https://hdl.handle.net/10182/6 Sun, 21 Jan 2018 10:33:17 GMT 2018-01-21T10:33:17Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8868 Contouring and earthwork estimation for bordered strip irrigation Harrington, G. J. Computer programmes were developed for processing data from grid, direct, and random stadia field contouring systems. The three systems were evaluated for their use in providing contour plans for bordered strip irrigation design. A computer method of calculating the earthwork volumes associated with bordered strip irrigation was developed which uses terrain data from the above surveying methods or any other convenient source. This method was compared with land grading to form plane or warped paddock surfaces onto which levees may be formed, thus creating bordered strips. With the aid of the bordered strip earthwork calculating programme, the effect of changes of bordered strip paddock layout and slope restraints was investigated. An attempt to correlate estimated earthworks with earthmoving machine times was made. Sat, 01 Jan 1977 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8868 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8859 From decision-support to compliance tool: the social dimensions of Overseer and the implications for farm nutrient management Barr, Emma Brittany An increase of public and scientific pressure resulting in recent reforms of New Zealand’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) has instigated a reliance on Overseer to regulate nutrient losses from agricultural land. Overseer was previously used as a qualitative tool for farmers to assess fertiliser requirements for the following season, but has now changed to a quantitative, compliance tool in use by a number of regional councils. Understanding farmers’ perceptions of this new approach is vital to its effectiveness as a management technique. This research presents an analysis of fifteen semi-structured interviews of farmers and farm consultants from two locations in the Bay of Plenty: The Rangitāiki Plains, who use Overseer for decision-support, and the Rotorua Lakes, who use Overseer for compliance. This research has found that the role of numbers, power and authority, model credibility, perceived fairness, social identity, and the relationship to data production were significant to farmers’ perceptions of Overseer. The perceptions farmers have of Overseer is a key influence in their acceptance of nutrient regulation and adoption of sustainable nutrient management practices. By taking the focus away from individual’s technical understandings of scientific knowledge, this research has attempted to explore the social identities that characterise public responses to regulations. Trust and credibility emerged as key themes in the development of perceptions to the use of Overseer by farmers, shaped by the working relationships between farmers and council staff, council scientists, private consultants, members of the public, and industry representatives. It was found that when considering Overseer, many farmers focus on contextual factors surrounding its use, rather than the practicalities of the model itself. This shows that continued efforts to improve the scientific accuracy of Overseer will not resolve issues of distrust between farmers and Overseer. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8859 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8851 An investigation of relationship quality and supplier performance in New Zealand red meat supply chains Lees, Nicholas Julian Supplier relationships and performance have become increasingly important in agri-food supply chains. This research aimed to investigate buyer-supplier relationships in the New Zealand red meat industry. Specifically, this meant examining how relationship quality, as well as supplier characteristics and relationship attributes affect supplier performance. The analysis improved the conceptualisation of relationship quality by bringing together constructs from the relationship marketing and social capital literature. This established that relationship quality and social capital were closely related constructs. By combining social capital and relationship quality this created a broader measure of the overall strength of the relationship. The findings show that improving supplier performance requires taking into account both supplier characteristics and relationship attributes. Furthermore, relationship quality played a significant mediating role between all the relationship factors and supplier performance. The implications of this research are that there are specific ways buyers can improve supplier performance. This involves identifying and selecting suppliers who have superior ability, motivation and customer focus. They also need to avoid selecting suppliers with high levels of self-direction. Improving supplier performance also involves influencing relationship attributes and improving the quality of relationships with suppliers. In particular, processors need to ensure that suppliers experience positive value from the supply relationship. Furthermore, they need to manage the interaction between specific assets, dependence and use of coercive power. Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8851 2017-12-15T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8832 Evaluation of community preferences for decentralised water management systems: a case study in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula Sun, Han Limitations on the supply of fresh water and increasing demand for council supplied water have become major issues in Akaroa, a tourist town on the Banks Peninsula approximately 80 kilometres from Christchurch City. Restrictions on domestic water use in the summer and new requirements for decentralised water management systems for new construction have been used to alleviate the burden of town water supply. Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) and greywater reuse system (GWRS) both represent potential options to decentralise the current water supply even further. This study informs the ongoing debate about water allocation on the Banks Peninsula by conducting a choice experiment (CE) to evaluate Akaroa homeowners’ preferences for installing these systems. Primary data was collected from Akaroa residents, and a latent class model was specified to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for decentralised water supply systems. Results reveal that approximately two-thirds of the sample actually had a negative WTP for decentralised systems (range from -$3,145 to -$1,672), while WTP estimates for the remaining respondents ranged from $1,912 to $2,749. For both of these groups, subsidies will be required to encourage the adoption of all types of systems. Identification of the factors that affect latent class membership could be a focus for further studies. Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8832 2017-10-03T00:00:00Z