This paper is a longer version of a Building Better Homes Towns and Cities National Science Challenge think-piece commissioned from Unitec Building Construction and Services Senior Lecturer Roger Birchmore by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ): National thermal standards have historically been set to minimise winter heating energy in detached houses. It is uncertain […]
This paper is a longer version of a Building Better Homes Towns and Cities National Science Challenge think-piece commissioned from Unitec researcher Paola Trapani by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ): According to future projections based on current demographic growth trends, Auckland’s population will reach two million in 2033. Since the city is […]
The Eco-Digital Fabrication (EDFAB) research project aimed to investigate how automated prefabrication technologies and off-the-shelf construction products can be employed to disrupt building industry norms. The aim of this research – conducted at the University of Auckland and Unitec Institute of Technology from 2014 onward – was to provide small-to-medium enterprises in the construction industry […]
This two-part study considers the impact of airtightness based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) only. Two identical buildings (test and control) were constructed in Auckland, New Zealand. The test building contained an Intello vapour check membrane to reduce air-flow and subsequent heat loss. Air change rates (air changes per hour, or ACH) were calculated from […]
This paper describes a practice developed at a large secondary school in Auckland whereby students’ experiences of overcoming problems are made available to others in the form of insider brochures. These students are thus able to share their insights and strategies in support of peers who may be experiencing similar problems. Drawing on narrative counselling […]
Aged residential care (ARC) residents with morbid health conditions frequently experience delirium. This condition is associated with diminished quality of life, preventable morbidity and untimely death. It is challenging and costly to manage delirium because of the complex interplay of physical and psychiatric symptoms associated with this condition in both primary and secondary services. With […]
This qualitative study is an attempt to gain some insights into the level of corporate governance disclosure in New Zealand. A sample of ten large publicly-listed companies was analysed to determine to what extent they fulfil the requirements of the corporate governance principles and guidelines as recommended by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New […]
Affordance is an integral part of the practical knowledge teachers acquire while using new technologies in their teaching. This article describes the situated learning of two experienced modern language teachers using new technologies as they learned to perceive and implement learning affordances of several new tools in their individual classroom contexts, including Second Life and […]
This exploratory study set out to evaluate how well a particular course in automotive engineering is set up to enable students to develop skills necessary to enter the workplace. The research set out to identify trends in student expectations and in the needs of employers at a time when this field of work is characterised […]
Sedentary behaviour is extremely prevalent in Western societies and is significantly associated with an elevated risk of all-cause mortality that cannot be mitigated by physical activity. The introduction of standing desks into the workplace offers a solution to this inactivity, but there is limited investigation regarding the effects of standing on cognition, which is a […]