal aquifers. It is most groundwater extraction?” investigations are commonly caused by excessive groundwater Dr Leanne Morgan of Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College As part of the research, Mr Rosado will pumping and is one of the world’s leading traditionally based on of Science and doctorate candidate Carlos drag a probe along the seabed off Ōtautahi causes of groundwater contamination. Rosado are working to answer this question Christchurch, measuring several parameters the availability of fresh about the unique Ōtautahi Christchurch water A recent publication by Dr Morgan and in the water, including electrical conductivity, system. From there, they can determine what colleagues from Flinders University has shown temperature and depth. groundwater landward their findings mean for the freshwater supply in that at many locations globally, offshore fresh Mr Rosado’s goal is to develop a big picture of of the shoreline.’ Ōtautahi Christchurch and other coastal cities groundwater is increasing coastal groundwater the system. around the world that have access to offshore extraction. That is, fresh groundwater being “The aim of the survey is to try to detect fresh groundwater. extracted from onshore wells is actually being drawn in from aquifers beneath the sea, often freshwater springs in the seabed. If groundwater “In order for us to secure a sustainable water without people realising this. At these locations, discharge is detected offshore, this can give source for years to come, we need to know offshore aquifers are delaying the impacts of us some indication of where the saltwater– how far offshore fresh groundwater in the seawater intrusion, but for how long? Ōtautahi freshwater interface is located to build a picture Christchurch aquifers extends,” Dr Morgan says. Christchurch was highlighted as one of the of the system,” Mr Rosado says. The region’s current drinking water source is locations where this might be occurring. As senior lecturer in groundwater at UC, groundwater, pumped by more than 150 wells “Despite widespread potential for offshore fresh Dr Morgan has been researching and teaching across the city. The area relies completely on groundwater, coastal groundwater investigations in the areas of coast hydrogeology, groundwater this resource not only for drinking, but for all are traditionally based on the availability of fresh modelling, groundwater – surface water other daily water uses, and it also feeds surface groundwater landward of the shoreline. The interaction and water resources management for waterways throughout the city. contribution of offshore groundwater to onshore over eight years. Coastal aquifers are an important source of pumping and regional-scale water budgets is freshwater in Ōtautahi Christchurch, as in many rarely considered,” Dr Morgan says. other locations around the world. However,

50 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha The amount of water in Ōtautahi Christchurch’s extensive groundwater aquifers is unknown. The answer is key to understanding the future of freshwater sustainability Dr Leanne Morgan and doctoral in the region. candidate Carlos Rosado

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 51 Professor Keith Alexander is part of a team researching ways to keep Aotearoa New Zealand at the forefront of shellfish farming and ensure shellfish supply into the future. Doctoral student Sam Godsiff (left) and Professor Keith Alexander

52 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Leading the world in shellfish farming innovation

Aotearoa New Zealand is a world droppers, or ropes, into the water. For mussel floating around for a while. But then how do you But with these challenges comes opportunity. leader in shellfish farming and farming, the droppers are seeded with spat (baby access them for maintenance and harvesting? Cawthron Institute, with the help of Professor mussels), which are then on-grown to harvest. How do you know if the spat ropes below the Alexander and his team, could discover Professor Keith Alexander is part of Other types of shellfish such as oysters are also surface are getting overloaded? Then, what do a technology and process that are more a team researching ways to keep the farmed using mesh bags or trays. you do about it?” economical than the current way of growing country at the forefront. The challenge is that consented inshore One of the key issues is the ability to monitor the and harvesting mussels and shellfish, therefore sheltered water for farming is very difficult to farms to ensure they are not being overloaded ensuring the security of seafood supply in future. Mussel and shellfish farming is a billion-dollar get, yet the world’s seafood demand continues and that farmers don’t miss the optimal window Professor Alexander believes modern information industry and is crucial to meeting the world’s to increase. Finding innovative ways to facilitate for harvesting. With the new system being and technology can revolutionise shellfish food demand in the 21st century. It is also an efficient and sustainable aquaculture in the open offshore, and potentially below the surface, farming by making it more efficient. important part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ocean is therefore becoming an ever-growing finding an efficient method for keeping tabs on UC PhD student Sam Godsiff has been integral to history and, more importantly, its future. need. the farming system is more difficult. the project because of his family history. He grew This is why Professor Keith Alexander in Te Rāngai Professor Alexander says harvesting offshore also up farming mussels in Aotearoa New Zealand Pūkaha | College of Engineering and PhD student presents a number of specific challenges. with his father and has provided crucial insight Sam Godsiff are working with Cawthron Institute “These include boat traffic and larger waves, ‘Modern information into the intricacies of the current process. to study methods to improve the efficiency of which might cause the mussels to get knocked “He brings a lot of background and hands-on mussel and other shellfish farming in the open off the dropper ropes because of the greater and technology can experience to the table that some of us don’t ocean. movement of the buoys at the water surface. So, revolutionise shellfish have,” says Professor Alexander. Cawthron Institute is Aotearoa New Zealand’s the big issue is, if you are going to farm shellfish The team at UC is an integral part of the largest independent science organisation out in the ocean, how can you do it efficiently farming by making it Cawthron-led project, which also includes specialising in aquaculture, biosecurity, marine, and sustainably?” scientists based offshore. There is significant freshwater and analytical research. Cawthron While the team is not at liberty to discuss some more efficient.’ international interest from Europe, the United is leading the programme, headed by Kevin of the solutions it is looking into, Professor States of America and China, as this new Heasman and funded by the Hīkina Whakatutuki Alexander says there are a variety of ways to “If you are harvesting offshore, the system is technology could also facilitate their own Ministry of Business, Innovation and improve on the current high-maintenance obviously not close by, so you would have to production of species. Some of the team Employment, to advance open ocean shellfish technology, which is primarily surface-based but take a boat out to the farm, but it can’t be just designs that Professor Alexander and Mr Godsiff aquaculture. static. any boat. It would have to be a fairly large boat contributed to are now in the process of being For centuries, people around the world have “The project team are asking questions like, ‘Can and one with the capability to travel 8 to 15 produced for trials. farmed mussels and shellfish in sheltered sites you put the farming systems below the surface?’ kilometres offshore in conditions that can be inshore, using long lines anchored to the seabed This is one of the main ideas that has been pretty rough,” says Professor Alexander. and kept afloat by a series of buoys that dangle

Dr Leanne Morgan and doctoral candidate Carlos Rosado

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 53 Exploring the holistic benefits of urban farming

Farming and gardening projects “What excited us was how they were combining Investment (CEROI) with colleagues, which the a collaborative way with the organisation’s are taking root in cities around mental health and social work by being there team decided to adapt, develop and apply with founders. The project fieldwork included three alongside young people, working with their Cultivate as an action research project. workshops for Cultivate staff, interns, and urban the world, as urban communities hands, in a way that allowed youth to open up “Our project focused on the social and designers and planners respectively, led by increasingly pursue sustainable and talk about their problems without having to environmental benefits associated with working different project members according to their food production goals. In Ōtautahi sit in a counsellor’s office,” says Dr Dombroski. outdoors and in caring teams of people … What expertise. The team is now working on a final report. Christchurch, UC geographer Dr Kelly “It was great that one of the social workers was came out of this was how caring for people also a trained chef who could take vegetables in this context arose through experiences of “We want our research to be useful to Cultivate, Dombroski has been co-leading from the field and cook them up for lunch. He growing food, eating food and learning about so plan to turn our final report into a video that a qualitative study of urban farm said some of the young people had hardly ever food. You cannot put a dollar value on that kind can be shared via social media,” says enterprise Cultivate. It turns out eaten vegetables before, so we could see there of return on investment,” says Dr Dombroski. Dr Dombroski. that growing fresh produce in the were these wider educational and nutritional Interestingly, the project has highlighted the benefits going on too.” city can also help transform young difficulties of trying to use CEROI as a ‘one Clearly, Cultivate was creating an impact beyond size fits all’ assessment tool. Instead, the people’s lives. the obvious gains one might expect from an ‘What came out of research team ended up developing an adaptive enterprise committed to turning green waste this was how caring methodology that other organisations could Post-quake Ōtautahi Christchurch has presented into fresh produce. potentially apply to create their own CEROI tool. a landscape marked by both challenge and In 2017, the two researchers secured funding for people in this The next step is to seek funding to test change. The impact of having so many vacant through National Science Challenge 11, ‘Building this methodology in a variety of different sites in the city after buildings were demolished Better Homes, Towns and Cities’, for a 12-month context arose through organisations in Ōtautahi Christchurch and was counteracted by an upsurge in innovative project on Cultivate’s transformative influence. beyond. The ultimate goal is to create a toolkit uses being found for these areas, with some experiences of growing Also collaborating on the project as associate that organisations can then use for conducting private land turned into temporary ‘commons’. investigators were UC Associate Professor food, eating food and their own qualitative assessments. While investigating this transitional shift in city David Conradson and Dr Stephen Healy, of learning about food.’ Doctors Dombroski, Diprose and Healy are land use, UC Senior Lecturer Dr Dombroski and the University of Western Sydney. UC PhD members of the Community Economies Wellington-based researcher Dr Gradon Diprose graduate Dr Alison Watkins worked as research Collective, regularly collaborating in action came across the work of Cultivate and were assistant for the project, which got under way in research work that seeks to bring about more The project methodology used was both immediately impressed with what they saw. They November 2017. sustainable and equitable forms of development, found the surplus that Cultivate’s urban farm practical and observational. Dr Dombroski joined The research challenge was to come up with based on new thinking about economies activity generated was being used to support the gardening roster at Cultivate for a semester a way of mapping all the various social and and politics. social workers and to accommodate youth to contribute to the farm, observe it working and environmental outcomes of Cultivate’s activities. interns, so as to care for young people’s mental get to know people there. Interview questions Dr Healy had proposed a qualitative assessment health and wellbeing. for staff and interns were then developed in tool called the Community Economies Return on

54 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha The growing of fresh sustainable produce in urban communities is helping to transform young people’s lives at the same time.

Dr Kelly Dombroski and some of the Cultivate team

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 55 Advanced spray technology will reduce the volume of pesticide used by half on crops by controlling optimal coverage. Dr Scott Post of Lincoln Agritech (left) and UC Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Paul Gaynor.

56 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Waitaha Canterbury researchers join forces on electrostatically enhanced agricultural spray

New research by a team of Waitaha “The addition of electrostatic charge enables us UC’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) ‘The goal is to reduce Canterbury scientists and engineers to do some really dynamic spray direction and and Mechanical Engineering (ME) departments deposit control,” says Associate Professor Gaynor. provided resources and expertise for controller aims to reduce the use of pesticides the amount of pesticides “We will develop a control system that solves design, electrical measurements and by harnessing electrostatic the inverse problem of how to change the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations used by at least 50%, technology to deliver agricultural initial conditions of the drops generated in an of charged spray-drop trajectories in electric with an associated sprays more accurately. electrostatic spray to provide close to complete fields. UC’s Te Kura Matū | School of Physics coverage of the target surfaces.” and Chemical Sciences provided measurements decrease in off-target of the electrical properties of plants, as well Aotearoa New Zealand will see many benefits, The vision is to develop equipment that as invaluable insights into the functioning of including new export revenues through sales pesticide losses to soil, automatically adapts to varying plant distances complex systems. Lincoln Agritech provided of equipment based on the technology and and leaf distributions, and electrostatically access to Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki | Lincoln water and air providing savings to growers in lower chemical costs, charges drops to enhance deposition on fruit University’s vineyard and greenhouse, experience along with reduced crop losses due to pests. and leaves, resulting in better coverage of fruit with agricultural spraying, additional spray environmental benefit Additional economic benefits will grow as the with less polluting spray drift. analysis techniques, and connections with technology is adapted to a wider range of crops, to the country.’ “In this project we are developing the science horticulture and viticulture industries in the researchers say. Their goal is to reduce the required to create a smart, electrostatically Aotearoa New Zealand. amount of pesticides used by at least 50%, enhanced agricultural sprayer that can sense the with an associated decrease in off-target “We have had several UC students working on crop canopy location and apply agrichemicals to pesticide losses to soil, water and air providing this project, including postgraduates in both achieve near-optimal coverage, while minimising environmental benefit to the country. ECE and ME, a final-year project team that chemical wastage and loss to the environment,” included students from ECE, ME and Physics, says Associate Professor Paul Gaynor of Te Rāngai and a summer student from Mechatronics Pūkaha | College of Engineering. Researchers share Engineering who worked at Lincoln Agritech over Part of the National Science Challenge ‘Science expertise and resources the summer,” Dr Post says. for Technological Innovation’, this project The research team, made up of people working “The geographical proximity of the two focuses on sprayers for high-value row crops – in several disciplines, including a range of UC institutions has also been of benefit, as we such as potatoes, grapes, apples and kiwifruit experts and students, is led by Dr Scott Post of are able to take equipment developed in the – in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. They Lincoln Agritech (Lincoln Agritech Ltd is a wholly engineering workshops at UC over to Lincoln offer broader applications in spraying paints and owned subsidiary of Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Agritech for field testing, and back to UC for coatings, as well as active coatings in a wide Lincoln University). Dr Post says the different UC further refinement easily.” range of industrial sectors. departments and the Precision Agriculture group at Lincoln Agritech have had “great synergy” on this project.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 57 World-leading electrical engineer receives UC Research Medal 2018

For his industry-leading contribution A world of possibility aggregates implicated in neurodegenerative ‘I was interested in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. to the development of new theory After finishing near the top of his class at Wellington College, Professor Millane went on to mathematics and and computational algorithms for Making a global impact imaging structures of biological UC where he earned his BE (Electrical) (First Class physics when all of a Hons) in 1975 and received his PhD in Electrical As a world-class academic, researcher and UC macromolecules using x-ray Engineering in 1981. graduate, Professor Millane has showcased sudden, I realised you diffraction, Professor Rick Millane His initial attraction to engineering, he believes, the University on the global stage. His work could use mathematics has been awarded the 2018 UC was born from its almost limitless potential. at Purdue University in the United States of America, where he worked for 20 years Research Medal. “I was interested in mathematics and physics completing foundation work in x-ray fibre to describe the world.’ when all of a sudden, I realised you could use diffraction analysis and phase retrieval, From UC’s Department of Electrical and mathematics to describe the world.” was supported by the US National Science Computer Engineering within Te Rāngai Pūkaha Over the past three decades Professor Millane Foundation. He continued to build on this work He is a Fellow of the Optical Society, the College of Engineering, Professor Rick Millane is has been instrumental in developing new theory following his return to UC, resulting in three International Society for Optics and Photonics recognised as a global leader in the development and computational algorithms for imaging the Marsden grants and a James Cook Research and Engineering New Zealand. of methods for macromolecular imaging for structures of biological macromolecules using Fellowship. Professor Millane is leading a highly regarded structural biology. x-ray diffraction. Professor Millane was also awarded the Royal UC research group in computational imaging, Chair of the selection committee, Tumu Tuarua His important contributions in his field of Society of New Zealand TK Sidey Medal in 2016 and has directed 21 doctoral students and 12 Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Wright, research include an influential paper that for his “wide ranging and fundamental work in postdoctoral fellows. who awarded the medal at the Chancellor’s connected phase problems in crystallography x-ray diffraction imaging, diffraction theory, and The UC Research Medal is awarded by Te Dinner last November, says Professor Millane is and optics. The paper recognised the potential optical diffusion imaging, and their application Kaunihera o Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha broadly recognised as an outstanding researcher, of these connections, before the technology had in biology and medicine”. University Council for excellence demonstrated educator and educational leader. been developed. Although published in 1990, In 2017 Professor Millane was elected a Fellow through a sustained record of research of “His skills are diverse and his work is the paper continues to be highly cited by other of Te Apārangi | Royal Society, which recognised the highest quality or through research of interdisciplinary – in addition to his work researchers and academics. his international distinction in research and outstanding merit produced over a more limited in biomolecular imaging, he has applied his skills Professor Millane’s work has had particular scholarship for advancing science, technology timeframe. in image reconstruction and diffraction theory impact in the application of new x-ray, free- and the humanities. Te Tumu Kaunihera | Chancellor Dr John Wood to medical imaging (optical diffusion imaging electron lasers to study the structures of Earlier that same year Professor Millane, believes Professor Millane is a fitting recipient. and magnetic resonance imaging), diffraction biological molecules. Structural biologists alongside a team of international colleagues, by disordered and geometrically frustrated “Professor Millane is an internationally acclaimed use his methods to help understand disease received a three-year grant worth NZ$2 million materials, image analysis problems in biology, researcher whose work has had a wide impact, processes and for drug design. His most recent from the Human Frontier Science Program to vision science, geology and atmospheric science, and of whom the University can be proud, both work contributed toward our understanding of develop a novel method for imaging individual and aspects of visual perception.” as an academic and a graduate of UC.” the structures of amyloids, the misfolded protein biomolecules with atomic resolution.

58 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Professor Millane’s work has had particular impact in the application of new x-ray, free-electron lasers to study the structures of biological molecules. Structural biologists use his methods to help understand disease processes and for drug design. Professor Rick Millane

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 59 The development of 3D colour x-ray spectrum technology will revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and heart disease, because it provides far more detailed information about the body’s chemical components. Professor Phil Butler

60 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Internationally respected Physics professor awarded 2018 UC Innovation Medal

Medical and Theoretical Physics For a time at Medical Laser Developments Ltd, Producing images with significantly improved ‘An invention doesn’t Professor Phil Butler, in Te Rāngai Professor Butler was its CEO and a director. diagnostic information, the MARS scanner also The company’s commercialisation of the measures the x-ray spectrum to produce colour stop at the completion Pūtaiao | College of Science, received laser treatment technology for treating images instead of black-and-white, and shows the 2018 UC Innovation Medal in haemangiomas (port-wine stains) is an different components of body parts such as of a research paper; you recognition of his standing as a achievement he is particularly proud of. fat, water, calcium, and disease markers. With features such as these, it is widely considered to have got to take it to the world leader in the development “When the opportunity to work with the laser treatment of port-wine stains arose, I thought be a breakthrough in x-ray imaging. people so the invention and commercialisation of medical it looked like an interesting problem I would The scanner has the potential to revolutionise imaging and laser-based medical be able to apply some physics and math to, medical imaging both locally and globally, can be used.’ treatment. especially in ensuring the right pulse length of particularly in diagnosing and treating cancer the laser,” he explains. and heart disease, because it provides far more The UC Innovation Medal is awarded by Te In addition to treating more than 2,000 patients detailed information about the body’s chemical Kaunihera o Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha affected by port-wine stains, the technology has components. The key difference? The ability to UC Council for the proactive transformation been on-sold to medical professionals, ensuring distinguish among the various features of the of academic knowledge and ideas into a the treatment will remain available to a wider images it captures. commercial product or system that is adopted pool of patients for years to come. The full capability of this innovation is still being by the wider community. It is the highest award After founding MARS Bioimaging Ltd in 2007, discovered as clinicians gain access to the new the University can bestow on an outstanding Professor Butler became its CEO and board imaging technology, but the team is confident innovator. chair. The company is currently selling the first that the MARS scanner will have profound Professor Butler has spent a large part of his commercial, pre-clinical, spectral computed impacts on medical imaging. The addition of adult life on the UC campus, beginning as an tomography (CT) scanners developed for colour and CT allows for the identification of undergraduate student before progressing to biomedical research to the United States of molecular (biochemical) information, as well as postgraduate, master’s and doctoral studies. He America and Europe, with clinical trials under anatomic information in a single scan. believes strongly in the research and innovation way in Ōtautahi Christchurch. “Three hundred million CTs are taken per year originating from the Waitaha Canterbury region. “An invention doesn’t stop at the completion of currently – that’s roughly 300 million people that Since graduating, Professor Butler has been a research paper; you have got to take it to the could be affected by what our MARS team are teaching the next generation of physicists and people so the invention can be used,” Professor doing,” Professor Butler says. innovators, and has accumulated over 800 Butler says. “One of the things I’ve always enjoyed is research publications. He has also founded three The MARS scanner is one of Professor Butler’s solving problems and, while it may sound not-for-profit businesses and two commercial more recent innovations, developed in counterintuitive, knowing there are problems to companies, Medical Laser Developments Ltd and collaboration with his son, Professor solve is something that continues to inspire me.” MARS Bioimaging Ltd. Anthony Butler.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 61 $4 million to study space junk, lava, glaciers and quake stories

Several UC academics were awarded maintenance of treatment effects; the role of pre- infrared camera to map the shape of the surface curves is to use artificial (laser) point source 2018 Te Apārangi | Royal Society treatment salivary melatonin levels in response of Haupapa Tasman Glacier. High-tech weather beacons, moving them to track a fast Earth- to treatment; and the collateral benefits of stations erected on the glacier will provide orbiting object. An alternative, natural approach Marsden Funding to lead research effective sleep treatment for family wellbeing. detailed measurements of heat exchange is to use faint background stars as point sources in diverse topics, from identifying “Kōrero mai. Tell us your earthquake story” between the crevasses and snow surface, and over a wide field-of-view to estimate localised space debris to understanding lava Professor Paul Millar, Humanities and Creative the overlying atmosphere. The results will help aberrations. This project will investigate the best Arts, ($859,000) scientists develop better models to predict the method of satellite imaging. flow and analysing melting glaciers, health of high mountain glaciers and to more There are no major longitudinal, interdisciplinary The geometry underlying rank-metric codes to studying quake stories and how accurately estimate glacial response to a Dr Geertrui Van de Voorde, Mathematics and studies of retelling of disaster narratives from a warming climate. they evolve. cohort of similarly affected participants. This gap Statistics (Fast-Start $300,000) will be addressed by re-recording a representative Indirect measurement of lava rheology For over 30 years, the only optimal rank-metric Tumu Tuarua | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor subset of the 720 participants who in 2012 gave Associate Professor Mathieu Sellier, Mechanical codes known were Gabidulin codes until John Ian Wright says he continues to be inspired their earthquake stories to UC QuakeBox – a Engineering, ($917,000) Sheekey recently constructed a new family of by UC’s Marsden Fund successes across a recording studio in a shipping container that The ongoing volcanic eruptions in Hawaii are optimal rank-metric codes (MRD codes). He range of humanities and science, technology, moved around Ōtautahi Christchurch. The a reminder for Aotearoa New Zealand that lava showed that, for certain parameters, MRD codes engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, resulting large longitudinal data set will provide flows are a threat to many inhabited areas. could be constructed using an object known and the exceptional ability of the established and an unprecedented resource for analysis by the Understanding the rheology of lava is critical from finite geometry, called a linear set. In recent emerging researchers at UC. multidisciplinary team. Studying the retold to predicting its flow path and inform hazard work, Dr Van de Voorde pinpoints the geometric stories will offer insight into how retellings management plans. Aerial imaging of lava condition under which a linear set gives rise to 2018 UC Marsden – of dramatic experiences years later crystallise flows provides a rich set of information at the an MRD code and proves this for all admissible funded research narrative structure. Narratives will significantly surface that contains a hidden signature of the parameters. In this project, the team exploits the advance understanding of factors that influence rheology. Associate Professor Sellier’s project connection between rank-metric codes and linear Are genes all that matter? Dr Laurie McLay, resilience and rejuvenation within Māori whānau proposes to develop new techniques to unravel sets to tackle several interrelated questions from Health Sciences (Fast-Start $300,000) and communities. this rheological signature and enable the remote coding theory and finite geometry. The prevalence of sleep problems in children Cracking under pressure Dr Heather Purdie, identification of the lava rheology from observed Hearing algebraic curves Professor Felipe Voloch, with rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders Geography (Fast-Start $300,000) free surface flow measurements in-situ and in Mathematics and Statistics ($551,000) (RGND), such as Rett, Williams, and Prader-Willi real time. syndromes, far exceeds that observed in typically Investigating the impact of seasonally exposed Can you tell the shape of a drum from the sounds High-resolution satellite imaging Dr Steve developing children. These problems profoundly crevasses on glacial melting in Aotearoa it makes? Professor Voloch’s project will develop Weddell, Electrical & Computer Engineering affect children’s daytime functioning, and New Zealand’s Southern Alps will increase methods to tell apart the important mathematical ($849,000) parent and child wellbeing. Without effective understanding of the response of glaciers to objects called algebraic curves from information treatment, they are unlikely to abate. This climate change. Crevasses in a glacier’s surface Due to the proliferation of low Earth-orbiting that corresponds to their sound. These methods study will investigate the role of environmental change the way the glacier interacts with wind objects, a method is required to find and of telling curves apart will yield a fast algorithm and learnt (through parent–child interaction) and sun, leading to an increase in the rate of characterise space debris and satellites. Imaging to factor polynomials over finite fields. Efficient contributors toward sleep problems in children melting. Dr Purdie will compare melt rates of through the Earth’s atmosphere results in small, factoring of polynomials is an essential tool with RGND; the effectiveness of behaviourally crevassed and uncrevassed regions of the same distorted objects. One way of reducing distortion in applications for error-correcting codes, based interventions; the short- and long-term glacier. She will use a drone equipped with an caused by turbulence on 2D images and 1D light cryptography and random number generation.

62 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha $4 million to study space junk, lava, glaciers and quake stories Microbiologist recognised with emerging career researcher award

Research into how bacterial information for future approaches to protecting communities assemble on plant our agricultural interests locally and globally. leaves has won emerging career “By understanding how bacteria organise themselves on plants, we will be able to better researcher Dr Mitja Remus- prevent plant pathogen colonisations and disease Emsermann a prestigious UC outbreaks in agricultural environments,” he says. research award. Using genes originally isolated from fluorescent jellyfish and corals, Dr Remus-Emsermann enables Microbiologist Dr Mitja Remus-Emsermann from bacteria to ‘glow’ in different colours. By combining Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological those bacteria with special microscopy techniques, Sciences was awarded UC’s Early and Emerging he is able to follow individual bacteria and learn Career Researcher Award for 2018. about their behaviour. “I am very happy and humbled to receive this Innovative in his work, Dr Remus-Emsermann is award. It is a great recognition of my work and using plastic slides that mimic, in intricate detail, hopefully a good sign for the years of research the surface of a leaf and produce a controlled ahead of me,” he says. environment. Dr Remus-Emsermann’s research aims at “By using leaf mimics, we are able to study understanding how bacterial communities bacterial interaction without interference of the assemble on plant leaves and which factors drive plant. This helps us to understand what part the the spatial structure of bacterial communities. It plant plays in the selecting of bacteria on leaves bridges the disciplines of microbiology, ecology compared to what the bacteria are doing to each and plant sciences. other.” “We are mainly interested in how bacteria grow Dr Remus-Emsermann is a senior lecturer in Te on plant leaves, which growth pattern they Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences exhibit and how they interact with other species and an associate investigator at the Biomolecular that share the leaf with them.” Interaction Centre. He is recognised as an expert in Understanding how bacteria this field and is a regular reviewer for high-impact organise themselves on plants will This research has important implications for journals. help to prevent plant pathogen life sciences generally and could provide critical colonisations and disease outbreaks in agricultural environments. Dr Mitja Remus-Emsermann

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 63 College of Arts College of Business and Law Te Rāngai Toi Tangata Te Rāngai Umanga me te Ture

cultures; and the Arts Digital Lab supports 2018 recipient of the UC Business School Early projects like History’s digitisation of UC’s Career Researcher Award. His work was cited by Medieval scroll and Associate Professor Donald the UN Commission on International Trade Law Matheson’s MBIE-funded app for preserving Regional Head for Asia and the Pacific as a major residential red zone stories. Research breadth contribution to the advancement of rule-based is evident in our 2018 awards shared across all commerce and to the promotion of multilateral three schools: Dr Cindy Zeiher (Language, Social trade and investment laws. and Political Sciences) won the Early Career The government funded Centre for Researcher award for her study of the place Entrepreneurship Founder Incubator, Xstart, Professor Paul Millar Professor Sonia Mazey of the subject within contemporary systems; established in 2018, hosts 13 businesses in the Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, College of Arts Pro-Vice-Chancellor, College of Business and Law Professor Philip Armstrong (Humanities and Ōtautahi Canterbury region. Amorangi Tuarua Toi Tangata Creative Arts) won Excellence in Research for Amorangi Umanga me te Ture leadership in the area of Human Animal Studies. The School of Law has an increasing research Increased disciplinary and interdisciplinary Te Rāngai Toi Tangata | College of Arts Mr Garrick Cooper (Aotahi—School of Māori and focus on highly topical interdisciplinary concerns national and international collaboration researchers combine expertise in traditional Indigenous Studies) won Teaching Excellence for including disaster management, freshwater is prominent across all areas of Te Rāngai areas with cross-disciplinary collaboration, a pedagogy drawing on research into practices of resource management, oceans governance, Umanga me te Ture | College of Business and innovative problem solving and a desire to ‘decoloniality’ in Aotearoa. Fine Arts academics human rights and indigenous peoples, gender Law research activities. address pressing social and cultural issues. exhibited prominently and Mr Aaron Beehre won and welfare law, international trade law, artificial Among our strong communicators is Associate major design awards in Australia and Aotearoa The UC Business School is developing areas intelligence, refugee law, and cross-border Professor Bronwyn Hayward who, as a lead New Zealand. UC’s Arts Centre location was of strategic research activity alongside cooperation against crime. Annick Masselot’s author on the Intergovernmental Panel on a hothouse for creating and performing new more traditional, discipline-based research. report, Family leave: enforcement of the protection Climate Change, calls for swift action to reduce music, and for the Teece Museum and Classics Developing research areas include Māori and against dismissal and unfavourable treatment emissions. Our $1.2 million of Marsden Funding Department finding innovative ways to link to Pacific research; public sector; sustainability; has had a direct impact in the EU’s new Work related to earthquake impact and response our past. individual, organizational, and regional Life Balance Directive. Other highlights include emphasises an ongoing commitment to post- resilience; social marketing and alternative Elizabeth McDonald’s award from the Borrin With expertise in biculturalism, indigenous disaster research. consumption; tourism marketing; and Foundation for her project, Reforming trial process studies, ethics, equity, communication, futures, in adult acquaintance rape cases, John Hopkin’s Our research centres make a difference: Te Kāhui entrepreneurship and innovation. Bob Reed policy and critical thinking, Te Rāngai Toi Tangata QuakeCore grant on Addressing Wellington Roro Reo | New Zealand Institute of Language, (Economics) ran a workshop on replication College of Arts offers research-informed advice Multi-Story Buildings? and Robin Palmer’s lead in Brain & Behaviour continues unearthing the issues, which attracted international interest. on major social and cultural issues to decision the Law Foundation funded Forensic Brainwave foundations of human language; the National Girish Prayag (Marketing) led a research project makers intent on achieving the best outcomes Analysis Project 2018–2019. Publication highlights Centre for Research on Europe advises on the on perceptions of tourism sustainability and for all people. To learn if our expertise can included Lynne Taylor’s co-edited Corporate Law implications of Brexit for EU–New Zealand sustainable business practices funded by the benefit you, please contact in New Zealand, Elisabeth Macdonald’s co-edited relations; the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific New Zealand Tourism Industry Association. This [email protected] Mahoney on Evidence, and Todd, Barber and Finn’s Studies assesses the impacts of geopolitics research was undertaken with ChristchurchNZ, The Law of Contract in New Zealand. and climate change on Pacific societies and reflecting the School’s strong research networks within the Ōtautahi Canterbury region. Ronán Feehily (Accounting) was the

64 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha College of Education, Health and Human Development College of Engineering Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora Te Rāngai Pūkaha

Our health sciences researchers engage of commercialisation options. In addition, in multidisciplinary research focused on significant research funding was obtained individual and population health needs in the areas of indirect measurement of lava and physical wellbeing and activity over rheology, high-resolution satellite imaging the life course. Of specific interest are the without artificial beacons, the geometry determinants of public health and health loss underlying rank-metric codes and hearing or disability, and the design of innovative algebraic curves, and factoring polynomials. strategies to improve health delivery and Researchers gained Earthquake Commission health outcomes. Areas of strength include funding to examine critical questions about Professor Letitia Fickel mental health (counselling, child and family Professor Jan Evans-Freeman earthquakes in Aotearoa New Zealand; another Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, College of Education, psychology), public health, epidemiology, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, College of Engineering group is investigating how to make launching Health and Human Development health inequalities, healthcare design and Amorangi Pūkaha rockets faster and cheaper by modelling the Amorangi Ako me te Hauora delivery, service evaluation, Māori health, movement of fuel in a rocket. The research capabilities of Te Rāngai environmental health, sport science, physical In 2018 we commissioned our new Structural Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora | College of Pūkaha | College of Engineering are diverse activity, coaching and sport education. Engineering Laboratory, in which we have one Education, Health and Human Development is in their scope and scale. The topics likewise In 2018 we launched the UC Child Well-being of the largest strong walls in Aotearoa New committed to multidisciplinary research aimed range from large structures like bridges and Research Institute to enhance the learning Zealand, and are able to test full-size building at informing and enhancing social, educational roads to microscopic structures formed by success and healthy wellbeing of children components for their reactions to prolonged and health outcomes for children, families nanotechnology, and all research is supported through multidisciplinary, strengths-based stress, shaking and twisting. Another and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, by both theory and practical experiments. research. We also host the UC Community achievement was to open the Fire Laboratory, in the Asia–Pacific and internationally. Our Our research has real-world impact and Engagement Hub aimed at advancing the which is one of only two in the southern research is strongly linked with our teaching societal benefit – including by developing teaching and scholarship of engagement. hemisphere. Both research laboratories also to ensure students are well prepared to meet safer buildings, making new advances in This complements our existing research hubs open up new possibilities in teaching. Final- future workforce needs and contribute to the medical technology and imaging, conducting and labs in teacher learning and practice, year student engineering projects are also an wellbeing of their communities and society. research into big data, forest engineering e-learning, education policy, language and excellent introduction to research, with many Our education researchers match and modelling biodiverse lineages. In 2018 we literacy, inclusive and special education, sport, added to this broad portfolio with the opening being carried out in conjunction with industry interdisciplinary strengths with contemporary epidemiology and Māori research. College partners. and leading-edge theoretical and of a new School of Product Design and will be researchers have demonstrated success with We are always interested in new projects. methodological approaches, including the use enrolling our first research students in this funded research, such as National Science Engaging with us can take a range of forms, of Kaupapa Māori methodology and Vision school in 2019. Challenges, Marsden, Teaching and Learning from emailing the College office to speaking Mātauranga principles, to address education One of the research highlights in 2018 was Research Initiative, Health Research Council, with departments directly or talking to our new and social issues. Key areas of research include an award for a spin coating technique in United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural college relationship and engagement manager. teacher education, Treaty-based teaching and Organization (UNESCO), the Ministry of Mechanical Engineering that can be adapted learning, work-based learning, community Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to curved surfaces and could open up a range engagement, equity and social inclusion, and and private foundations. leadership.

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 65 College of Science Research supporters Te Rāngai Pūtaiao of ‘social spaces’ where people – staff, students and visitors – can converse about what they are doing and how they might collaborate. Three of our leading interdisciplinary researchers have been recognised in various ways in 2018. The winner of our College of Science Emerging Researcher Award was Dr Phoebe McCrae, who works on swallowing disorders as part of the interdisciplinary teams hosted at the Rose Centre. Professor Simon Kingham was appointed to the role of Minister of Transport Chief Professor Wendy Lawson Pro-Vice-Chancellor, College of Science Science Advisor; his long-standing work on the Amorangi Pūtaiao geography of health and transport epitomises an interdisciplinary approach to exploring research- based solutions to our societal challenges such The year 2018 was another exciting and as sustainable transport and urban planning. productive one for research in Te Rāngai Pūtaiao Professor Phil Butler, of Te Kura Matū | School of College of Science. A particular feature of our Physical and Chemical Sciences, was awarded ongoing success is the continued increase in the UC Innovation Medal, in recognition of the external research funding – reaching a total his work leading interdisciplinary teams in of $15.9 million in external revenue income in the commercialisation of new colour x-ray 2018, an increase of 26% on 2017. technology. We continue to diversify our portfolio Overall, 2018 reflected ongoing progress in our of interdisciplinary research teams and aspiration to conduct impactful interdisciplinary interdisciplinary research projects. We were research that is excellent and world leading. If thrilled to have Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda you would like to discuss ways we may be able Ardern formally open the new Ernest Rutherford to work with you and your group or organisation laboratory facility in February 2018. Since then, to address a research-related problem, please do the building has amply demonstrated the not hesitate to contact me at wendy.lawson@ extent to which design creates and fosters an canterbury.ac.nz environment for interdisciplinarity, in terms of both the technical spaces and the arrangement

66 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Research Institutes and Centres

Biomolecular Interaction Electric Power Engineering Gateway Antarctica Hangarau Tangata, Tangata Centre (BIC) Centre (EPECentre) Gateway Antarctica is a centre for Antarctic Hangarau | Human Interface The Biomolecular Interaction Centre (BIC) The Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) studies and research at UC. Technology Laboratory (HIT is a national research institute dedicated is Aotearoa New Zealand’s Centre of Excellence The purpose of Gateway Antarctica is to Lab NZ) to understanding and engineering for electric power engineering, established in contribute to increased understanding and more biomolecular interactions, which is central to a 2002 as a joint initiative between the electricity effective management of the Antarctic and The Human Interface Technology Laboratory range of fundamental sciences and engineering industry and UC. Linking the electricity industry the Southern Ocean. It achieves this as a focal New Zealand (HIT Lab NZ) is a dynamic human- applications. and academia, it has three core areas of point and a catalyst for Antarctic scholarship, computer interface research centre hosted at UC. It is focused on supporting people in performing The centre was founded in 2007 at UC. It has a operation: research and innovation, industry attracting national and international academia collaboration, and education. The participation in collaborative research, analysis, real-world tasks by applying advanced interface unique blend of researchers from across Science technology. and Engineering, and partners with several centre has over 30 industry partners through the learning and networking. Aotearoa New Zealand Crown research institutes Power Engineering Excellence Trust (PEET) and www.canterbury.ac.nz/science/schools-and- The HIT Lab NZ is revolutionising the way people and universities, as well as with Callaghan ongoing research projects, as well as a network departments/antarctica interact with computers by creating cutting- Innovation. of over 700 industry and research contacts – edge interfaces to: both local and international. Its nine principal investigators are based at Toi Hangarau | Geospatial • enhance human capabilities three Aotearoa New Zealand universities, The EPECentre employs high-calibre researchers, Research Institute (GRI) • compensate for human limitations and more than 35 associate investigators engineers and support staff in management, Te Toi Hangarau | Geospatial Research Institute • assist people to better perform tasks at work work nationally and internationally. These technical and educational roles to achieve (GRI) is a multidisciplinary research centre and in their daily lives. investigators are supported by experienced its objectives. It is funded by the Aotearoa dedicated to outward-facing, collaborative The HIT Lab NZ’s multidisciplinary approach postdoctoral fellows and a large number of New Zealand electricity industry via PEET, geospatial research and innovation. Its mission to research and education facilitates an postgraduate students researching biomolecular research funders (government and industry) is to provide a national centre of gravity for entrepreneurial environment, which in turn interactions. Our flagship projects include and consultancy work. The EPECentre’s vision geospatial research that gives Aotearoa New fosters a wealth of innovative ideas, leading to engineering biotechnology, evolving and is to carry out electric power research that is Zealand the foundation it needs to fully realise an improved economic climate in Aotearoa New engineering biomolecules and chemical biology. of national significance and internationally the benefits of spatial information technology. Zealand. Currently, HIT Lab NZ is working on a BIC supports a dynamic research environment recognised, and to produce a sustainable stream It aims to substantially increase geospatial range of projects in collaboration with industry, for both staff and students, and researchers are of high-calibre electric power engineering research output and be deeply involved academia and government partners from around well placed to explore commercial applications graduates who move from university to industry in connecting this research to the outside the world. of their science. and research each year. world through commercialisation, social and www.epecentre.ac.nz www.hitlabnz.org www.canterbury.ac.nz/bic educational research, as well as outreach programmes. www.geospatial.ac.nz

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 67 Macmillan Brown Centre National Centre for Research Te Kāhui Roro Reo | New Te Hiranga Rū | QuakeCoRE: for Pacific Studies on Europe (NCRE) Zealand Institute of Language, New Zealand Centre for With a world-class research profile, the The National Centre for Research on Europe Brain and Behaviour (NZILBB) Earthquake Resilience Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies is (NCRE) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier Te Kāhui Roro Reo | New Zealand Institute Te Hiranga Rū | QuakeCoRE is a national Centre the leading institution for Pacific research in European Union (EU) tertiary-level think-tank. of Language, Brain and Behaviour (NZILBB) of Research Excellence (CoRE) of earthquake Aotearoa New Zealand. The research scholars It undertakes both academic and outreach is a multidisciplinary centre dedicated to resilience researchers. It leverages strengths (PhD and MA) come from countries around the activities, involving a variety of public diplomacy the study of human language. Coming from across the country and internationally, working world and the focus of research revolves around roles and mechanisms. a wide range of disciplines, its researchers collaboratively on integrated multidisciplinary Pacific-related themes as well as Asian and Since 2006 the NCRE has managed the EU forge connections across linguistics, speech programmes of world-class research. Its aim is global issues. The centre has led a number of Centres Network of New Zealand, incorporating production and perception, language acquisition, to support the development of an earthquake- major regional and global projects and continues all eight of the country’s universities. It has also language disorders, social cognition, memory, resilient Aotearoa New Zealand where thriving to be at the forefront of innovative research on established formal links with similar EU centres brain imaging, cognitive science, bilingual communities have the capacity to recover rapidly the Pacific Island region in collaboration with in the Asia–Pacific region, including: RMIT, education and interface technologies. This after major earthquakes through mitigation and national, regional and international partners. Melbourne; the Australian National University, highly interdisciplinary team is working together pre-disaster preparation. The centre founded and hosts Pacific Dynamics: Canberra; Waseda, Tokyo; Korea University, Seoul; toward a truly unified understanding of how www.quakecore.nz Journal of Interdisciplinary Research as well University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur; Sichuan language is acquired, produced and understood as the new Global Interdisciplinary Research University, Chengdu; and Tsinghua University, in its social and physical contexts. Spatial Engineering Research and Innovation Hub on the Pacific, which Beijing. facilitates research and innovation on a range www.canterbury.ac.nz/nzilbb Centre (SERC) of interdisciplinary issues on Pacific societies As a designated Jean Monnet Centre of The Spatial Engineering Research Centre such as climate change, political change, cultural Excellence, it also involves Fudan University, Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu (SERC) addresses the engineering problems of transformation, ethnic relations, education, Shanghai; Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok; Research Centre (NTRC) modern-day navigation and remote-sensing development, history, sociology, anthropology, and the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. Kā Waimaero | Ngāi Tahu Research Centre geo-referenced data collection. Investigations environmental studies, corporate innovation, The NCRE offers incoming and outgoing (NTRC) was established in August 2011 as a joint into the linkages between positioning and data conflict and peace building, gender issues and internships – most notably with the European initiative between Ngāi Tahu and UC. Its purpose collection are the fundamental baseline for many identity. Parliament and the Asia–Europe Foundation is to be a leader in indigenous scholarship and geospatial sciences, and finding new ways to – and has a range of teaching and exchange www.canterbury.ac.nz/mbc to provide a centre for the intellectual capital navigate in environments starved of the Global programmes with other EU studies programmes and development of Ngāi Tahu, the principal iwi Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is essential in our region. of Te Waipounamu South Island. NTRC’s focus for complete geographic data coverage. The SERC The main focus of the NCRE is on the European is on issues of importance to Ngāi Tahu, and in team is a multidisciplinary force specialising Union’s impact on the Asia–Pacific region, recent years has provided research and advocacy in wireless systems, global navigation satellite with special emphasis on foreign policy, media on economic development, water and tribal systems, computer machine vision and inertial perceptions, development policy, trade and government while building strong relationships navigation. SERC supports geospatial science regional integration. with leading international universities. research in conjunction with industry, Crown www.canterbury.ac.nz/ncre/research www.canterbury.ac.nz/ntrc research institutes, other universities and UC students. SERC has provided commercial remote- sensing services to large and small companies.

68 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Among its many areas of work, SERC has been UCQC is committed to using the unique events Wireless Research Centre Child Well-being Research involved in photogrammetry using unmanned in Ōtautahi Christchurch’s recent seismic history aerial vehicles (UAVs). Another UAV activity to inform its research and recommendations (WRC) Institute involves administering a 100-square-kilometre for the future and, ultimately, providing proven The Wireless Research Centre (WRC) is The Child Well-being Research Institute aims to UAV flight test site approved for beyond visual solutions that help make individuals, businesses, responsible for driving research and innovation advance high-quality, multidisciplinary research line of sight (BVLOS) flights. governments and communities more resilient to within the field of wireless communication at to enhance the learning success and healthy In addition to its own postgraduate engineering future earthquakes. UC. WRC’s purpose is to secure the continuing wellbeing of children and young people. Our students, SERC has been contributing to www.quakecentre.co.nz presence of a strong and successful industry focus is holistic, including research related the teaching of the Master of Geographic knowledge base in wireless communications in to infants, children and adolescents within Information Science programme. SERC, in Waterways Centre for Aotearoa New Zealand. Its key goals are to assist the context of their whānau and community. Aotearoa New Zealand industry by de-risking Committed to leading and developing a close collaboration with the Wireless Research Freshwater Management Centre, has started active research in the areas the early stages of product development in strengths-based discourse around child of autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things and A joint venture between UC and Lincoln the wireless space and by providing innovative development, health and wellbeing, the institute terrestrial sensors for satellite communication. University | Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki, the wireless solutions for niche applications tailored collaborates with partner organisations and Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management to the specific needs of industry partners. communities of interest. www.canterbury.ac.nz/serc is a focal point for improving knowledge-driven WRC plays a key role in keeping Aotearoa The institute embraces the principles of Vision water resource management in Aotearoa New Te Pokapū Rū | UC Quake New Zealand expertise at the forefront of Mātauranga and builds on the learnings from Zealand. The centre offers undergraduate courses international telecommunications research and the National Science Challenge ‘A Better Start’ to Centre (UCQC) and postgraduate degrees in water resource development, as measured by the graduation encourage innovation and make a meaningful Te Pokapū Rū | UC Quake Centre (UCQC) is a management, to serve the ever-increasing of high-calibre students, economic impact, impact from our research endeavours. demand for graduates in this field. dynamic partnership between the engineering publications and patents. The centre has The institute also aims to develop emerging industry and UC. It has developed strong A strong connection is maintained with private extensive knowledge and experience working researchers and foster interdisciplinary research, collaborations with the University of Auckland sector and water research organisations to with emerging wireless standards, including working in constructive and collaborative ways Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau and ensure the skills, knowledge and awareness the 4G and 5G cellular (mobile phone) family to build teams for research bids and project other partners, including the learned societies, conveyed in the classroom are relevant to of standards, low power wide area (LPWA) work. The skills and knowledge of staff in architects, local government, consultancies, the whole water sector. The centre also acts standards, and local area and personal-area the institute are harnessed to ensure digital large asset owners, the construction sector and as first point of contact for external groups networks. Specific technologies of expertise technology is at the leading edge in terms of overseas institutions, to provide world-class seeking research expertise and community or include multiantenna systems (MIMO), error project design and execution, and their research knowledge and research on and solutions to professional development education in the field. control coding, diversity systems, relaying, outputs are disseminated to community scheduling and the application of combinations seismic issues. The centre is an example of strong cooperation members, policy funders and global audiences. of wireless and geospatial technologies such UCQC focuses on training and fostering between two universities in Aotearoa New as indoor logistics and intelligent transport www.canterbury.ac.nz/childwellbeing expertise, supporting and encouraging the best Zealand, leading to better education outcomes systems. professional practices, and keeping individuals for the country. WRC, in close collaboration with the Spatial and groups informed about ongoing work and www.waterways.ac.nz research within the sector. Other key areas of Engineering Research Centre, has started work are to identify the levels of risk facing active research in the areas of autonomous communities and look at ways to provide vehicles, smart cities, sensors for intelligent innovative and commercially viable solutions in transportation and Internet of Things. response to those risks. www.canterbury.ac.nz/wrc

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 69 UC Academic UC Community UC Bicultural

UC is a truly holistic place of learning, made up of seven

Did you know UC is ranked in the top 3% of The city of Ōtautahi Christchurch is a growing At UC we are committed to biculturalism. That’s a outstanding universities worldwide? Founded over 140 hotbed of opportunity. Developments and good thing for Aotearoa New Zealand, and a good years ago, our legacy of celebrated graduates initiatives are popping up at a rapid pace and thing for you too. As part of this commitment we dimensions has shaped the world we live in today. Here, our graduates are perfectly poised to access work with Ngāi Tahu, the tangata whenua in our you’ll learn from passionate lecturers in over these opportunities. Over the last few years region. At UC you’ll gain bicultural perspectives that will 100 programmes of study. You’ll have a chance our students have earned an international and experience in your courses of study through to be part of groundbreaking research at our reputation for their community involvement. Get engaging with course content, ideas and activities research centres and field stations. Best of all, involved by joining the Student Volunteer Army in your chosen subjects. You can also take specific prepare you you’ll graduate with an excellent academic or connect with a range of local organisations — courses on Māori language, culture, art, to change qualification under your belt. Ōtautahi Christchurch is a great place to be! and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Sophie Jack Abby the world. ‘It makes your learning much ‘There’s lots of amazing stuff ‘I really want to see Te Reo more real when you suddenly see to do in the Christchurch Māori being valued as the bacteria change colour or grow community, I'm really excited official language that it is, on a new medium. It makes the about helping give students a and I want to inspire future theory click into place and the voice.’ tamariki to speak te reo.’ academic experience becomes way more interesting.’

70 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha UC Global UC Active UC Enterprise UC Support

Come to UC and get ready to see the world. From the sea to the mountains and everything Get switched on, get hands on. Over 35% of What are your strengths? Your interests? Your We have exchange agreements with over in between, UC is on the doorstep of a massive our courses will get you out into the workplace learning style? At UC you’ll have a dedicated 50 universities worldwide in North America, outdoor ‘playground’. Grab your snowboard/ or the community. The result? When it comes support system to help you find your way and make Europe, Asia and Australia. We also bring the surfboard/mountain bike/trail shoes and give it to interview time, you’ll have the kind of real the most of uni life. From your first week you can world to UC. Our unique Erskine Fellowship a go. On campus you’ll have your choice of high- experience employers are looking for. Budding pair up with a second or third year “student buddy” programme brings 75 international academics end accommodation and all the amenities of a entrepreneurs will have the chance to shine with who will show you the ropes and make sure all your each year to teach at UC. We don’t just promise fully equipped student village. At its heart, UC entré, UC Innovators and the UC Hatchery, which questions are covered. Approaching graduation a global perspective, we deliver a global features a thriving student association plus over are dedicated to supporting innovation and your Co-Curricular Record — an electronic record of experience. 130 student-led clubs covering every student start-up ventures. At UC you’ll create verified extra-curricular activities — will add that interest under the sun! connections that count. real-world edge to your CV.

Keegan Amy Manny Brendain ‘I really wanted to experience ‘I love that I can go skiing ‘As part of the entré exec I got to ‘Recently I became a Go a culture that's totally diverse in winter and to the beach in meet a whole lot of people. Canterbury student leader. from our own. Landing in a summer. There are so many I realised that top executives That's a development city of 26 million people was cool things you can do aren't that scary, they actually programme that helps students amazing.’ around here.’ want to help!’ from other cities integrate into Christchurch.’

2018 Research Report | Kimihia te mea ngaro 71 We have a vision of people prepared to make a difference – tangata tu¯, tangata ora.

Our mission is to contribute to society through knowledge in chosen areas of endeavour by promoting a world-class learning environment known for attracting people with the greatest potential to make a difference. We seek to be known as a University where knowledge is created, critiqued, disseminated and protected and where research, teaching and learning take place in ways that are inspirational and innovative. Looking towards 2023, the 150th anniversary of our founding, the primary components of our strategy are to Challenge, Concentrate and Connect.

University of Canterbury Statement of Strategic Intent

72 University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha An electronic copy of this publication and details of our 2018 research outputs are available from the Research & Innovation website www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/specialties/research-report/

Research Report 2018 73 University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Donate Private Bag 4800 www.canterbury.ac.nz/alumni/give Christchurch 8140 New Zealand Learn www.canterbury.ac.nz/news Telephone: +64 3 369 3999 Facsimile: +64 3 364 2999 Connect Email: [email protected] www.canterbury.ac.nz/ucconnect www.canterbury.ac.nz/research