title: Home and the spirit in the Maori world

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

abstract: Today we explore home as a place of spiritual belonging and continuity and how tangi relies on the genealogical connectedness of ancestral and living communities to care for the tūpāpaku, the human remains, and wairua, the spirit of the deceased, as well as the living. While colonisation and westernisation have changed us, the institution of tangi, our rituals of death and mourning, have remained since pre-encounter times. In the face of death, tangi and its repetitive ritualised pattern of encounter and mourning might be viewed as a lifeline to hold on to as the disturbance and turmoil spawned by death is endured.

We begin this paper by returning to the beginning, the place of potentiality to contemplate our spiritual origins and life endowments. We consider the nature of Māori beliefs about a spiritual afterlife and how through the institution of tangi we guide and support the departing spirit on its way. We argue that these rituals of departure and support are most optimally performed within the context of our marae and spiritual landscapes. Reinforcing this, the interment of the deceased amongst kin enhances our togetherness, in life and death, and protects us from entities with malevolent intent. For these reasons, we reaffirm the rightness of our beliefs and practices. Contestation of tūpāpaku, an act of spiritual responsibility in which tūpāpaku are returned to their tribal homelands for mourning and interment amongst kin is presented as an exemplar of right spiritual practice. We conclude with a discussion of some challenges Māori must confront to live life more consciously in spiritually responsible ways and in continuity with our origins and futures.

text: Home and the spirit in the Maori world Today we explore home as a place of spiritual belonging and continuity and how tangi relies on the genealogical connectedness of ancestral and living communities to care for the tūpāpaku, the human remains, and wairua, the spirit of the deceased, as well as the living. While colonisation and westernisation have changed us, the institution of tangi, our rituals of death and mourning, have remained since pre-encounter times. In the face of death, tangi and its repetitive ritualised pattern of encounter and mourning might be viewed as a lifeline to hold on to as the disturbance and turmoil spawned by death is endured.

We begin this paper by returning to the beginning, the place of potentiality to contemplate our spiritual origins and life endowments. We consider the nature of Māori beliefs about a spiritual afterlife and how through the institution of tangi we guide and support the departing spirit on its way. We argue that these rituals of departure and support are most optimally performed within the context of our marae and spiritual landscapes. Reinforcing this, the interment of the deceased amongst kin enhances our togetherness, in life and death, and protects us from entities with malevolent intent. For these reasons, we reaffirm the rightness of our beliefs and practices. Contestation of tūpāpaku, an act of spiritual responsibility in which tūpāpaku are returned to their tribal homelands for mourning and interment amongst kin is presented as an exemplar of right spiritual practice. We conclude with a discussion of some challenges Māori must confront to live life more consciously in spiritually responsible ways and in continuity with our origins and futures.

year: 2013

title: Kua Tupu Te Pā Harakeke: Developing Healthy Whānau Relationships

authors: Pihama, Leonie

abstract: We have opened this chapter with our ‘pēpeha’. Pēpeha are ways through which our people introduce ourselves. These vary from tribe to tribe. The essence of pēpeha is that they link us to our tribes and all associated with that. Our mountains, our rivers, our canoes, our ancestral lines. It links us to each other. It places us, as Māori, within a wider collective consciousness and relationships. It is important to highlight that the term ‘Māori’ is a term that brings us as tribal peoples together. It is a term that our people have chosen to use as a means of unifying ourselves in the wake of the arrival of our colonizers. Prior to colonization all identification was done through our whānau (extended family structure), hapū (subtribes) or iwi (tribes). The term Māori means to be ‘normal’ or ‘pure’, as such it is a fitting term for an Indigenous People. We have, however, also been active in maintaining our hapū and iwi identities and it is through pēpeha that we can culturally share that identity with each other. Our people have been doing this for generations. And in spite of colonization seeking to undermine our cultural identity, many of us continue to do this.

text: Kua Tupu Te Pā Harakeke: Developing Healthy Whānau Relationships We have opened this chapter with our ‘pēpeha’. Pēpeha are ways through which our people introduce ourselves. These vary from tribe to tribe. The essence of pēpeha is that they link us to our tribes and all associated with that. Our mountains, our rivers, our canoes, our ancestral lines. It links us to each other. It places us, as Māori, within a wider collective consciousness and relationships. It is important to highlight that the term ‘Māori’ is a term that brings us as tribal peoples together. It is a term that our people have chosen to use as a means of unifying ourselves in the wake of the arrival of our colonizers. Prior to colonization all identification was done through our whānau (extended family structure), hapū (subtribes) or iwi (tribes). The term Māori means to be ‘normal’ or ‘pure’, as such it is a fitting term for an Indigenous People. We have, however, also been active in maintaining our hapū and iwi identities and it is through pēpeha that we can culturally share that identity with each other. Our people have been doing this for generations. And in spite of colonization seeking to undermine our cultural identity, many of us continue to do this.

year: 2012

title: Investigating the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing performance in experienced club-level rowers

authors: Rountree, James

subjects: rowing performance

abstract: It is well established that beta-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine levels and, in many cases, improves high-intensity exercise performance. Recent research has shown that applying a topical carnosine gel to the skin may be an effective alternative method to increase muscle carnosine and improve high-intensity exercise performance. However, there is currently no research on the effect of topical carnosine on rowing performance.  
  
This thesis is separated into three chapters. Chapter One is a review of the literature regarding the physiology of muscular fatigue in high-intensity exercise, the relationship between muscle typology and buffering capacity, supplement-based interventions to elevate buffering capacity, the ergogenic properties of carnosine (with particular relevance to rowing performance), and the novel use of topical carnosine to improve high-intensity exercise performance. The literature shows that an accumulation of hydrogen ions, a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis metabolism, negatively impacts muscle function, causes pain in the muscle, and decreases muscle pH, ultimately reducing exercise performance. Multiple studies found that raising the amount of intramuscular carnosine improved performance because carnosine is a pH buffer and may increase the calcium ion sensitivity within the muscle. Due to the limitations of direct carnosine ingestion, an increase in muscle carnosine is traditionally achieved via beta-alanine supplementation, which can cause small performance improvements in high-intensity exercise, such as rowing. Topical carnosine is a novel, more efficient alternative to elevate muscle carnosine; however, there is limited, conflicting evidence of its effect on high-intensity exercise performance, thus, more research is needed.   
 
Chapter Two investigated the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing ergometer time trial (TT) performance. Thirteen club-level rowers (11 male, 2 female) were randomly allocated into Group A or B, from which a crossover design was used to measure the effect of the intervention. In a double-blind fashion, participants applied 15 mL of a topical carnosine gel (CAR) or an ultrasound placebo gel (PLA) to their back and limb muscles 45 minutes before each TT, which were separated by one week. The paired dependent t-test and Cohen’s effect sizes found that topical carnosine had a trivial, non-significant effect on TT performance (CAR 300.5 ± 23.1 s; PLA 300.4 ± 24.2 s, p = 0.945, d = 0.004), 500 m split times 500 m (p = 0.808, d = 0.009; 1000 m p = 0.830, d = 0.011; 1500 m p = 0.849, d = 0.020), and rated perceived exertion (p = 1.000, d = 0.000). These results suggest that topical carnosine does not affect 1,500 m rowing performance. After the intervention was deemed ineffective, the reliability of the 1,500 m TT was calculated using Trial 1 vs Trial 2 (Trial 1: 301 ± 23.8 s, Trial 2: 300.0 ± 24.0 s; p =0.114; d = 0.074; trivial effect size; TE = 2.8 s; ICC = 0.985). The reliability statistics suggest that the 1,500 m TT performed on a Concept 2 rowing ergometer is a reliable measure of rowing performance.  

Chapter Three summarises the findings from Chapter Two, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of our research, and provides recommendations for future research. Overall, this thesis identified gaps in the literature regarding carnosine and high-intensity exercise, and found links between papers on muscle typology, buffer capacity, beta-alanine, and topical carnosine that can be used to develop rationales for future research. It was clear that, under the conditions tested in this experimental protocol, topical carnosine does not affect performance in the 1,500 m rowing ergometer TT in experienced club-level rowers.

text: Investigating the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing performance in experienced club-level rowers It is well established that beta-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine levels and, in many cases, improves high-intensity exercise performance. Recent research has shown that applying a topical carnosine gel to the skin may be an effective alternative method to increase muscle carnosine and improve high-intensity exercise performance. However, there is currently no research on the effect of topical carnosine on rowing performance.  
  
This thesis is separated into three chapters. Chapter One is a review of the literature regarding the physiology of muscular fatigue in high-intensity exercise, the relationship between muscle typology and buffering capacity, supplement-based interventions to elevate buffering capacity, the ergogenic properties of carnosine (with particular relevance to rowing performance), and the novel use of topical carnosine to improve high-intensity exercise performance. The literature shows that an accumulation of hydrogen ions, a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis metabolism, negatively impacts muscle function, causes pain in the muscle, and decreases muscle pH, ultimately reducing exercise performance. Multiple studies found that raising the amount of intramuscular carnosine improved performance because carnosine is a pH buffer and may increase the calcium ion sensitivity within the muscle. Due to the limitations of direct carnosine ingestion, an increase in muscle carnosine is traditionally achieved via beta-alanine supplementation, which can cause small performance improvements in high-intensity exercise, such as rowing. Topical carnosine is a novel, more efficient alternative to elevate muscle carnosine; however, there is limited, conflicting evidence of its effect on high-intensity exercise performance, thus, more research is needed.   
 
Chapter Two investigated the effect of a topical carnosine gel on 1,500 m rowing ergometer time trial (TT) performance. Thirteen club-level rowers (11 male, 2 female) were randomly allocated into Group A or B, from which a crossover design was used to measure the effect of the intervention. In a double-blind fashion, participants applied 15 mL of a topical carnosine gel (CAR) or an ultrasound placebo gel (PLA) to their back and limb muscles 45 minutes before each TT, which were separated by one week. The paired dependent t-test and Cohen’s effect sizes found that topical carnosine had a trivial, non-significant effect on TT performance (CAR 300.5 ± 23.1 s; PLA 300.4 ± 24.2 s, p = 0.945, d = 0.004), 500 m split times 500 m (p = 0.808, d = 0.009; 1000 m p = 0.830, d = 0.011; 1500 m p = 0.849, d = 0.020), and rated perceived exertion (p = 1.000, d = 0.000). These results suggest that topical carnosine does not affect 1,500 m rowing performance. After the intervention was deemed ineffective, the reliability of the 1,500 m TT was calculated using Trial 1 vs Trial 2 (Trial 1: 301 ± 23.8 s, Trial 2: 300.0 ± 24.0 s; p =0.114; d = 0.074; trivial effect size; TE = 2.8 s; ICC = 0.985). The reliability statistics suggest that the 1,500 m TT performed on a Concept 2 rowing ergometer is a reliable measure of rowing performance.  

Chapter Three summarises the findings from Chapter Two, identifies the strengths and weaknesses of our research, and provides recommendations for future research. Overall, this thesis identified gaps in the literature regarding carnosine and high-intensity exercise, and found links between papers on muscle typology, buffer capacity, beta-alanine, and topical carnosine that can be used to develop rationales for future research. It was clear that, under the conditions tested in this experimental protocol, topical carnosine does not affect performance in the 1,500 m rowing ergometer TT in experienced club-level rowers.

year: 2025