title: Libation and sacrifice in the Samoan ‘ava ceremony

authors: Refiti, Albert L.

subjects: Samoan ‘ava ceremony

abstract: This presentation is an analysis of Samoan oral stories connected to the ‘ava ceremony. These foundational stories have an important connection to the role blood sacrifice played in pre ‘ava and post ‘ava Samoa. Dr Refiti argues that the ‘ava ceremony replaced the actual killing of people in religious ceremonies that were required in former times to make sacred important communal spaces. This he shows relates to libation as an offering to the memories of the dead by spilling ‘ava on the ground as a sacrificial prayer or aso that mark and re-memorialise the past in honouring the bones of the dead and sacrificed victim.
‘Ava foundational stories also provide us with clues that the ‘ava plant was brought to Samoa by brothers from Fiti (Fiji) and later the ‘ava ceremony as we know it today was brought to Samoa by the Tagaloa clan which included the aumaga (kava chewers), the tauaga strainer and the use of the taupou (village maiden) as the stand-in for the old priest to distribute the ‘ava. The roles of the aumaga and taupou mirror that of the sacrificer and sacrificial victim.
Sacrifice and the ‘ava ceremony, Dr Refiti I contends, was required to mark, command and bring the passage of time and space to a stop so that people and roles can be redistributed allowing the community to grow and extend (tupu). The main role of sacrifice, as Valeri states, is “the transformation of the community from a lesser state which is indexed by disorder and pollution to a higher more complete state associated with order and purity” (Valeri, V. (1985). Kingship and Sacrifice: Ritual and society in ancient Hawaii (P. Wissing, Trans.). Chicago, ILL: University of Chicago Press).

text: Libation and sacrifice in the Samoan ‘ava ceremony This presentation is an analysis of Samoan oral stories connected to the ‘ava ceremony. These foundational stories have an important connection to the role blood sacrifice played in pre ‘ava and post ‘ava Samoa. Dr Refiti argues that the ‘ava ceremony replaced the actual killing of people in religious ceremonies that were required in former times to make sacred important communal spaces. This he shows relates to libation as an offering to the memories of the dead by spilling ‘ava on the ground as a sacrificial prayer or aso that mark and re-memorialise the past in honouring the bones of the dead and sacrificed victim.
‘Ava foundational stories also provide us with clues that the ‘ava plant was brought to Samoa by brothers from Fiti (Fiji) and later the ‘ava ceremony as we know it today was brought to Samoa by the Tagaloa clan which included the aumaga (kava chewers), the tauaga strainer and the use of the taupou (village maiden) as the stand-in for the old priest to distribute the ‘ava. The roles of the aumaga and taupou mirror that of the sacrificer and sacrificial victim.
Sacrifice and the ‘ava ceremony, Dr Refiti I contends, was required to mark, command and bring the passage of time and space to a stop so that people and roles can be redistributed allowing the community to grow and extend (tupu). The main role of sacrifice, as Valeri states, is “the transformation of the community from a lesser state which is indexed by disorder and pollution to a higher more complete state associated with order and purity” (Valeri, V. (1985). Kingship and Sacrifice: Ritual and society in ancient Hawaii (P. Wissing, Trans.). Chicago, ILL: University of Chicago Press).

year: 2017

title: Full 2-port vector-corrected network analyzer in the acoustic domain

authors: MacDonell, Marcus Scott Glengarry

abstract: This manuscript presents the theory and design of a Vector-corrected Network Analyzer (VNA) realized in the acoustic domain. This is a novel measurement instrument based on the established microwave vector network analyzer. It employs directional couplers to separate forward and reverse traveling waves in acoustic waveguide. This instrument is intended to supersede the acoustic impedance tube. Advantages include greatly increased measurement speed and potential for traceability to external standards. Traceability is achieved by means of a calibration through an analytical solution of the error matrix produced from the measurement of a limited number of available acoustic standards. Operation is verified through analysis of the acoustic S-parameters of a passive, asymmetrical, reciprocal acoustic device constructed inside the acoustic waveguide. To the best of our knowledge this Acoustic Vector-corrected Network Analyzer (AVNA) is the first of its kind.

text: Full 2-port vector-corrected network analyzer in the acoustic domain This manuscript presents the theory and design of a Vector-corrected Network Analyzer (VNA) realized in the acoustic domain. This is a novel measurement instrument based on the established microwave vector network analyzer. It employs directional couplers to separate forward and reverse traveling waves in acoustic waveguide. This instrument is intended to supersede the acoustic impedance tube. Advantages include greatly increased measurement speed and potential for traceability to external standards. Traceability is achieved by means of a calibration through an analytical solution of the error matrix produced from the measurement of a limited number of available acoustic standards. Operation is verified through analysis of the acoustic S-parameters of a passive, asymmetrical, reciprocal acoustic device constructed inside the acoustic waveguide. To the best of our knowledge this Acoustic Vector-corrected Network Analyzer (AVNA) is the first of its kind.

year: 2022

title: Inequities in Covid-19 Omicron infections and hospitalisations for Māori and Pacific people in Te Manawa Taki Midland region, New Zealand

authors: Whitehead, Jesse

abstract: Covid-19 impacts population health equity. While mRNA vaccines protect against serious illness and death, little New Zealand (NZ) data exists about the impact of Omicron - and effectiveness of vaccination - on different population groups. We aim to examine the impact of  Omicron  on Māori, Pacific and Other ethnicities and how this interacts with age and vaccination status in the Te Manawa Taki Midland region of NZ. Daily Covid-19 infection and hospitalisation rates (01/02/2022 - 29/06/2022) were calculated for Māori, Pacific and Other ethnicities for six age bands. A multivariate logistic regression model quantified the effects of ethnicity, age, and vaccination on hospitalisation rates. Per-capita Omicron cases were highest and occurred earliest among Pacific (9 per 1,000) and Māori (5 per 1,000) people and were highest among 12-24 year-olds (7 per 1,000). Hospitalisation was significantly more likely for Māori (OR=2.03), Pacific people (OR=1.75), over 75-year olds (OR=39.22), and unvaccinated people (OR=4.64). Length of hospitalisation is strongly related to age. Covid-19 vaccination reduces hospitalisations for older individuals and Māori and Pacific populations. Omicron inequitably impacted Māori and Pacific people through higher per-capita infection and hospitalisation rates. Older people are more likely to be hospitalised and for longer.

text: Inequities in Covid-19 Omicron infections and hospitalisations for Māori and Pacific people in Te Manawa Taki Midland region, New Zealand Covid-19 impacts population health equity. While mRNA vaccines protect against serious illness and death, little New Zealand (NZ) data exists about the impact of Omicron - and effectiveness of vaccination - on different population groups. We aim to examine the impact of  Omicron  on Māori, Pacific and Other ethnicities and how this interacts with age and vaccination status in the Te Manawa Taki Midland region of NZ. Daily Covid-19 infection and hospitalisation rates (01/02/2022 - 29/06/2022) were calculated for Māori, Pacific and Other ethnicities for six age bands. A multivariate logistic regression model quantified the effects of ethnicity, age, and vaccination on hospitalisation rates. Per-capita Omicron cases were highest and occurred earliest among Pacific (9 per 1,000) and Māori (5 per 1,000) people and were highest among 12-24 year-olds (7 per 1,000). Hospitalisation was significantly more likely for Māori (OR=2.03), Pacific people (OR=1.75), over 75-year olds (OR=39.22), and unvaccinated people (OR=4.64). Length of hospitalisation is strongly related to age. Covid-19 vaccination reduces hospitalisations for older individuals and Māori and Pacific populations. Omicron inequitably impacted Māori and Pacific people through higher per-capita infection and hospitalisation rates. Older people are more likely to be hospitalised and for longer.

year: 2023-04-24