title: Ko te Kōauau: Its historical journey, aspects of construction, socio-cultural relevance, and performance

authors: Komene, Jo'el

subjects: Koauau

abstract: In recent years there has been a revival of interest in traditional Māori musical instruments, including the Kōauau (sometimes called a  flute ). Most of the information on record is from Pākehā perspectives of music and culture. This thesis studies Kōauau in a Māori framework, giving weight to traditional Māori knowledge and practices, while bringing together much scattered information. The research links the origins/whakapapa of the Kōauau to the gods and their natural world, especially Hineraukatauri. The thesis analyses the materials used for Kōauau, the circumstances under which materials were acquired, their significance, design and methods of construction, and the tools employed in making Kōauau. The study discusses techniques for playing Kōauau, including its range of sounds, occasions on which they were played, and for what purposes they were used. Reference is made to the story of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai, with the suggestion that more knowledge can be drawn from pakiwaitara and pūrākau. As part of the research, several Kōauau available in the Auckland Museum were examined, showing that close inspection of these taonga significantly extended the information on them held by the Museum. Despite the constraints of the research in terms of time and other resources, the thesis makes an important contribution to knowledge, by collating widely distributed documentation into a concise form, by placing the Kōauau into a Māori perspective, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the instrument in its origins and its function, and by indicating what kinds of further research will assist in strengthening the revival of the Kōauau.

text: Ko te Kōauau: Its historical journey, aspects of construction, socio-cultural relevance, and performance In recent years there has been a revival of interest in traditional Māori musical instruments, including the Kōauau (sometimes called a  flute ). Most of the information on record is from Pākehā perspectives of music and culture. This thesis studies Kōauau in a Māori framework, giving weight to traditional Māori knowledge and practices, while bringing together much scattered information. The research links the origins/whakapapa of the Kōauau to the gods and their natural world, especially Hineraukatauri. The thesis analyses the materials used for Kōauau, the circumstances under which materials were acquired, their significance, design and methods of construction, and the tools employed in making Kōauau. The study discusses techniques for playing Kōauau, including its range of sounds, occasions on which they were played, and for what purposes they were used. Reference is made to the story of Hinemoa and Tūtānekai, with the suggestion that more knowledge can be drawn from pakiwaitara and pūrākau. As part of the research, several Kōauau available in the Auckland Museum were examined, showing that close inspection of these taonga significantly extended the information on them held by the Museum. Despite the constraints of the research in terms of time and other resources, the thesis makes an important contribution to knowledge, by collating widely distributed documentation into a concise form, by placing the Kōauau into a Māori perspective, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the instrument in its origins and its function, and by indicating what kinds of further research will assist in strengthening the revival of the Kōauau.

year: 2008

title: Unorthodox assistance: Novalis, Māori, scientism, and an uncertain approach to 'Whakapapa'

authors: Mika, Carl Te Hira

abstract: The reductionism of Western science is well noted among several Maori academics, who describe in various ways its methodical tendency to dissemble an organism and isolate its parts. The reductionist nature of the method of science then informs the practice, so that the manifestations of science - its latest innovations, evidenced in biotechnology, cloning, stem cell therapy and so on - become an overriding concern for these academics. Rightly, the effects of those innovations on Maori spiritual and phYSical realms are addressed, to the extent that they may constitute extensive submissions to governmental bodies. How effective these submissions are is open to considerable speculation, particularly when it is acknowledged by many of these same writers that those ministerial and judicial bodies are incapable of understanding the dilemmas posed by the effects of reductionist scientific practice on the Maori world. The Maori world, in the main, is left to wait until it is confronted with yet another scientific advancement or technology, and the rush to counter its modus operandi begins again.

text: Unorthodox assistance: Novalis, Māori, scientism, and an uncertain approach to 'Whakapapa' The reductionism of Western science is well noted among several Maori academics, who describe in various ways its methodical tendency to dissemble an organism and isolate its parts. The reductionist nature of the method of science then informs the practice, so that the manifestations of science - its latest innovations, evidenced in biotechnology, cloning, stem cell therapy and so on - become an overriding concern for these academics. Rightly, the effects of those innovations on Maori spiritual and phYSical realms are addressed, to the extent that they may constitute extensive submissions to governmental bodies. How effective these submissions are is open to considerable speculation, particularly when it is acknowledged by many of these same writers that those ministerial and judicial bodies are incapable of understanding the dilemmas posed by the effects of reductionist scientific practice on the Maori world. The Maori world, in the main, is left to wait until it is confronted with yet another scientific advancement or technology, and the rush to counter its modus operandi begins again.

year: 2011

title: Two thermostable hemicellulases and their effects on wood pulps

authors: Bicho, Paul A.

abstract: Two hemicellulases, cloned from a thermophilic anaerobe (isolate TP8 6.3.3.1) were partially purified and characterised. The ability of these enzymes to hydrolyse the hemicellulose components of various types of pulps and their effects on the bleachability of radiata pine kraft pulp were examined. The xylanase (two preparations) and mannanase had broad pH optima (6-7.5). The xylanases had temperature optima of 70°C (10 min assay) and the mannanase had an optimum of 80°C (10 min assay). All the cloned enzymes were thermostable with more than 95% of the enzyme activity remaining after 24 hours at 70°C, in an unbuffered solution. Buffering affected the thermostability of the enzymes. The mannanase had a half life of 48 min at 85°C. The xylanases were able to hydrolyse xylans but also had a pH-dependent CM cellulase activity, but this was never more than 10% of the xylanase activity. The mannanase hydrolysed mannan, glucomannans and galactomannans. The glucose content of the glucomannans had little or no effect on mannanase activity but the galactose substituents of the galactomannans severely inhibited the hydrolysis of these substrates.

The thermostable xylanase hydrolysed more than 75% of soluble radiata pine xylan to low molecular weight (< DP10) xylo-oligomers. These included; xylose, xylobiose, xylotriose, arabinose-substituted xylobiose and xylotriose and 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid substituted xylotrioses. The arabinose substituents were bound to the terminal, non-reducing xylose residue; the glucuronic acid substituents may be bound to the non-reducing or central xylose residues of the substituted xylotriose. The thermostable mannanase also hydrolysed more than 75% of soluble radiata glucomannan, producing mannose, mannobiose, mannotriose, glucomannose and glucomannobiose.

The hemicellulases were used to treat (at 70°C, 24 hr) a variety of wood pulps, including kraft (softwood and hardwood), radiata NSAQ pulp, radiata CTMP and radiata TMP. Both enzymes solubilised their respective substrates from these pulps. The chemical pulps were more susceptible to enzymatic attack than the mechanical pulps, possibly due to the greater fibre porosity of the chemical pulps. The xylanase solubilised ~4% of the xylan and the mannanase solubilised 10% of the glucomannan from radiata kraft pulp. In comparison with other xylanases, the thermostable xylanase was less effective in solubilising xylan from kraft pulps. The hemicelluloses of kraft pulps that had been enzyme treated were extracted. The extracted xylan from the xylanase-treated pulp was lower in average DP than the xylan extracted from untreated pulps. The average DP of the extracted glucomannan from the mannanase-treated pulps was no different than that of glucomannans extracted from untreated pulps. The extracted xylan and glucomannan from untreated kraft pulps were readily hydrolysed by the xylanase and the mannanase respectively, suggesting that enzyme inaccessibility to the substrate within the fibre wall was the main cause of their resistance to enzymatic attack.

The effect of these enzymes on the bleachability of radiata kraft pulps was studied by measuring the reduction in kappa number (κ), relative to untreated controls, after a standard D/C E prebleaching sequence. The xylanase and the mannanase had little or no effect on the bleachability of radiata kraft pulps. Xylanase treated kraft pulp required a protease treatment after the hemicellulose treatment but before bleaching, in order to elicit any improvement in bleachability (~7% drop in κ relative to untreated control pulps). Mannanase treated kraft pulp showed no improvement in bleachability. For comparison commercial xylanases (including a thermostable xylanase) were used to treat radiata kraft pulps and did improve bleachability significantly. These enzymes also solubilised three to four times more xylan than the cloned, thermostable xylanase. Therefore, the ineffectiveness of the cloned xylanase may be due to its very limited ability to hydrolyse intra-fibril xylan in kraft pulp fibres.

text: Two thermostable hemicellulases and their effects on wood pulps Two hemicellulases, cloned from a thermophilic anaerobe (isolate TP8 6.3.3.1) were partially purified and characterised. The ability of these enzymes to hydrolyse the hemicellulose components of various types of pulps and their effects on the bleachability of radiata pine kraft pulp were examined. The xylanase (two preparations) and mannanase had broad pH optima (6-7.5). The xylanases had temperature optima of 70°C (10 min assay) and the mannanase had an optimum of 80°C (10 min assay). All the cloned enzymes were thermostable with more than 95% of the enzyme activity remaining after 24 hours at 70°C, in an unbuffered solution. Buffering affected the thermostability of the enzymes. The mannanase had a half life of 48 min at 85°C. The xylanases were able to hydrolyse xylans but also had a pH-dependent CM cellulase activity, but this was never more than 10% of the xylanase activity. The mannanase hydrolysed mannan, glucomannans and galactomannans. The glucose content of the glucomannans had little or no effect on mannanase activity but the galactose substituents of the galactomannans severely inhibited the hydrolysis of these substrates.

The thermostable xylanase hydrolysed more than 75% of soluble radiata pine xylan to low molecular weight (< DP10) xylo-oligomers. These included; xylose, xylobiose, xylotriose, arabinose-substituted xylobiose and xylotriose and 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid substituted xylotrioses. The arabinose substituents were bound to the terminal, non-reducing xylose residue; the glucuronic acid substituents may be bound to the non-reducing or central xylose residues of the substituted xylotriose. The thermostable mannanase also hydrolysed more than 75% of soluble radiata glucomannan, producing mannose, mannobiose, mannotriose, glucomannose and glucomannobiose.

The hemicellulases were used to treat (at 70°C, 24 hr) a variety of wood pulps, including kraft (softwood and hardwood), radiata NSAQ pulp, radiata CTMP and radiata TMP. Both enzymes solubilised their respective substrates from these pulps. The chemical pulps were more susceptible to enzymatic attack than the mechanical pulps, possibly due to the greater fibre porosity of the chemical pulps. The xylanase solubilised ~4% of the xylan and the mannanase solubilised 10% of the glucomannan from radiata kraft pulp. In comparison with other xylanases, the thermostable xylanase was less effective in solubilising xylan from kraft pulps. The hemicelluloses of kraft pulps that had been enzyme treated were extracted. The extracted xylan from the xylanase-treated pulp was lower in average DP than the xylan extracted from untreated pulps. The average DP of the extracted glucomannan from the mannanase-treated pulps was no different than that of glucomannans extracted from untreated pulps. The extracted xylan and glucomannan from untreated kraft pulps were readily hydrolysed by the xylanase and the mannanase respectively, suggesting that enzyme inaccessibility to the substrate within the fibre wall was the main cause of their resistance to enzymatic attack.

The effect of these enzymes on the bleachability of radiata kraft pulps was studied by measuring the reduction in kappa number (κ), relative to untreated controls, after a standard D/C E prebleaching sequence. The xylanase and the mannanase had little or no effect on the bleachability of radiata kraft pulps. Xylanase treated kraft pulp required a protease treatment after the hemicellulose treatment but before bleaching, in order to elicit any improvement in bleachability (~7% drop in κ relative to untreated control pulps). Mannanase treated kraft pulp showed no improvement in bleachability. For comparison commercial xylanases (including a thermostable xylanase) were used to treat radiata kraft pulps and did improve bleachability significantly. These enzymes also solubilised three to four times more xylan than the cloned, thermostable xylanase. Therefore, the ineffectiveness of the cloned xylanase may be due to its very limited ability to hydrolyse intra-fibril xylan in kraft pulp fibres.

year: 1992