Geography courses

A reflection on the process of developing research projects from theory to methods, analysis, and the presentation of findings. Attention is directed to the ways in which research is shaped by intellectual histories, pressing social and environmental challenges, and contemporary academic and political debates. The course allows students to develop specialised interests in geography or environmental management.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour class each week followed by a 1-hour tutorial
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this course is compulsory for the Geography and Environmental Management postgraduate programmes
Course coordinator:  Tom Baker

Contemporary geographic perspectives on society and culture, focusing on a review of traditional and new cultural geographic approaches to the constructions of place and environment, ethnicity, gender and identity.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% final examination
Prerequisites: no formal prerequisite, but an understanding of material in Stage III courses in human geography will be assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography programme
Course coordinator:   Hong-Key Yoon

An exploration of the changing nature of human populations, the dynamics of human mobilities, the determinants of health status and evolving modes of healthcare provision.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: no formal prerequisite, but an understanding of material in Stage III courses in human geography will be assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography programme
Course coordinator:   Francis Collins

'Development' is place-dependent and takes place at a range of scales. This course considers economic, socio-cultural, geopolitical and environmental transformations of nations, regions, communities, and emerging or post-foundational political spaces focussing on examples from Pacific, Asia and New Zealand.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C).

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% final examination
Preparation: no formal prerequisite, but an understanding of material in Stage III courses in human geography will be assumed
Course coordinator: Ward Friesen

Investigates contemporary understandings, issues and strategies relating to the development of biological economies and food networks in the context of the globalising food economy. Addresses transformations in agro-food complexes and questions of nature-society relationships to do with 'sustainable' and 'resilient' food production and consumption.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography programme and an approved course for the Environmental Management programme
Course coordinator: Nick Lewis

Catchment-scale perspectives are used to analyse spatial and temporal variability in river forms and processes. River responses to human disturbance are placed in a longer-term evolutionary context. Prospective 'river futures' are appraised, linking principles from geomorphology and hydrology to provide a physical platform with which to frame management applications (especially river rehabilitation options).

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 2-hour lecture each week for the first five weeks followed by a field trip (7-10 April inclusive)
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisite but final year undergraduate experience in a related field required
Programme: This is one of the core options for the Geography programme
Course coordinator:  Gary Brierley

This is an advanced course on the process-form relationships that shape coastlines over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Coastal processes are examined with field experiments in which principles of experiment design and field deployment are demonstrated. Long-term evolutionary perspectives are examined using a range of field techniques. These short- and long-term approaches are then merged to address examples of applied coastal management problems.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 2-hour lecture each week for the first five weeks followed by a field trip in the mid-semester break and 2-hour laboratories in weeks 7-11
Points: 15
Assessment: 40% coursework, 60% final examination
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisite but an understanding equivalent to GEOG 351 is assumed
Programme: This is one of the core options for the Earth Sciences, Environmental Science and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Murray Ford
 

Critical consideration of contemporary issues in coastal management. Topics may include: competition for coastal space and resources; vulnerability of coastal communities to climatic variability; scientific uncertainty in the decision making process; understanding the legacies of past planning decisions. Case studies are used to explore complexities of the physical and social dimensions of coastal management approaches within the context of current regulatory frameworks.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography programme and an approved course for the Environmental Management programme
Course coordinator: Susan Owen

An examination of inter-relationships between climate and society. The sensitivity of selected biophysical and human activity systems to climate will be investigated and the actual and potential impacts of climatic variability and change investigated. Impact themes will vary from year to year, but are likely to be drawn from hydrology and water resources, agriculture, human health, ecosystems, and energy.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week or equivalent
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: no formal prerequisite but an understanding equivalent to GEOG 332 is assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography programme and an approved course for the Environmental Management programme

*This course will not be offered in 2018.

Approaches and challenges to analysing spatial data. Specific techniques covered will include measures of spatial autocorrelation, geographical regression, point pattern analysis, interpolation, overlay analysis, and an introduction to some of the newer geocomputation methods such as neural networks and cellular automata.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: one 2-hour class each week
Points: 15
Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% final examination
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisite but an understanding equivalent to GEOG 318 will be assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography, Earth Sciences and Environmental Science programmes
Course coordinator:  Jay Gao

Concepts and theories underpinning digital analysis of raster data, including remotely sensed data, LiDAR data and digital elevation models. Sources, nature and accuracy of raster data, analysis and integration of raster data from diverse sources, and applications of raster data analysis in hydrology and environmental modelling.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week, plus one hour labs
Points: 15
Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% final examination
Prerequisites: no formal prerequisite but an understanding equivalent to GEOG 317 is assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Geography and Earth Sciences programmes
Course coordinator: Jay Gao

Explores the concept of sustainability through different theoretical frameworks and how social and environmental movements have mobilized around this concept over time. Critically interrogates what is sustainable, what is social change, and how can social change be sustainable in a global economy. Draws on case studies of current environmental issues and associated popular social movements.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Environmental Management and Geography programmes
Requirement: All students enrolled in this course must attend the first class.
Course coordinator:  Ann Bartos

Debates surrounding environmental policy and governance provide insights into the complexities of environmental management issues. Examples of environmental governance will be considered from global to local scales. The roles of international agencies, nation-states, civil society and corporations in shaping environmental policy and governance are examined.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for both the Environmental Management and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Susan Owen

A review of advanced principles, concepts and approaches to the sustainable management of natural resources. Case studies emphasise the need for conflict resolution, equitable allocation, and decentralised decision-making to address the social and environmental impacts of resource utilisation.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: one 2-hour lecture per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for both the Environmental Management and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Karen Fisher

An exploration of participatory management and its potential for engaging communities, resource users and stakeholders in the pursuit of sustainable development. Students will examine strategies for incorporating local knowledges within conservation practices and for reconciling natural resource management with human welfare, social justice and indigenous rights.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 2-hour lecture per week and a fieldtrip 22-24 February
Points: 15
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% final examination
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for both the Environmental Management and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Brad Coombes

The following themes are emphasised: (i) building and using models to investigate environmental and social problems, (ii) understanding the utility of modelling in various disciplines, and (iii) appreciating how dynamic phenomena can be represented and analysed computationally. The course provides an understanding of modelling concepts, approaches and applications, and methods for determining the suitability of a particular modelling approach for a given task.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C)

Format: One 2-hour lecture and one 2-hour lab per week
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: no formal requirement, but knowledge equivalent to that covered in courses such as STATS 101, MATH 108, GEOG 250, BIOSCI 209, ENVSCI 310 will be assumed
Programme: this is one of the core options for the Environmental Science and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Giovanni Coco

Monitoring, modelling and management will be considered with emphasis on air quality standards and guidelines and applications of science and technology to indoor and outdoor air pollution prevention, mitigation and remediation. Case studies and practical work will link the theoretical and practical aspects of air quality science.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S2 C).

Format: taught as six 4-hour sessions in weeks 1-6
Points: 15
Assessment: 60% coursework, 40% final examination or test
Prerequisites: none
Programme: this is one of the core options for both the Environmental Science and Geography programmes
Course coordinator:  Jennifer Salmond

The dynamics of change in terrestrial ecosystems with a focus on forest and wetland environments. The effects of factors such as climate change and fire in New Zealand’s terrestrial ecosystems will be considered. Students will be introduced to modern methods for vegetation assessment and monitoring, including multivariate statistical methods. Students are required to participate in a residential field course as this is a major component of ENVSCI 737.

This course is taught in: Second Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: Taught as a 6-day field trip (9-14 April), plus two half-day session: 5 April pre-field trip, and 9 May post-field trip.
Points: 15
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: no formal prerequisites but assumes knowledge of ecology equivalent to BIOSCI 394 or BIOSCI 396 and data analysis equivalent to GEOG 250 or BIOSCI 209
Programme: this is one of the core options for both the Environmental Science and Geography programmes, and an approved course for the Environmental Management programme
Course coordinator:  George Perry

The effects of modern lifestyles on water resources are explored to develop ideas for sustainable infrastructure in future settlements. The importance of human behaviour in water system function is examined, along with the mechanisms used to influence those behaviours.

This course is taught in: First Semester, City Campus (S1 C)

Format: One 3-hour class per week, plus a half-day field trip on 11 March
Assessment: 100% coursework
Prerequisites: None
Programme: This is one of the core options for both the Environmental Science and Geography programmes, and an approved course for the Environmental Management programme
Course coordinator:   Sam Trowsdale