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Item Influence of fermentation on the quality of Fijian Theobroma cacao beans over two harvest seasons(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-10-01) Raju RN; Heyes J; Archer R; Chen QTheobroma cacao beans are cultivated in Fiji by smallholder farms in low volumes, mainly for export. Cocoa beans are often processed under ambient conditions by farmers and cocoa processors. Postharvest processing includes natural fermentation from six to ten days in wooden boxes, followed by sun – drying in the open for up to 14 days. The impact of fermentation conditions on key quality parameters of Fijian cocoa beans, such as temperature profile, pH, and total extractable polyphenol content (TPC) are presented in this study. The quality of fermentation was assessed using a standard method, such as a cut test followed by fermentation index (FI) measurement. A temperature increase to 40°C and variations in the pH of the bean mass were evident during natural fermentation. TPC in the cocoa beans was sensitive to temperature and pH. Fermentation was variable due to weather conditions between harvest seasons. The dry season had the best conditions for fermentation as the peak temperature of the bean mass was 40°C and the FI was high (1.39 ± 0.04) There is a need to improve fermentation during the rainy season. This can be achieved by providing training to Fijian cocoa farmers on using better fermentation techniques.Item Sun, sand and uncertainty: the promise and peril of a Pacific tourism bubble(The Conversation Media Group Ltd, 2020-06-08) Scheyvens R; Movono AItem Pacific tourism is desperate for a vaccine and travel freedoms, but the industry must learn from this crisis(The Conversation Media Group Ltd, 2020-11-25) Movono A; Scheyvens RItem Traditional skills help people on the tourism-deprived Pacific Islands survive the pandemic(The Conversation Media Group Ltd, 2020-11-02) Scheyvens R; Movono AItem Exploring the Nutrition-Related Health of the Ageing Population in Fiji: A Narrative Review.(SAGE Publications, 2024-10-18) Naliva S; Kruger M; Havea P; Wham CFijis' older population aged 55 years and over makes up 14% of the total population and is expected to reach 20% by 2050. This narrative review aimed to examine the health and nutrition status of the aging population of Fiji and sociodemographic determinants. A search strategy was conducted throughout databases, and gray literature from relevant websites was searched. Due to the limited evidence regarding the nutrition, health, and socio-economic factors that impact the aging population in Fiji the inclusion criteria were broad and included both genders (male and female), all publications up until December 2022, all study designs, and gray literature (government/institutional reports, conference proceedings, guidelines, Act, and Policies) . There was no filter for date applied in the search criteria. Studies that did not meet the search criteria were excluded. 20 documents including published articles were included for analysis and result synthesis. Life expectancy at birth for the Fiji population is 68 years. A significant annual increase in mortality rate from endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases has been observed in women aged 75+ but not older men. Women of low-income status are more at risk than men. However, as most investigations aggregate those ≥18 years, there is a lack of information on older adults (≥65 years) health and nutrition status. To improve the health status of older adults, an understanding of the nutritional status of older adults is warranted, especially concerning lifestyle and sociodemographic determinants.Item Spiritual and environmental well-being: Factors supporting adaptation of Pacific peoples during pandemic times(Victoria University of Wellington and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd, 2024-08-01) Scheyvens R; Movono A; Auckram J; Faaiuaso LMost Western models of well-being focus only on social, mental, financial and physical well-being. Collecting data on how tourism-dependent communities in the South Pacific had adapted to the dramatic impacts of the pandemic, we became aware of the significance of spiritual and environmental dimensions of well-being. We also identified several Pacific well-being models that incorporate these dimensions. This article thus examines how COVID-19 lockdowns influenced the spiritual and environmental well-being of Pacific peoples living in tourism-dependent areas. It demonstrates that many people were able to adapt well despite dramatic changes in their financial situation and restrictions on their mobility. They often showed deep appreciation about having more time for religious practices and to care for others in their communities, and they enjoyed working more with nature, on the land or in the ocean, and looking after the environment. We conclude that if the tourism industry can rebuild in ways that support spiritual and environmental well-being, this could mean tourism will be appreciated more by resident communities as something which compliments – rather than competes with – their culture and way of life.Item Climate change, vulnerability and well-being in the Pacific region(Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the New Zealand Association of Economists Incorporated, 2024-05-12) Gounder RThe Pacific region has experienced vast adverse effects from climate change impacting the peoples’ livelihoods both in these nations’ urban and rural areas. Countries association between socio-economic performance and livelihoods have been adversity impacted by climatic hazards and vulnerabilities on nations’ economic performance impacting the societal outcomes. An assessment of the Pacific’s climate change, vulnerability and well-being is presented in general and a case study of Fiji in particular. The Pacific islands require resources invested in environmental education, and climate change and trade policy linkages to benefit the islands, future returns to individuals and higher levels of satisfied basic needs to reduce vulnerabilities.Item Isolation, antibacterial screening, and identification of bioactive cave dwelling bacteria in Fiji.(Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-12-20) Pipite A; Lockhart PJ; McLenachan PA; Christi K; Kumar D; Prasad S; Subramani R; Moyer CLBacteria are well known producers of bioactive secondary metabolites, including some of the most effective antibiotics in use today. While the caves of Oceania are still largely under-explored, they form oligotrophic and extreme environments that are a promising source for identifying novel species of bacteria with biologically active compounds. By using selective media that mimicked a cave environment, and pretreatments that suppressed the growth of fast-growing bacteria, we have cultured genetically diverse bacteria from a limestone cave in Fiji. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences from isolates were determined and compared with 16S rRNA gene sequences in EzBioCloud and SILVA data bases. Fifty-five isolates purified from culture had Actinomycete-like morphologies and these were investigated for antibacterial activity. Initial screening using a cross streak test with pathogenic bacteria indicated that 34 of the isolates had antibacterial properties. The best matches for the isolates are bacteria with potential uses in the manufacture of antibiotics and pesticides, in bioremediation of toxic waste, in biomining, in producing bioplastics, and in plant growth promotion. Nineteen bacteria were confirmed as Actinomycetes. Thirteen were from the genus Streptomyces and six from genera considered to be rare Actinomycetes from Pseudonocardia, Kocuria, Micromonospora, Nonomuraea. Ten isolates were Firmicutes from the genera Bacillus, Lysinbacillus, Psychrobacillus and Fontibacillus. Two were Proteobacteria from the genera Mesorhizobium and Cupriavidus. Our findings identify a potentially rich source of microbes for applications in biotechnologies.Item The evolution of public administration and conflict in a post-conflict state : history’s role in Fiji’s political trajectory : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2024-04-16) Loga, Patricia Savukiono-I-TuikabaraViolent geo-political conflicts are on the rise across the globe and most of the countries that experience these conflicts are developing nations like Fiji (Fund for Peace, 2022). Countries that are prone to conflict are classified as fragile States. In the aftermath of a conflict, the public sector is under immense pressure to restabilise the nation and normalise service provision to citizens. Understanding the behaviour of conflict and public administration in a post-conflict State is key for nation rebuilding because it gives an insight into the levers and impediments for crisis management. Although studies have explored crisis management in post-conflict States (Kaplan, 2008), little is known about the role that historical institutions play in the evolution and continuity of conflict and public administration. To address this gap, this thesis used the path dependency theory to explain how policy actions and decisions established a continuous cycle of conflict. Using institutionalism and resilience, this research described why public administration remained fragile despite showing signs of evolution in Fiji’s political trajectory. Based on the findings, it is suggested that policy actors in Fiji consider the following embedded ideologies in their policy making process: race-based politics, intertwined traditional and political roles, adversarial approaches to the protection of interests and segmented economic structures. Fiji is locked into a path of conflict and resilience is restrained by institutionalised processes; an understanding of historical structures that hinder progress can help policy actors create effective public policies. The first significant finding argued that conflict is pathdependent because Fiji was subjected to indirect rule when it was under colonial rule and that the short time taken for the nation to transition from a colony to an independent State created a lack of readiness for self-government. Public administration stability in Fiji was hindered by the co-existence of institutionalism and resilience. It was found that resilience thinking was stifled by institutionalised ideologies that had become embedded in the public administration system. This research made two key contributions: developed a theoretical understanding of public administration and conflict using the path-dependency, institutionalism, and resilience theories. The lessons learned to contribute to policy knowledge on crisis management and nation rebuilding in developing countries like Fiji. This research was conducted using archival research, which was collected from Archives New Zealand and the National Archives of Fiji. Archival research and document analysis complemented the path-dependency, institutionalism, and resilience theories, which involve a descriptive analysis of how past policy decisions affect the behaviour of institutions. In total, 3,270 documents from the years 1858 to 1992 were retrieved and analysed via document analysis and theoretical thematic analysis. Using archival research to study Fiji’s political history aided the identification of themes that explained how and when conflict became path dependent, and why public administration institutions were fragile. The findings from this thesis are contextual and Fiji is a small island developing State so it would be difficult to generalise or replicate. To add to the knowledge of conflict analysis, and nation rebuilding, future research could explore other post-conflict States or former colonies to find out if conflict is path-dependent and which factors create fragility in a public administration. The co-existence of institutionalism and resilience also has room for further development. There is an opportunity to explore the behaviour of these two theoretical frameworks in public administration. A deeper understanding of the push and pull effects of institutionalism and resilience has the potential to improve public sector reform and policy transfer processes.Item A first nation-wide assessment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Fijian primary schools, and factors associated with the infection, using a lymphatic filariasis transmission assessment survey as surveillance platform(Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2020-09) Kim SH; Stothard JR; Rinamalo M; Rainima-Qaniuci M; Talemaitoga N; Kama M; Rafai E; Jang S; Kim JY; Oh YM; Kim E-M; Hong S-T; Lowry JH; Verweij JJ; Kelly-Hope LA; Choi M-HBackground Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is endemic in Fiji but its prevalence is not known and likely to have changed after a decade of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF). By linking with LF transmission assessment surveys (LF-TAS), we undertook the first nation-wide assessment of STH in Fijian primary schools, as well as an analysis of factors associated with STH infections. Methodology/Principal findings A cross-sectional assessment for STH was conducted in all four Divisions of Fiji from 2014 to 2015. In the Western, Central, and Northern Divisions, schools were sub-sampled after LF-TAS, while, in the Eastern Division, schools were selected via simple random sampling. For the diagnosis of STH, stool samples were examined by coproscopy with a single Kato-Katz thick smear (KK) and the formol-ether-acetate concentration technique, except for the samples from the Eastern Division where only KK was used. Mean prevalence of any STH among class 1–2 students at the national level was 10.5% (95% CI: 6.9–15.5). Across the three Divisions via LF-TAS, the prevalence levels for ascariasis were 8.7% (95% CI: 4.3–16.6), hookworm 3.9% (95% CI: 2.3–6.6) and trichuriasis 0%. In the Eastern Division, ascariasis prevalence was 13.3% (95% CI: 6.4–25.6), and hookworm 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2–2.5), with one case of trichuriasis. Among class 3–8 students, ascariasis prevalence was lower. Lower risk of any STH was associated with wearing shoes (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.90) and having piped water from the Fiji Water Authority at home (adjusted OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25–0.92). Conclusions After a decade of community-based LF-MDA, STH in school-age children in Fiji is now close to 10%, but localities of endemicity remain. Preventive chemotherapy should be maintained in areas with elevated STH prevalence alongside targeted delivery of integrated WASH interventions. LF-TAS has provided an opportunity to develop future public health surveillance platforms. Author summary Soil-transmitted helminth infections (STH) are common in school-age children in the developing world and can cause morbidity to affected human beings depending on the intensity and duration of infection. In Fiji, where there has been a long history of implementing a program for eliminating lymphatic filariasis (LF) due to inadequate sanitation conditions, there is a need to assess the current epidemiological profile of STH since the LF mass drug administration (MDA) as a community-based intervention may soon stop. By linking with ongoing LF-transmission assessment surveys (LF-TAS), we undertook the first nation-wide assessment of STH in Fijian primary schools. Mean prevalence of STH across three Divisions of Fiji in class 1–2 students chosen for LF-TAS was 12.1% (ascariasis 8.7%, hookworm 3.9%, and trichuriasis 0%). In the remaining Division, the Eastern, ascariasis prevalence was 13.3%, and hookworm 0.7%. Wearing shoes and use of piped water reduced the prevalence of STH. It is concluded that STH in school-age children in Fiji is at low levels, but hot spot localities of elevated STH endemicity remain. Therefore, preventive chemotherapy should be maintained in these localities alongside targeted delivery of appropriate integrated water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.