title: Pasifika in the news: the portrayal of Pacific peoples in the New Zealand press

authors: Loto, Robert

subjects: psychology

abstract: Pacific Islanders have faced discrimination in New Zealand particularly since the 1960s when communities began to be transplanted from their home nations to Aotearoa as cheap immigrant labour. Subsequently, the New Zealand vernacular has contained references to Pacific Islanders as  overstayers ,  coconuts ,  bungas  and  fresh off the boat  [FOB]. However, the legacy of a domineering relationship between the Palagi[Note 1] majority group and Pacific minorities[Note 2] that is captured by such derogatory terms is still evident in public forums such as the media. Using a quantitative content and qualitative narrative analysis, this paper documents portrayals of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand print media reports (n = 65) published over a 3 month period. Findings reveal that Pacific people are predominantly portrayed as unmotivated, unhealthy and criminal others who are overly dependent on Palagi support. We consider this offered pacific identity formation with that implied for Palagi, which is active, independent, competent and caring. Issues in coverage are discussed in relation to how Pacific Islanders are encouraged to see themselves, and the health and social consequences of dominant practices in press coverage. We offer some suggestions as to how more equitable representations of Pacific people could be fostered in news media.

text: Pasifika in the news: the portrayal of Pacific peoples in the New Zealand press Pacific Islanders have faced discrimination in New Zealand particularly since the 1960s when communities began to be transplanted from their home nations to Aotearoa as cheap immigrant labour. Subsequently, the New Zealand vernacular has contained references to Pacific Islanders as  overstayers ,  coconuts ,  bungas  and  fresh off the boat  [FOB]. However, the legacy of a domineering relationship between the Palagi[Note 1] majority group and Pacific minorities[Note 2] that is captured by such derogatory terms is still evident in public forums such as the media. Using a quantitative content and qualitative narrative analysis, this paper documents portrayals of Pacific Islanders in New Zealand print media reports (n = 65) published over a 3 month period. Findings reveal that Pacific people are predominantly portrayed as unmotivated, unhealthy and criminal others who are overly dependent on Palagi support. We consider this offered pacific identity formation with that implied for Palagi, which is active, independent, competent and caring. Issues in coverage are discussed in relation to how Pacific Islanders are encouraged to see themselves, and the health and social consequences of dominant practices in press coverage. We offer some suggestions as to how more equitable representations of Pacific people could be fostered in news media.

year: 2006

title: Expression of Mitochondrial Stress Protein (Cpn60) in in vitro Cultured Neonatal Porcine Islet Cells

authors: Munif, Farina

subjects: Mitochondria

abstract: Xenotransplantation of neonatal porcine islets have been demonstrated to be a viable alternative to exogenous insulin therapy for diabetes mellitus. The use of liberase has gained much success in islet isolation but factors such as batch-to-batch variation and deterioration of a batch with storage time have hampered the quality and reproducibility of tissue dissociation. Islet culture aims to optimise islet survival and insulin release in response to glucose challenge. However, it is difficult to recover and preserve islets in vitro.

Mitochondria play a key role in the secretion of insulin from pancreatic   islet cells in response to glucose stimulation. Mitochondrial dysfunction results in the induction (at mRNA and protein levels) of a molecular stress protein/heat chock protein called Cpn60. Since mitochondrial impairment will have a significant effect on the ability of in vitro cultured islet cells to function properly (i.e. release insulin in response to glucose stimulation), the expression of Cpn60 was investigated as a function of exposing neonatal porcine islet cells to various growth conditions.

The best choice of media to culture neonatal porcine islet cells was found to be not heated activated serum which showed the least levels of Cpn60 expression at mRNA levels suggesting that the cells had low levels of mitochondrial stress. Neonatal porcine islet cells would be best digested in cells digested with new liberase (QC 1050) while in 2% not heat inactivated porcine serum (NPS) as this gave the lowest levels of Cpn60 expression suggesting low levels of mitochondrial stress.

Although expression of Cpn60 at mRNA levels seems to be modulated during the growth of the porcine islet cells in media supplemented with different serum, heat treatment of serum and liberase content, no firm conclusion can be made with regard to the effect of the different treatments on mitochondrial health status until the porcine Cpn60 protein can be unequivocally identified.

text: Expression of Mitochondrial Stress Protein (Cpn60) in in vitro Cultured Neonatal Porcine Islet Cells Xenotransplantation of neonatal porcine islets have been demonstrated to be a viable alternative to exogenous insulin therapy for diabetes mellitus. The use of liberase has gained much success in islet isolation but factors such as batch-to-batch variation and deterioration of a batch with storage time have hampered the quality and reproducibility of tissue dissociation. Islet culture aims to optimise islet survival and insulin release in response to glucose challenge. However, it is difficult to recover and preserve islets in vitro.

Mitochondria play a key role in the secretion of insulin from pancreatic   islet cells in response to glucose stimulation. Mitochondrial dysfunction results in the induction (at mRNA and protein levels) of a molecular stress protein/heat chock protein called Cpn60. Since mitochondrial impairment will have a significant effect on the ability of in vitro cultured islet cells to function properly (i.e. release insulin in response to glucose stimulation), the expression of Cpn60 was investigated as a function of exposing neonatal porcine islet cells to various growth conditions.

The best choice of media to culture neonatal porcine islet cells was found to be not heated activated serum which showed the least levels of Cpn60 expression at mRNA levels suggesting that the cells had low levels of mitochondrial stress. Neonatal porcine islet cells would be best digested in cells digested with new liberase (QC 1050) while in 2% not heat inactivated porcine serum (NPS) as this gave the lowest levels of Cpn60 expression suggesting low levels of mitochondrial stress.

Although expression of Cpn60 at mRNA levels seems to be modulated during the growth of the porcine islet cells in media supplemented with different serum, heat treatment of serum and liberase content, no firm conclusion can be made with regard to the effect of the different treatments on mitochondrial health status until the porcine Cpn60 protein can be unequivocally identified.

year: 2006

title: He Manu-Iri-i-te-Rangi - Bird of the Heavens: Tūrake Manuirirangi 1896 - 1969

authors: Manuirirangi, Hōri

abstract: Tūrake Manuirirangi was an influential tupuna of the Manuirirangi whānau. He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was instrumental in its establishment in the South Taranaki region. This chapter looks at his beliefs and leadership qualities within the Church, and within his hapū of Ngāti Tū, of Ngā Ruahine Iwi. The main focus here is to report on information collated from interviews, church records and Mormon missionary diaries.

text: He Manu-Iri-i-te-Rangi - Bird of the Heavens: Tūrake Manuirirangi 1896 - 1969 Tūrake Manuirirangi was an influential tupuna of the Manuirirangi whānau. He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was instrumental in its establishment in the South Taranaki region. This chapter looks at his beliefs and leadership qualities within the Church, and within his hapū of Ngāti Tū, of Ngā Ruahine Iwi. The main focus here is to report on information collated from interviews, church records and Mormon missionary diaries.

year: 2014