title: Formulaic Discourse Patterning in Mōteatea

authors: Roa, Te Raukura o Te Rangimarie

subjects: mōteatea

abstract: Oral formulaic composition, which involves the use of communally owned formulae of various kinds, is a common feature of verbal arts produced in many different languages. It is particularly associated with pre-literate cultures and tends to be gradually replaced by more individualistic verbal art forms when societies become literate. There are very few publications in which the analysis of mōteatea (Māori laments) is linked explicitly to oral formulaic theory. Nevertheless, there is, I believe, sufficient evidence in published sources to indicate that traditional mōteatea (defined here as mōteatea that are not fundamentally influenced by European cultural beliefs and practices) exhibit evidence of regularly recurring, conventional themes (such as death, separation, loss and travel) and motifs (such as the setting sun, the presence of rain or mist and sleeplessness).  There is, however, considerably less evidence that traditional mōteatea make extensive use of verbal formulae, that is, of the same or very similar groups of words derived from a common store of poetic resources. Although there are references in the literature to the conventionalized use of language in mōteatea, and although it has been claimed that there are at least some commonly recurring verbal expressions, this is by no means evidence of reliance on a common stock of verbal formulae. Indeed, no attempt has hitherto been made to define precisely what might be meant by the term 'oral formula' in the context of compositions in te reo Māori, something that is clearly required in view, in particular, of the fact that the phrasal structure of the language means that certain groupings (e.g. i te X; ki te X) are very likely to occur in certain contexts irrespective of genre. Furthermore, in the literature on oral formulaic composition, oral formulae are generally linked to particular metrical conditions and there is, it is argued here, no convincing empirically-based evidence that mōteatea conform to any common metrical structure or structures (see Chapters 2 and 4).

In the context of a critical review of selected literature on oral formulaic theory (Chapter 2) and mōteatea (Chapter 3), this thesis sets out to test the hypothesis that traditional mōteatea were composed, in whole or in large part, from a common stock of oral formulae. The conclusion, based on analysis of a selection of mōteatea included in Ngā mōteatea, a collection initially established by Sir Apirana Ngata, is that this hypothesis must be rejected (Chapter 4). However, a model derived from a review of selected literature on discourse structure (Chapter 5) was also applied to the analysis of a sample of these mōteatea (Chapter 6). On the basis of this analysis, it is concluded that they exhibit one of two very similar discourse prototypes, each of which involves a particular combination of discourse elements. What distinguishes the two prototypes is the fact that only one of them is characterized by the inclusion of hortatory sections in which the poet urges one or more of the protagonists to undergo one or more steps or stages required to achieve a particular outcome, such as entry into the spirit world or vengeance for death and/ or humiliation.

text: Formulaic Discourse Patterning in Mōteatea Oral formulaic composition, which involves the use of communally owned formulae of various kinds, is a common feature of verbal arts produced in many different languages. It is particularly associated with pre-literate cultures and tends to be gradually replaced by more individualistic verbal art forms when societies become literate. There are very few publications in which the analysis of mōteatea (Māori laments) is linked explicitly to oral formulaic theory. Nevertheless, there is, I believe, sufficient evidence in published sources to indicate that traditional mōteatea (defined here as mōteatea that are not fundamentally influenced by European cultural beliefs and practices) exhibit evidence of regularly recurring, conventional themes (such as death, separation, loss and travel) and motifs (such as the setting sun, the presence of rain or mist and sleeplessness).  There is, however, considerably less evidence that traditional mōteatea make extensive use of verbal formulae, that is, of the same or very similar groups of words derived from a common store of poetic resources. Although there are references in the literature to the conventionalized use of language in mōteatea, and although it has been claimed that there are at least some commonly recurring verbal expressions, this is by no means evidence of reliance on a common stock of verbal formulae. Indeed, no attempt has hitherto been made to define precisely what might be meant by the term 'oral formula' in the context of compositions in te reo Māori, something that is clearly required in view, in particular, of the fact that the phrasal structure of the language means that certain groupings (e.g. i te X; ki te X) are very likely to occur in certain contexts irrespective of genre. Furthermore, in the literature on oral formulaic composition, oral formulae are generally linked to particular metrical conditions and there is, it is argued here, no convincing empirically-based evidence that mōteatea conform to any common metrical structure or structures (see Chapters 2 and 4).

In the context of a critical review of selected literature on oral formulaic theory (Chapter 2) and mōteatea (Chapter 3), this thesis sets out to test the hypothesis that traditional mōteatea were composed, in whole or in large part, from a common stock of oral formulae. The conclusion, based on analysis of a selection of mōteatea included in Ngā mōteatea, a collection initially established by Sir Apirana Ngata, is that this hypothesis must be rejected (Chapter 4). However, a model derived from a review of selected literature on discourse structure (Chapter 5) was also applied to the analysis of a sample of these mōteatea (Chapter 6). On the basis of this analysis, it is concluded that they exhibit one of two very similar discourse prototypes, each of which involves a particular combination of discourse elements. What distinguishes the two prototypes is the fact that only one of them is characterized by the inclusion of hortatory sections in which the poet urges one or more of the protagonists to undergo one or more steps or stages required to achieve a particular outcome, such as entry into the spirit world or vengeance for death and/ or humiliation.

year: 2008

title: Balancing openness with Indigenous data sovereignty: An opportunity to leave no one behind in the journey to sequence all of life

authors: Cartney, Ann M. Mc

abstract: The field of genomics has benefited greatly from its "openness" approach to data sharing. However, with the increasing volume of sequence information being created and stored and the growing number of international genomics efforts, the equity of openness is under question. The United Nations Convention of Biodiversity aims to develop and adopt a standard policy on access and benefit-sharing for sequence information across signatory parties. This standardization will have profound implications on genomics research, requiring a new definition of open data sharing. The redefinition of openness is not unwarranted, as its limitations have unintentionally introduced barriers of engagement to some, including Indigenous Peoples. This commentary provides an insight into the key challenges of openness faced by the researchers who aspire to protect and conserve global biodiversity, including Indigenous flora and fauna, and presents immediate, practical solutions that, if implemented, will equip the genomics community with both the diversity and inclusivity required to respectfully protect global biodiversity.

text: Balancing openness with Indigenous data sovereignty: An opportunity to leave no one behind in the journey to sequence all of life The field of genomics has benefited greatly from its "openness" approach to data sharing. However, with the increasing volume of sequence information being created and stored and the growing number of international genomics efforts, the equity of openness is under question. The United Nations Convention of Biodiversity aims to develop and adopt a standard policy on access and benefit-sharing for sequence information across signatory parties. This standardization will have profound implications on genomics research, requiring a new definition of open data sharing. The redefinition of openness is not unwarranted, as its limitations have unintentionally introduced barriers of engagement to some, including Indigenous Peoples. This commentary provides an insight into the key challenges of openness faced by the researchers who aspire to protect and conserve global biodiversity, including Indigenous flora and fauna, and presents immediate, practical solutions that, if implemented, will equip the genomics community with both the diversity and inclusivity required to respectfully protect global biodiversity.

year: 2022

title: Is fish food from aquarium suppliers a vector for non-native zooplankton to New Zealand?

authors: Mahaarachchige, Buddhika Udayangani Perera

subjects: Artemia

abstract: There have been a number of recent records of non-native zooplankton invasions in New Zealand, but the transport vectors leading to their introduction are not well understood.  Commercially available fish foods containing zooplankton are widely used in home aquariums and the aquaculture industry. These foods are either imported to, or cultured within, New Zealand, and sold as freeze-dried, sun-dried or frozen adults, as capsulated or decapsulated cysts, or as live individuals. In this study, fish food containing Daphnia O.F. Müller, 1785  (Cladocera), Artemia (brine shrimp) and Brachionus (rotifers) were bought from a variety of commercial suppliers within the North Island, New Zealand, which were cultured and manufactured domestically or internationally. Live Daphnia samples were identified morphologically and were found to contain a variety of both native and non-native Daphnia species, as well as copepods, ostracods, rotifers and other non-Daphnia cladoceran species. Freeze-dried and sun-dried diapausing eggs of Daphnia and the rotifer Brachionus were incubated in artificial pond water, Aachener Daphnien Medium (ADaM) and filtered pond water, but hatching of these were unsuccessful. In contrast, Artemia bought as both capsulated and decapsulated cysts were successfully hatched in water with a salinity of 25 ppt and temperatures of 20 °C. The resulting Artemia populations were either parthenogenic or sexual, varying by manufacturer. Frozen whole adult Artemia were found to carry eggs but could not be hatched. Due to the risk of misidentifications from morphological identification, a 658-bp fragment from the 5ʹ region of the COI gene was amplified from tissue samples. The phylogenetic tree constructed from the COI gene sequences identified distinct clades corresponding to four species: A. franciscana, A. parthenogenetica (both hatched from eggs as viable populations), A. sinica, and A. salina (both identified in food, but not viable). The BLAST analysis indicated that the capsulated  cysts from USA and German manufacturers contained Artemia franciscana, while the Chinese supply contained A. parthenogenetica. Decapsulated cysts from a Chinese manufacturer hatched into A. parthenogenetica. While A. franciscana can be legally imported into New Zealand, A. parthenogenetica is not listed in the Import Health Standard for ‘Fish food and fish bait’ under the Biosecurity Act 1993. The morphological identifications matched the BLAST analysis data for Daphnia. Non-native Daphnia pulex was recorded from live samples from Te Aroha, Hamilton and Wellington (LID5). An Auckland sample and another Wellington sample comprised of native D. carinata s.l. Overall, commercially available fish food from aquarium suppliers can act as a vector for non-native zooplankton to New Zealand.

text: Is fish food from aquarium suppliers a vector for non-native zooplankton to New Zealand? There have been a number of recent records of non-native zooplankton invasions in New Zealand, but the transport vectors leading to their introduction are not well understood.  Commercially available fish foods containing zooplankton are widely used in home aquariums and the aquaculture industry. These foods are either imported to, or cultured within, New Zealand, and sold as freeze-dried, sun-dried or frozen adults, as capsulated or decapsulated cysts, or as live individuals. In this study, fish food containing Daphnia O.F. Müller, 1785  (Cladocera), Artemia (brine shrimp) and Brachionus (rotifers) were bought from a variety of commercial suppliers within the North Island, New Zealand, which were cultured and manufactured domestically or internationally. Live Daphnia samples were identified morphologically and were found to contain a variety of both native and non-native Daphnia species, as well as copepods, ostracods, rotifers and other non-Daphnia cladoceran species. Freeze-dried and sun-dried diapausing eggs of Daphnia and the rotifer Brachionus were incubated in artificial pond water, Aachener Daphnien Medium (ADaM) and filtered pond water, but hatching of these were unsuccessful. In contrast, Artemia bought as both capsulated and decapsulated cysts were successfully hatched in water with a salinity of 25 ppt and temperatures of 20 °C. The resulting Artemia populations were either parthenogenic or sexual, varying by manufacturer. Frozen whole adult Artemia were found to carry eggs but could not be hatched. Due to the risk of misidentifications from morphological identification, a 658-bp fragment from the 5ʹ region of the COI gene was amplified from tissue samples. The phylogenetic tree constructed from the COI gene sequences identified distinct clades corresponding to four species: A. franciscana, A. parthenogenetica (both hatched from eggs as viable populations), A. sinica, and A. salina (both identified in food, but not viable). The BLAST analysis indicated that the capsulated  cysts from USA and German manufacturers contained Artemia franciscana, while the Chinese supply contained A. parthenogenetica. Decapsulated cysts from a Chinese manufacturer hatched into A. parthenogenetica. While A. franciscana can be legally imported into New Zealand, A. parthenogenetica is not listed in the Import Health Standard for ‘Fish food and fish bait’ under the Biosecurity Act 1993. The morphological identifications matched the BLAST analysis data for Daphnia. Non-native Daphnia pulex was recorded from live samples from Te Aroha, Hamilton and Wellington (LID5). An Auckland sample and another Wellington sample comprised of native D. carinata s.l. Overall, commercially available fish food from aquarium suppliers can act as a vector for non-native zooplankton to New Zealand.

year: 2025