Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

The recent release of the 2022 national seismic hazard model has highlighted significant changes in the quantified seismic hazard for much of New Zealand that has prompted the development of draft changes to the NZS 1170.5 seismic design provisions. One proposed change is to the shape of the design spectrum, which was previously provided by a spectral shape factor, Ch(T), that is a function of site class only. However, research has shown that spectral shape is strongly affected by several additional factors including earthquake magnitude and shaking intensity. Moreover, the use of fixed spectral shapes that vary only by site class results in significant variability between the functional form of the elastic design response spectrum, C(T), and the direct results from the national seismic hazard model. International loading standards typically include a dependency on intensity and site class in the spectral shape equations and these form the basis for the approach recommended here. The functional form of the design response spectrum is also updated to better represent spectral displacement demands on longer period structures. The proposed new spectral shape equations are compared to the 2022 national seismic hazard model output and the equations used in the previous New Zealand loading standard. Results show that the proposed approach provides a significantly better approximation of the national seismic hazard model results than the current spectral shape across a range of periods, site classes, annual probabilities of exceedance, and locations.

Chemicals play an important role in maintaining our quality of life. Unfortunately, inappropriate chemicals and waste management result in the accumulation of contaminants in our environment that pose a risk to exposed biota and humans. Being cognizant of Indigenous knowledge and values within the management of chemicals and waste represent key components of environmental justice, but they are not being included in current global programs. Here, we describe the process leading to the development of an independent and nonpartisan national strategy to manage emerging contaminants in New Zealand that is reflective of Māori cultural perspectives. An inclusive partnership-based approach was used to capture a broad selection of views and perspectives to provide opportunities to engage with representatives from a range of sectors including scientists, members of the wider community, and Māori partners for the development of the strategy. A series of workshops was held over several years that helped refine the strategy document to ensure that it was fit for purpose with a clear implementation pathway to maximize uptake and achieve the inspirational shared vision. This initiative highlighted the need to invest significant time and effort up front to develop strong relationships across sectors required for success. All parties involved must operate with respect to ensure that advantages and reciprocity of all knowledge systems are recognized and valued to achieve objectives for chemical sustainability.

In the Takaka Terrane of South Island, New Zealand, Wangapeka Formation (Katian to Hirnantian) quartz sandstones contain detrital zircons with strikingly high (15-25%) proportions of early Paleoproterozoic and Archean ages, levels not seen elsewhere in early Paleozoic rocks of Zealandia and southeast Australia. It is proposed that the sudden appearance of these old zircons, and their equally rapid decline in the Silurian, reflects sea-level fall during the Hirnantian glaciation, which stimulated erosion of a hitherto hidden, local ancient basement complex.

This essay offers reflective learning on how researchers in the Western science tradition connect to bodies of knowledge created and held outside that tradition. It begins with endogenous growth theory, which explains the unique role of knowledge as an input into economic production. The essay describes how Western science addresses the problem of validating and accessing knowledge, by hosting an expanding corpus of peer-reviewed publications. This academic knowledge does not contain all current knowledge. The essay therefore draws on the authors’ experience in four large research programmes to consider business knowledge and mātauranga Māori. It reflects on agency, tikanga [right behaviour], global conversations about Indigenous knowledge, and decolonising research. The essay finishes with models of knowledge engagement in the interface between western Science and mātauranga Māori that support the mana and integrity of diverse knowledge streams.