title: Investigating the Anti-inflammatory Activity of Honey

authors: Bean, Amanda

subjects: honey

abstract: Honey has various bioactivities with health-benefiting properties.  It has been registered for use in wound dressings but before it can be registered with regulatory authorities for sale with claims for therapeutic actions the components responsible for these bioactivities must be identified to allow standardisation.  This thesis focuses on the anti-inflammatory activity of honey.  Emphasis was put on identifying the mode of action of the anti-inflammatory component, creating an in vitro assay to measure the anti-inflammatory activity of individual honeys and attempting to identify and characterise the component(s) responsible for the activity.  

A cell line (THP-1) was selected for this study based on its macrophage phenotype upon activation and its role as an inflammatory regulator.  Initially this cell line was characterised to better understand the treatments that activate its phagocytosis ability, mobility, phenotype and gene expression profile.  The cell line was then monitored for the change in expression of its pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in response to common cell-activating treatments (LPS, PMA and Vit-D3) and Manuka honey.  It was found that Manuka honey increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines  TNF-α and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10, IL-1ra and the growth factors PDGF and TGF-β.  This indicated that Manuka honey may allow inflammation to proceed at a modulated level, allowing healing to occur.    
The cell line THP-1 was further investigated as a model of a phagocyte when activated.  A phagocytosis assay using latex particles was utilised to study the effect of honey on the ability of cells to phagocytose.  It was found that honey reduced phagocytosis, and that Manuka honey had a superior ability to other honey types to do this.  The activity was isolated to the high molecular weight compounds in honey.  As phagocytosis produces large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS are pro-inflammatory, the ROS produced by phagocytising THP-1 cells was investigated using a dichlorofluorescein assay.  It was found that ROS produced by phagocytising THP-1 cells decrease in the presence of Manuka honey but not artificial honey or Rewarewa honey which has high anti-oxidant activity.  This indicated that the effect of Manuka in decreasing ROS was not solely due to its osmotic effects or anti-oxidant capabilities.  As phagocytosis starts the inflammatory cascade, it was hypothesised that the phagocytosis-inhibiting component resulted in honey having anti-inflammatory activity.
Next, attempts were made to identify the anti-inflammatory component.   Manuka honey was separated using chromatography and the fractions obtained assayed for their inhibitory activity in the phagocytosis assay.  The active fractions were found to contain MRJP-1 and to a small extent MRJP-3, which were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.  It was confirmed that these were glycoproteins with a high mannose content by using a ConA lectin column.  
Next a mode of action for the glycoproteins was investigated.  It was demonstrated by using mannan that honey was acting on a mannose-binding phagocytic receptor on the cell surface of macrophages, most likely the mannose receptor.  It was hypothesised that with the glycoproteins bound to the receptor, the cell was unable to have phagocytosis triggered thus ROS production and expression of inflammatory cytokines in response to ROS produced were prevented.  
A wide range of honey varieties was assayed and the anti-inflammatory activity was found in high levels only in Manuka honey and to a lesser extent in Kanuka and Rewarewa.  To identify why this activity was much greater in Manuka honey, as all honey contains the glycoproteins MRJP-1 and MRJP-3, the effect of the recently discovered high levels of MGO in Manuka honey was investigated.  It was found that Manuka honey had a high fluorescence that was not seen in other honey types to the same extent and that this fluorescence was due to MGO modifying the proteins in honey.  It was found that this fluorescence could be used as an indicator of anti-inflammatory activity for Manuka honey and that this fluorescence, and anti-inflammatory activity increased over time upon incubation of honey with high MGO levels.  
The anti-inflammatory activity seen in the phagocytosis assay was compared with that seen in a commonly used in vivo assay of anti-inflammatory activity, the HET-CAM assay.  The HET-CAM assay depends on the experimental production of inflammation and the reduction of this inflammation with an anti-inflammatory agent on the chorionic membrane of a fertilised hen’s egg.  It was concluded that highly fluorescent Manuka honey at a concentration of 5% had and anti-inflammatory effect equivalent to that of 5 mg/ml hydrocortisone, a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drug.
The anti-inflammatory activity seen in the honeys assayed in the in vivo HET-CAM assay concurred with the results for the same honeys assayed in the phagocytosis assay which indicated that the phagocytosis assay was a reliable indicator for assaying the anti-inflammatory activity of honey in vitro.

text: Investigating the Anti-inflammatory Activity of Honey Honey has various bioactivities with health-benefiting properties.  It has been registered for use in wound dressings but before it can be registered with regulatory authorities for sale with claims for therapeutic actions the components responsible for these bioactivities must be identified to allow standardisation.  This thesis focuses on the anti-inflammatory activity of honey.  Emphasis was put on identifying the mode of action of the anti-inflammatory component, creating an in vitro assay to measure the anti-inflammatory activity of individual honeys and attempting to identify and characterise the component(s) responsible for the activity.  

A cell line (THP-1) was selected for this study based on its macrophage phenotype upon activation and its role as an inflammatory regulator.  Initially this cell line was characterised to better understand the treatments that activate its phagocytosis ability, mobility, phenotype and gene expression profile.  The cell line was then monitored for the change in expression of its pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in response to common cell-activating treatments (LPS, PMA and Vit-D3) and Manuka honey.  It was found that Manuka honey increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines  TNF-α and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10, IL-1ra and the growth factors PDGF and TGF-β.  This indicated that Manuka honey may allow inflammation to proceed at a modulated level, allowing healing to occur.    
The cell line THP-1 was further investigated as a model of a phagocyte when activated.  A phagocytosis assay using latex particles was utilised to study the effect of honey on the ability of cells to phagocytose.  It was found that honey reduced phagocytosis, and that Manuka honey had a superior ability to other honey types to do this.  The activity was isolated to the high molecular weight compounds in honey.  As phagocytosis produces large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS are pro-inflammatory, the ROS produced by phagocytising THP-1 cells was investigated using a dichlorofluorescein assay.  It was found that ROS produced by phagocytising THP-1 cells decrease in the presence of Manuka honey but not artificial honey or Rewarewa honey which has high anti-oxidant activity.  This indicated that the effect of Manuka in decreasing ROS was not solely due to its osmotic effects or anti-oxidant capabilities.  As phagocytosis starts the inflammatory cascade, it was hypothesised that the phagocytosis-inhibiting component resulted in honey having anti-inflammatory activity.
Next, attempts were made to identify the anti-inflammatory component.   Manuka honey was separated using chromatography and the fractions obtained assayed for their inhibitory activity in the phagocytosis assay.  The active fractions were found to contain MRJP-1 and to a small extent MRJP-3, which were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.  It was confirmed that these were glycoproteins with a high mannose content by using a ConA lectin column.  
Next a mode of action for the glycoproteins was investigated.  It was demonstrated by using mannan that honey was acting on a mannose-binding phagocytic receptor on the cell surface of macrophages, most likely the mannose receptor.  It was hypothesised that with the glycoproteins bound to the receptor, the cell was unable to have phagocytosis triggered thus ROS production and expression of inflammatory cytokines in response to ROS produced were prevented.  
A wide range of honey varieties was assayed and the anti-inflammatory activity was found in high levels only in Manuka honey and to a lesser extent in Kanuka and Rewarewa.  To identify why this activity was much greater in Manuka honey, as all honey contains the glycoproteins MRJP-1 and MRJP-3, the effect of the recently discovered high levels of MGO in Manuka honey was investigated.  It was found that Manuka honey had a high fluorescence that was not seen in other honey types to the same extent and that this fluorescence was due to MGO modifying the proteins in honey.  It was found that this fluorescence could be used as an indicator of anti-inflammatory activity for Manuka honey and that this fluorescence, and anti-inflammatory activity increased over time upon incubation of honey with high MGO levels.  
The anti-inflammatory activity seen in the phagocytosis assay was compared with that seen in a commonly used in vivo assay of anti-inflammatory activity, the HET-CAM assay.  The HET-CAM assay depends on the experimental production of inflammation and the reduction of this inflammation with an anti-inflammatory agent on the chorionic membrane of a fertilised hen’s egg.  It was concluded that highly fluorescent Manuka honey at a concentration of 5% had and anti-inflammatory effect equivalent to that of 5 mg/ml hydrocortisone, a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drug.
The anti-inflammatory activity seen in the honeys assayed in the in vivo HET-CAM assay concurred with the results for the same honeys assayed in the phagocytosis assay which indicated that the phagocytosis assay was a reliable indicator for assaying the anti-inflammatory activity of honey in vitro.

year: 2012

title: The interplay between environmental social governance (ESG) performance, access to finance and growth in unlisted firms: Evidence from Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region

authors: Rasool, Nosheen

subjects: ESG

abstract: This thesis is designed as “thesis by publication” and consists of three research articles, which are at various stages of publication in high quality peer reviewed journals. Article 1 has been published in Business Strategy and the Environment, an ‘A’ ranked journal. Article 2 is currently under revise and resubmission stage with the International Journal of Auditing, which is also classified as an ‘A’ category journal. Article 3 has been submitted to the International Review of Economics and Finance, another journal with an ‘A’ ranking.
The articles, which form the empirical component of the thesis, are presented in Chapters 4, 5 and 6. Article 1 examines the relationship between Environmental Social and Governance performance and Growth of Unlisted Firms. Article 2 investigates the relationship between ESG performance and Access to Finance of Unlisted Firms with interacting role of External Audit. Article 3 explores the relationship between Access to Finance and Growth of Unlisted Firms with the interacting role of ESG performance and Technological Innovation. These articles use data of unlisted firms of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The three articles are supplemented by chapters 1, 2 3 and 7 to link the 3 articles as well as to provide a comprehensive presentation of the thesis.  Chapter 1 provides an overview of the thesis followed by Literature Review in Chapter 2 and Methodology in Chapter 3. The thesis concludes with reflections in Chapter 7. 
Environmental, Social, and Governance performance is fundamental to a firm's long-term sustainability. The adoption of ESG practices aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which highlight the importance of sustainability and encourage strategic thinking across various sectors including business. ESG performance of companies is becoming essential because now a days firms are expected not only to focus on financial performance but also to prioritise ESG considerations for sustainable growth. Investors increasingly seek companies that demonstrate long-term sustainability and financial stability. Creditors tend to favour firms that demonstrate sustainable practices, offering them better loan conditions, which in turn can drive the growth of unlisted firms. 
This study fills critical gaps in the existing literature on the relationship between ESG performance and firm growth, specifically for unlisted firms. Previous research has primarily focused on publicly listed firms when examining ESG impacts. However, unlisted firms contribute significantly to global GDP and employment and face unique financial constraints. Despite their economic significance, there is lack of studies that have explored how ESG practices influence their access to finance and growth, making this an important area for investigation. While ESG research has extensively examined topics (such as financial risk, firm performance, earnings management and reputation), there is limited understanding of the role of ESG in fostering firm growth in unlisted firms. Growth—measured in terms of sales, employment and asset expansion—is crucial for competitiveness, yet the connection between ESG performance and access to finance in driving firm growth remains largely unexplored, particularly in unlisted firms of emerging economies.
Additionally, most ESG studies focus on developed economies such as the EU, the US, and China, while research on the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region remains limited. This region faces unique sustainability challenges including climate change, resource depletion, and pollution. Given EECA’s commitment to international agreements like the Paris Agreement, understanding the role of ESG adoption in firm growth and financial access is important in this context. There is lack of prior studies that have examined how ESG performance interacts with financial access by unlisted firms. This study investigates the impact of ESG performance on access to finance, and firm growth, while also considering the interacting role of external audit in enhancing credibility and reducing greenwashing risks.
While stakeholder theory, signalling theory and legitimacy theory have been widely applied in ESG research, their application in the context of unlisted firms remains underexplored. This study highlights how ESG-driven firms can strengthen their legitimacy, secure financing and achieve sustainable growth by aligning with investor and societal expectations. By addressing these gaps, this research provides new insights into the role of ESG in fostering financial access and growth for unlisted firms, particularly in the under-researched EECA region.
This thesis aims to examine three interrelated aspects of unlisted firms in the EECA region including: the   impact of ESG performance on the growth of unlisted firms; the influence of ESG performance on firm’s Access to Finance with interacting role of External Audit, and the impact of access to finance on firm growth with interacting role of ESG and Technological Innovation. ESG is the primary theme of the thesis, providing an understanding of the interplay between ESG performance, access to finance and growth of unlisted firms in the EECA region. 
 This research follows the positivist view of epistemology, objectivist ontology, and an unbiased axiology. In the positivist approach, researchers use existing theories to develop hypotheses, which are then tested, analysed, and either confirmed or refuted. This process helps to refine and expand theoretical understanding, allowing future researchers to further evaluate the findings empirically. The positivist perspective is particularly useful when a significant amount of existing research is available on the topic, enabling a systematic and objective investigation. This thesis follows a deductive approach, which is useful for developing research questions and hypotheses grounded in existing literature. The empirical relationships between independent and dependent variables across the three articles are analysed using quantitative data.
 The thesis uses data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey and employs Principal Component Analysis to develop the ESG index for the measurement of ESG performance. In article 1 and 3, 2SLS is applied to address endogeneity by using instrumental variables. Validity of instruments is checked by applying the Wald Test. In article 2, IV probit is used to address the endogeneity issue. The results suggest that prioritising ESG initiatives enable the management of unlisted firms to secure financing and leverage resources more effectively. ESG-focused firms tend to experience growth in financial (Sales, and Asset Growth) and nonfinancial (Employment Growth) terms. This highlights the crucial role of ESG performance in enabling unlisted firms to thrive in a competitive market with access to finance serving as a key enabler for growth. This study highlights the significance of ESG performance for unlisted firms in the EECA region, emphasising their role in resource optimisation, eco-friendly production, and addressing regional issues like pollution and biodiversity loss. Adopting ESG initiatives helps firms align with societal expectations, enhance their reputation, and drive sustainable growth. Beyond business benefits, ESG practices foster trust, community well-being, and stakeholder relationships, creating a positive impact on both firms and society. Strong governance ensures transparency, accountability, and long-term stability, strengthening credibility and resilience in economic challenges.
The study underscores policymakers' role in crafting regulations that promote sustainability and in aligning with SDGs. Collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and businesses is essential to overcoming financial constraints and fostering economic resilience. By integrating ESG principles, firms can secure better financing, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to a more sustainable economy.

text: The interplay between environmental social governance (ESG) performance, access to finance and growth in unlisted firms: Evidence from Eastern Europe and Central Asia Region This thesis is designed as “thesis by publication” and consists of three research articles, which are at various stages of publication in high quality peer reviewed journals. Article 1 has been published in Business Strategy and the Environment, an ‘A’ ranked journal. Article 2 is currently under revise and resubmission stage with the International Journal of Auditing, which is also classified as an ‘A’ category journal. Article 3 has been submitted to the International Review of Economics and Finance, another journal with an ‘A’ ranking.
The articles, which form the empirical component of the thesis, are presented in Chapters 4, 5 and 6. Article 1 examines the relationship between Environmental Social and Governance performance and Growth of Unlisted Firms. Article 2 investigates the relationship between ESG performance and Access to Finance of Unlisted Firms with interacting role of External Audit. Article 3 explores the relationship between Access to Finance and Growth of Unlisted Firms with the interacting role of ESG performance and Technological Innovation. These articles use data of unlisted firms of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The three articles are supplemented by chapters 1, 2 3 and 7 to link the 3 articles as well as to provide a comprehensive presentation of the thesis.  Chapter 1 provides an overview of the thesis followed by Literature Review in Chapter 2 and Methodology in Chapter 3. The thesis concludes with reflections in Chapter 7. 
Environmental, Social, and Governance performance is fundamental to a firm's long-term sustainability. The adoption of ESG practices aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which highlight the importance of sustainability and encourage strategic thinking across various sectors including business. ESG performance of companies is becoming essential because now a days firms are expected not only to focus on financial performance but also to prioritise ESG considerations for sustainable growth. Investors increasingly seek companies that demonstrate long-term sustainability and financial stability. Creditors tend to favour firms that demonstrate sustainable practices, offering them better loan conditions, which in turn can drive the growth of unlisted firms. 
This study fills critical gaps in the existing literature on the relationship between ESG performance and firm growth, specifically for unlisted firms. Previous research has primarily focused on publicly listed firms when examining ESG impacts. However, unlisted firms contribute significantly to global GDP and employment and face unique financial constraints. Despite their economic significance, there is lack of studies that have explored how ESG practices influence their access to finance and growth, making this an important area for investigation. While ESG research has extensively examined topics (such as financial risk, firm performance, earnings management and reputation), there is limited understanding of the role of ESG in fostering firm growth in unlisted firms. Growth—measured in terms of sales, employment and asset expansion—is crucial for competitiveness, yet the connection between ESG performance and access to finance in driving firm growth remains largely unexplored, particularly in unlisted firms of emerging economies.
Additionally, most ESG studies focus on developed economies such as the EU, the US, and China, while research on the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region remains limited. This region faces unique sustainability challenges including climate change, resource depletion, and pollution. Given EECA’s commitment to international agreements like the Paris Agreement, understanding the role of ESG adoption in firm growth and financial access is important in this context. There is lack of prior studies that have examined how ESG performance interacts with financial access by unlisted firms. This study investigates the impact of ESG performance on access to finance, and firm growth, while also considering the interacting role of external audit in enhancing credibility and reducing greenwashing risks.
While stakeholder theory, signalling theory and legitimacy theory have been widely applied in ESG research, their application in the context of unlisted firms remains underexplored. This study highlights how ESG-driven firms can strengthen their legitimacy, secure financing and achieve sustainable growth by aligning with investor and societal expectations. By addressing these gaps, this research provides new insights into the role of ESG in fostering financial access and growth for unlisted firms, particularly in the under-researched EECA region.
This thesis aims to examine three interrelated aspects of unlisted firms in the EECA region including: the   impact of ESG performance on the growth of unlisted firms; the influence of ESG performance on firm’s Access to Finance with interacting role of External Audit, and the impact of access to finance on firm growth with interacting role of ESG and Technological Innovation. ESG is the primary theme of the thesis, providing an understanding of the interplay between ESG performance, access to finance and growth of unlisted firms in the EECA region. 
 This research follows the positivist view of epistemology, objectivist ontology, and an unbiased axiology. In the positivist approach, researchers use existing theories to develop hypotheses, which are then tested, analysed, and either confirmed or refuted. This process helps to refine and expand theoretical understanding, allowing future researchers to further evaluate the findings empirically. The positivist perspective is particularly useful when a significant amount of existing research is available on the topic, enabling a systematic and objective investigation. This thesis follows a deductive approach, which is useful for developing research questions and hypotheses grounded in existing literature. The empirical relationships between independent and dependent variables across the three articles are analysed using quantitative data.
 The thesis uses data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey and employs Principal Component Analysis to develop the ESG index for the measurement of ESG performance. In article 1 and 3, 2SLS is applied to address endogeneity by using instrumental variables. Validity of instruments is checked by applying the Wald Test. In article 2, IV probit is used to address the endogeneity issue. The results suggest that prioritising ESG initiatives enable the management of unlisted firms to secure financing and leverage resources more effectively. ESG-focused firms tend to experience growth in financial (Sales, and Asset Growth) and nonfinancial (Employment Growth) terms. This highlights the crucial role of ESG performance in enabling unlisted firms to thrive in a competitive market with access to finance serving as a key enabler for growth. This study highlights the significance of ESG performance for unlisted firms in the EECA region, emphasising their role in resource optimisation, eco-friendly production, and addressing regional issues like pollution and biodiversity loss. Adopting ESG initiatives helps firms align with societal expectations, enhance their reputation, and drive sustainable growth. Beyond business benefits, ESG practices foster trust, community well-being, and stakeholder relationships, creating a positive impact on both firms and society. Strong governance ensures transparency, accountability, and long-term stability, strengthening credibility and resilience in economic challenges.
The study underscores policymakers' role in crafting regulations that promote sustainability and in aligning with SDGs. Collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and businesses is essential to overcoming financial constraints and fostering economic resilience. By integrating ESG principles, firms can secure better financing, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to a more sustainable economy.

year: 2025

title: Ko te Pakiwaituhi Ko Au, Ko Au Ko te Pakiwaituhi: He Wewetenga o te Pakiwaituhi Tōra Mātātoa, He Whakapuakanga Pakiwaituhi Māori

authors: Ross, Kristin Cherie

subjects: Pakiwaituhi Māori

abstract: ARIĀ

Mai i ngā tau o te whitu tekau te pakanga a ētahi rōpū Māori kia rangona te Māori, kia kitea te Māori ki runga pouaka whakaata.  I kura takahi puni te whiua o rātou mā ki te Karauna kia whakamanahia tāna i oati ai i te Tiriti o Waitangi.  Otirā, ka tohua te Karauna ki te tiaki i ngā kura kāmehameha a te Māori, arā, ko te reo me ōna tikanga.  I kitea e rātou mā tētahi patanga oranga o tō tātou reo, o ā tātou tikanga mā te ao pāpāho.  E mara e, kua tuangahuru ngā tau e whakapāoho atu ana a Whakaata Māori mai i tōna whakarewanga i te tau 2004.  Nā aua kikopuku reo, nā aua mumu tikanga, nā aua matā mana motuhake i whai wāhi mai ai te Māori i te ao pāpāho, otirā, i te ao o te pouaka whakaata. 

Ka mutu, ko te ngako ia o tēnei tuhinga, he whakamahuki, he tirotiro, he ketuketu i te pakiwaituhi kōhungahunga, i a Dora the Explorer.  I whakamāorihia e Whakaata Māori ki a Tōra Mātātoa.  Mō te pakiwaituhi rongonui, kāhore he painga i a Tōra Mātātoa.  Kei te mātakitakihia e ngā iwi huhua ki ngā tōpito katoa o te ao.  Ko te pātai ia nā, he aha oti ngā ehunga Māori ka kitea, ka rangona rā roto mai i te pakiwaituhi kōhungahunga, i a Tōra Mātātoa?  Mā tēnei rangahau tonu e whakautu.  

Ko ngā pakiwaituhi katoa o Whakaata Māori mā te kōhungahunga he mea hanga e iwi kē atu i te Māori.  Ka mutu ka whakaarohia e tēnei rangahau ētahi huarahi e taea ai e tātou te whakaputa pakiwaituhi Māori mā te kōhungahunga.  Otirā, ka whakapua mai ai i tētahi pakiwaituhi Māori nāku tonu.  Ko tāku e whakapae nei, me kite ā tātou tamariki i a rātou anō rā roto mai i ngā pakiwaituhi.  Ko tāku e manako nei, kia kaha te iwi Māori ki te kimi huarahi e whakaputa ai i ā tātou ake pakiwaituhi nā te Māori, mā te Māori, mō te Māori. 

ABSTRACT

Since the 1970s select Māori groups have fought to be seen and heard in the broadcasting industry and particular television.  United and banded they challenged the Crown to honour what was promised to them in the Treaty of Waitangi.  They demanded that the Government maintain the Māori language and its customs.  They saw television as a means to retain and transmit our language and culture.  2014 marked the tenth year of broadcasting for Māori Television.  This prestigious achievement in Māori broadcasting was due to the efforts of our leaders who fought tirelessly to ensure our language and customs were and are maintained throughout broadcasting. 

The basis of this thesis is the analysis of the preschool animation, Dora the Explorer, which was broadcast and translated by Māori Television as Tōra Mātātoa.  Dora the Explorer is arguably the most famous preschool animation.  The show is watched by the masses all over the world. This thesis investigates the question; what representations of Māori are seen and heard in the preschool animation Tōra Mātātoa? 

All of the preschool animations shown on Māori Television have been created by non-Māori.  Therefore, the purpose of this research is to create new ways of thinking that will initiate the production of locally made preschool animation.  This thesis looks at a Māori animation example that I have created based on the findings of this research.  It is imperative that our children see themselves on the television screen.  I hope Māori actively seek avenues to ensure the production of preschool animation by Māori, for Māori and about Māori.

text: Ko te Pakiwaituhi Ko Au, Ko Au Ko te Pakiwaituhi: He Wewetenga o te Pakiwaituhi Tōra Mātātoa, He Whakapuakanga Pakiwaituhi Māori ARIĀ

Mai i ngā tau o te whitu tekau te pakanga a ētahi rōpū Māori kia rangona te Māori, kia kitea te Māori ki runga pouaka whakaata.  I kura takahi puni te whiua o rātou mā ki te Karauna kia whakamanahia tāna i oati ai i te Tiriti o Waitangi.  Otirā, ka tohua te Karauna ki te tiaki i ngā kura kāmehameha a te Māori, arā, ko te reo me ōna tikanga.  I kitea e rātou mā tētahi patanga oranga o tō tātou reo, o ā tātou tikanga mā te ao pāpāho.  E mara e, kua tuangahuru ngā tau e whakapāoho atu ana a Whakaata Māori mai i tōna whakarewanga i te tau 2004.  Nā aua kikopuku reo, nā aua mumu tikanga, nā aua matā mana motuhake i whai wāhi mai ai te Māori i te ao pāpāho, otirā, i te ao o te pouaka whakaata. 

Ka mutu, ko te ngako ia o tēnei tuhinga, he whakamahuki, he tirotiro, he ketuketu i te pakiwaituhi kōhungahunga, i a Dora the Explorer.  I whakamāorihia e Whakaata Māori ki a Tōra Mātātoa.  Mō te pakiwaituhi rongonui, kāhore he painga i a Tōra Mātātoa.  Kei te mātakitakihia e ngā iwi huhua ki ngā tōpito katoa o te ao.  Ko te pātai ia nā, he aha oti ngā ehunga Māori ka kitea, ka rangona rā roto mai i te pakiwaituhi kōhungahunga, i a Tōra Mātātoa?  Mā tēnei rangahau tonu e whakautu.  

Ko ngā pakiwaituhi katoa o Whakaata Māori mā te kōhungahunga he mea hanga e iwi kē atu i te Māori.  Ka mutu ka whakaarohia e tēnei rangahau ētahi huarahi e taea ai e tātou te whakaputa pakiwaituhi Māori mā te kōhungahunga.  Otirā, ka whakapua mai ai i tētahi pakiwaituhi Māori nāku tonu.  Ko tāku e whakapae nei, me kite ā tātou tamariki i a rātou anō rā roto mai i ngā pakiwaituhi.  Ko tāku e manako nei, kia kaha te iwi Māori ki te kimi huarahi e whakaputa ai i ā tātou ake pakiwaituhi nā te Māori, mā te Māori, mō te Māori. 

ABSTRACT

Since the 1970s select Māori groups have fought to be seen and heard in the broadcasting industry and particular television.  United and banded they challenged the Crown to honour what was promised to them in the Treaty of Waitangi.  They demanded that the Government maintain the Māori language and its customs.  They saw television as a means to retain and transmit our language and culture.  2014 marked the tenth year of broadcasting for Māori Television.  This prestigious achievement in Māori broadcasting was due to the efforts of our leaders who fought tirelessly to ensure our language and customs were and are maintained throughout broadcasting. 

The basis of this thesis is the analysis of the preschool animation, Dora the Explorer, which was broadcast and translated by Māori Television as Tōra Mātātoa.  Dora the Explorer is arguably the most famous preschool animation.  The show is watched by the masses all over the world. This thesis investigates the question; what representations of Māori are seen and heard in the preschool animation Tōra Mātātoa? 

All of the preschool animations shown on Māori Television have been created by non-Māori.  Therefore, the purpose of this research is to create new ways of thinking that will initiate the production of locally made preschool animation.  This thesis looks at a Māori animation example that I have created based on the findings of this research.  It is imperative that our children see themselves on the television screen.  I hope Māori actively seek avenues to ensure the production of preschool animation by Māori, for Māori and about Māori.

year: 2015