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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Rohingya Refugee Background Students Negotiating Aotearoa New Zealand’s Educational Practices and Institutions
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Chowdhury, Sorowar
Education is pivotal in successful refugee resettlement, with refugee students navigating diverse discourses within resettlement countries' educational systems. These discourses predominantly shape their subjectivities: identities governed by both internal (self)-analysis and external forces of power. While extensive research exists on refugees' educational opportunities globally, there is a gap regarding refugee background students' (RBS’) navigation of New Zealand's education system. This study examines Rohingya RBS’ educational aspirations and their negotiations with New Zealand’s education system. New Zealand, known for its diversity and inclusivity, presents various challenges for RBSs within its education system. Despite its welcoming stance, refugees often struggle with adapting to the educational complexities. This research employs Foucault’s theories of power, knowledge, and discourse, using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA) to explore the language and knowledge construction processes affecting Rohingya RBS. It examines how power dynamics within New Zealand’s education system, shaped by global colonialism, capitalism, and neoliberalism, govern these students. The study focuses on six purposively selected Rohingya RBS, three secondary students and three adults. It analyses a range of data: relevant government policy documents, interviews with educators and refugee coordinators, and classroom observations and interviews with Rohingya RBS. The analysis focusses on an interplay between statements, discourses, and discursive formations. It identifies and maps discourses and discursive formations, drawing on the Rohingya RBS' experiences. The study identifies three major neoliberal discourses: English language acquisition, educational opportunities, and aspirations. Each comprises three peripheral discourses. Under English language acquisition, the discourses include language learning, language barriers, and learning alternatives. Educational opportunities encompass access to education, quality of education, and alternative opportunities. Aspiration discourses cover personal aspirations, collective refugee aspirations, and alternatives to aspirations. These discourses provide a framework for interpreting and presenting the findings. The research finds that New Zealand's educational discourses of opportunity and ‘success’ are closely linked to English language acquisition, which, in turn significantly shape Rohingya RBS' aspirations. These discourses encompass broader societal narratives, such as integration, economic self-sufficiency, and cultural adaptation. The study explores how Rohingya RBS negotiate their educational pathways, highlighting the challenges related to English language proficiency and diverse educational practices that impact their academic progress and self-perception. Central to this thesis is the notion that academic success for RBS in New Zealand hinges on English proficiency, which determines their academic potential and aspirations. This leads to theories of linguistic governmentality, positioning the English language as a key element in successful resettlement. This thesis contributes to the development of more effective educational policies and practices for severely persecuted populations like the Rohingya in New Zealand and similar jurisdictions.
Next-Generation Wireless On-Chip Communication Using Terahertz Antennas
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Paudel, Biswash
The exponential growth of data-driven technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), high-definition sensing, and wireless chip-to-chip interconnects, has intensified the demand for ultra-high-speed, energy-efficient communication systems. Conventional microwave and millimetre-wave solutions are reaching their physical and spectral limits, prompting a shift toward the terahertz (THz) band (0.1–10 THz) for next-generation wireless networks. The THz spectrum offers unprecedented bandwidth and spatial resolution but remains hindered by propagation loss, fabrication tolerances, and integration constraints within semiconductor environments. These challenges define a crucial research gap in realizing compact, low-loss, and CMOS-compatible THz antenna systems. This thesis addresses that gap through the design and modelling of advanced on-chip and substrate-integrated THz architectures. First, a stacked substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) pyramidal horn antenna is proposed to achieve beam symmetry, high gain, and planar compatibility. The design employs multilayer dielectric loading and Gaussian excitation to balance E- and H-plane radiation, demonstrating efficient operation around 210 GHz. Second, a broadband, probe-less rectangular-waveguide (RWG) to SIW mode converter is introduced, enabling low-reflection TE10 to TE20 transitions and compact interfacing between metallic and planar structures. Finally, the thesis models intra- and inter-chip THz communication channels using realistic on-chip antennas and packaging materials, evaluating coupling efficiency, loss mechanisms, and spatial field behaviour for Wireless Network-on-Chip (WiNoC) applications. Collectively, these works contribute new insights into THz front-end integration, demonstrating that multilayer SIW antennas and mode converters can deliver high performance and scalability within chip-scale systems. The research establishes a foundation for CMOS/BiCMOS-compatible THz transceivers, paving the way for future 6G and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) platforms. Future work should focus on fabrication, experimental validation, and reconfigurable metamaterial loading to further enhance bandwidth, tunability, and practical deployment of on-chip THz systems.
An Evidence-Based Framework for Whole-life Cost Analysis of Residential Buildings in New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Samarasekara, Herath Mudiyanselage Samadhi Nayanathara
The construction industry plays a crucial role in the global economy, with residential building projects accounting for a significant share of activities, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and New Zealand. Whole-life Costing (WLC) is increasingly recognised as a vital approach to fostering economic sustainability, facilitating informed decision-making, and enhancing resilience in construction projects. However, despite its acknowledged advantages, there is no tailored WLC framework available for residential buildings, particularly in New Zealand. This absence of a specific, context-aware framework has led to the underutilization of WLC principles and inadequate lifecycle cost management within the sector. This thesis fills the research gap by creating a WLC framework specifically designed for residential buildings in New Zealand, considering the unique environmental, social, regulatory, and seismic challenges the country faces. Thus, this research aims to develop a WLC framework that considers all elements to enhance the estimation accuracy of residential buildings for long-term economic sustainability, benefiting industry professionals, policymakers, homeowners, and researchers involved in New Zealand's residential. This research adopts an interpretivist philosophy, applying an inductive approach and qualitative methodology. The study was structured in three stages: a systematic literature review and framework document analysis; 22 semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders, including quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, project managers, facilities managers, homeowners, and government representatives; and a validation phase involving five expert participants. Initially, 80 factors influencing global Whole-life Cost (WLC) estimation were identified and refined to 37 key factors relevant to New Zealand’s residential construction context. System dynamics modelling, through causal loop diagrams, was then used to uncover complex feedback loops and interactions among these factors. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) subsequently prioritised them, ensuring accurate weighting and contextual relevance. In the validation stage, expert reviewers assessed the selected factors for clarity, relevance, and applicability to the New Zealand context. Their feedback was thematically coded to identify consensus and capture suggestions for refinement. This rigorous process enhanced the robustness of the framework, confirmed the prioritisation outcomes, and strengthened its practical applicability for industry stakeholders. Significant obstacles to WLC implementation include methodological complexity, a lack of local whole-life cost data, fragmented industry practices, and insufficient integration with standard procurement and project delivery systems. The validated framework addresses these challenges by including components for acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance, end-of-life, and external social and environmental costs. Key validation insights highlighted the importance of seismic resilience, variations in regional climate, material evaluation, differences in labour productivity, supply chain resilience, and the need for integration of local climate data. Recommendations also emphasised usability improvements, such as pre-populated datasets, scenario modelling, example case studies, and dashboard interfaces with dropdown menus. The development of the New Zealand-specific Whole-of-Life Cost (WLC) framework represents an innovative and dynamic approach that effectively bridges theoretical concepts with practical applications. It enables stakeholders to reconcile initial construction costs with long-term operational efficiencies, resilience to hazards, and commitments to environmental sustainability. This research contributes significantly to the literature and practice of lifecycle cost modelling, providing guidance for sustainable housing development that aligns with the nation's economic and sustainability objectives. The framework serves as a vital resource for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to improving the accuracy of lifecycle cost assessments, advancing sustainability initiatives, and incorporating holistic, long-term perspectives into the residential construction sector in New Zealand.
Elucidating the Concept of Task Challenge in Stroke Rehabilitation
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Gomes, Emeline
Stroke is a life-altering experience that can profoundly impact a person’s identity, function, participation, and wellbeing. These impacts extend beyond the individual, with significant consequences for whānau and society. Reducing the impact of stroke is therefore a critical priority and rehabilitation plays a central role in this endeavour. Stroke rehabilitation involves a biopsychosocial and person-centred process that can promote recovery and support people to (re-)engage in meaningful life roles. This process is commonly described as being underpinned by core principles, including timing, person-centred care, and challenge. Although many of these underpinning principles have been extensively researched and endorsed in clinical guidelines, several remain poorly understood, inconsistently implemented, and variably effective in clinical practice. As the impact of stroke continues to grow, gaps between research and practice are likely to widen, further limiting the capacity of rehabilitation to respond to the needs of people with stroke. This highlights a pressing need to advance stroke rehabilitation and the principles that inform it. One potential avenue for advancing stroke rehabilitation lies in optimising the principle of ‘challenge’. Prior literature has variably referred to challenge as “how hard a task is” or the “amount of physical or mental effort put forth by a person”. Emerging research suggests that, when carefully tailored to the person, challenge may produce better rehabilitation experiences and outcomes. Yet, despite its therapeutic potential, challenge remains poorly understood, and in turn, risks being suboptimally applied in both research and practice. To enhance its use, a comprehensive understanding of the concept is required. Therefore, this doctoral thesis aimed to advance understanding of the concept of challenge in stroke rehabilitation. Adopting a pragmatist philosophical position, this thesis comprised three interrelated qualitative studies exploring challenge from the perspectives of people with stroke, whānau, and rehabilitation therapists. Study A, a concept analysis study, captured how challenge is conceptualised in the stroke rehabilitation literature from the perspectives of people with stroke and physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy disciplines. A principle-based framework was used to ask philosophical questions of the literature and build a theoretical understanding of challenge. This analysis delineated key conceptual components, characterising challenge as a multifaceted, multidimensional, and dynamic concept in stroke rehabilitation. This informed a proposed definition of challenge as an interaction between the task, the person’s ability, and their subjective experience, which when optimised to the individual, may foster learning, recovery, and engagement in rehabilitation and everyday life. Study B, a video-reflexive ethnography study, explored how people with stroke, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language therapists understand and experience challenge in stroke rehabilitation practice. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: (i) Challenge is an interpretive lens, (ii) The terms and conditions of engaging with rehabilitation challenge, (iii) Making challenge make sense, and (iv) Meeting or leaving each other in the challenge. These themes demonstrated that challenge in stroke rehabilitation practice is shaped by nuanced personal and relational dynamics. People with stroke and therapists often viewed challenge through their unique experiential and professional lenses, respectively. Explicit and implicit practices could facilitate shared understanding and the co-construction of meaningful experiences of challenge, grounded in trust, emotional safety, and mutual attunement. However, when genuine collaboration was lacking, this risked misaligned understandings, a strained therapeutic relationship, and could diminish the perceived value of stroke rehabilitation. Study C, a focused video analysis study, examined how challenge is operationalised in stroke rehabilitation practice. Three intersecting practices were identified: (i) Structuring the temporal phases of challenge, (ii) Establishing the macro-architecture of challenge, and (iii) Modulating challenge through micro-calibrations. These practices described when, what, and how challenge-related work was enacted across a rehabilitation session, and encompassed an interplay of explicit and implicit technical and relational practices. While both people with stroke and therapists actively contributed to these practices, the extent and nature of their influence and collaboration varied according to the task, personal and relational dynamics, and the rehabilitation context. Taken together, this thesis elucidates the key conceptual components of challenge, foregrounds the central role of the therapeutic relationship in shaping its experience, and articulates how it is dynamically implemented in practice. The integration of these theoretical, experiential, and practical findings advance understandings of challenge beyond ambiguous descriptions and toward a robust conceptual foundation capable of strengthening both research and practice. In doing so, this thesis offers clear direction for optimising the use of challenge in ways that may enhance experiences of and outcomes from stroke rehabilitation.
A Director's Process for Staging Ancient Greek Tragedy in an Era of Crisis—Fragility, Resilience, Resonance
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Luton, Holly
This creative practice doctoral research explores how staging Ancient Greek Tragedy in contemporary contexts might inform our current lived experiences in an era of crisis. I, as researcher and director, reflect on my own body of work directed for the purposes of this research—two productions, staged in a contemporary manner in non-theatre sites: Euripides’ Women of Troy and Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. These productions, along with a post-production reflective drama workshop with the actors, served as testing sites of iterative discovery for the research. In 2020, I created my own theatre company, Corvus Theatre Co., which has enabled me to stage my productions through an exploratory research mode and professional theatrical setting. Undertaken during a time marked by local, national, and global turbulence—from pandemics to economic uncertainty, institutional and cultural reckonings, conflicts, and political instabilities—making theatre under such conditions was neither easy nor straightforward. Crisis, I argue, is our zeitgeist—the spirit of our age. Despite this turbulence, I positioned my research to see crisis as something to embrace, embody, and employ rather than merely a storm to weather—engaging with and utilising crisis as an opportunity to navigate, re-imagine, and make sense of our era through theatre. Staging ancient Greek tragedy in contemporary contexts, I highlight the enduring power and relevance of these plays to resonate with and provoke reflection on themes concerning war, women, power, trauma, survival, and resilience. How do we make sense of ourselves and our theatre practice in these chaotic and turbulent times of crisis? Staging my productions by necessity in unconventional non-theatre spaces—spaces designed without the intention of theatrical performances, but which I adapted for performance—I discuss how we might utilise and employ found spaces and come to recognise them as sites of theatrical possibility and potential during this era. I explore how crisis fosters opportunities for resilience, while simultaneously revealing the fragilities within our practice. I consider whether, as artists, we should wait for a crisis to be a catalyst for change, or if we have an obligation to prepare ourselves and our practice for the next once-in-a-lifetime crisis? As a critical storytelling device, I use the myth of Pandora’s Jar—recontextualised by Natalie Haynes —to symbolically convey this era as a moment of fragility and resilience. Significantly, in a moment of peripeteia, my production of Agamemnon was cancelled after the first full dress rehearsal due to health and internal human resource crises—situations which fundamentally challenged my assumptions underpinning my methodology. This disruption prompted anagnorisis, a deeper reflection from me about the limitations of seeing crisis as an opportunity—revealing that some crises cannot always be harnessed, redirected, or made generative. The collapse of Agamemnon became a critical point in my journey—a site that exposed the fragility of both theatre practice and practitioner, acknowledging that resilience has its limits. My final creative practice component for examination, An Exhibition of a Director's Process: Staging Tragedy in an Era of Crisis, demonstrated the processes involved in producing, directing, designing, rehearsing, and performing the two productions for a public audience. The exhibition consisted of artefacts, resources, properties, costumes, and set pieces and includes photographs, videos, commentary, and written artefacts that document the process and challenges of staging the two productions. The exhibition invited attendees to contribute their own moments of fragility and resilience in making and participating in theatre in an era of crisis—placing our moments of chaos and our hopeful expectations into Pandora’s Jar.
Drawing on Grief: Illustrating Narratives of Loss Through Documentary and Animation
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Hoyle, Elizabeth
Grief is both a deeply universal human experience and an intensely personal one, shaped by the circumstances and emotions of those who experience it. Responding to this inherent duality, this practice led study employs heuristic inquiry to investigate how a filmmaker working at the intersection of animation and documentary might artistically visualise intimate narratives of grief and loss. The research is guided by the central question: How might a documentary filmmaker artistically approach interviews of grief by synthesising rhythm, imagery, and sound? The study positions animated documentary as a creative mode capable of evoking imagination and offering subjective insight into emotional and psychological states that are otherwise difficult to articulate. In the study, three individuals’ recorded experiences of loss constitute points of origin. Their edited interviews are combined with illustration, animation, and sound design to create short film texts that express experience inside the world of actualities. The resulting short films— Grief Elizabeth, Grief Stephen, and Grief Star—are distinct works that together form a stylistically cohesive suite designed to evoke a contemplative engagement with the complex nature of mourning. Across the three films, the researcher’s presence as storyteller is embedded in the visual and sonic composition, shaping the narrative in ways that invite both empathetic identification and reflective space for the viewer. The practice and exegetical discussion extend current discourses on the nature, practice, and implications of animated documentary making, offering an artistic lens to a growing corpus of work that considers the complexity and diversity of grief. Additionally, the project demonstrates how ‘aroha’ can be ethically and meaningfully integrated into documentary practice when working with participants, shaping a mode of collaboration grounded in care. It also shows how a post-disciplinary approach to artistic inquiry can harmoniously draw together thinking from diverse fields to enrich both method and form. Finally, the three documentaries illustrate how recorded interviews can be crafted as a form of poetic language, in which collage and sound operate as a distinctive expressive syntax.
Ritual Design for Mythic Hygiene
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Lewis, Marshall
Reclaiming the Golden Calf is a creative work about a grieving son who stumbles upon his deceased mother’s virtual afterlife – the Golden Calf Elevator & Café. There he enrols in a therapeutic workshop, Ritual Design for Mythic Hygiene, during which he re-envisions personal, family and cultural myth. The thesis creatively explores a speculative condition called amythic death anxiety, whereby the absence of functional myth – amythia – exacerbates dysregulated death anxiety, leading to psychological dis-ease, including debilitating anxieties, compulsions and excessive guilt and shame. The thesis argues: If we are dissatisfied with our psychosocial outcomes, then we should consider, amongst other mitigating strategies, experimenting with our mythic narratives and related rituals. Reclaiming the Golden Calf demonstrates Ritual Design for Mythic Hygiene as an experimental method and genre of creative practice through which one seeks more personally meaningful myth. The thesis also demonstrates creative writing as a ritual behaviour for addressing amythia, dysregulated death anxiety, and the pursuit of symbolic immortality.
The Development of Chinese Novice University English Teachers’ Professional Identity in Interaction: A Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Zhou, Jing
Over the past two decades, teacher identity has attracted increasing scholarly attention, particularly in teacher education and professional development. However, the complex processes underpinning novice teacher identity formation remain underexplored. To address this gap, this thesis presents a longitudinal multi-case study of four novice EFL teachers in China, observed across one academic semester. The study employs a Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis (MIA) framework (Norris, 2004, 2011, 2019). Drawing on three rounds of video-recorded classroom observations and semi-structured interviews conducted throughout the semester, the study examines how identity is constructed across interactional, institutional, and sociocultural dimensions. This doctoral research is presented in a thesis-by-publication format, comprising three published articles (Articles I–III). Collectively, the research captures how novice EFL teachers negotiate personal aspirations and institutional demands through both discourse and embodied action. Article I explores the identity struggles of one teacher (Caroline), revealing tensions between her imagined ideals of relaxed, student-centred teaching and the realities of exclusion and resistance within a high-power-distance institutional culture. Multimodal analysis highlights the emotional labour and adaptive identity work required for professional integration. Article II follows two novice teachers, Mandy and Yable, as they transition from textbook-centred delivery to a more student-centred, interactive pedagogy. By analysing changes in multimodal resources—such as gaze, gesture, and vocal modulation-the study shows how embodied communication facilitates pedagogical innovation and identity empowerment. Article III examines how four early-career lecturers navigate the competing demands of teaching and research under intensified “publish-or-perish” pressures. Divergent identity trajectories are identified: some participants resist institutional pressures to maintain teaching-oriented identities, while others strategically integrate research commitments into their professional self-concept. Multimodal analyses reveal how identity work is negotiated not only through language but through bodily enactments within academic communities. Together, the findings illustrate that novice EFL teacher identity development is a dynamic, multimodally mediated process shaped by discursive, relational, and institutional forces. The thesis advocates for teacher education and higher education policies that recognise the embodied dimensions of professional identity work, foster emotional resilience, and support more integrated models of teaching and research engagement. These insights aim to inform sustainable professional development strategies for novice educators, with implications extending beyond China to other international contexts.
Mechanical Joineries for Deployable Reciprocal Shells Through Auxetic Behaviour (DR STAB)
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Jayachandran, Surendar
Double-curved shells are admired in architecture for their strength, elegance, and efficiency, yet they remain difficult to build, costly to fabricate, and often impossible to reuse once completed. Conventional approaches rely on custom components and rigid geometries that limit flexibility and increase labor demands. Addressing these challenges requires new systems that combine structural efficiency with adaptability. One promising direction lies in bringing together two powerful principles: reciprocal framing, which distributes loads through interdependent members, and auxetic geometries, which expand and contract in controlled ways. When integrated, these principles open the possibility of creating shells that can be flat-packed, deployed into complex three-dimensional forms, and retracted for reuse. The key to achieving this lies in mechanical joinery. In this study, joints are designed not as secondary connectors but as the main drivers of motion and stability. Through a combination of digital modelling and physical prototyping, systems such as ratchets, one-way bearings, and hybrid locking mechanisms were tested to guide expansion, rotation, and locking. The findings highlight a pathway toward adaptable, reusable architectural systems that minimize material waste and assembly effort. Potential applications include temporary architecture, disaster relief structures, and remote construction. By linking geometric intelligence with mechanical precision, this work lays the foundation for a new class of deployable and sustainable building systems.
Reconfigurable Metasurface for Microwave Energy Absorption and Reflection in Next Generation Wireless Systems
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Ojukwu, Henry
This thesis presents the design, development, and experimental validation of a functionally reconfigurable metasurface capable of dynamically switching between electromagnetic (EM) energy absorption and reflection within the 4–6 GHz microwave frequency band. The proposed metasurface addresses the growing demand for adaptable and multifunctional platforms in next-generation wireless systems for energy and spectrum management. By integrating a single PIN diode into each unit cell, the design achieves dynamic reconfigurability with reduced structural complexity, offering a compact and efficient solution compared to existing architectures. The research begins with a comprehensive review of the theoretical foundations of metasurfaces, their electromagnetic properties, and their applications in wireless systems. A critical analysis of existing literature identifies key challenges, including design complexity, scalability, and the inability to achieve simultaneous multifunctionality. These insights inform the development of a novel metasurface unit cell, optimized for dual-mode operation. The unit cell design incorporates a split-ring resonator (SRR) and an inner square patch (ISP), with a PIN diode enabling seamless switching between absorption and reflection modes. Full-wave simulations using the Finite Element Method (FEM) validate the unit cell’s performance, achieving high absorption efficiency and strong reflection characteristics. An 8×8 metasurface, constructed from the optimized unit cells, is fabricated and experimentally characterized. In reflective mode, the metasurface demonstrates high reflection efficiency across the 4–6 GHz band, with measured results closely aligning with simulations. In absorptive mode, the metasurface achieves peak absorption efficiencies of 95–98% within its primary absorption band (4.74–5.0 GHz) and exhibits relatively broadband performance, maintaining over 80% absorptivity across the 4.6–5.2 GHz range. The metasurface is further evaluated for RF energy harvesting, integrating a power combining network (PCN) to aggregate captured energy. Experimental results demonstrate a maximum DC output of 370.8 mV at the optimal absorption frequency of 4.74 GHz, confirming the metasurface’s practical viability for energy harvesting applications. A novel hybrid operational paradigm is introduced, enabling simultaneous absorption and reflection within the same metasurface structure. By spatially partitioning the array into absorptive and reflective regions, the metasurface achieves concurrent dual-mode functionality, validated through both simulations and experiments. The hybrid configuration demonstrates effective absorption in the lower frequency range (4.0–4.75 GHz) and strong reflection at higher frequencies (5.0–6.0 GHz), showcasing its potential for adaptive spectrum management and interference mitigation. The thesis concludes by highlighting the metasurface’s versatility and scalability, with potential applications in wireless sensor networks, electromagnetic interference suppression, and self-sustainable communication systems. While minor discrepancies between simulated and measured results are attributed to fabrication tolerances and environmental factors, the overall performance validates the design methodology. Future work will focus on improving fabrication precision, optimizing hybrid configurations, and advancing the metasurface toward reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) with dynamic phase control and beam steering capabilities. This research contributes a significant advancement in metasurface technology, offering a multifunctional, reconfigurable platform that bridges the gap between energy harvesting and wave manipulation, paving the way for innovative solutions in next-generation wireless systems.
Paradoxical Emotional Intimacy: Negotiating Filial Emotion and Family Well-being in the Liminal Space of Chinese Intergenerational Travel
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Chen, Jing
Intergenerational family travel in China provides a distinctive lens for understanding how cultural values, emotional practices, and relational expectations are negotiated across generations. While family tourism is often portrayed as a harmonious pursuit of ‘happy family time,’ its more ambivalent dimensions remain underexplored, especially in contexts shaped by filial piety (xiao) and relational ideals of harmony. This research study addresses this gap by investigating how Chinese families experience and interpret intergenerational travel, focusing on how filial duty, emotional negotiation, and relational ethics influence the pursuit and perception of family well-being. Guided by a constructivist grounded theory methodology (CGTM), this research study, which combines individual and family group interviews, employed a whole-family approach that enabled multiple generations to co-construct meaning through conversation. This relational and multi-voiced design was further enriched through auto-driven photo elicitation, which evoked emotion and memory, deepening engagement. Reflexivity was embedded throughout the process, and interpretations were continuously revisited and refined through open and focused coding, constant comparison, and memo writing. These iterative analyses traced how emotions, moral reasoning, and cultural scripts interacted within what was theorised as a liminal emotional space, a temporary and transformative setting where familial ties, cultural scripts, and moral understandings of happiness converged and were reconfigured through emotional practice. The theorisation that emerged from this process reveals that intergenerational family travel experiences were characterised by emotional complexity and ambivalence. Aspirations of care and intimacy coexisted with obligation, sacrifice, and conflict. These tensions extended beyond contrasts between ‘wanting to’ and ‘having to’, appearing as misalignments between generations and through shifting hierarchies of authority and the gendered emotional labour. Such recurring tensions reflected deep cultural logics through which intimacy, hierarchy, and happiness were continually reconstituted. Within the liminal emotional space of travel, these logics were both reaffirmed and transformed, showing how Confucian ideals of filial duty interacted with contemporary values of autonomy and emotional expression. This research study theorises about paradoxical emotional intimacy, proposing intergenerational family travel as a liminal emotional practice where emotion and morality intersect to reshape kinship ties. This theorisation is supported by four interrelated pillars: the cultural ambiguity of filial piety (xiao), the cultural structuring of emotional experience, conflict as liminal emotional practice, and paradoxical well-being. Together, they illuminate how intergenerational relationships are not fixed entities but dynamic processes sustained through emotional negotiation and cultural interpretation. Empirically, the research study situates family well-being within Chinese cultural frameworks of filiality and relational ethics. Conceptually, it demonstrates that emotion is a relational and moral practice through which cultural meanings are reinterpreted. Methodologically, it exemplifies the value of a relational, multi-voiced CGTM approach that integrates dialogue, visual elicitation, and reflexive engagement to capture family emotional complexity. In a society where traditional moral language coexists with modern aspirations for self-realisation, intergenerational travel becomes a space where families reimagine what it means to love, care, and be happy together. The theory of paradoxical emotional intimacy illuminates the interweaving of culture, emotion, and morality in the continual shaping of family life and its meanings.
Co-Creating the “In” of Inclusion
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Echsel, Angelika
Despite global commitments to inclusive education as a human right, understanding of how inclusive education functions as a contextual, situated process within everyday school settings remains limited. Drawing on human rights frameworks, occupational science perspectives, and Dewey’s transactional philosophy, this study examined how two Swiss primary school communities collectively created inclusive education through shared occupational situations. The study employed a two-phase, sequential design. Phase one began with an international scoping review to answer the research question: “How is inclusive education in mainstream education at primary school level created?” Analysis of 26 studies from 14 countries, revealed that inclusive education unfolds through shared occupational situations, with emphasis on the extent to which these situations can be changed (their changeability) and the ways the social context shapes children’s experiences of inclusive schooling. The findings suggest the need to shift to a more nuanced understanding of inclusive practices, while acknowledging the diversity of such practices within specific cultural contexts internationally. Phase two sought to answer the question: “How is inclusive education created in mainstream schools in Switzerland for children aged between 8 and 12 years?” This phase comprised embedded case studies of two Swiss primary school classes, guided by Stake’s case study methodology and Dewey’s transactional theory. Multiple stakeholder perspectives were explored, including children, teachers, parents, assistants, therapists, and school leaders, through participant observations, interviews, and document analysis, Data were analysed using Stake’s strategies of direct interpretation and categorical aggregation, with findings synthesised into case-specific assertions. Representation of all stakeholders' actions and experiences from both the Oak and Village School cases provided nuanced, holistic, situated, and contextualised understanding of two distinct communities. The findings revealed that inclusive education develops through collective co-creation of shared occupational situations where all stakeholders engage in ‘doing together’. Children themselves identified doing together as essential to their school experience. Multiple perspectives illuminated how inclusion unfolded differently across contexts: intentional structuring of collaborative and individualising occupations, through sustained teaching partnerships generating creative freedom, allocation of resources to classes rather than individuals, and democratic leadership cultivating inclusive cultures. The findings call for a paradigm shift in inclusive education. The concept of individualising class communities bridges the individual-collective dichotomy, demonstrating how social collective aspects and academic individualised learning integrate to address needs of ‘all’ children rather than ‘some’ with special needs. Critically, tensions function as generative forces when engaged through reflective dialogue, while therapists’ external positioning creates paradoxes requiring examination. This study demonstrates that the ‘in’ of inclusion lies not in placement within given systems, but in collective co-creation of spaces where all engage in ‘doing together’. This study provides epistemological foundations and empirical evidence for transforming inclusive education practice, research methodologies, and policy frameworks.
Exploring 4E+ Cognition and Spiritual Wisdom in eXtended Reality Interaction and Experience Design
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Taheri, Ali
Note: This is practice-oriented research and the practice is presented in the PhD website: Fables of Naranj The eXtended Reality (XR) medium, as one of the pivotal components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), demonstrates the 4IR’s capability to blur the lines between the physical, digital, and biological realms. In the rapidly evolving domain of XR, the medium itself is poised to become a transformative influence on user cognition and emotional engagement. As the adoption of interactive and immersive media continues expanding, the design of interaction and the crafting of immersive experiences play a critical role in shaping the user experience of this emerging medium. This, in turn, significantly influences technology, academic research, culture, and society. However, current design paradigms within this technological landscape remain predominantly reductionist and mechanistic, prioritising efficiency and control at the expense of holistic human and cultural considerations. To fully harness the transformative potential of XR as an emerging medium, there is a need to move beyond these established approaches. Here, embracing design methodologies that are more attuned to the complexities of human experience and cognition is crucial. This research explores the connection between ancient philosophical traditions and modern technological practices, applying these insights to XR interaction and experience design. By integrating principles of 4E+ cognition (embedded, extended, embodied, and enacted cognition, along with the affective dimension), Neoplatonism, Perennial wisdom, and Ishraq (Illuminationism), the study aims to create experiences that engage users on cognitive, affective, and spiritual levels. The aim of this research is to develop a design approach that leverages recent XR technologies while incorporating cultural and philosophical considerations. Furthermore, it examines the practical applications and potential contributions of the integrated 4E+ cognition approach in designing experiences and human-computer interactions (HCI) for XR. This is achieved by incorporating artistic inquiry and practice-oriented research, proposing a set of design principles extracted from best practices tailored for this emerging field of HCI. The research methodology in this study is holistic, integrating heuristic and Illuminationist (Ishraqi) approaches to develop an understanding of the potentials of XR as an experienced-based interactive immersive medium. This illuminationist heuristic methodology, coupled with the art of steering (cybernetics), guides this exploration, allowing for adjustments and refinements as insights emerge. The study adopts a practice-oriented methodology, embedded in real-world projects developed at Auckland University of Technology’s AppLab. These projects serve as a testing ground where theoretical insights are transformed into practical artefacts, which in turn push the theoretical envelope further. The significance of this research extends beyond the technicalities of XR design to encompass a rethinking of how we approach technology, culture, and user experience and cognition in the digital age. Integrating philosophical and spiritual elements ensures that the XR environments developed are not only technologically advanced but also intellectually and spiritually enriching. One outcome of this study was the promotion of a deeper connection between the inner self and the physical environment in HCI design. It challenges the prevailing trend in contemporary HCI that often leads to detachment from the body, reality, and the essence of human existence. The study resulted in a significant shift in the author's ontological perspective, transitioning from a conventional epistemological paradigm and the Cartesian dualistic approach towards adopting a 4E+ cognitive framework. This innovative framework holds the potential for synthesising oriental and occidental philosophical viewpoints, providing a more comprehensive understanding of cognitive processes in XR. Findings indicate that the integration of 4E+ cognition and ancient wisdom into HCI and experience design fosters deeper cognitive and spiritual connections. This paradigm shift in embracing a 4E+ cognitive framework offers a culturally informed structure for XR design. It has significant implications for the design and application of emerging technologies, art, education, and the preservation of cultural heritage. In the broader context of creative technology, this research contributes to understanding how emerging immersive technologies can be harnessed to enrich human experience. It highlights the importance of integrating philosophical and cultural perspectives into technological development, ensuring that innovation is guided by a deep respect for human cognition and the insights of spiritual wisdom. Designers can adopt this perspective in their problem-solving and decision-making processes during the creation of complex projects. The thesis contributes to the field of creative technology by providing a set of principles to enhance the approach to problem-solving and improve the design of emerging interactive media. The philosophical and theoretical knowledge derived from this research also holds the potential to impact the practices of art and art research, as well as real-world projects in the creative industry. Moreover, an essential practical outcome of the research is the utilisation of interactive media platforms in the gamification of cultural and natural heritage. The objective was to create an interactive experience that fosters engagement among younger generations with the ideas and viewpoints inherent in a particular cultural or philosophical perspective. These findings, coupled with a change in the epistemological perspective on human experience, from the Cartesian duality to a 4E+ and transcendent naturalism view, hold significant transformative potential. This shift could drive positive change across creative fields.
Trauma to Tyranny: The Comic Book as a Counterpoint to Collective and Individual Narcissism
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Panaita, Elena
This practice-led thesis investigates how the design of a comic book might serve as a device for critiquing a socio-political construct. The thesis considers ways in which autobiographical, visual storytelling can be used to translate complex theoretical concepts into emotionally resonant narratives that expand the reach of academic discourse, so it becomes accessible to a wider audience. Methodologically, the study integrates autoethnographical research with heuristic inquiry, using contextual reading and self-reflection to examine personal, social, political, historical, and cultural conditions. The significance of the study lies in the use of comic book design to advance discussions on the impact of childhood and intergenerational trauma on the formation of psychological disorders (including the development of individual and collective narcissism), and the shaping of authoritarian family and societal structures. In doing so, the study highlights how unprocessed trauma can perpetuate cycles of abuse and authoritarianism, where fear, control, and denial become devices of manipulation. In the context of global authoritarianism and the suppression of marginalised voices, the comic book Upgraded Gods makes evident the importance of resistance and provides insight into a struggle to reclaim personal agency, truth, and freedom. As such it offers an independent, subjective counter-narrative that confronts controlling rhetoric and fragmented collective memory.
Negotiating Tradition, Modernity, and Intergenerational Roles: Chinese Multigenerational Family RV Tourism in Western Contexts
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Dong, Ye
This thesis investigates the underexplored phenomenon of Chinese multigenerational family tourism through recreational vehicle (RV) travel in Western contexts. Despite the rapid expansion of Chinese family tourism research, limited scholarly attention has been given to three-generation family journeys or RV travel, resulting in gaps in the literature. Conceptualising RV tourism as a mobile cultural dimension, the research examines how tradition and modernity, collectivism and individuality, and intergenerational roles are negotiated across the pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip phases. To capture the complexity of multigenerational dynamics in RV family tourism, this research employed Charmaz's Constructivist Grounded Theory methodology, complemented by netnography and adapted whole-family interviews, and adopted a child-inclusive, parent-comprehensive, and grandparent-sensitive design. Data were collected between 2022 and 2024 from eight families across three generations, using methods adapted to Chinese cultural norms and pandemic conditions. The analysis combined iterative grounded theory coding of interviews with thematic mapping of digital platform content. This integration of semi-structured interviews with netnography captured narrated experiences and digital representations, allowing for comprehensive insights into the co-construction of family voices and identities. This approach advances methodological innovation in studying Chinese multigenerational tourism in mobile, digitally mediated, cross-cultural contexts. Findings demonstrate that RV tourism serves as a site of cultural transmission, emotional restoration, digital detox, aspirational consumption, and the tension inherent in the nexus of education, work, and leisure travel. The three findings chapters examine grandparents, parents, and children separately. Chapter 7 presents thematic and theoretical models grounded in empirical data to capture the distinctive dynamics of each generational cohort. Chapter 8 advances this synthesis by situating the integrated framework within a broader theoretical model. This scaffolded structure ensures both depth in understanding generational particularities and breadth in theorising their interconnections. The research contributes original, integrative, and theoretical models, including the Family Dynamics in RV Travel Model and the Xiaozi Dimensions in RV Family Tourism. The thesis makes significant theoretical contributions by extending Bourdieu's framework through the introduction of environmental and learning capital. It reconceptualises harmony as negotiated resilience; and by developing the culturally grounded Chinese 4X Framework (filial duty: Xiao孝; efficiency: Xiao 效; positivity: Xiao 笑; and lifestyle aspiration: Xiaozi 小资), it captures the interplay between heritage and aspiration. Contributions to cultural value are made by situating the interdependent Chinese self within mobile and digitalised contexts, illustrating how intergenerational bonds are recalibrated through emotional labour, spatial intimacy, and social media representation, while reinterpreting Chinese values such as Shan Shui (mountain–water aesthetics), Zhong Yong (the Doctrine of the Mean), and harmony within diversity. These dimensions are situated within contemporary leisure travel practices and developed into a culturally-nuanced framework, the Theoretical Framework of Cross-Cultural Dynamics of Chinese Family RV Travel in Western Countries. The diversity of multigenerational expressions underscores society's capacity to experiment, adapt, and manage changing circumstances. By documenting and analysing the practice of multigenerational Chinese family RV tourism in a Western context, this thesis enriches tourism scholarship. It advances Chinese culture-centred perspectives within the broader global academic discourse.
Collective Resilience: Gender Dynamics and Adaptation to Climate Change in Isan Region, Thailand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Maiwong, Wilailak
Climate change has emerged as a significant global challenge, particularly for vulnerable groups in developing countries. In Thailand, rural women in the northeastern (Isan) region play a pivotal role in their village livelihoods and climate change adaptation strategies. However, their voices and contributions are often marginalised in policy and decision-making processes. This thesis examines the factors influencing women’s adaptation to climate change, including their perceptions and strategies, with the aim of enhancing the engagement of local villagers, particularly women, in climate change adaptation initiatives. Drawing on critical theory and the Participatory Action Research (PAR) framework, a mixed-methods study was conducted across two villages over five phases of the research process. The NVivo thematic coding system was utilised to analyse the dynamics of women’s roles in climate change adaptation within these rural villages. Five key themes emerged from the thematic analysis: economic challenges; social dynamics and gendered roles in community development; resource management; climate perceptions and adaptive capacity; and collective resilience. Economic challenges, social dynamics and gendered roles in community development and resource management influenced the responses of local women to climate change. Women developed adaptive strategies grounded in generational knowledge and shaped by their perceptions and experiences of climate change. This was reflected in their positive sentiments when discussing successful initiatives and in the negative emotions they expressed when addressing challenges. The vital role of women as leaders and income earners within their villages underscores their function as agents of change. The findings suggest that empowering women in decision-making processes could amplify their voices, fostering collective responses based on the resilience inherent in each village, which were reflected in community forest conservation and maintaining agricultural practices. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the intersection of gender and climate change, offering insights into adaptive responses specifically tailored for women. It emphasises the necessity of promoting transformative climate change adaptation. The research advocates for inclusive policy measures that enhance women’s agency, support community-based capacity building and resilience, and incorporate gender-responsive strategies into local and national adaptation initiatives.
Foundations of Cognition: Loosely Coupled Oscillators as Correlates of Affective States Within the Central Complex of the Fruit-fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Garnell, Saul
Affective Neuroscience is a field that explores the neural mechanisms underlying emotions and affective (proto-emotions) states. Seeking behavior, one of the seven affects proposed by Jaak Panksepp, plays a vital role in exploration, learning, and decision-making. This thesis investigates the neural mechanisms that underlie this enigmatic drive through an integrative approach that combines principles from various domains of science, including Comparative Neuroanatomy, Computational Affective Neuroscience, and study of dynamic systems such as Loosely Coupled Oscillators. By examining homologous brain structures across species, with a particular interest in those regions that might plausibly be involved in the neural processes associated with seeking behavior, and employing computational models in neuroscience, this research aims to shed light on the complex interplay between neural activity and affective responses. My work seeks to elucidate plausible mechanisms governing SEEK (capitalized in this context), ultimately enhancing our understanding of brain function and providing insights into the neural basis of emotional responses. By simulating neuronal motifs and circuits within the mid-brain and basal brain systems of the fruit fly, this thesis aims to provide insights into brain functions related to SEEK. This work contributes to the ongoing discourse on Cognitive Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by employing analytical and computational tools of neuro-science and signal analysis to bridge the explanatory gap in understanding of SEEK and seeking behavior. This thesis employs a novel computational framework to identify stable oscillatory points in pairs of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the fan-shaped body of Drosophila, aiding in the pathfinding and testing of neural circuits associated with SEEK behavior. The study’s key achievement is the identification of these stable points, revealing dynamic neural interactions and contributing to the understanding of neural oscillations in the fan-shaped body’s architecture. The framework is efficient and reproducible for future studies. Additionally, the research explores the significance of SEEK in cognition, utilizing Drosophila’s central nervous system to probe the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying SEEK behavior. The thesis also demonstrates how Spiking Neural Network models support the investigation of SEEK and affective neuroscience. Lastly, it examines how SEEK’s relationship to Wilson-Cowan-like motifs and behavior can be applied to the Free Energy Principle and Bayesian Inference, providing in-sights into brain function and decision-making. The future direction of the thesis states that further experimental validation is needed to strengthen these findings. By advancing our knowledge of seeking behavior, this research could have far-reaching implications for various fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, psychology, and neuroscience. By creating more accurate models of emotional processes in AI systems, we can develop machines that exhibit adaptability, efficiency, and human-like decision-making capabilities. This work's findings could pave the way for a new generation of AI systems capable of understanding and responding to emotional stimuli in a more nuanced manner, thereby improving their ability to function effectively in com-plex, dynamic environments.
Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua – Marae Youth Court: A Site of Limitless Potential
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Black, Stella
This thesis explores what tikanga is, its philosophical foundations, and how te ao Māori worldview and historical experiences have shaped the tikanga of Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua, a marae-based Youth Court. Using kaupapa Māori methodology, pūrākau, observations, noho wahangū reflexive practice, and in-depth interviews with four kaumātua, the research led to the development of an original analysis framework: Te Pepe Ao Uri Whāriki using ngā hiki matau – the rightward strands. This framework weaves together the voices of kaumātua and observational data to create ngā kāwai toro, representing the extended strands of the whāriki that reflect the broader tikanga domains and their expressions through Māori epistemology, ontology, cosmogony, and metaphysical thought. This thesis also incorporates ngā hiki mauī as the leftward strands, which highlight the core tikanga values of Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua: kaumātuatanga and rangatiratanga, whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, wairuatanga, and kotahitanga, each with the same corresponding kāwai toro whenu. Together, these elements reveal tikanga as a dynamic, relational system, enabling te pānga o pepe ao uri, the butterfly effect, to be understood in terms of how tikanga lives, evolves, and impacts all those involved in Te Kōti Rangatahi, especially rangatahi Māori. The thesis argues that Te Kōti Rangatahi o Mātaatua is a powerful site of connectedness and restoration, while also cautioning against the risk of superficial engagement when tikanga is constrained within Pākehā systems. Ultimately, this thesis is a koha to my tīpuna and mokopuna mō āpōpō, calling for the protection and valuing of tikanga spaces, the elevation of kaumātua leadership, and the creation of whare wānanga-like spaces and the use of wānanga moments where rangatahi can learn who they are, where they come from, and how our histories and tikanga continue to shape our futures.
A System Dynamics and Network Analysis of the Interactions Between Factors Affecting the Implementation of Integrated Project Delivery in New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Bin Asad, Saad
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a collaborative approach that unites people, systems, business structures, and practices to reduce waste and enhance sustainability in construction projects. IPD aims to improve schedule, quality, cost, and safety while promoting positive collaboration based on mutual respect and trust. Despite the abundance of literature on IPD, a comprehensive analysis of the interactions between factors and their implementation has yet to be conducted. This study aimed to fill that gap by identifying the interactions between factors that hinder the implementation of IPD through three data collection methods: systematic literature review (SLR), semi-structured interviews (SSI), and a system-wide survey questionnaire. From the literature, 127 factors to IPD were identified, and their interactions were deduced using deductive reasoning. The identified factors and their interactions were structured to identify IPD implementation challenges in New Zealand (NZ) through eighteen experts within the construction industry. For validation, the findings obtained from the experts were triangulated with the wider NZ construction sector. The factors were grouped according to their themes, including Legal, Financial, Technological, Organisational, Collaboration, and Governmental. VOSviewer software was used to identify the most frequently repeated factors in the existing literature, and their interactions were identified through manual coding and visualised using Vensim software. Additionally, NVivo software was used for infographics related to the results. Furthermore, the SPSS software was used for validating the results through identification of the statistically significant interactions; 88 out of 142 interactions passed the t-test through their p-values. Various analysis methods, including degree of centrality, eigenvector centrality, and causal chain analysis, were employed to identify the critical factors and chains influencing the implementation of IPD in NZ. IPD factors specific to NZ were identified to aid in better comprehension of the impact of the identified critical factors. The NZ-specific factors included a lack of factual information about outcomes from IPD, a limited number of contractors and consultants, federal vs local council model policy and governance conflicts, industry opting for traditional models, experienced professionals’ mindset, a history of liquidation of contractors resisting risks, subcontractors taking main contractor roles, and project size. The validated results revealed resistance to change, lack of technology use, lack of IPD awareness, lack of industry standardisation, and client’s resistance to change as the most critical factors. Additionally, through causal chain analysis, the critical chains of factors were identified; the heaviest chains in terms of centrality weightages were deemed critical. Finally, the results were simplified in the form of a framework for easier dissemination of the findings. This research provides valuable insights regarding the interactions between the factors of IPD, which will aid researchers and practitioners in implementing sustainable construction practices in NZ.
Characterization of Gut Microbial Composition and Diversity of New Zealand Wild Abalone (Haliotis iris) Under Potential Environmental Influences
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Guo, Jinchen
Abalone (Haliotis spp. in Phylum Mollusca) are marine gastropods that have a wide distribution between intertidal and subtidal zones from tropical to subarctic waters in both hemispheres. Abalone are exclusively herbivores grazing on various seaweed in their natural habitats that contribute to maintaining healthy algal reef ecosystems. Additionally, abalone also possess high economic value as a popular shellfish seafood choice in Asia and Pacific Islands. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), Haliotis iris is an endemic abalone species that is both farmed and caught in the wild. Differentiated abalone growth rates among the wild abalone populations are historically documented. While the exact explanations for this growth rate phenomenon are unclear, food digestion and nutrient absorption is one research avenue being looked at due to their energy and nutrient support roles. The gut microbiome (the microorganisms, mostly bacteria, and their genes in the gastrointestinal region of the digestive tract) of abalone plays an essential role in the host’s food digestion. Previous studies on abalone gut microbiomes revealed that abalone gut microbiomes could be mainly influenced by diet and environmental conditions. However, such gut microbiome investigations have only been conducted on farmed stock of H. iris and not on wild populations. Commercial fisheries of wild H. iris contribute substantially to the total abalone production in NZ. Given the differentiated growth rate concern and the significance of the wild abalone populations to NZ’s abalone fisheries, it would be beneficial to evaluate the gut microbiome of wild H. iris and explore how and why the gut microbiomes change. An initial step in evaluating the gut microbiome and the digestion assistance function is to explore the composition and diversity of the gut microbial communities, or “gut microbiota”. The present thesis utilized the amplicon metagenomic sequencing technology to investigate the gut microbiome of wild H. iris populations in Cook Strait and Chatham Islands. The overall thesis goals were to: 1) investigate the gut microbial composition and diversity of wild H. iris populations and 2) investigate some environmental factors that could potentially influence the host’s gut microbiota. This thesis includes an introduction chapter, literature review chapter, three experimental chapters, and a synthesis and conclusion chapter. The literature review (Chapter 2) defines key concepts related to microbiome research, how microbiomes are generally assessed, provides some major influencing factors on abalone gut microbiomes, with an emphasis on dietary and aquatic physical and chemical factors, and pinpoints some suggested future research directions. The experimental chapters (Chapters 3 - 5) utilized Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology to evaluate the gut microbiomes of five wild H. iris populations with a specific focus on the associations of gut microbiome shifts to seaweed diet and over time in NZ. Chapter 3 compared the gut microbial composition and diversity among three abalone digestive regions and the microbiota between abalone’s gut and the surrounding seaweed and sediment in Cook Strait. This revealed that the microbial composition was similar between the foregut (esophageal pouch) and hindgut (intestine), and the microbiomes of the lower section of the digestive tract (foregut and hindgut) were different from that of the buccal cavity of the animals. Moreover, abalone gut microbiome was significantly different from that of the ambient seaweed and sediment samples. In Chapter 4, assessments on the gut microbiota and consumed algal content of four wild abalone populations in the Chatham Islands (CI) revealed differentiated gut microbiota across study sites and between age groups. Moreover, gut content microscopic results also revealed that the observed gut microbiome differences could be related to consumed seaweed type and algal availability. Lastly in Chapter 5, a two-year abalone gut microbiota evaluation on CI was executed and observed that the gut microbiomes of the wild H. iris populations at Ascots Beach and Owenga Harbour changed significantly overtime, with the gut microbial diversity was lower between March-May in 2021 compared to March 2021, November 2021, and April 2022. The observed gut microbiome changes presented in Chapters 4 and 5 could be related to specific seaweed diets and/or oceanographic condition changes over the sampling period, which need to be further investigated through additional field observations and targeted feeding experiments. The present thesis is the first gut microbiota documentation on NZ wild H. iris. The results indicated that seaweed and sediment microbiota by themselves are unlikely to influence the abalone’s gut microbiota. Instead, the gut microbiota of wild H. iris could be potentially affected by consumed seaweed availability and type as well as the changes of oceanographic conditions. Microbiome data collected from wild H. iris digestive tract and the ambient seaweed and sediment in this thesis can be the baseline for future gut microbiome research in NZ. While targeted experiments under controlled conditions need to be further conducted to specifically test the seaweed and environmental parameter hypotheses, seaweed- and oceanography- associated findings from this thesis provide informative predictions on the food digestion efficiency and nutritional and health states of local wild abalone stocks, ultimately influencing the harvesting time and quantity of this iconic species.

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