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A range of linguistic, genetic and archaeological evidence supports the immediate ancestors of Māori having come from central Eastern Polynesia, and this is borne out through a comparative study of central Eastern Polynesian and Māori musical instruments. An examination of Māori musical instruments also shows, however, that a few instrument names, types and usages may be adoptions or adaptations from elsewhere in Oceania – from Hawai'i, or from Western Polynesia or Eastern Melanesia. While the possibility of convergent evolution cannot be ruled out, these similarities are quite striking and raise some intriguing questions. Are these similarities the result of cultural transmission to central Eastern Polynesia from Hawai'i and Western Polynesia (and/or Eastern Melanesia) prior to the departure of the ancestors of Māori to Aotearoa? Could they be the result of a limited amount of direct voyaging from Western Polynesia and/or Eastern Melanesia to Aotearoa prior to the Little Ice Age (c.1400), or from later cultural transmission? Are they the vestiges of practices that, in historical times, had been discontinued in central Eastern Polynesia but preserved in marginal Polynesia (as per the 'stone in the pond' model of cultural diffusion)? These questions are discussed in this article, which aims to shed further light on the possible origins of Māori musical instruments and, in so doing, the immediate geographical origins of Māori ancestors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) metabolises approximately 25% of commonly prescribed drugs, including analgesics, antihypertensives, and anti-depressants, among many others. Genetic variation in drug metabolising genes can alter how an individual responds to prescribed drugs, including predisposing to adverse drug reactions. The majority of research on the CYP2D6 gene has been carried out in European and East Asian populations, with many Indigenous and minority populations, such as those from Oceania, greatly underrepresented. However, genetic variation is often population specific and analysis of diverse ethnic groups can reveal differences in alleles that may be of clinical significance. For this reason, we set out to examine the range and frequency of CYP2D6 variants in a sample of 202Māori and Pacific people living in Aotearoa (New Zealand). We carried out long PCR to isolate the CYP2D6 region before performing nanopore sequencing to identify all variants and alleles in these samples. We identified twelve variants which have previously not been reported in the PharmVar CYP2D6 database, three of which were exonic missense variations. Six of these occurred in single samples and one was found in 19 samples (9.4% of the cohort). The remaining five variants were identified in two samples each. Identified variants formed twelve new CYP2D6 suballeles and four new star alleles, now recorded in the PharmVar database. One striking finding was that CYP2D6*71, an allele of uncertain functional status which has been rarely observed in previous studies, occurs at a relatively high frequency (8.9%) within this cohort. These data will help to ensure that CYP2D6 genetic analysis for pharmacogenetic purposes can be carried out accurately and effectively in this population group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several theoretical positions such as the "Global South" have challenged the developmentalist logic that continues to maintain cultural categorizations as they relate to art in the aftermath of WWII. In the current neoliberal era, the post-1945 developmentalist paradigm has gone even further by instrumentalizing culture itself produced under "conditions of oppression," primarily to foster public diplomacy and economic benefits. Nation-states face globalization using these categories in order to create an authentic and competitive identity. This article engages in a cross-cultural analysis of arte popular brasileira—in which Brazil belongs to the Global South—and Māori art—in what I call the "southern isles" of Aotearoa New Zealand—both of which function in conditions of coloniality. I identify the implications of the strategies implemented in governmental policies and official institutional spaces for these artistic and cultural expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Background and objective: Bronchiectasis not associated with cystic fibrosis is an increasingly recognized chronic lung disease. In Oceania, indigenous populations experience a disproportionately high burden of disease. We aimed to describe the natural history of bronchiectasis and identify risk factors associated with premature mortality within a cohort of Aboriginal Australians, New Zealand Māori and Pacific Islanders, and non‐indigenous Australians and New Zealanders. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of bronchiectasis patients aged >15 years at three hospitals: Alice Springs Hospital and Monash Medical Centre in Australia, and Middlemore Hospital in New Zealand. Data included demographics, ethnicity, sputum microbiology, radiology, spirometry, hospitalization and survival over 5 years of follow‐up. Results: Aboriginal Australians were significantly younger and died at a significantly younger age than other groups. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted all‐cause mortality was higher for Aboriginal Australians (hazard ratio (HR): 3.9), and respiratory‐related mortality was higher for both Aboriginal Australians (HR: 4.3) and Māori and Pacific Islander people (HR: 1.7). Hospitalization was common: Aboriginal Australians had 2.9 admissions/person‐year and 16.9 days in hospital/person‐year. Despite Aboriginal Australians having poorer prognosis, calculation of the FACED score suggested milder disease in this group. Sputum microbiology varied with Aspergillus fumigatus more often isolated from non‐indigenous patients. Airflow obstruction was common (66.9%) but not invariable. Conclusions: Bronchiectasis is not one disease. It has a significant impact on healthcare utilization and survival. Differences between populations are likely to relate to differing aetiologies and understanding the drivers of bronchiectasis in disadvantaged populations will be key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational research on professional athletes from the USA suggests differences may exist in sweat sodium loss based on ethnic differences. The New Zealand (NZ) sporting population is mainly of European or Māori/Pacific Island origin. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the fluid-electrolyte balance of athletes by ethnicity. A total of 20 Māori/Pacific Islanders (MP; body mass 100.97 ± 13.05 kg) and 29 NZ European (NZE; body mass 89.11 ± 11.56 kg) elite male athletes were recruited. Sweat rates were determined by body mass change during a 1-h spin cycle exercise session, during which fluid intakes and heart rate were recorded. Sweat samples were analysed for sodium concentration. Mean ± SD sweat sodium concentrations were 73.4 ± 27.2 mmol·L−1and 55.5 ± 26.8 mmol·L−1for the MP and NZE groups, respectively (p= 0.070). Sweat rate was 0.93 ± 0.26 L·h−1for the MP group and 0.89 ± 0.33 L·h−1for the NZE group (p= 0.357). Fluid intake was 1.05 ± 0.48 L and 0.93 ± 0.49 L for MP and NZE, respectively (p= 0.395). Half of the MP group gained weight during the exercise session compared to 37% of the NZE group. Pre-exercise urine specific gravity was significantly lower amongst the NZE group (1.016 ± 0.009 g mL−1) than the MP group (1.024 ± 0.008 g mL−1)p= 0.001. There was no significant difference in heart rate between the groups,p= 0.082. Hydration practices of athletes in NZ may differ by ethnicity, and this may highlight the need for more targeted education by ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maori and Pacific Islanders are heavily overrepresented in the Australian criminal justice system. Despite these circumstances, little is known about the risk factors uniquely underpinning their involvement in criminal behavior. A review of the literature discovered that acculturation stressors, widespread educational disengagement, family and cultural disintegration, job insecurity, economic disadvantage, and social service inaccessibility were prevalent issues among both young Maori and Pacific Islander offenders and their communities. The findings signal the need for culturally tailored interventions that divert young Maori and Pacific Islanders from law-breaking behaviors while reconnecting them with family, culture, education, employment, and prosocial activities. Local efforts to address this significant gap in service delivery have been made and are discussed within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In New Zealand, obese Māori and Pasifika adolescents are at risk of numerous cardio-metabolic conditions with raising physical activity levels being proposed as a useful intervention. The present study used a mixed method design to explore the effects of a non-contact boxing-oriented training programme designed in terms of improvements to cardio-metabolic variables. Traditional recruitment strategies (media, referrals) were employed, with limited success leading to 3 adolescent boys (14-15 y) participating in the pilot intervention. Exercise sessions included 30 minutes of non-contact boxing training, followed by 30 minutes of progressive resistance training. Participants attended three 1h training sessions each week, for a total of 12 weeks. Physiological variables included anthropometric indices, visceral fat thickness, central blood pressures, central arterial stiffness (augmentation index: AIx), and carotid arterial stiffness (β). Results revealed that there was no trend for change in body weight (125.5 ± 12.1 kg vs. 126.5 ± 11.0 kg) or BMI (39.3 ± 4.1 kg•m-2 vs. 39.0 ± 4.6 kg•m-2). However, there was a moderate decrease in visceral fat thickness (4.34 ± 2.51 cm vs 3.65 ± 1.11 cm, d = 0.36). There was no change in central pulse pressure (38.7 ± 7.3 mmHg vs. 38.3 ± 5.0 mmHg), however, there was a small improvement in β (3.01 ± 0.73 vs. 2.87 ± 0.84, d = 0.18). Focus group interview data with participants and their parents were used to explore issues related to motivation to participation. Results revealed participants commented on how the programme has led to new friendships, changes to their physical appearance, and increased physical fitness. Parents commented on increased self-confidence, better performance in school, and a willingness to take part in new activities. In conclusion, it appears participating in the boxing oriented training programme was motivating to participants who engaged and had some physiological benefits in obese adolescent boys of Māori and Pasifika descent. However, despite these positive attributes, poor recruitment rates suggest that future work should focus on identifying the barriers to engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the benefits of advance care planning ( ACP), international research has suggested that in pluralistic and multicultural societies such as New Zealand, significant differences exist in the uptake of ACP between European-based populations and other cultural groups [Crawley (2005)]. The purpose of this study was to therefore explore the views of generalist palliative care providers in both the community and hospital settings regarding the barriers to ACP adoption as well as methods to increase knowledge about ACP among Māori, Pacific and Asian cultural groups within New Zealand society. Eleven individual interviews, two joint interviews and three focus groups were conducted with health and social care professionals with a wide range of knowledge and experience in palliative care. Challenges were related to a number of issues based on culture, including family decision-making style, a need to 'do everything' and a reluctance to discuss issues surrounding dying and death. Suggestions to increase the knowledge of ACP included techniques to improve information access and the utilisation of shared norms and values to assist with discussions between Māori, Pacific and Asian health professionals and their patients and families/whānau. Findings indicate a need for more family/whānau-centred models of ACP, addressed much earlier in the healthcare process and within the community setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the putative mistranslations of 19th century Māori language texts by New Zealanders of British descent. The relationship between the mistranslation of Māori language texts and Māori chiefs' relationship with the British colonial government of New Zealand, including in regard to the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi and Māori sovereignty, is discussed.

Despite increasing interest, little is known about the beliefs and views of the public in relation to the use of economic incentives as a means to promote healthy eating. This study explores views of ethnically and socioeconomically diverse shoppers regarding acceptability of economic incentives to promote healthier food purchases, and factors likely to affect the success of such schemes. Six focus groups (n = 36 participants; 14 Māori, 12 Pacific, 10 non-ethnic specific low income), were held in Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2009. A general inductive approach was used to identify common themes. The single most important reported food purchasing influence was cost. Focus group participants viewed the concept of economic incentives to promote healthy eating positively, as long as such schemes provided worthwhile incentives, and were simple and convenient to use. The preferred option for delivery was a pre-loaded electronic swipe card. Fruit and vegetables were the food group most participants said they would like to see incentivized. There was marked variability in the incentive amount thought sufficient to promote participation in such a scheme. Our findings suggest economic incentives hold promise as a means to promote healthier household food purchases, and their effectiveness should be evaluated using robust, randomized trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing health inequalities requires interventions that work as well, if not better, among disadvantaged populations. The aim of this study was to determine if the effects of price discounts and tailored nutrition education on supermarket food purchases (percentage energy from saturated fat and healthy foods purchased) vary by ethnicity, household income and education. Method: A 2×2 factorial trial of 1104 New Zealand shoppers randomised to receive a 12.5% discount on healthier foods and/or tailored nutrition education (or no intervention) for 6 months. Results: There was no overall association of price discounts or nutrition education with percentage energy from saturated fat, or nutrition education with healthy food purchasing. There was an association of price discounts with healthy food purchasing (0.79 kg/week increase; 95% CI 0.43 to 1.16) that varied by ethnicity (p=0.04): European/other 1.02 kg/week (n=755; 95% CI 0.60 to 1.43); Pacific 1.20 kg/week (n=101; 95% CI 0.06 to 2.34); Maori --0.15 kg/week (n=248; 95% CI --1.10 to 0.80). This association of price discounts with healthy food purchasing did not vary by household income or education. Conclusions: While a statistically significant variation by ethnicity in the effect of price discounts on food purchasing was found, the authors caution against a causal interpretation due to likely biases (eg, attrition) that differentially affected Maori and Pacific people. The study highlights the challenges in generating valid evidence by social groups for public health interventions. The null findings for tailored nutritional education across all social groups suggest that structural interventions (such as price) may be more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analyses by Hook in the two target articles published in this issue on the effects of legislation on recorded rates of crime for Māori and Pacific Islanders (Hook, 2009a, 2009b) give rise to a number of questions and themes that this peer commentary will examine. In particular, this commentary will explore some of the practices such as policing that may influence the social construction of crime figures in relation to Māori and Pacific peoples, and some of the limitations to building critical analyses from official crime statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Māori kin-based model of social entrepreneurship as a model for how the Australian government could implement its aid to Southwest Pacific Island nations. Within Australia an ongoing debate persists regarding the best way to assist the Pacific Islands while allowing them to maintain their regional autonomy. The author describes New Zealand's Ngai Tahu tribe which operates on a communal model of kinship which is also competitive by nature. The author suggests that Australia could institute a similar model of developmental assistance to help Pacific cultures thrive economically by taking into consideration their traditional social structures.

The article focuses on the campaign of cultural institutions in New Zealand in improving public access of collections of the photographs of the Māori and South Pacific people. Activities were conducted including National Digital Forum projects, photographic exhibitions sponsored by the Alexander Turnball Library. A series of digital projects emerged such as the Matapihi website, Anthropology Photographic Archive database and the "Kahungunu, Ka Moe... Ka Puta' photographic exhibition.

Information about several papers discussed at the nineteenth conference of the New Zealand Studies Association held June 27-29, 2013 in conjunction with Radboud's Centre for Pacific and Asian Studies regarding New Zealand is presented. Topics include New Zealand in relation to South Pacific countries, New Zealand as a South Pacific nation, and Maori studies. The conference featured several speakers including Makere Stewart- Harawira, Michael Belgrave, and Vincent Ward.

Editorial. Introduces a series of articles about the Asia-Pacific region. Analysis of the poetry of Pacific Island writers to create the environment for a more sensitive understanding of people, places, and processes in Oceania; Reconstruction of Maori land claims in the Taupo region; Discussion of the contributions of scholar R. Gerard Ward to Pacific island geography.