Land Environment & People Research Report series

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 64
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    Canterbury coastal beach user survey – 2020-2021 summer
    (Lincoln University. LEaP, 2023-07) Savage, O; Rennie, Hamish
    The 800km of coastline in the Canterbury region provides multiple locations for coastal recreation for both land- and water-based activities, as well as different types of coastal environments which differ greatly in characteristics (Environment Canterbury, n.d). The coastline varies from sandy urban beaches close to main centres to more remote, stony and undeveloped beaches that attract different recreational users, ranging from occasional tourist visitors to local daily users. The different values held by recreational users are important for coastal planners and managers. Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury (ECan)) is reviewing its regional coastal planning frameworks, including its Regional Policy Statement and Regional Coastal Environment Plan. To better inform this process the Council supported the research reported here through a student scholarship at Lincoln University to survey beach user values and issues over the summer of 2020/2021.
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    Food security in a COVID-impacted tourism destination: A case study of Queenstown, New Zealand
    (Lincoln University | Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki. LEaP, 2022-05) Apse, M; Degarege, Gebeyaw; Fountain, Joanna; Espiner, Stephen; Stewart, Emma
    This report outlines the food (in)security situation in Queenstown, New Zealand in the context of its COVID-affected tourism downturn. It is illustrative of the global pandemic’s disruption to the tourism-dependent town and the ways in which this impacted food security within the community. The project used interview data from 13 interviewees each active in the Queenstown community in food welfare, social support, or local government. Supplementary data was gathered via a desk-based document and media search. Community-based food welfare providers reported high demand for food parcels largely due to COVID-19-related income reductions and job losses. Food welfare demand was strong from the commencement of the nationwide lockdown in March 2020, and remained relatively consistent in subsequent months as national borders remained closed to international visitors. Interviewees reported high numbers of migrants accessing food welfare as the result of tourism job losses, reduced shifts, and loss of access to meals they had received in hospitality roles previously. Many of these migrants were ineligible for government support. COVID-19 food security issues have been exacerbated by high demand for housing and high density living, which has reduced the amount of land available for home vegetable planting. This is limiting own food production and access to affordable high-nutrition foods. Reliance on the food welfare sector as a long term strategy is not sustainable if food security is the goal, however the array of community groups that offer food welfare may be able to proactively bolster food security, concurrent with their food welfare operations, and so enable food welfare recipients to transition to less vulnerability and greater food security in the future. Our findings caution against sectoral ‘self-sufficiency’ because high degrees of independence within sectors can translate to vulnerability in the face of disruption. Inter-sectoral integration – particularly within the agriculture, food and tourism sectors – is one avenue by which each sector could become more resilient. Further research in this area could identify pathways for building resilience.
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    Jetties and small settlement regeneration in Te Pataka o Rakaihautū/Banks Peninsula
    (Lincoln University | Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki. LEaP, 2022-02) Oranje, K; Farrar, J; Nissen, Sylvia; Rennie, Hamish
    This report contains a summary of the key findings from a research project exploring the community-led restoration initiatives of jetties in small settlements around Te Pataka o Rakaihautū/Banks Peninsula. This project is based on a Lincoln University Summer research scholarship project titled Jetties and small settlement regeneration in Banks Peninsula.
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    Looking beyond limitations: Electric vehicle use in New Zealand holidays
    (Lincoln University | Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki. LEaP, 2021-12) Fitt, Helen M.; Espiner, Niamh T.
    EVs are often described as inadequate for long distance holiday trips, and yet increasing numbers of drivers are travelling on holiday in EVs. We talked to 34 New Zealand EV drivers about their experiences of taking an EV on holiday. Although participants did talk about some of the widely reported difficulties or limitations of EV travel (including range, charging, towing, and access to the backcountry), we focus here on less widely reported experiences of actual (and usually successful) holiday trips. A feeling of being adventurous or pioneering, the freedoms associated with driving an EV, and the different sensations, feelings, and driving styles involved in EV travel all feature in this engaging summary of what we found.
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    The COVID-19 pandemic and outdoor recreation: Exploring COVID-19 induced changes in outdoor recreation engagement and behaviour in New Zealand
    (Lincoln University | Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki. LEaP, 2021-03) Degarege, Gebeyaw; Espiner, Stephen R.; Stewart, Emma; Espiner, Niamh T.
    The first cluster of COVID-19 cases was recorded in Wuhan, China, on December 21 2019. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a significant challenge in almost every aspect of life around the globe. In an attempt to contain the spread of the pandemic, several countries, including New Zealand, have taken consequent measures such as quarantines, social distancing, travel bans, and border closures, all of which have created a de facto restriction for extended outdoor activities. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Zealand was reported on February 28 2020, and was closely followed by government travel restrictions. On March 21, the Government of New Zealand announced a four-level alert system¹ and moved to Alert Level 3 on March 23 followed by a shift to Alert Level 4 at 11:59pm on March 25, a status that was maintained for a period of five weeks. For the majority of the New Zealand public, Alert Level 4 was experienced as a ‘lockdown’ during which typical work, travel and leisure activities were severely constrained. During the March-April Level 4 lockdown period, social and economic life was limited to what was possible from domestic residences, and New Zealanders were required to remain within strict household ‘bubbles’ in terms of their in-person social connections. These events have had a profound effect on individuals, families, communities, the environment and the economy, and many of these effects are still unfolding. The study reported here aimed to document how the March-April Level 4 lockdown² and COVID-19 affected New Zealanders' outdoor recreation participation and experience. The study explored the effects of COVID-19 on outdoor recreation participation in three main time-periods: (1) a 12 month period prior to the pandemic; (2) the five week period of Level 4 lockdown; and (3) after the Level 4 lockdown ended.