title: An investigation of low diastase activity in mānuka honey

authors: Bell, Amber

subjects: Mānuka honey

abstract: Mānuka honey with high non-peroxide antibacterial (NPA) activity is a valuable export product in the multi-million-dollar New Zealand honey export industry, with monofloral mānuka honey accounting for 68% (NZ$290 million) of the total export value (NZ$425 million) for the 2019/20 season. Exported honey must meet strict export regulations. Diastase enzyme (alpha amylase) activity is a quality control indicator of detrimental storage conditions (excessive heat treatment or prolonged storage), decreasing over time. International export requires honey to have high diastase activity (Diastase Number, DN > 8). Medium to high NPA mānuka honeys often fail the diastase test, despite careful storage. It is important to determine the cause of low diastase activity in mānuka honey to prevent revenue loss for New Zealand honey exports. Bioactive compounds in the honey were hypothesised to inhibit alpha-amylase, therefore reducing diastase activity.
A database of fresh mānuka and non-mānuka honeys were analysed for various chemical parameters (including moisture content, mānuka chemical marker compounds, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), methylglyoxal (MGO), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and diastase activity) to determine if any correlations were present with diastase activity. Parameters between and within floral honey types varied largely, however no correlations were observed to diastase activity. 
Storage experiments (20 °C, 161 days; 27 °C, 198 days) of selected database honeys showed the mānuka marker compounds were stable. However, the rates of change observed for DHA, MGO, HMF and diastase activity were reliant on intrinsic honey characteristics (not identified). While time and temperature had significant impact on loss of diastase activity in honey, correlation was observed between changes in diastase activity and DHA, MGO and mānuka marker 3-phenyllactic acid (3-PLA) concentrations.
Additionally, a clover honey matrix was perturbed with single bioactive compounds (DHA (MGO-precursor), MGO, mānuka markers compounds, methyl syringate and tannic acid) to observe the effect on diastase activity over time (185 days) and at 20, 27 and 34 °C. MGO and 3 PLA caused diastase activity to decrease at a significantly faster rate than other compounds. The half-life of diastase at 27 °C for the control sample was 590 days compared to the much shorter half-life of diastase in the MGO (440 days) and 3 PLA (380 days) perturbed samples. The mechanism by which these two compounds decrease diastase activity is unknown, however MGO is a highly reactive molecule and has been reported to inhibit other enzymes. Time and temperature were also significant drivers of diastase activity loss; diastase half-life at 20 °C was more than eight times greater than it was at 34 °C (1340 vs. 160 days). 
The experiments indicate that diastase activity is highly variable between fresh honeys and the rate at which it decreases may be dependent not only on temperature and time honey is stored at, but on intrinsic honey compounds and physico-chemical parameters suggesting that diastase activity regulations may not be suitable for mānuka honey.

text: An investigation of low diastase activity in mānuka honey Mānuka honey with high non-peroxide antibacterial (NPA) activity is a valuable export product in the multi-million-dollar New Zealand honey export industry, with monofloral mānuka honey accounting for 68% (NZ$290 million) of the total export value (NZ$425 million) for the 2019/20 season. Exported honey must meet strict export regulations. Diastase enzyme (alpha amylase) activity is a quality control indicator of detrimental storage conditions (excessive heat treatment or prolonged storage), decreasing over time. International export requires honey to have high diastase activity (Diastase Number, DN > 8). Medium to high NPA mānuka honeys often fail the diastase test, despite careful storage. It is important to determine the cause of low diastase activity in mānuka honey to prevent revenue loss for New Zealand honey exports. Bioactive compounds in the honey were hypothesised to inhibit alpha-amylase, therefore reducing diastase activity.
A database of fresh mānuka and non-mānuka honeys were analysed for various chemical parameters (including moisture content, mānuka chemical marker compounds, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), methylglyoxal (MGO), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and diastase activity) to determine if any correlations were present with diastase activity. Parameters between and within floral honey types varied largely, however no correlations were observed to diastase activity. 
Storage experiments (20 °C, 161 days; 27 °C, 198 days) of selected database honeys showed the mānuka marker compounds were stable. However, the rates of change observed for DHA, MGO, HMF and diastase activity were reliant on intrinsic honey characteristics (not identified). While time and temperature had significant impact on loss of diastase activity in honey, correlation was observed between changes in diastase activity and DHA, MGO and mānuka marker 3-phenyllactic acid (3-PLA) concentrations.
Additionally, a clover honey matrix was perturbed with single bioactive compounds (DHA (MGO-precursor), MGO, mānuka markers compounds, methyl syringate and tannic acid) to observe the effect on diastase activity over time (185 days) and at 20, 27 and 34 °C. MGO and 3 PLA caused diastase activity to decrease at a significantly faster rate than other compounds. The half-life of diastase at 27 °C for the control sample was 590 days compared to the much shorter half-life of diastase in the MGO (440 days) and 3 PLA (380 days) perturbed samples. The mechanism by which these two compounds decrease diastase activity is unknown, however MGO is a highly reactive molecule and has been reported to inhibit other enzymes. Time and temperature were also significant drivers of diastase activity loss; diastase half-life at 20 °C was more than eight times greater than it was at 34 °C (1340 vs. 160 days). 
The experiments indicate that diastase activity is highly variable between fresh honeys and the rate at which it decreases may be dependent not only on temperature and time honey is stored at, but on intrinsic honey compounds and physico-chemical parameters suggesting that diastase activity regulations may not be suitable for mānuka honey.

year: 2022

title: Teaching professional ethics in counsellor education in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Crocket, Kathie

subjects: ethics

abstract: One mark of a profession is that it articulates a shared vision of the responsibilities involved in professional relationships, generally expressed in a Code of Ethics. But what are the processes involved in inducting new members into a profession and offering them opportunities to translate and grow personal ethics into professional ethics? The study on which this article reports aimed to investigate the practices employed by counsellor educators in Aotearoa New Zealand in ethics education. The study asked two organising questions: what is taught, and how is it taught? In reporting on the study, this article seeks to offer a contribution to dialogue about how ethics might be learned and taught in initial counsellor education. The article raises questions for further discussion. To what extent should the how and what of ethics teaching be woven together? How do we educate for a practice where we cannot know ahead of time whatambiguities will emerge? How much theory of ethics is needed for ethical practice? When do we begin to teach ethics? How well are we teaching an ethics of partnership that is relevant for Aotearoa?

text: Teaching professional ethics in counsellor education in Aotearoa New Zealand One mark of a profession is that it articulates a shared vision of the responsibilities involved in professional relationships, generally expressed in a Code of Ethics. But what are the processes involved in inducting new members into a profession and offering them opportunities to translate and grow personal ethics into professional ethics? The study on which this article reports aimed to investigate the practices employed by counsellor educators in Aotearoa New Zealand in ethics education. The study asked two organising questions: what is taught, and how is it taught? In reporting on the study, this article seeks to offer a contribution to dialogue about how ethics might be learned and taught in initial counsellor education. The article raises questions for further discussion. To what extent should the how and what of ethics teaching be woven together? How do we educate for a practice where we cannot know ahead of time whatambiguities will emerge? How much theory of ethics is needed for ethical practice? When do we begin to teach ethics? How well are we teaching an ethics of partnership that is relevant for Aotearoa?

year: 2011

title: The Application of the "Best Interests" Principle to Maori Children's Collective Cultural Rights: A Conceptual Shift for the New Zealand Family Court?

authors: Macbeth, Steven Alexander

subjects: "collective cultural rights"

abstract: Indigenous Peoples assert their collective rights in a world where Western liberal theory and individual rights dominate. International human rights law, however, increasingly recognises Indigenous Peoples collective rights in addition to their members’ individual rights. In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which represents the most comprehensive acknowledgement of Indigenous Peoples collective rights within international law. In 2009 the Committee on the Rights of the Child issued under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 11 “Indigenous children and their rights under the Convention”. The Comment references the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as providing important guidance on the rights of indigenous children. The Comment provides authoritative guidance to State Parties that the application of the “best interests” principle to indigenous children under the Convention requires the assessment of indigenous children’s collective cultural rights and their need to exercise such rights collectively with members of their group, in addition to the indigenous children’s individual rights. Only then can the best interests of indigenous children be determined. 
As a State Party, New Zealand is obliged to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child through legislation, judicial determinations and administrative processes. The best interests principle is already the paramount consideration and touchstone for judicial decision-making under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 and Care of Children Act 2004. The Family Court of New Zealand (while making some inroads in the 1980s and 90s) has yet, however, to develop a coherent and robust approach to the assessment of Maori children’s collective cultural rights when applying the best interests principle as it is obliged to do. General Comment No. 11 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples assist by providing authoritative guidance. They augment New Zealand’s family legislation, common law and social policy, which already acknowledge cultural rights and the collective nature of Maori familial relationships.
This paper looks beyond children’s individual rights and the universal application of such rights. It considers the assessment of Maori children’s collective cultural rights in addition to their individual rights under the best interests principle. Further, it analyses the relevant international and domestic authority the Family Court of New Zealand must consider when applying the best interests principle to Maori children, and the practical realities the recognition of Maori children’s collective cultural rights present. A conceptual shift by the Family Court and counsel is required. This paper urges the Family Court to develop the application of the best interests principle under the Care of Children Act 2004 and the Children Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 to include the assessment of Maori children’s collective cultural rights in addition to their individual rights. In so doing the common law will reflect New Zealand’s unique history and circumstances, and comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. If it fails to do so, the Family Court risks being the subject of criticism for breaching the Convention, being out of sync with international human rights law, domestic legislation and social policy, and increasingly losing relevancy.

text: The Application of the "Best Interests" Principle to Maori Children's Collective Cultural Rights: A Conceptual Shift for the New Zealand Family Court? Indigenous Peoples assert their collective rights in a world where Western liberal theory and individual rights dominate. International human rights law, however, increasingly recognises Indigenous Peoples collective rights in addition to their members’ individual rights. In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which represents the most comprehensive acknowledgement of Indigenous Peoples collective rights within international law. In 2009 the Committee on the Rights of the Child issued under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 11 “Indigenous children and their rights under the Convention”. The Comment references the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as providing important guidance on the rights of indigenous children. The Comment provides authoritative guidance to State Parties that the application of the “best interests” principle to indigenous children under the Convention requires the assessment of indigenous children’s collective cultural rights and their need to exercise such rights collectively with members of their group, in addition to the indigenous children’s individual rights. Only then can the best interests of indigenous children be determined. 
As a State Party, New Zealand is obliged to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child through legislation, judicial determinations and administrative processes. The best interests principle is already the paramount consideration and touchstone for judicial decision-making under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 and Care of Children Act 2004. The Family Court of New Zealand (while making some inroads in the 1980s and 90s) has yet, however, to develop a coherent and robust approach to the assessment of Maori children’s collective cultural rights when applying the best interests principle as it is obliged to do. General Comment No. 11 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples assist by providing authoritative guidance. They augment New Zealand’s family legislation, common law and social policy, which already acknowledge cultural rights and the collective nature of Maori familial relationships.
This paper looks beyond children’s individual rights and the universal application of such rights. It considers the assessment of Maori children’s collective cultural rights in addition to their individual rights under the best interests principle. Further, it analyses the relevant international and domestic authority the Family Court of New Zealand must consider when applying the best interests principle to Maori children, and the practical realities the recognition of Maori children’s collective cultural rights present. A conceptual shift by the Family Court and counsel is required. This paper urges the Family Court to develop the application of the best interests principle under the Care of Children Act 2004 and the Children Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989 to include the assessment of Maori children’s collective cultural rights in addition to their individual rights. In so doing the common law will reflect New Zealand’s unique history and circumstances, and comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. If it fails to do so, the Family Court risks being the subject of criticism for breaching the Convention, being out of sync with international human rights law, domestic legislation and social policy, and increasingly losing relevancy.

year: 2015