Doctoral Theses

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/4

The Doctoral Theses collection contains digital copies of AUT doctoral theses deposited with the Library since 2004 and made available open access. All theses for doctorates awarded from 2007 onwards are required to be deposited in Tuwhera Open Theses unless subject to an embargo.

For theses submitted prior to 2007, open access was not mandatory, so only those theses for which the author has given consent are available in Tuwhera Open Theses. Where consent for open access has not been provided, the thesis is usually recorded in the AUT Library catalogue where the full text, if available, may be accessed with an AUT password. Other people should request an Interlibrary Loan through their library.

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Rapid Weight Cutting Strategies for the Strength Athlete
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Kwan, Kedric
Rapid weight loss (RWL) is widely practiced in weight-class restricted sports to enable athletes to compete in a lower weight category, typically through strategies that reduce body mass via dehydration (e.g., fluid manipulation, sauna/sweating) and/or non-dehydration methods that reduce gut content and glycogen (e.g., reduced carbohydrate intake, low food volume, fibre restriction). Although RWL is often perceived to confer competitive advantage, it can also compromise health, cognitive function, and physical performance, with risk generally increasing as the magnitude of weight loss increases and as the post–weigh-in (PWI) recovery window shortens. Existing RWL research has largely focused on combat sports, yet RWL is highly prevalent in weight-class restricted strength athletes (WRSA), including powerlifters, weightlifters, and strongman competitors. Differences in sport demands, recovery opportunities, and performance determinants suggest that findings from combat sports may not translate directly to WRSA, creating uncertainty around best practice. This thesis aimed to expand the evidence base on RWL in WRSA by integrating: (1) a synthesis of current literature on RWL magnitudes, methods, and health/performance outcomes, and the extent to which combat sport data can be extrapolated to WRSA; (2) observational data describing the prevalence, magnitude, and methods of RWL in world-class powerlifters and the relationship between RWL and competitive performance; (3) changes in validated subjective wellness measures across the seven days prior to weigh-in and their associations with weight loss magnitude, competitive calibre, and biological sex; (4) an experimental evaluation of a three-day low-gut-volume (LGV) dietary strategy, assessing the magnitude and within-subject repeatability of body mass loss and potential sex differences; and (5) an experimental investigation of passive dehydration via heat exposure at different time points (evening prior vs morning of testing) on WRSA-relevant strength and power outcomes across baseline, dehydrated, and rehydrated states. Collectively, this thesis addresses key gaps by providing WRSA-specific descriptive data, testing practical RWL strategies, and evaluating performance and wellness implications under conditions relevant to strength sport competition. The findings are intended to inform evidence-based, context-specific RWL guidelines for WRSA and to guide future research on safer and more effective weight-making practices.
The Impact of Female Sex Hormones on Concussion
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Hardaker, Natalie
The thesis aim was to understand the influence of female sex hormones on concussion via investigating: 1) How much does baseline symptomology change across the menstrual cycle in female athletes?; 2) Do salivary concussion biomarkers change across the menstrual cycle for females in the absence of injury?; 3) Does the hormone profile at point of injury predict prolonged recovery from a concussion?; 4) Does hormone profile at point of injury affect salivary concussion biomarkers in females? The thesis included a systematic review, a feasibility study, a cross-sectional study, a single-case study and a prospective cohort study. The systematic review and meta-analysis (chapter 2) highlighted sex and gender differences in sports-related injuries including a higher incidence of concussion in female athletes. Chapters 3 to 8 aimed to better understand concussion in females. In assessing concussion knowledge and attitudes (Chapter 3) via an online survey, over 30% of male and female football players indicated they would continue playing whilst experiencing symptoms of a concussion. This suggested that the observed gender difference in concussion incidence is unlikely to be only due to a reporting bias in females. Investigating the magnitude of change in self-report symptoms across the menstrual cycle (chapter 4) in the absence of injury, identified a meaningful association between menstrual cycle day and symptom score; this may need consideration when evaluating baseline and post-concussion symptom assessments in females. The correlation of salivary hormone measures to blood measures were investigated in chapter 5 in eight females to test feasibility for use in future studies. Progesterone was positively correlated between blood and saliva (rm=0.996, p<0.001). The findings of chapters 4 and 5 informed the protocols for chapters 6 to 8. In chapter 6, concussion biomarkers (salivary cortisol and miR-27a-5p/miR-30a-3p) were monitored in one player across three consecutive menstrual cycles in absence of injury during a football season. The biomarkers showed cyclical variation of miR ratio within a range of 0.7 to 1.1. The third menstrual cycle was shorter and showed significantly (p=0.031) lower miR ratio in the pre-menses compared to the menses phase. Morning cortisol stayed within a normal reference range (2-22 nmol/L) and showed a statistically significant mean difference between menses and pre-menses phases. Larger studies are needed to elucidate a clinically relevant threshold for miR ratio and must include reliable measures of hormone profile. Chapters 7 and 8 outlined the Female Ribonecleic Acid in Concussion (FeRNAC) study that sought to understand whether salivary miR-27a-5p/miR-30a-3p, symptoms and recovery time were associated with hormone profile in 36 females. Progestin only contraception (PROG) and the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) were significantly associated with a shorter time to RTL/W (HR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0 to 6.1; p=0.048 and HR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1 to 6.4; p=0.027 respectively). There was no statistically significant mean difference between groups for initial symptom score, F(2, 33)=1.755, p=0.189). Only 14 (39%) of saliva samples provided a full miR ratio, the mean miR ratio was 0.84± 0.06 (0.75 to 0.92) and there was no statistically significant difference between groups for miR-27/miR-30 (F(2, 11)=0.519, p=0.609). Chapter 9 discussed valuable areas of focus for future concussion research in females including recommendations for in-field research protocols. This final chapter provided narrative on reflective learning throughout the thesis.
An Investigation Into Sub-Sector Productivity: The New Zealand Residential Construction Industry
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Kirby, Mark
Despite sustained investment, the New Zealand (NZ) residential construction sector exhibits a persistent productivity paradox, constrained by systemic challenges and an estimated annual cost of NZD 2.5 billion attributed to defects and rework. The extant literature exhibits a conceptual divergence, treating quality management (QM) and construction productivity as fragmented. Although seemingly aligned, theoretical foundations and practical approaches are distinct, thereby hindering the development of a holistic solution. This thesis addresses this oversight by rigorously investigating what effect QM has on enhancing productivity in the New Zealand residential construction sub-sector. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the study utilised an initial survey (N = 106) to empirically rank productivity factors, followed by a diagnostic application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) model. Quantitative findings were subsequently validated through qualitative semi-structured expert interviews (N=15). The TOC analysis demonstrated that poor QM is the singular non-physical bottleneck limiting productivity and restricting the system’s capacity, driven by an endemic culture that “hyper normalises substandard practices.” The analysis establishes QM not as a contributory factor but as the root cause constraint. The study’s primary contribution is the development of a synthesised evidence-based QM strategy, (HEM) that resolves the conceptual divergence and provides a framework for sustainable performance. The research culminates in a proposal for a National Construction, Productivity and Quality Commission (NCPQC), offering policymakers a blueprint for institutionalising systemic national-level reform. The findings move productivity improvement from an aspiration to a viable societal goal, contributing significantly to New Zealand’s economic resilience and societal well-being.
Post OS Patch Testing 22 Jan - Prod
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Mahli, Rudy
This is a test
A Secure and Energy-Efficient Cross-Layer Framework for Internet of Things Networks
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Mustafa, Rashid
In resource-constrained environments, achieving the optimal balance between security and energy efficiency remains a fundamental challenge in the design of the Internet of Things (IoT) networks. This thesis proposes and reports on a novel cross-layer framework spanning the Application, Network, and Sensor Layers that is both secure and energy-efficient. The methodology integrates comprehensive simulations, real-world testbeds and machine learning (ML) models to design and validate the proposed architecture. A runtime adaptive cryptographic system employing lightweight encryption algorithms Speck, and Present with dynamic round reduction is developed to minimize energy consumption without compromising cryptographic strength. To further enhance threat resilience, ML based intrusion detection is incorporated across all layers, utilizing models such as decision trees and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, resulting in significantly improved anomaly detection accuracy. Empirical results from Contiki/Cooja and NS-3 simulations, alongside hardware evaluations, confirm that the framework improves packet delivery, reduces latency, and enhances power efficiency. Overall, the cross-layer architecture demonstrates robust scalability, resilience to cyberattacks, and practical suitability for sustainable IoT deployments in real-world, resource-constrained scenarios. This research addresses gaps in prior single-layer security models by proposing a novel, integrated design and sets the foundation for future works.
The Application of a Virtual Programmable Logic Device for Robotic Control and Pattern Recognition
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Borrett, Fraser
This research derives and evaluates a novel machine learning architecture called the Virtual Programmable Logic Device (VPLD), and if the VPLD can become a competitor to the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) when evolved for applications in robotic control and pattern recognition. The VPLD is based on the architecture of a programmable logic device but is coded in software rather than in hardware. This allows the VPLD to be run on CPU based platforms including standard PCs, mobile phones and ARM based embedded systems such as the Raspberry Pi. The operation of the VPLD can be configured and optimised using evolutionary algorithms. The VPLD is inspired by previous Evolvable Hardware architectures evolved for applications such as robotic control. In the Evolvable Hardware domain electronic circuits are evolved on programmable logic devices such as the field programmable gate array (FPGA). The VPLD is investigated in two fields: 1) evolutionary robotics where the gait control of a hexapod robot and the autonomous navigation of a two-wheel drive mobile robot is examined; and 2) in pattern recognition where character recognition, and melanoma classification are evaluated. In both application domains two types of VPLD are investigated, the first is the digital VPLD (D-VPLD) which mimics the PLD binary variables and digital logic, the second is the floating-point VPLD (F-VPLD) which uses floating-point variables and mathematical functions. The floating-point variables are complex to implement in hardware on a FPGA. In the gait control of a hexapod, a evolvable hardware implementation is designed to validate the VPLD architecture. In this validation it is demonstrated that the VPLD compared to the evolvable hardware for robotic control is faster to evolve, as well as simpler and cheaper to implement. To assess the VPLDs controller and classifier performance it is benchmarked against an ANN. The VPLD and ANN are evolved for the robotic control and pattern recognition problems using the same evolutionary algorithm. The results of the experiments show the VPLD is a viable alternative to the ANN in both robotic control and pattern recognition applications as the VPLD could achieve the same, and in some cases better performance than the ANN.
Love and [re]Organising: Rediscovering Architectural Agency Through Gathering
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Forde, Tessa
This practice oriented research posits that the architecture discipline is formed not only through the research, conception, and design of buildings and other shared environments but is constructed by and depends on gathering: around ideas, people, actions, values, and shared ritual. In this the history of architecture can be understood as a history of gathering. This suggests that architecture’s gathering spaces: its collectives, institutions, clubs, publications, and so on hold significant sway in what is central to the profession and how this manifests in shared environments. The research presents a theory of the ‘Ground’ discovered through practice—a vast conceptual space of interacting ideas, knowledges, and ways of being that determine real and experienced outcomes in the world. Everything is always producing and interacting with the Ground, but gatherings generate connection to the Ground and allow collective curation and agency in its outcomes. The research suggests that a lack of connection to the Ground of architecture in Aotearoa weakens architecture’s agency, and therefore looks to how architects gather, what they gather around, and how the relational nature of these gathering spaces allows opportunity to imagine, create, discover, reinforce, or influence knowledges and practices and therefore strengthen connection to the Ground. More specifically the research reflects on a series of practice oriented explorations of how to design, organise, envision, enact, and sustain current and new modes of gatherings that can allow architects more agency in anticipating and responding to global challenges and opportunities. From this, the research advances a methodology of Ground-making which involves creating gatherings where ideas and ways of being can be explored, a diverse array of practices can interact and exchange, and where other futures can be imagined and actioned. Ground-making encompasses four practice approaches: 'Traversing The Ground' surveys architecture’s field, a review enlivened by being out and with the world in architecture’s gathering spaces, engaging in architecture discourse across a vast array of sources, and going to events and meet-ups; 'School-making' creates experimental learning platforms for knowledge sharing, creative exploration, and testing and performing other realities; 'Trouble-making' develops strategic actions that critically target the legal and structural systems that underpin the creation of the built environment; 'Creating Community' Infrastructures designs and fosters rituals and relational systems that sustain collective gathering; The research thus seeks to theorise and propose tactics and tools for making gatherings that engage and reveal the Ground. It concludes that for the reimagined gathering spaces to garner momentum, a Ground-maker should engage organising principles capable of creating dynamic connection between diverse and otherwise disparate practices, people, and ideologies; foster deep Love for all beings and things material and immaterial; and emphasise a re-organisation of relationships to each other and the world. Finally, a practice of Ground-making that creates the conditions of possibility for gathering can also offer a methodological approach to conventional architecture practice, proposing methods for the design and nurturing of existing or incidental communities in the imagination and realisation of their shared, public spaces.
Let’s Talk About Stress: Community Child Health Nurses Experiences of Stress in Whānau Engagements
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Hodren, Anne
Background While stress is considered a normal part of daily life community child health nurses are often experiencing multiple complex stressors as part of their care of whānau. While community child health nursing is undoubtedly valued and highly skilled work, the very nature of this work inevitably exposes community child health nurses to multiple psychologically demanding challenges and stressors that could significantly impact on the nurse’s wellbeing, and their capacity to engage with, and be attuned to, whānau. While there is some evidence that explores and describes the impact of stress in general and in nursing, little is known about how community child health nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand experience stress when engaging with whānau and how this affects their capacity to be attuned to the whānau they are supporting. Objective This study aimed to explore community child health nurses’ experiences of, and perspectives on, self-regulation and attunement in times of stress when working with whānau. Two research questions were posed; firstly, how do Aotearoa New Zealand Community Child Health nurses describe the relationship between stress and the capacity to self-regulate their stress response when engaging with whānau? and secondly, how do Aotearoa New Zealand Community Child Health nurses describe the influence of stress on attunement, the capacity to build trust, and their ability to reflect on whānau relationships? Using interpretive descriptive methodology, this qualitative study was undertaken in two phases, with phase one being a vignette-based survey with 26 community child health nurse participants, and phase two being a semi-structured interview with 10 community child health nurse participants. Findings Unique to this study was the rich description of the experience and impact of stress by Aotearoa New Zealand community child health nurse participants when engaging with whānau; a relatively unexplored area of nursing practice in the literature, especially as the study focused solely on exploring the impact of stress within engagement with whānau and describing what the experience is genuinely like for the nurses. The findings provide a unique picture of the complexity the nurse participants faced in navigating whānau relationships, while simultaneously being in a state of stress, which, at times, made it difficult for the nurses to recognise their own stress, and hindered their capacity to make sound decisions, while also remaining attuned and professional. The findings revealed the individual nurse’s experience of stress to be unique, complex, and unpredictable, and shaped by context, as the nurse participants strived to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with whānau, while managing their own stress responses. The resulting impact on nurses and whānau relationships requires urgent attention to reduce the negative impact of stress on community child health nurses, and improve knowledge, resourcing, and supports to ensure safe and quality care. Conclusions The significance of the study findings lies in the ‘laying bare’ of the nurse participants’ experiences of the pervasive nature of stress, and its profound impact on both the nurses themselves, and their care of whānau. Attention needs to be drawn urgently to the consequences of stress on community child health nurses, so that the quality and continuity of care in community child health nursing is not compromised. The normalisation and acceptance of stress within the nursing profession has served to further entrench stress as an inevitable part of nursing practice, thereby limiting opportunities for personal, professional and systemic change. As a key outcome of the study, a multipronged approach is proposed that buffers and ameliorates the negative impacts of stress, lifting the sole responsibility for managing stress off the shoulders of nurses and redistributing it across employers, government, education, and other institutions within the Aotearoa New Zealand context. When managing stress is everyone’s responsibility, there is a greater chance of change.
Destination Management Systems and Community Participation: Indonesian Cases
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Akbar, Muhammad Dhaifan
This research explores the adoption of Destination Management Systems (DMS) to support sustainable tourism initiatives, with a specific focus on enhancing community participation in Indonesia. Given the expanded role of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) in managing tourism networks sustainably, the capability of DMS to foster collaboration among stakeholders is becoming increasingly significant. However, recent research often links DMS functions primarily to traditional marketing roles, resulting in the marginalisation of residents and informal businesses, both of which are critical to the tourism ecosystem. This study aims to bridge the gap between the collaborative role of DMO and the application of DMS in Indonesia, where rapid tourism development has raised sustainability concerns, including the marginalisation of certain community groups. By positioning DMS as a mediator for community engagement, this research addresses the core question: “How can DMS support the implementation of community participation in tourism development in Indonesia?” To address this research question, three objectives are set: (1) to investigate how DMSs worldwide facilitate community engagement in tourism; (2) to examine the strategic implementation of DMSs in Indonesia's regional destinations, particularly in relation to strengthening community involvement in tourism development; and (3) to develop a community-focused DMS framework for Indonesia. This research adopts a sequential mixed-methods approach, incorporating website evaluation, interviews with DMS stakeholders, and a three-round Delphi method to address the research objectives. The theoretical frameworks employed include Services-Dominant Logic (S-D Logic), Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), and Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA). These frameworks provide the theoretical foundation for understanding the context in which the DMS operates and offer an analytical lens through which the findings are interpreted. Findings reveal that although DMSs contain functions capable of fostering community participation, their primary focus remains on marketing, often overlooking the needs and engagement of local communities. This condition also characterises DMS adoption in Indonesia’s regional destinations, where top-down development approaches, shaped by socio-political structures and limited discourse surrounding DMS and DMO concepts, constrain their potential. To address these issues, the study proposes a community-focused DMS framework tailored to the Indonesian context, promoting a collaborative model that integrates local knowledge and encourages active participation from destination communities. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of applying internal marketing strategies within destination management to strengthen stakeholder involvement and community well-being. Overall, this research contributes to academic discourse by expanding the understanding of DMS capabilities in supporting community engagement and provides practical guidance for policymakers and DMOs to optimise DMS functions for the benefit of local communities. Future research directions are recommended to refine the proposed framework and address barriers to effective community participation in Indonesia’s tourism development.
Beyond Survivance: Embodying the Dance
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Madril, Edwardo
The driving question of this thesis is: How might American Indian dance – whether ‘traditional’ or ‘contemporary’ – be seen to make significant contributions to the cultural and historical narrative of American Indian people? That is: How might the cultural values and systems that are carried through American Indian dance practices and performance expressions be seen to construct American Indian identity – past, present, and future? Further: How might American Indian dance, as an embodied performance practice, be seen to move American Indian people beyond the current stages of survival and survivance? This thesis explores what it means to embody American Indian dance from my perspective as an American Indian academic, artist and dancer. Embodying the dance inscribes an action that is simultaneously dramatic and social, telling a story from the center of my soul in the company of my ancestors to the people alongside me, for the people watching, and beyond toward future generations. This thesis is grounded in dance and performance studies, using Diana Taylor’s conceptualization of the ‘repertoire’ to explore the ways American Indian dance has served in the past to preserve, construct and sustain our communities against the prospect of annihilation during the long history of colonization. For this thesis, then, the ‘data’ as such will be the dances I choose to analyse using the lenses of theory, history and my own social and artistic experience. Accompanying the exegesis is a performance that will reflect the research and the outcomes as they have manifested. This approach will also reflect how the knowledge and experience of embodiment of the dance can best be produced and perform what the exegesis describes. My background as a practitioner will frame and inform my analysis of selected examples as case studies. My first chapter will look at how American Indian dance has made a significant ongoing contribution to the survival of my people as a people. In my second chapter, I look at how, in the present day, these dances have come to be intertwined in contemporary dances that feature our traditions in non-traditional frames. In so doing, I will turn to Gerald Vizenor’s concept of ‘survivance’ and the way Chadwick Allen takes the term up to analyse other forms of creative expression. For my final chapter, I will apply the critical framework I’ve thus developed to a close reading of my own creative practice to demonstrate how such performances might be seen to go beyond survivance to assert our agency as artists and as a people going forward. At its core, this thesis is a quest for expanding knowledge and encourage understanding. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of what American Indian dance is through the bridging of knowledge systems in lived cultural experience and academic dance performance scholarship. Through this work, American Indian dance is highlighted as a path for cultural knowledge and identity to move beyond survivance towards cultural renewal within the complexities of our world.
Adjustment of the Surface Wettability of Cellulose-based Aerogels Derived From Harakeke and Their Application in Oil/Water Separation
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Zhai, Yitong
The increasing incidence of marine oil spills poses a significant threat to both marine ecosystems and human health. Among the various methods for oily wastewater treatment, adsorption is considered as the most promising solution due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and high efficiency. Consequently, the development of high-performance, environmentally-friendly oil adsorbing materials for the removal and recovery of spilled oils have attracted substantial research interest. Cellulose-based aerogels as an emerging class of porous materials, exhibit promising properties, including ultra-low density, high porosity, and high specific surface area, making them particularly effective for adsorbing oily pollutants from wastewater. These characteristics position cellulose-based aerogels as promising candidates for widespread applications in oil spill remediation. However, there still exist some problems for the current reported cellulose-based aerogels, such as the complicated fabrication process, difficulty in recycling, and their inferior mechanical robustness, which limited their practical applications. Harakeke, or known as Phormium tenax is a monocotyledonous plant with long leaves, endemic to New Zealand and Norfolk Islands. It is a culturally significant source and treasure to Māori, and used to be the important export goods in New Zealand. However, in contemporary times, harakeke is primarily cultivated for landscaping purposes. The objective of this thesis is to assess the potential of using harakeke fibre as precursor material to fabricate cellulose-based aerogels. If harakeke fibre can be processed to fabricate cellulose-based aerogels through appropriate process, it could not only serve as an efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent for oily wastewater remediation, but also create a new avenue for the comprehensive utilisation of the traditional harakeke plants. Based on the above hypothesis, this thesis investigates the use of raw harakeke fibre as starting material for the fabrication of cellulose-based aerogels, explores their surface modification methods, and evaluates their performance for oil adsorption. The main findings of this thesis are as follows: (1) A sequential chemical purification process was applied to raw harakeke fibres, involving treatment with acidic sodium chlorite solution to remove lignin, followed by potassium hydroxide solution treatment to remove the hemicellulose. This process successfully extracted pure cellulose fibres with an average diameter of 14.54 μm from the raw harakeke fibres. Additionally, it was determined that cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) with an average diameter of 61.54 nm could be obtained from the extracted cellulose fibres through a simple ultrasonication treatment using a probe ultrasonicator at an output power of 1500W. (2) Superhydrophobic cellulose-based aerogels were successfully prepared by first freeze-drying the harakeke-derived CNFs to obtain the pristine cellulose aerogels, followed by gas phase surface modification using methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) through chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The aerogel became superhydrophobic with water contact angle of 153° after silane modification. The structure and properties of CNF aerogels before and after modification were characterised by various methods, and the mechanism of gas phase modification using MTES was systematically studied. The oil sorption capacity of modified aerogels ranged from 90 to 146 g/g for various oils and solvents. The kinetic study results indicated the oil adsorption process of this aerogel obeys the pseudo-second order kinetic model. (3) Based on the aforementioned aerogel preparation method, superhydrophobic, magnetic aerogels were prepared from harakeke raw fibres to address the challenge of difficulty in recycling the oil saturated aerogels. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of aerogels by adding them in the CNF water suspension before freeze-drying. After a subsequent silane hydrophobisation treatment, the resultant aerogel showed magnetic properties, superhydrophobicity (WCA=150.3°) and outstanding oil adsorption capacity (up to 113.49 g/g for silicone oil). it was found that the addition of Fe3O4 nanoparticles not only rendered the aerogel with magnetic properties, but also contributed to a higher hydrophobicity, which is ascribed to the increased surface roughness. The magnetic aerogels can be easily controlled to move using an external magnet which greatly facilitates the recycle process. (4) In order to improve the mechanical robustness of cellulose-based aerogels, 1,2-Bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane (BTMSE) and MTES were added into the CNF suspension as crosslinker and hydrophobic modifier, respectively. Directional freeze-drying was applied to prepare aerogels with aligned channel structures. Compression test showed that the yield point of silane modified aerogels appeared at a higher strain rate, which indicates a better mechanical robustness. Moreover, directional freeze-drying endows the aerogel with aligned channel structure and honeycomb like cross section morphology. The result aerogel showed a much higher shape recovery rate after releasing the compressive load in comparison to the conventional freeze-dried ones.
Quality of Service (QoS) Enabled Handover Architectures for LiFi/WiFi Hybrid Systems
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Shakir, Ullah
Mobile data traffic has increased exponentially over the last few years, from around 50 exabytes (EB) per year in 2018 to 240 EB in 2024, and is expected to further increase to around 560 EB by 2029. This increase can be attributed to the data generated by smartphones and the heavy deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Approximately 80% of mobile traffic originates from indoor devices connecting to outdoor base stations. This significantly impacts the outdoor mobile network's performance. Therefore, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and other mobile standardization bodies are strongly encouraging mobile traffic to be offloaded to the nearest indoor WiFi network. However, WiFi has limited bandwidth, and this additional mobile traffic offload, along with the existing indoor data traffic, can result in drastic degradation in performance. To meet this growing traffic demand, Light Fidelity (LiFi), which utilises visible light for communication (VLC), has emerged as a promising candidate for an additional networking technology. LiFi offers several advantages, including higher data rates due to its operation at higher frequencies and increased security, as light can be contained within a room, thereby reducing the chances of eavesdropping. LiFi, however, lacks robustness in mobility and has a limited coverage area due to higher free space and penetration losses. For this reason, the chances of service disruptions increase, thereby leading to more frequent handovers, inefficient resource utilisation, and QoS degradation. These challenges are unique to LiFi compared to WiFi, and as such, require the necessary design and modelling effort. Therefore, this thesis provides a comprehensive modelling and implementation of the LiFi physical layer and medium access control (MAC) layer in Network Simulator 3 (ns3). At the physical layer, appropriate modulation schemes, mobility, and necessary performance metrics are modelled and implemented. The MAC layer provides a comprehensive TDMA-based design and modelling, including framing for user association and dis-association, as well as mobility-aware resource sharing. The limited coverage and mobility robustness issues necessitate that LiFi be deployed in a hybrid arrangement with WiFi and other cellular technologies to provide a comprehensive networking system. The critical aspect of integrating LiFi and WiFi networks is user association and handovers, which are initiated when user devices encounter outages and/or experience degradation in other performance metrics. However, these are challenging problems in LiFi/WiFi hybrid networks, as the handover decision-making algorithms during the association process favour WIFI, because it offers consistent signal strength over a larger area. This can result in inefficient resource utilisation, an increase in delay, and a decrease in throughput. To address this issue, this thesis provides two handover solutions. The first one is a QoS-enabled handover process that utilises multiple criteria, including user satisfaction, packet delay, and signal strength, during the network selection process, which can lead to improved performance compared to traditional handover solutions. The proposed solution is also provided with a centralised controller, capable of initiating a handover when some specific conditions are met. However, since it is reactive in nature, the handover starts only in response to channel outage events, which can lead to unnecessary packet loss. The second solution offers a proactive approach that initiates the handover in an anticipatory manner by utilising machine learning to predict the handover conditions. It is also equipped with QoS-enabled network selection and prepares multiple targets in advance to ensure seamless transition and unnecessary packet loss. The proposed solution significantly improves upon the reactive handover approach in terms of throughput and user satisfaction. Both the handover solutions have been implemented in ns-3, and the simulation results show that the proposed handover architectures outperform the benchmark algorithms.
Professional Learning in Sustainability Education and Local Curriculum Design: One School’s Practice Development Through Critical Participatory Action Research
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Hulbert, Rachelle
The thesis investigates how professional learning and development (PLD) can support primary school teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand to embed sustainability education into their teaching practice and local curriculum design. It establishes the growing urgency of sustainability at both local and global levels and highlights the critical role that schools play in preparing students to respond to these challenges. Despite growing recognition of sustainability in education, a persistent gap remains between policy rhetoric and classroom practice, shaped by political and economic agendas that prioritise growth over sustainability. Grounded in the theory of practice architectures, this single-site case study examines how school-based practice arrangements and teachers’ sayings, doings, and relatings enabled or constrained the integration of sustainability education and local curriculum design. A critical participatory action research (CPAR) design documented teachers’ evolving understandings of sustainability, their engagement with PLD, and opportunities created to embed sustainability themes into planning and pedagogy. The research was conducted through critical participatory action research (CPAR) cycles across three distinct phases of the research. Phase One examined the local context; Phase Two evaluated the Sustainability Education and Local Curriculum Design (SELCD) PLD; and Phase Three explored how the PLD was embedded into practice. The findings show that, while sustainability remains an ambiguous concept requiring contextual definition, teachers’ practices still shifted across the phases as they integrated sustainability into curriculum planning. New sayings, doings, and relatings emerged, including place-based inquiry units, Indigenous knowledge integration, and peer-supported learning structures. These practices reflected growing teacher agency and reconfigured practice arrangements. The study revealed that PLD for sustainability must engage with cultural-discursive, material-economic, and social-political arrangements to support long-term change. Key elements include holistic models of sustainability, practical frameworks and resources, localised learning opportunities, time for integration, and a whole-school approach that fosters collaboration. The study offers a context-responsive, bespoke PLD model for sustainability education that is embedded, localised, and transformative. By foregrounding teachers’ lifeworlds and recognising the personal and professional dimensions shaping practice, the model has the potential to enrich the developing literature on site-ontological approaches to sustainability education and teacher professional learning.
Theatre and Drag Identity: A Comparative Study of Cross-gender Performance Traditions in Manipur, India and New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Bradshaw, Suzania Brahmacharimayum
[Thesis embargoed until 18 November 2026]. Starting from the premise, following Judith Butler (1990), that gender identity is a form of performance, this thesis explores the values, attitudes, and lived realities underpinning drag performance traditions. Utilising an ethnographic methodology, it examines how cross-dressed and drag performers in Manipur, India, and in New Zealand use their theatrical personas to communicate strategies for navigating a stigmatised identity, and how their professional practices contribute to distinct traditions of drag and gendered performance. In Manipur, the Nupi Manbi (“to act like or resemble a girl”) occupy a significant position within the region’s theatre culture, mirroring patterns of everyday life, language, and social relationships. This thesis considers the significance of this theatrical tradition for Manipuri communities and the cultural, social, and historical factors that shape such practices within Eastern theatre. It also reflects on similarities and divergences between these practices and those found in neighbouring Asian contexts—such as Thailand, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and China—and contrasts them with the traditions and styles of drag performance in Western theatre. Drawing on unstructured interviews with male cross-dressing performers, supported by visual analysis of live theatre, film, and television performances, this study investigates how performers negotiate gender identity and the sense of self within liminal spaces where conventional social boundaries are momentarily suspended. While drag has often been framed in the literature as subverting heteronormativity, far less attention has been given to the psychological and existential costs incurred by performers who publicly inhabit a stigmatised subculture. This research, therefore, asks: How do performance styles, peer networks, public attitudes, and conceptions of selfhood shape the construction of identity in theatre? It further examines how shifts over the past twenty-five years—technological advances, changing performance practices, and evolving theatre cultures—have complicated the relationships between gender identity, censorship, and national identity. By analysing the social status of performers and their responses to societal norms surrounding sex and gender, this thesis offers a comparative, cross-cultural account of how practitioners negotiate, resist, and reimagine identity within their respective artistic, social, and cultural environments.
Energy-Optimal Control for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles in Offshore Aquaculture
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Tun, Thein Than
With sustainable land-based farming and offshore aquaculture, the New Zealand aquaculture industry is expected to reach $3 billion market size by 2035 [1]. Aligning with this trend, the New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS), a leading fish farming company, started the proof-of-concept phase of its offshore aquaculture project called Blue Endeavour Project (the first of its kind offshore salmon farm in New Zealand) in June 2025 [2]. Along with relocation to the offshore, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) play a crucial role in conducting work processes such as fish net-pen visual inspection (FNVI) autonomously in collaboration or on behalf of human workforce due to the harsh working environment. However, due to the constrained operational workspace in aquaculture, the autonomous UUV must rely on its limited onboard battery capacity, without the use of an umbilical cord for power supply and data transmission. Therefore, the energy-optimality aspect of optimal control is investigated in this thesis. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to the growing adoption of autonomous UUVs in aquaculture and oceanographic research, where energy efficiency and accurate trajectory tracking in constrained operational workspaces are essential, thereby enabling fewer battery-charging cycles and extended operational duration and range. Three main control schemes, namely, Proportional Integral Derivative-based controllers (PID-based controllers), Linear Quadratic Tracking-based controllers (LQT-based controllers), and Model Predictive Control-based controllers (MPC-based controllers), are applied in a total of 13 controllers to two UUVs, namely BlueROV2 Heavy Configuration (an inspection class UUV, weighing about 12 kg) and RexROV 2 (an intervention class UUV, weighing about 1800 kg), to conduct FNVI around NZKS’s Blue Endeavour Project site. Explicit power functions (component-level power function and system-level power function) are used in the performance index (also known as cost function or objective function) of the energy-optimal versions of LQT-based controllers and MPC-based controllers. Among all the proposed controllers, particularly for a harsh ocean environment with strong underwater current disturbances, the energy-optimal MPC (EO-MPC) on RexROV 2 is the most energy-optimal controller, achieving the equivalent trajectory tracking performance of conventional MPC (CO-MPC) for the energy-demanding trajectory while fulfilling constraints across both prediction and control horizons. To access the realistic phenomenon of UUV’s performance in the field-trials, high-fidelity simulations with 0.0m/s - 0.9m/s underwater current disturbance speeds are conducted in the Robot Operating System (ROS), integrated with Gazebo Physics Engine, using the specifications of UUV’s system parameters and NZKS’s Blue Endeavour Project. Due to the unavailability of an expensive and accurate localisation system for the sea/ocean trials, a total of 13 pool experiments were conducted using the actual hardware of BlueROV2 with the vision-based state-estimation system. These experimental results are cross-validated with another 13 pool simulation results and it was found that both experimental and simulation results are, in general, coherent among themselves and FNVI simulations. Most importantly, it is worth noting that the types of UUVs, the available computing capacity on the chosen UUV, the operational constraints, and environmental factors must be taken into account in choosing a controller among the proposed energy-optimal controllers. In addition, these research findings can be used as part of the technical evidence and operational guidelines by multiple stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, infrastructure owners, and management, development, and deployment engineers), thereby enabling comprehensive and informed decision-making regarding the advantages and challenges associated with the adoption of autonomous UUVs in offshore aquaculture.
Refugees at Work: Narratives of Identity Construction
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Moore, Vikashni
Existing literature has documented identity losses, diminished self-esteem, and employment challenges among refugees while also revealing the importance of their work integration in resettlement societies. However, we have only a limited understanding of how refugees actively negotiate and potentially transform their identities through diverse forms of work. Furthermore, in the contexts of identity and work, scholarship usually focuses on single aspects of the migration journey. This thesis explores the complex processes of identity construction among refugees through the research question – How are refugees’ identities constructed throughout their migration journey in the context of work? Guided by a constructivist grounded theory methodology integrated with the translocational positionality framework, I collected and analysed data from 41 participants across three groups in Aotearoa New Zealand – 22 refugees, 11 managers and mentors (M&Ms), and eight pathways-to-work providers (PWPs) – in a way that privileged participants’ voices while emphasising the co-construction of knowledge. Five significant findings emerged from analysis of the data collected from the refugee participants. The migration journey emerged as the contextual framework for understanding identity construction, encompassing refugees’ past, present, and future. Three primary identity constructs – anchors, refugeehood, and place – were found to be influential in the formation of identities for refugees. An insider-outsider continuum was a site for identity constructions, representing a dynamic process of negotiating multiple social positions. Refugees’ resourcefulness materialised through four interconnected strategies of exercising agency, demonstrating self-efficacy, finding alternative pathways, and remaining undeterred. Finally, the meaning of work, connecting intrinsically to identity constructions throughout the migration journey, was revealed in four themes of being oneself and to be more, working for survival, working for family, and working for communities, explaining why refugees chose to work in the roles that they do. Findings from the interviews with M&Ms and PWPs revealed five distinct motives driving their refugee assistance. Empathy was found to be a key motive, in addition to economic value, job or organisational requirement, a moral imperative, and personal fulfilment. Five key dimensions of work integration were identified – access to work, capabilities development, changing narratives, finding meaning in work, and social and cultural integration facilitation. Finally, the concept of a metaphorical stepping stone as a provisional meaning of work component also emerged as a finding from these two participant cohorts. From the above findings, this thesis presents a new theory on the bidirectional relationship between refugees’ identity and their meaning of work constructions. It contributes to reconfiguring understandings of the dialectic between the socially constructed ‘Me’ and the agentic ‘I’ in the migration journey and work contexts. The novel theory proposes a fluid identity construction process while highlighting the interplay between identity constructs and work meanings. Refugees’ resourcefulness throughout their migration journey, alongside strategies utilised by M&Ms and PWPs, influence identity formation and work meanings, and this led to the development of a new relational work integration framework. This research advances scholarship across disciplines – forced displacement and refugee resettlement studies, organisational behaviour, the meaning of work, and sociological and social psychology – and informs resettlement policy enhancement. It reconceptualises work integration beyond traditional employment pathways. The framework developed in this thesis is attentive to refugees’ unique experiences in constructing meanings from work. It contributes to refugee studies through a holistic migration journey perspective that also conceptualises refugeehood as an intricate, fluid construct incorporating agency. This thesis demonstrates how an ecosystem of employers and resettlement services organisations can provide meaningful work while supporting refugees’ identity formations and recommends policy improvements requiring coordination across individual, organisational and government levels.
Perspectives on Walking and Supportive Interventions Provided by Residential Care Staff for Residents With Dementia Who Walked: A Critical Ethnographic Study
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Adesina, Christianah Oyinade Bamidele Abiodun
Walking (commonly referred to as ‘wandering’) has been seen as problematic and stigmatised in persons living with dementia who walk. Walking is one of the increased symptoms of dementia (BPSD) as it progresses uniquely in each person. Studies indicate 15% to 60% persons with dementia will walk. In New Zealand, currently, 70,000 persons live with dementia, 78,000 persons are projected to live with it by 2026 and 170, 212 by 2050. The stigma associated with walking and dementia has been consequential, resulting in dehumanisation, a lack of respect for personhood, and social disregard as equal and social citizens. This impacts the psychological, holistic well-being and the quality of life of persons affected, with ripple effects on families. International studies reported a questionable common practice of administering antipsychotic medications to manage BPSD in residents in aged care facilities in urban and rural settings worldwide. This was widely condemned due to adverse effects of the medications. Best practice guidelines recommend non-pharmacological strategies as first-line interventions with antipsychotic medications as a last resort. This research set out to explore how residential care staff provided relational and supportive interventions to residents living with dementia who walked. The study had five aims: to explore the perspectives of all participants on the walking of residents with dementia; to investigate the supportive interventions provided in two aged care facilities in a city in New Zealand; to explore the concept of person-centred care; to examine the impact of built environment on residents’ walking; and to contribute to the destigmatisation of the residents, advocating for a shift to using dignifying language for residents’ optimal support. Critical ethnography with a social construction theoretical orientation was used to conduct the qualitative study. The design gives authority to participants’ voices to be heard. Social constructionism argues that no single meaning is sufficient to explain a human activity, that knowledge is constructed in every interaction using language, and that every new knowledge created as a result, needs to be acknowledged. Purposive sampling was used to recruit residents living with dementia who walked, their EPAs, RNs and HCAs. Data were collected through participant observations, in-depth interviews, and unobtrusive methods. All data were transcribed and thematically analysed. Three main themes were identified with ‘Carrying on normal life’ permeating throughout. First, ‘Perspectives on walking’ revealed residents wanted to ‘carry on normal life’. Second, ‘Supporting walking’ unfolded how staff used empathy, and relational solidarity to support residents’ walking by being proactive, reinforcing positive behaviours, and providing non-pharmacological interventions and third, ‘Environment and walking’, highlighted the importance of environment for residents’ walking. With the evidence presented in these findings, I argue that it is time to provide alternative and salutogenic support for residents to carry on normal life. In addition, there is a need for a national policy that supports the walking of the residents with dementia. All stakeholders should consider this support as an ethical obligation and work collaboratively and independently to achieve person-centred care goals for the residents using humanising language that enhances the psychological health, well-being, and quality of life of the residents.
Distributional Issues in Well-Being: A Case Study of New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Jiang, Yi
It is now widely accepted that well-being is inherently multidimensional and that relying solely on economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product or income fails to capture the comprehensive nature of human well-being. New Zealand is recognised as a global leader in well-being policy, exemplified by initiatives such as the first Well-being Budget and the national multidimensional well-being framework. However, existing measures remain insufficient in fully capturing the distributional aspects of well-being across different population groups. This thesis examines distributional issues in well-being in New Zealand through two studies. The overall objective is to assess the distribution of well-being across different demographic groups and to investigate the influence of cultural identity on individual life satisfaction. In the context of New Zealand’s diverse society and significant indigenous Māori population, this thesis aims to identify which populations are most vulnerable to well-being deprivation and to inform policies that promote more equitable well-being outcomes. Given that the existing research in New Zealand remains limited in exploring the distributional aspects of well-being, a multidimensional well-being index was constructed at the individual level using Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CATPCA). This composite index encompasses eight domains of well-being and is used to analyse the distributional patterns across population groups. The findings reveal pronounced disparities: Māori and Pacific peoples are considerably more likely than other groups to experience low well-being across multiple domains and are among the most vulnerable to well-being deprivation, which calls for more group-focused and culturally responsive policy interventions. Indigenous Māori have historically faced systemic inequalities that have undermined their well-being, while their distinct cultural identity has fostered resilience. The second study examines the relationship between cultural identity and life satisfaction. Using pooled ordinary least squares (POLS) regression and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, it analyses differences in life satisfaction between Māori and European New Zealanders. The analysis confirms that Māori report lower life satisfaction on average than Europeans. The Oaxaca-Blinder results attribute this gap partly to differences in socioeconomic resources and partly to unexplained factors, suggesting the presence of structural influences beyond observable characteristics. Cultural identity emerges as a crucial factor, with a stronger connection to Māori identity being associated with higher life satisfaction. However, existing studies suggest that broader structural factors can also contribute to these disparities. The analysis suggests the need for policy interventions that target cultural and structural factors. Strengthening Māori-centred frameworks, such as He Ara Waiora, while addressing systemic barriers in housing, healthcare, and income equality, is crucial. Policies should provide equitable opportunities for Māori to translate their cultural assets into tangible improvements in life satisfaction.
A Long Journey of Going Gender: Women’s Self-initiated Expatriate Experiences and Career Decision Making
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Basnayake, Courtenay Grace Karl
This doctoral thesis investigates the career decision-making processes of mid-adulthood professional self-initiated expatriate (SIE) women living and working in New Zealand, with the ‘going gender’ framework (Stenbacka & Forsberg, 2020) serving as the primary theoretical lens for understanding the dynamic interplay between gender, careers, and self-initiated expatriation (SIE). This research aims to contribute to the existing literature by exploring the gendered experiences of mid-adulthood professional SIE women, particularly within the New Zealand context. It seeks to move beyond traditional career-centric perspectives by exploring mid-adulthood SIE women's broader personal and professional experiences. The study seeks to understand how ‘going gender’ operates as a dynamic process within the context of SIE, recognising the influence of early life experiences and the multifaceted nature of international career and life trajectories. Employing a narrative inquiry and life story approach, this study gathered and analysed the lived experiences of 15 SIE women through semi-structured interviews. A multi-layered thematic analysis of these narratives revealed that ‘going gender’ is not merely a reactive adaptation occurring during and following SIE but a proactive, anticipatory process beginning before relocation. The research highlights the enduring influence of early life experiences, such as childhood exposure to diverse cultures and experiences, on women's propensity for and navigation of SIE. The study also demonstrates that SIE catalyses or facilitates accelerated personal and professional growth, leading to significant shifts in career aspirations and life priorities during SIE. This research concludes that ‘going gender’ within the SIE context involves a more anticipatory and iterative process than previously understood, thereby challenging traditional models of gender performativity prevalent in SIE literature. The study advances an understanding of SIE by emphasising the significant influence of early life experiences and the transformative potential of women’s international mobility. From a theoretical perspective, this research reconfigures Stenbacka and Frosberg's ‘going gender’ framework by demonstrating its applicability to the SIE context and highlighting the proactive nature of gender role negotiation. Practically, the findings underscore the need for holistic support systems for mid-adulthood professional SIE women, addressing both their professional and personal well-being. Policy implications include addressing gender related issues in SIE, such as pay gaps and underemployment, and developing immigration policies that facilitate smooth integration. This research contributes to a greater understanding of SIE as a comprehensive life journey, revealing how gender intersects with career decision-making and the international mobility of women in New Zealand.
‘Who do you think you are?’ A Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis of Identity Production Among Sakhalin Koreans in New Zealand, Russia, and South Korea
(Auckland University of Technology, 2024) Khan, Yulia
‘Who do you think you are?’ is a question that many might stumble upon. Not only does it assume one’s understanding of various facets that make up their identity but also how this identity is produced in everyday life. An additional layer of complexity lies in such significant events as migration and settlement, which both challenge that understanding and shape identity in (new) ways that then can be found in tangible instantiations: food that a person makes and serves, language(s) they use, the books they buy, read, and keep, and other objects that may be present in their home or work environment. The focus of this thesis is Sakhalin Korean identity and how members of this diaspora produce their identity across three countries: New Zealand, Russia, and South Korea in daily life contexts. The scholarship concerning Sakhalin Korean identity in general, to date, remains highly limited and investigating identity production among members of this diaspora beyond a single country is one of the key contributions that this thesis seeks to make. The thesis is grounded in the mediated discourse theory and multimodal (inter)action analysis (MIA) framework. Using mediated action as the key unit of analysis, I find that as the participants (inter)act with various objects they produce distinct identity elements that relate to family, their ethnicity, settlement in the new home country (New Zealand or South Korea) or life in Russia, occupation, and personal interests. A micro analysis of frozen actions, that is mediated actions embedded in the objects, yields further insight into a highly complex nature of identity production, and culminates in theoretical and methodological development. I have found that the existing methodological tools within mediated discourse theory and MIA are not sufficient to explicate how identity elements are structured (inter)action, particularly in instances when an object mediates more than one identity element. I develop and introduce three theoretical and methodological notions: identity cluster, identity elements’ convergence, and identity compound to fill this gap and show how they can be applied in the analysis. Identity cluster is a superordinate level of identity elements’ structure that can be used as a tool to determine scope, order, and scale for the analysis of relevant identity elements. Identity elements’ convergence and identity compound are two interrelated and interconnected notions. Convergence of identity elements is a notion that enables discovery of several identity elements that a social actor produces as mediated by one object. Together, those identity elements form an identity compound, which is an integral structure recognisable through the analysis of frozen actions embedded in the objects. Application of these three notions as methodological tools enables investigations into complexity of the produced identity going beyond a single cluster and contributes to the ontological discussion about objects and/as mediational means. The final chapter summarises identity production across the three countries, addresses affordances and constraints of the developed tools, and proposes areas for further research.

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