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Objectives To measure levels of the major Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen (Der p 1) in homes in Wellington, New Zealand, and to examine factors which affect these levels. Methods As part of a study of risk factors for asthma among 474 8—10-year-old children, standard procedures were used to collect reservoir dust and to measure Der p 1 levels on the living room floor and child's bedroom floor and bedding. Der p 1 levels were analysed both as geometric mean μg/g of fine dust and as μg/m². Questionnaires collected information about factors which might influence these levels, and an average relative humidity in the bed and on the bedroom floor was also measured. Results Similar geometric mean levels of Der p 1 were found at each floor site — 25.5 µg/g bedroom floor. The geometric mean level of Der p 1 in the child's bed was 46.6 µg/g (95% CI: 42.3-51.3). After controlling for possible confounders, geometric mean living room and bedroom floor Der p 1 levels were significantly higher in households with older carpet than households with no carpets or newer carpets, and higher in the autumn. Households with three or more children had higher levels of Der p 1 than households with fewer children. Bedding levels were significantly higher in beds with kapok or inner sprung mattresses, or wool underlays and at relative humidities above the mean (51%). Conclusion The very high levels of house dust mite allergen (Der p 1) found in Wellington are likely to be due to a variety of life-style and climatic factors. However, the type and age of floor covering appears to be the single most important factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry in New Zealand is significantly impacted by the importance of housing, particularly as urbanisation continues to grow in major cities. Modern construction methods, such as offsite construction and building automation, evolving into digital manufacturing and construction in the industry, have become prominent. Despite the global recognition of 3D printing technology, its adoption in the construction industry in New Zealand is still relatively limited. This study aims to examine the feasibility of 3D printing construction in response to current market challenges, innovation, and the 2050 net-zero carbon goal. Utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches, this study investigated the environmental impacts of three housing types: 3D printing (3DP), light steel framed (LSF), and timber. This study used cradle-to-cradle as the system boundary. The results indicate that the 3DP house emits 20% fewer carbon emissions than the traditional timber house and 25% less than the LSF house. Additionally, the 3DP house exhibits a 19% lower annual electric energy consumption than the timber house. Therefore, in response to the growing housing demand in New Zealand, the construction industry must innovate and embrace digital and advanced construction methods, including the adoption of 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaboration has been considered one of the keys for effectively managing state school properties in New Zealand, with participants combining their abilities to solve challenges and achieve common goals. However, this is challenging due to the multiple stakeholders involved (Ministry staff, external consultants, school boards), process fragmentation, and the stakeholders' diversity of knowledge. This research aims to develop a collaboration maturity model with process areas, criteria in each process area and rating levels. The criteria were identified from interviews with school managers and then used in a questionnaire survey to investigate the maturity levels of criteria in the collaboration. The assessment results provide insights into the problems or lowest scores criteria that are most needed for improvement. Based on the findings, improvement initiatives have been discussed. From school managers' perspective, the empirical findings can be translated into actionable knowledge in a way that helps the top management review their collaboration policies regarding staff training, funding allocation, reporting system and information technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to develop an integrated and comprehensive framework for building and property management (BAPM) for state schools in New Zealand. The results are expected to clarify the complicated process and provide a guide for school boards to manage their property effectively and efficiently. It also seeks to explore the relationship between the key stakeholders and how this impacts the BAPM. Design/methodology/approach: In addition, to review literature, qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 16 top managers in state schools. The data analysis results were used to develop the framework using the integration definition for process modelling. Findings: The findings contribute to understanding the processes in the BAPM in state schools of school board members by adding input, output, control and mechanism elements in each activity of the processes. The systematic models with main activities and people involved are presented as a guide for school boards in state schools in New Zealand. Challenges and issues in the processes are also identified to draw further study for both school boards and the Ministry of Education. Research limitations/implications: The research was conducted with the participation of stakeholders who are sampled from top managers in state schools in New Zealand. A larger scale of participants from other schools may generalise the findings further. Practical implications: The research findings are based on the needs and requirements of the stakeholders to understand, implement and control the BAPM for their schools and aid them to achieve the best value for money spending on the management. Originality/value: The paper highlights the complexity of the BAPM in schools, presents the roles and responsibilities of the school stakeholders and proposes a systematic framework to assist the school managers in this management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of indoor air pollutants is useful for exposure analysis and air quality management as we spend 80-90% of our time in built environments. We present the results from a study of indoor aerosol composition across a range of residential housing stock in Wellington, New Zealand. High resolution (two-hourly) samples of air particulate matter were collected simultaneously both indoors and outdoors of occupied dwellings and the elemental composition of the samples was then measured using ion beam analysis. The compositional data was used to define the sources of particulate matter and assess the differences between indoors and outdoors as well as examine the infiltration of outdoor air pollution to indoor spaces. We show that indoor emission sources (cooking, wood burner use, household dust) can generate high concentrations of particulate matter and that the fine fraction from outdoor sources infiltrates our homes essentially unimpeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The section of "Textile Floorcoverings," discusses the consumption of fibers by the textile floorcoverings industry in Great Britain. The consumption of these fibers has increased with a good pace over the time and it is expected that it will continue to grow even in the coming future. The fiber manufacturer will continue to compete with one another for the available demand. The demand of fibers is guided by the technical developments in carpets and carpet manufacture. In New Zealand, which supplies much of the world's carpet wool, efforts are constantly being made to produce better wools for carpets.

In this article, a group of four indigenous Māori educators and one non-Māori educator comment on a proposed amendment to the New Zealand National Curriculum Framework to replace the current separate sets of skills, values and attitudes with five generic performance-based key competencies. The paper discusses important parallels between western/European sociocultural theorizing on human development and learning (on which the key competencies seemed to be based), and the values, beliefs and preferred practices that are embodied within an indigenous Māori cultural worldview (Te Ao Māori). A Māori worldview is characterized by an abiding concern for the quality of human relationships that need to be established and maintained if learning contexts are to be effective for Māori students, and for these relationships to balance individual learning and achievement against responsibilities for the well-being and achievement of the group. Within such a worldview, education is understood as holistic, collective, experiential and dependent upon a free exchanging of teaching and learning roles. The article describes five specific cultural constructs within this worldview that highlight Māori traditional understandings of human development and learning and teaching, and aligns and compares these constructs with the five key competencies proposed. The article argues that the worldviews of Māori people in New Zealand provide an extensive and coherent framework for theorizing about human development and education, and are able to contribute strongly and positively to the development of a national school curriculum for the benefit all students. Implications for other contexts can also be drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simulation model based on classical population dynamics is developed to estimate the benefit-cost ratio performance of different typologies of housing with the purpose of identifying potential reductions in the total costs and hence resources used to sustain housing. A typical New Zealand dwelling constructed of lightweight timber framing is used as an example. Dwellings within the simulation model undergo periodic cycles of refurbishment based on best practices. When the simulated housing stock expands at the rate of 1.5% per year, an annual expenditure equivalent to the costs to construct one dwelling sustains the services provided by 26.7 dwellings after adjustment for economic depreciation. This benefit-cost ratio performance improves by 32.4% when the housing stock is stationary. Further improvements of 5.3% can be achieved by deferring refurbishment and accepting a higher level of economic depreciation of dwelling services. The results of all scenarios indicate that structural systems with a service life of only 50 years should not be used unless the costs of such systems are substantially less than the costs of traditional structural systems and that lightweight timber framed dwellings should not be sustained well beyond a service life of 90 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a simulation model to make exploratory estimates of current and potential reductions in national costs to sustain dwelling services due to refurbishment. Data and parameters are based on a typical New Zealand dwelling of lightweight timber framed construction. Dwelling service years provided by a dwelling over one year adjusted for depreciation serve as a proxy for benefits. The costs to construct one dwelling and fractions thereof serve as a proxy for the costs of maintenance, refurbishment, replacement, and new construction. Current levels of refurbishment reduce national average costs to sustain dwelling services by a magnitude of 15%. Potential reductions in national costs are modest (5%) should the housing stock be stationary, but are negligible when the expansion rate of the housing stock is as high as 2.0% per year. A decline in the expansion rate of a housing stock has a greater impact on reducing national costs than an increase in the number of cycles of refurbishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers textile industry news briefs. Du Pont is building technical center for carpet industry. The Instrument Society of America (ISA) formed a new textile industry group. An Australasian textile symposium is set for August 5-7 in Auckland, New Zealand.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the indoor environment, atopy and asthma in 7–9‐year‐old children. Cases and controls were randomly selected from children who participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) in Wellington, New Zealand. Cases were children with a previous diagnosis of asthma and current medication use (n = 233) and controls were children with no history of wheezing and no diagnosis of asthma (n = 241). Information was recorded about the indoor environment during the first year of life and currently. Dust was sampled from floors and beds and Der p 1 and Fel d 1 measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Skin‐prick tests were performed with eight common allergens. Sensitization to Dermatophagoides farinae (OR = 3.19; 95% CI 1.74–5.84), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.16–3.65) and cat (OR = 3.89; 95% CI 1.06–14.30) were independently associated with current asthma. The use of a sheepskin in the first year of life (OR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.11–3.33) was also independently associated with current asthma but current Der p 1 levels showed no association with current asthma. Exposures in early life may be more important than current exposures in determining asthma at age 7–9 years. Prospective studies are needed in New Zealand to determine the relative importance of early life exposures to Der p 1 and other risk factors for asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the formation of the Textile NZ organization by manufacturers of textiles, apparel, footwear and carpets in New Zealand in November 2003. Reason for the formation of the organization; Importance of promoting the country's textile businesses abroad; Export network opportunities; Nature of the organization; Support given by the government to Textile NZ; Reduction in import tariffs on clothing, footwear and carpets being planned by the government.

The article offers advice for New Zealand businesses on promoting products or services at a trade show or expo. It cites the importance of establishing the goals of the company for participating in a trade show. It notes that companies should check the show's credentials before signing a contract. It emphasizes the need for show organizers and exhibitors to work together to maximize opportunities and excite interest from delegates.

The article discusses the business opportunities being sought by New Zealand in China. David Mahon of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise sees medium-sized Kiwi enterprises negotiating with China in the next 12 months. He believes that China's Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand is the single biggest development for the latter's economy since 1981. Mahon thinks that Kiwi businesses planning to invest in China must research on the structure and dynamics of specific markets and regions, and the relations between firms and government agencies there.

Focuses on the success of New Zealand-based company Tristyle International Ltd. in the export housing market. Business strategy adopted by the company; Objective of the company; Competitors of the company. INSET: KEY FACTS.