Prince Harry at UC Graduation highlights Canterbury's crusade - May 2015
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He Kupu Whakamahara
Prince Harry
at UC
Graduation highlights
Canterbury's crusade
May 2015
Chronicle Message from the
Vice-Chancellor
50, No.1, May 2015
Editor: Renee Jones E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, nei
364 2987 ext 6072
Staff Writers: Jann O'Keefe
rā te whakamiha o Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha ki a
Charlene Smart koutou. Nau mai ki ēnei pitopito kōrero.
Sub–editor: Col Pearson
Welcome to the latest edition of Chronicle, 2010 and 2011 earthquakes is well under way,
Photos: Duncan Shaw–Brown a publication which aims to keep staff, with the construction of the new
Artwork: Brian Carney students, alumni and the wider community $212.5 million Regional Science and
informed about the latest news, Innovation Centre, a precinct that will
Printer: Toltech Print
developments and events happening on transform the teaching and innovation of
Distribution: Canterbury Educational campus. science at UC and the region as a whole. You
Printing Services
can learn more about this exciting
One of UC’s key goals is to produce
Email: communications@ development on page 9.
canterbury.ac.nz graduates who are globally aware; engaged
with their community; biculturally I hope you enjoy the magazine and learning
Address: Communications and competent and confident; employable, more about how UC staff and students are
Stakeholder Relations,
innovative and enterprising; as well as being changing the world.
University of Canterbury,
competent in their chosen core academic
Private Bag 4800, Dr Rod Carr
Christchurch. discipline.
Vice-Chancellor
The 21 Day International Challenge is a
competition that gives students the
If you would like to be added to opportunity to develop these skills by being
the Chronicle distribution list and
actively involved in a real world learning
receive an electronic version of
experience where they have the chance to
this magazine, then please email
communications@canterbury.ac.nz.
make a difference to a community in the
Philippines. Read more about how students
and business leaders are coming together to
change peoples' lives on page 8.
Meanwhile, the transformation and
remediation of UC’s campus following the
2
Contents
Prince Harry sweetens up the crowd. 6 Mentor guides
student to success. 10
Saving the
endangered Kakī. 11 Graduating with love. 13
Big plans for new director of Pacific centre. 19 Investigating
surrogacy laws. 25
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 3
College of Education, Health and Human Development students (from left) April Heath and Kiri Seaward.
Internships boost passion for culture
A summer internship for two UC students at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has been a
“life-changing” experience that has further inspired their passion for the Māori
language and culture.
College of Education, Health and Human “It changed my life and I have really I am now employed at Ngāi Tahu on contract
Development students April Heath (Ngāi embraced our culture after this. It awakened as a paid intern working on the project that I
Tahu) and Kiri Seaward (Ngāi Tahu, Tainui) my taha Māori (Māori side) again and had created during the summer,” Seaward
both worked as interns at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi revived a passion for my Māori culture, said.
Tahu as part of a collaboration between the language and understanding, as well as my
Associate Professor of Community
UC Community Engagement Hub, the ongoing growth and love for the outdoors,”
Engagement Billy O’Steen said the funding
College of Arts, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Heath said.
provided by the Tribal Group gave the
the Tribal Group.
Seaward said the experience challenged her students an incredible opportunity.
Heath and Seaward took the ARTS295 mental and physical fitness.
“In 2012, the University received a donation
Internship course, after being selected to
“Aoraki Bound helps uncover the best in any from the Tribal Group, an IT company, with
receive the Tribal Group Awards that paid for
person. The cultural context provides a the simple request that it be used for an
their course fees from the Tribal Group/UC
fascinating and world-class experience. appropriate community cause as they were
Community Engagement Hub Fund.
There is a beautiful reinforcement of the inspired by the actions of the Student
The two students worked on the marketing language throughout the course. It is a Volunteer Army in responding to the 2010
and recruitment of the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi collective journey and a journey of and 2011 earthquakes,” he said.
Tahu three week Aoraki Bound course, which self-discovery – life changing!”
“With donations, it is often difficult to draw
is an Outward Bound journey with a strong
Seaward gained employment from the direct lines of cause and effect. However,
cultural immersion component.
internship at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and with the Tribal Group’s generosity in
Seaward and Heath, who are both in the Heath is taking an Outward Bound providing the fees for these experiences for
third year of a Bachelor of Education instructor course in order to be a leader on April and Kiri, it is very clear that this
(Physical Education) degree, were also able future Aoraki Bound courses. donation has been life-changing and will
to participate in the Aoraki Bound keep on giving as these students continue
“It was a great opportunity to be a part of
programme themselves, which was paid for their high-impact work in positively
such a large and successful organisation.
by the scholarship. influencing the lives of others.”
4
Partnerships enhance UC’s
community involvement
The University of Canterbury is boosting Carr said the Crusaders partnership would programmes and encourage more Māori and
its connections with the community see First XV boys’ secondary schools rugby Pasifika students to study at UC.”
by establishing key partnerships with teams competing for the UC Championship Carr said the University was determined to
the Crusaders, Tactix and the Student and girls’ teams vying for the UC Cup. ensure that its graduates were prepared to
Volunteer Army (SVA). “Sport is a massive part of Canterbury’s make a difference in their local communities,
These partnerships are complemented by DNA, and a big part of what we do at UC. It’s which was why the SVA partnership was so
UC’s support for two significant cultural well known that UC already has a vibrant important.
events — Te Matatini National Kapa Haka student culture with the most student clubs “The SVA showed the world the very best of
Festival and Ngā Manu Kōrero National of any university in New Zealand, but clearly UC students after the Canterbury
Secondary School Māori speech competition. both sports partnerships will add earthquakes and it has endured, establishing
UC Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr said the considerably to UC’s engagement with an ethos of community service that has
University’s partnerships with these schools,” he said. become part of UC’s graduate profile. The
organisations will help drive student Carr said the bicultural elements of the SVA will also be involved in schools
recruitment, retention and help the programme were equally important. engagement and continue to be involved in
University to develop stronger community community projects,” Carr said.
“We’re determined our students will take
engagement with Christchurch and the
their place in a bicultural nation, and take “Our partner organisations are among
wider Canterbury community.
that cultural awareness to the world. We New Zealand’s finest and we are proud to be
want to build on numerous cultural outreach working with them to ensure a successful
future for our region.”
UC continues to work on an initiative in the
Christchurch Performing Arts Precinct, to
be announced in due course.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 UC students Stew Whitehead and Abbey Topham enjoy a Crusaders game at AMI stadium. 5
UC hails Prince Harry
The historic visit of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales to UC may have
been wet and wild but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of staff and
students who braved rain, hail and thunder to see the Prince.
Prince Harry visited campus to meet the
Student Volunteer Army (SVA) on Tuesday 12
May to learn more about their extraordinary
efforts in the aftermath of the Canterbury
earthquakes, and about their ongoing work
in the community.
During his visit, the Prince got involved in a
range of activities that showcased the SVA’s
story. He sat in an upturned wheelbarrow as
he talked to the SVA Executive, handed out
SVA branded cupcakes to the cheering
crowd, planted vegetables for a community
garden, painted and signed a shed rescued
from the red zone, sprayed a stencil,
packed a food box for Vanuatu Cyclone Pam
relief and viewed bikes from the bike
restoration project.
SVA President Lucy McLeod, who escorted
Prince Harry around the displays with
Vice-President Alex Cheesebrough, said Prince Harry isn't afraid to get his hands dirty planting vegetables with the SVA.
meeting the Prince was an incredible honour
and a once in a lifetime opportunity. “He was very interested in what we were “He was very personable, funny,
doing and he was really engaging. He said quick-witted, cheeky and a deep thinker.
“He was such a down to earth and genuine
that we were doing something that should It is clear that he is trying to determine
lad. Despite the huge entourage and media
be replicated around the world. He also how to use his platform to make a
contingent, he was just a regular guy who
talked about military service and how we substantial contribution to the world,
was really interested in what we were doing,
may be able to tie in with the military more,” following in his mother’s footsteps and
and fully engaged with each person he met,”
Cheesebrough said. her humanitarian efforts.”
McLeod said.
“I think he enjoyed gardening with the Green “There is no other student organisation in
“The SVA has received so much attention
Platoon and he had a massive grin on his New Zealand that has ever spent an hour
both nationally and internationally, and
face when he handed out the cupcakes!” with a member of the Royal Family —
there is no measure on what positive things
especially having one of them do some
can flow from this attention. I just hope it Associate Professor of Community
gardening, painting, food box packing, and
makes our volunteers realise how amazing Engagement Billy O’Steen said it was an
handing out cupcakes alongside them. This
the work that they do is, and that they feel historic occasion.
should never be forgotten by the SVA
valued because the SVA was the reason
“I was thoroughly impressed with how he Executive,” he said.
Prince Harry came to UC — which is
responded to and engaged with every aspect
amazing!” More pictures of Prince Harry's visit to UC
of the visit. He jumped right in alongside the
are on page 28.
Cheesebrough said it was great to see how students, really wanted to hear about their
enthusiastic the Prince was about the projects and offered thoughts and advice
organisation. about how to further develop them,”
O’Steen said.
6
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 Prince Harry mingles with the crowd in the Matariki Quad. 7
Alumni
donations
boost UC
The University of Canterbury Foundation
UC students (from one of the teams) with their business mentors (from left) Alexandra Batt, CEO DataGenius Software
(UC Foundation) received almost Labs Amar Verma, Managing Director Barrer & Co Sarah Barrer, Kyle Turnbull, Teresa Correia, Emma Hunt
$8 million in support from donors and Kate Spence.
last year.
Of this $8 million, the Annual Fund
campaign raised more than $225,000 in Students up for the challenge
2014. In the last three years close to
$1 million has been raised by the Annual A ground-breaking new challenge that brought UC
Fund from donations made by more than
2500 alumni.
students and business leaders together to pit their
Director of Alumni and Development Jo skills against each other, and make a real difference
Dowling said the continued contributions for a community in the Philippines, was held at UC
from UC alumni were outstanding.
in May.
“It is a wonderful example of the impact a
large group of people can have and we are The 21 Day International Challenge was an “The specific challenge facing the six teams
very pleased to have the support of UC exciting initiative that tasked six teams, of was to devise affordable and sustainable
alumni,” she said. five students and five business mentors projects utilising local knowledge and
The UC Foundation is dedicated to each, with creating a practical and unique resources. Students, supported by business
ensuring that UC’s tradition of excellence solution to help improve the socio-economic mentors, honed their problem-solving
in higher education continues and allows wellbeing of people living in Carles, a Filipino skills, learnt how, and how not to work
individuals and organisations to support community hard-hit by typhoon Haiyam in effectively as a team, and gained firsthand
the educational mission of the University. November 2013. experience of engaging with people from a
The Annual Fund allows alumni and different culture.
The solutions were presented to the judging
friends to give a gift of any amount in panel on 25 May, after this edition of “This ‘out of the classroom’ learning activity
support of the University. Chronicle went to print. The winning team will undoubtedly make a difference, both to
The three programmes that have benefited will visit the community in Tarong Barangay people living in Carles and to our students,
from the 2014 Annual Fund are the in Carles to help the local community who will graduate better prepared for the
Pukemanu-Dovedale Child Psychology implement their solution — one that could challenges of the workplace — wherever that
Centre, Pasifika Outreach, and the well change the lives of the residents. might be.”
Emerging Leaders' Scholarship. Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the College of Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr said students
If you would like to support the 2015 Business and Law Professor Sonia Mazey made the most of the incredible opportunity
Annual Fund please visit said the challenge gave UC students the to work alongside leading business mentors.
www.canterbury.ac.nz/alumni/uc- chance of a lifetime to learn valuable skills
“This was a unique opportunity for students
foundation.shtml for further information. outside the classroom.
to learn from their mentors and will stand
“During the course of this competition, students in good stead as they embark on
students from diverse subject disciplines their own careers in the future. Going to
applied their academic knowledge, personal university is more than just getting a degree
experience and skills to a ‘real world’ — our goal at UC is to help all students to
problem,” she said. become the well-rounded graduate that
employers are looking for,” he said.
8
New science facility
embraces innovation
The new Regional Science and Innovation Centre (RSIC) will create a hub for
Canterbury’s science and innovation network in state-of-the-art facilities that
encourage collaborative teaching, learning and research.
With a total project budget of $212.5 million, “Students will be learning in an environment for science and innovation solutions
the new centre will provide accommodation that encourages collaboration and and discoveries.
for the College of Science, along with interaction, not only with their peers, but
“Facilities within the RSIC will allow the
an unparalleled resource for the Canterbury also with the community, with public
delivery of best practice science teaching,
region. organisations and with industry,” she said.
supported by state-of-the-art audiovisual
The first building, due for completion in “The flexibility built into the learning spaces and laboratory equipment in a modern
2017, includes specialist teaching and will make the most of modern teaching teaching environment,” she said.
research laboratories for physics, chemistry, methods and technologies to ensure that
The centre will also enable UC to continue to
geology, geography and biological sciences. our students receive the very finest modern
expand its support of hundreds of high
science education available.”
Extensive informal areas for learning and school science students in obtaining NCEA
study are included in the design, as well as An innovation hub will enable close credits in topics such as radiation, genetics
social spaces that provide ideal venues for collaboration with external organisations and forensic biology.
events and encourage interactions between of various kinds, and open up opportunities
Cultural imperatives have been expressed
staff, students and external collaborators to connect basic research with applied
through themes interwoven into the
and stakeholders. research.
building, including communal spaces that
Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Science Professor Lawson said the co-location of researchers promote interaction and hospitable
Wendy Lawson said the new RSIC building from industry partners in RSIC laboratories entrances to accommodate events and to
would be an inspiring and exciting space in would help create a one-stop shop welcome in new students, staff and visitors.
which to learn about science.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 Artists impression of the inside of the RSIC. 9
Programme helps
students tap into
mentors’ knowledge
A new mentoring programme has been “It is really great to be able to meet someone
developed to help guide final-year UC young and enthusiastic but not yet in the
students through the transition from workplace and give them some insight and
university to the workplace. direction. I will do my best to see Sophie has
The programme brings UC alumni together a good understanding of her opportunities
UC Finder app.
with current UC students to provide them once she leaves UC,” Maclaren said.
New app to with a unique opportunity to learn from
their mentors’ experiences.
Hale said it had been a great opportunity to
talk to someone who had studied similar
discover campus Alumni and students are matched based on subjects and had built a successful career.
what they are studying, as well as their “I definitely have a better perspective of
A new student-developed mobile interests and career aspirations. where my degree could take me if I am open
app, UC Finder, will help students and
UC student Sophie Hale, who is in her final to and actively seek the many opportunities
visitors find their way around campus.
year studying towards a Bachelor of Science that exist out there in ecology and
UC Finder is the first official UC mobile environmental science,” she said.
in Biological Sciences and Economics, has
app and was developed by HIT Lab
been paired with UC alumnus “I have learnt a lot from Sylvia about how
New Zealand students through the
Sylvia Maclaren. to go about transitioning from full-time
Master of Human Interface Technology
and Summer Research Scholarship Maclaren owns two small businesses that study into a career, as well as how and where
programmes. specialise in water resource management to invest my time in order to prepare for
and microfiber maps. She is also studying my future.”
The app has a simple interface to help
towards her MBA and said being a mentor Hale said she now felt better equipped to
locate destinations on campus such as
had been a fantastic experience. work in the real world when she graduated
lecture theatres, cafés, car parks, bike
stands, libraries, computer workrooms, “I find it is really rewarding to share my at the end of the year.
departments and other facilities. As the experiences and industry connections with “So far the experience has been incredibly
University transforms as part of ongoing someone else,” said Maclaren, who fruitful, rewarding and inspiring. I am
redevelopment, the app also contributes graduated from UC with a Bachelor of thankful for the opportunity to have such a
to health and safety. Science with first class honours in 2005. great mentor.”
Director of Student Services and
Communications Lynn McClelland said
the new app is an important tool.
“The app will provide the safest and most
direct path for visitors on campus to get
to their destination. With ongoing
development on campus, it’s important
for people to be able to find their way
easily and safely.”
The app is available to download free on
Android and iPhone and is searchable as
UC Finder.
Other initiatives to revitalise campus
include banners highlighting UC Legends
of the past such as Dame Margaret Mahy,
Sir Ian Axford, Donald Couch (Ngāi Tahu)
and Rita Angus, which have been erected
along University Drive.
10 UC student Sophie Hale and UC alumnus Sylvia Maclaren.Dr Tammy Steeves
Spotlight on saving critically
endangered kakī
A University of Canterbury scientist is investigating ways to ensure the survival
and recovery of critically endangered kakī (black stilt) in the wild.
Dr Tammy Steeves (Biological Sciences) is Steeves is investigating how a species can Basin was comprised of five distinct kakī
making recommendations to support decline to so few yet maintain such a sub-populations before 1981, then it will be
the management of one of the world’s relatively high level of genetic diversity. critical to manage the captive breeding
rarest birds, the kakī, which is a critically population so it contains descendants of
“We are using birds from museums around
endangered endemic wading bird restricted birds from all five of these sub-populations.”
the world to investigate the historical
to the Upper Waitaki Basin in the
genetic structure of kakī in the Upper Steeves’ research also focuses on
South Island.
Waitaki Basin to determine the genetic maintaining the genetic integrity of kakī.
“We often refer to kakī as the feathered All origins of the current population. In
“The introduction of predators and
Blacks. There are fewer than 100 adults collaboration with the Department of
widespread habitat loss has driven the kakī
known to be alive. They are tough little birds. Conservation’s Kakī Recovery Programme,
close to extinction. Since 1999, kakī had been
Unlike other birds that migrate to the coast we often use innovative conservation
actively prevented from breeding with
during winter, kakī stick it out in the basin genetic management strategies like these to
non-kakī and our research to date indicates
during the cold months,” Dr Steeves said. ensure the recovery and survival of this
that this is an appropriate conservation
iconic species,” she said.
“They are resilient. Despite declining to a management strategy for kakī.”
population of about 23 in 1981, kakī have a “The results of this project will be used to
Steeves’ research is funded by conservation
remarkable amount of genetic diversity, develop appropriate conservation genetic
trusts, including the Mohua Charitable Trust.
which bodes well for their recovery.” management strategies specific to kakī. If
genetic analysis indicates the Upper Waitaki
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 11UC moves beyond quakes
to embrace bright future
Four graduation ceremonies took place at the Horncastle Arena on
Wednesday 15 and Friday 17 April with 1198 students graduating.
Chancellor Dr John Wood, who presided over Dr Wood highlighted two important “The goal itself remains constant: to do our
the ceremonies, said that the last year had milestones including the first $100 million utmost to attract, retain and grow great
marked the close of one of the most instalment of the $260 million Government talent as we continue to build our world-
significant chapters in UC’s 140 year history. contribution to the UC Futures programme, class university. All of our graduands are
and the negotiated settlement for $550 living proof of our degree of success so far.”
“By Christmas, and into the New Year, we
million of the University’s
had put behind us the post-earthquake Dr Wood congratulated the graduands for
earthquake-related insurance claims.
period of firstly uncertainty, then their commitment to studying in a
stabilisation, followed by forward planning, “Individually, each of these outcomes was post-earthquake environment.
in exchange for the times to come of sizeable and significant. Taken together, they
“You have earned your place in the latest of
consolidating progress, ramping up are game-changing,” he said.
successive UC post-earthquake cohorts
activities, and realising the opportunities for
“Visible signs of this are the $143 million known for resilience, courage and
transformation presented to us by natural
refurbishment of our engineering precinct, determination, and at the same time
disaster,” he said.
Canterbury Engineering the Future, and compassion and caring for each other, and
“Our most important achievement was, construction of our $212.5 million Regional the wider community.”
through a series of intensively negotiated Science and Innovation Centre.
The achievements of Māori and Pasifika
outcomes, to have regained control of our
Dr Wood also acknowledged the other graduates and graduands were also
destiny, which is now firmly back in our
significant challenges being undertaken by recognised at two celebratory events held
own hands.
the University. during Graduation week.
“The impact on our people, and therefore the
“In the meantime, work continues apace on
institution itself, has been overwhelmingly
the less tangible, in some ways more
positive. Challenges which once seemed
important and even more challenging
simply daunting, now offer tantalising
dimensions to the UC Futures programme,
glimpses of the new University we have all
notably that relating to the refining and
worked so hard to conceive.”
implementation of our new graduate
profile,” he said.
12Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr with his wife Jenny and
son James, who graduated with a Masters of Engineering
in Management.
Married couple Keeneth and Christina Love graduate together.
A shared love of music
A shared love of music brought them “The only downside was that Christina knew
together, and now newly married couple what I was supposed to be doing, and when I Professor Bryan Storey with son John, who graduated with
a Bachelors of Engineering (Honours).
Keeneth and Christina Love have another was procrastinating she was right onto my
reason to celebrate after both graduated case, or maybe that was a good thing!
from the University of Canterbury
“We feel so blessed to say that we have
with degrees in music during the same
gotten engaged, married and graduated in
ceremony.
just over a year. It's definitely been a
Christina, who graduated with a Bachelor of whirlwind, and it's sweet to think that
Music, specialising in the flute, and a having gone to UC we met, and are now
Bachelor of Commerce, met Keeneth, who married. Thanks UC!” Christina said.
specialised in the cello, at the School of
Music, during their first year of study. They The couple, who perform regularly together,
were married in December 2014. had an early passion for the music that
brought them together.
“It feels pretty awesome and unique to
“When I was growing up, all of my four UC lecturer Susan Tull graduates with a Doctor of
graduate together. It's amazing being able to
siblings and I had to learn an instrument. Philosophy in Education.
share such a special day with your life
partner by graduating together, and having I started learning the cello and developed
our families together with us both,” a great love for music as a whole,”
said Christina. Keeneth said.
The pair admitted there had been some “My parents had a flute lying around the
benefits to studying the same subject at the house when I was younger and as sports was
same time. not quite my thing I started lessons,”
Christina said.
“Studying together was helpful because we
were able to discuss certain aspects of study, “I didn't want to quite give up studying
and help out on musical projects. We each music so decided to be a bit different and do
had our strengths and weaknesses which we a double degree with commerce.”
ended up building on with one another,”
UC lecturer Gaye Tyler-Merrick graduated with a
Keeneth said. Doctor of Philosophy in Education.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 13(From left) Registrar Jeff Field, Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr, honorary doctorate recipients Sandra Manderson and Rob Fyfe, and Chancellor Dr John Wood.
Three receive honorary doctorates from UC
A high-ranking policewoman, a “This means a great deal to me because it to think critically and to experiment. I can
distinguished diplomat and a prominent marks the University's recognition of the see that the University today is even more
chief executive have been awarded police's work as a significant contribution to creative, dynamic and internationally
honorary doctorates by the University the community and society at large. As a connected. Also more thoughtful than ever
of Canterbury. born and bred Cantabrian, it gives me great in the past about the values and attributes
New Zealand Police Superintendent Sandra pleasure and pride to be a part of that that will best equip its graduates to navigate
Manderson (Doctor of Laws), former New contribution.” through a future which is difficult to predict.”
Zealand Ambassador to France and Portugal Diplomat Rosemary Banks, who most She complimented the University on
Rosemary Banks (Doctor of Letters) and CEO recently held the position of New Zealand's defining the five competencies which
of Icebreaker Rob Fyfe (Doctor of Commerce) Ambassador to France, Portugal, Senegal and graduates should acquire to carry them into
all received their doctorates during the April Permanent Representative to the their future lives.
graduation ceremonies. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Fyfe, an influential business leader in New
Manderson, who graduated from UC with Development, was formerly New Zealand's
Zealand, has been Icebreaker Chief Executive
Master of Science and Master of Business Permanent Representative to the United
since June last year and was appointed to
Administration degrees, broke new ground Nations in New York where she campaigned
the boards of both Antarctica New Zealand
in her career by being appointed the first for Sir Kenneth Keith’s election to the
and Michael Hill International.
female District Commander and the first International Court of Justice and Helen
woman to achieve the rank of Clark’s appointment to the United Nations He has made a significant contribution
superintendent in New Zealand. Development Programme. Earlier postings to the business community and is renowned
include Geneva, Canberra and Honiara. for his successful implementation of
She has since held a range of high-profile customer-centric marketing and
positions including being the New Zealand As a deputy secretary in the Ministry of
service campaigns.
police representative to the United States, Foreign Affairs and Trade, she launched New
Canada and South and Central America. Zealand’s successful campaign for a seat on Since graduating from UC with a Bachelor of
the Security Council and reshaped and Engineering with Honours in Mechanical
Following the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, coordinated inter-agency responses to crises Engineering, Fyfe has held a range of
she was Contingent Commander during ranging from the attacks on the World Trade high-profile roles, starting his career in the
Operation Phuket, leading a disaster victim Centre, to the Bali bombing and the 2004 Royal New Zealand Air Force and progressing
identification team in Thailand. Manderson Asian tsunami. to the roles of general manager of the Bank
has also served as an elected member of the of New Zealand and CEO of Air New Zealand.
UC Council. Banks graduated with a Master of Arts
degree in Russian from UC and holds a “I’ve always found that if you take the time
“It is certainly an honour for me to accept Master of Science from the London School to truly understand what success means to
this award. I am very grateful. My connection of Economics. you, pursue success with passion, then your
to UC has deep and meaningful roots,” judgment almost never lets you down,”
she said. “As a graduate I was always proud of my old
he said.
university and grateful that it had taught me
14Iwi involvement in schools a boost
to Māori student achievement
Discovering ways that schools and iwi can work together to better support
Māori students at school has been the research focus of recent UC graduate
Dr Melanie Riwai-Couch.
Riwai-Couch, who graduated with a PhD in “Approaches to achieving education equity, achieving models likely to positively affect
Education in April, is a Christchurch school including schools working with iwi and Māori achievement in education,” she said.
principal at one of the fastest growing Māori Māori, are important for informing
“This is also important in ensuring that
immersion schools in New Zealand, Te Kura education approaches and strategy. How
participation expectations of iwi are
Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi. She has those approaches are informed, developed
co-constructed, reasonable and
been investigating how iwi and schools and implemented is equally important in
appropriately resourced.”
working together can contribute to culturally
responsive curriculum and schooling.
“I researched how some iwi and schools
have formed true education partnerships
and investigated the ways in which iwi and
schools are working together to support
Māori students,” she said.
Riwai-Couch, who has iwi affiliations with
Rangitane ki Wairau, Ngāti Kuia and Ngāti
Apa ki Te Rā Tō, has created a framework for
iwi-school communities of practice, which
includes proposals and recommendations
for iwi, schools and the Ministry of
Education.
“I looked at three case studies, including
representatives from the Ministry of
Education, schools from the North
and South Islands and iwi education
spokespeople.
“In New Zealand, Māori students are not as
successful as their non-Māori peers, but
students at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te
Whānau Tahi, like many other Māori
immersion settings, excel in both Māori
and English.”
Riwai-Couch said she found that when iwi
and schools worked together to make
decisions about what was taught at school,
Māori students were more likely to achieve
better school marks, as well as be more
connected with their cultural identity.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 UC graduate Dr Melanie Riwai-Couch. 15Group aims
to help warm
student flats
Helping students stay warm during winter
and reduce the cost of power bills is the
aim of a new initiative designed by UC
staff and students.
The UC chapter of Engineers Without Borders
(EWB), in conjunction with the UC
Sustainability Office, has designed the Warm
Homes Initiative with the goal of helping
students create warmer and drier flats, as
well as reduce power bills by assessing the
dwellings’ energy efficiency.
The programme is currently being trialled
with EWB members, with the intention of
expanding the service to all students in
the future.
EWB Warm Homes Manager Alex Manktelow
said EWB students could apply to have a
home energy audit conducted by a team of
trained EWB assessors.
“Students are commonly on a low budget for
energy. Many students have started flatting
after living in warm family homes and have
EWB Warm Homes Manager Alex Manktelow, UC Sustainability Projects Facilitator Katie Nimmo and
limited knowledge of how to heat their
EWB Warm Homes Vice-President Vanessa Lowe.
homes efficiently,” he said.
“Students who take part in this initiative “An action list is also created for the landlord
“Students who
take part in
will benefit by learning about the or property manager, in the form of a formal
inefficiencies of their flat and heating system letter. This letter details the positives and
and the solutions that they, and possibly negatives from the audit and gives
suggestions on how the flat might be
this initiative
will benefit by
their landlords, can implement to keep
their homes warmer and save money on upgraded. A lot of this information centres
energy bills.” on government subsidies available for
ceiling and floor insulation.” learning about
EWB Warm Homes Vice-President Vanessa
Lowe said that after the assessment — which UC Sustainability Projects Facilitator Katie the inefficiencies
would include an energy provider check, Nimmo, who initiated the programme, said
of their flat and
heating system”
examinations of ceiling and underfloor the project was important for student
insulation, heating, air tightness and wellbeing and health.
draughts, hot water, windows, lighting and “Sometimes persuading students to turn the
appliances — students would be given heater up can be tricky because they don’t
practical suggestions on low-cost or free “The benefit of this project is students can
want to spend money on heating. This can
ways to improve energy efficiency. learn how to make cost-saving measures
put student health and wellbeing at risk,
that ideally will help keep them warm and
“Each flat is different but we might suggest making them more prone to winter colds or
toasty, plus gain valuable skills in how to
blocking draughts, wiping condensation or complicate chronic health conditions like
identify and maintain more energy efficient
changing energy providers,” she said. asthma,” she said.
homes in the future.”
16Pair set for flying visit to
London champs
Two University of Canterbury students Officially known as Ultimate, the game has
have turned their passion for Frisbee into a small yet growing profile in New Zealand.
the chance to represent their country Its main objective is to catch the Frisbee in
playing the sport at the world the other team’s end zone. During the
championships in the United Kingdom. championship tournament the first team to
reach 17 goals in 100 minutes wins.
UC engineering student Keith Algar and
Chris Carr, who is doing a double degree in “My hopes for the sport are that it continues
Engineering and Science, have both been to gain more and more prevalence in the
chosen to represent New Zealand in the national scene as a lot of the time you end
men’s under 23 team at the World Flying up playing players that you already know so
Disc Federation Ultimate Frisbee World some new players would help the diversity
Championships in London in July. of the game,” Algar said.
Algar said he was amazed that initially The pair, who are juggling study and
throwing a Frisbee around in his lunch break training every week, hope to win the
had led to such an incredible opportunity. ultimate victory at the world
championships but their main goal
“I started playing last year but I had played a
is to get into the top eight.
little at school during lunchtimes in my last
year at high school. I joined the Ultimate
Club at UC because I thought it would be
fun and now I'm representing my country in
it. It’s pretty incredible,” he said.
“The thing I like most about the sport is the
athleticism and the sheer fun of it. I felt
pretty stoked when I heard that I had been
selected for the team, especially considering
my lack of experience playing the game.”
Carr, who began playing Ultimate three
years ago, said it’s an intense, physically
demanding and competitive sport.
“It’s all self-refereed, which means that the
players on the field are responsible for
calling fouls. This means that players
generally have more of a focus on playing
fairly,” he said.
“I started playing to meet new people. The
game has the benefit of attracting quite
cool people and you make pretty good
friends.”
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 UC students Keith Algar (left) and Chris Carr. 17Students design poetry book
Being involved in a book of poetry that has recently been published has been an
incredible opportunity for two UC School of Fine Arts students.
Jose Sanchez and Gemma Banks, who are CUP publisher Catherine Montgomery said ever, to consider what the form of a print
studying towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts that collaboration with the School of Fine Arts book could add to the reader’s pleasure.
majoring in Graphic Design, designed the and Ilam Press is a new direction for CUP, “The book they have designed is a beautiful
layout of There are no horses in heaven, which she says has produced a beautiful book. object to behold, lovely to touch and easy to
published by Canterbury University Press hold and I feel it's gained hugely from the
“I was confident that Aaron, himself an
(CUP) and printed at Ilam Press at UC. The fresh perspective, skill and enthusiasm of
award-winning book designer, would ensure a
book is available in mainstream bookshops. the students.”
high quality of design and production, and I
The initiative was led by senior lecturer welcomed the invitation to collaborate with Sanchez, Banks and Beehre are currently
Aaron Beehre (Fine Arts,) who also worked on his students,” she said. working on the next poetry book to be
the design of the book which was written by published by CUP, Fish Stories by Mary
“My feeling is that if CUP is going to continue
Christchurch poet Frankie McMillan. Cresswell, due for publication in May.
to publish poetry, we need, now more than
Beehre said the opportunity provided an
invaluable real world experience for the
students and could open doors for their (From left) Graphic design students Gemma Banks, Jose Sanchez and UC lecturer Aaron Beehre.
future careers.
“It is huge. To have a published book in their
portfolio is a massive leg-up. Laying out
publications like this is a lot of fun and it is
really enjoyable,” said Beehre.
“I think that it is really unique for these
students to not only design the book,
but also be involved in the printing process,
which can feed back into the
design process.”
Banks said it was an incredibly rewarding
project to be part of and was proud of what
she achieved.
“It was cool seeing the finished book and
everyone at the launch and realising that it
was a project that lots of people are invested
in,” said Banks.
Sanchez said it has been a rewarding journey
designing a published book.
“It is great because I really enjoyed the
production process, being able to see the
process of how a book is produced from the
start to the finished product. I’m just so
grateful I was given this opportunity,”
Sanchez said.
18Professor Steven Ratuva
New director plans to
enhance Pacific centre
Expanding the reach of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies to boost
its place as a world-class centre for Pacific research is the aim of its new director,
Professor Steven Ratuva.
Ratuva, who is also a Professor in the “We are trying to boost the status of the Ratuva hopes the symposiums will provide
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, centre to become involved in relationships enough material to produce a policy
joined the University of Canterbury in with governments, industry and civil society, document that will essentially be a security
January from the University of Auckland and and the community at large in a manual on the Pacific, which he hopes will
is already making progress towards his goal professional way.” have a real impact on security in the region.
to make the centre a world leader in Ratuva is currently writing two books to
Ratuva, who received $600,000 in Marsden
Pacific research. support his research. The first, Revisioning
funding in 2013 to carry out research on
“I want to expand the centre horizontally, regional security, plans to host a major Regional Security, focuses on four countries
meaning engaging with various universities conference on regional security in the Pacific with unique approaches and experiences
and research institutes around the world, in in November at UC, through the Macmillan with security and conflict including Fiji,
the region and nationally as well. I also want Brown Centre for Pacific Studies. It will be which has had multiple coups; Tonga, which
to grow the centre vertically, in terms of its held in partnership with Australia National had riots in 2006; New Caledonia, which has
research capacity, its expertise, its prestige University, the United Nations Development independence-related tension; and the
and status within the University, in the Programme and the International Political Solomon Islands which had a civil war
region and nationally and internationally,” Science Association. in 1999.
he said. He is also writing a book on the 2006 Tongan
Ratuva is also involved in organising other
Ratuva plans to enhance and expand the symposiums in Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon riots, Thy Kingdom Burn and recently
centre through fostering key regional and Islands and New Caledonia this year. published Politics of preferential development:
international relationships and partnerships Ethnic conflict and affirmative action in Fiji,
“There have been security symposiums in
with major regional players. Malaysia and South Africa, (ANU Press), and
the past but they have become very routine.
The People Have Spoken, published by ANU
“I am interested in the way in which the I would like to make these unique, cutting-
Press, on last year’s Fiji election.
research centre can move into areas of policy edge, innovative and policy focused.”
thinking and policy research,” he said.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 19High school pupils get head
start on tertiary study
Diversity Studying at UC while still at high school has given
two talented students the chance to get an early start
celebrated in their tertiary studies.
on campus Secondary school Year 13 students Talia
Siataga, from Christchurch Rudolf Steiner
electrical engineering at UC, said getting
involved in STAR has been an incredible
School, and Tom Maslin, from Saint Bede’s experience.
UC’s commitment to creating an inclusive College, are taking first-year degree-level
“I always had planned to come to UC after
campus where diversity and difference is courses at UC as part of the STAR
high school to study engineering and this
respected and valued has been marked Programme. It is an experience they said
has just solidified my choice,” he said.
with the launch of the inaugural had given them a head-start on their
Diversity Week. tertiary education. “I've really enjoyed coming to UC to study.
The week, which was held in March in I love how independent it is compared to
Siataga, who began the STAR programme
conjunction with the UC Foundation, the high school.
last year, and is now studying her second
University of Canterbury Students’ philosophy course at UC, said she planned “I am really looking forward to University
Association, as well as student clubs, to start a double degree at the University now. I'm hoping for a career designing and
featured a wide range of events including a next year. building prosthetics or electric cars.”
world market, a poetry slam, a seminar on
the topic “Why Does Gender Matter”, and a “Doing distance studies at UC with STAR is UC STAR Coordinator Franka Menzies said
closing ceremony which included an art challenging but also fascinating. It's been last year there were more than 200 STAR
auction and awards function. great because it has helped me acclimatise students enrolled from 62 secondary schools
to university-level expectations. So when I from around New Zealand.
During the week, which began with a mihi head into tertiary studies next year, I'll adapt
whakatau, UC Diversity Awards were "The STAR programme gives students
very easily to the work. It really gives you a
presented to students, staff and groups in valuable skills they can use to hit the ground
feel for what it's going to be like at
recognition of their contribution to running when they come to university
university,” she said.
supporting diversity on campus and helping full-time. We are very proud that many of
build an inclusive, harmonious community. Maslin, who is studying a mathematics our STAR students have gone on to achieve
course and hopes to study mechanical and great things,” she said.
Teacher and UC Pathways Course
Co-ordinator Karen Saunders received the
Academic Staff Award; Disability Resource
Service Team Leader Cam Scott won the
General Staff Award; UC FemSoc was
awarded the Club Diversity Award; and the
Student Diversity Awards were presented to
Sandra Iskander and Josiah Tualamali’i.
20 Secondary school students Talia Siataga and Tom Maslin are studying at UC as part of the STAR Programme.Study into
design of
indigenous
organisations
An investigation into the corporate
design of contemporary indigenous
organisations could help provide a better
understanding of how these institutions
can best meet indigenous needs and
aspirations, according to PhD student
Eruera Prendergast-Tarena.
Prendergast-Tarena (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou,
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), who is completing his
PhD through the Department of
Management, Marketing and
Entrepreneurship, has carried out case
studies of three indigenous organisations to
better understand their design,
organisational features and definitions of
success, and to determine the extent to
which these are influenced by cultural values
and aspirations.
His research has been supported by a
Doctoral Scholarship awarded by the Ngāi UC doctoral candidate Eruera Prendergast-Tarena.
Tahu Research Centre (NTRC) and a Fulbright/
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Indigenous terms of having to balance economic “All three organisations are grappling with
Scholar Award, which allowed him to development – which involves engaging this issue. Their structures have been
spend four months in the United States with a Western economic, legal and political designed to fit their local contexts and
collecting data. environment – with the goal of building environment but they are walking a
distinct cultural identities.” tightrope, trying to balance conflicting
The three organisations Prendergast-Tarena commercial and cultural purposes.”
studied were Kamehameha Schools of Prendergast-Tarena said a growing concern
Hawai’i, the Sealaska Corporation of Alaska for these organisations is that tribal Prendergast-Tarena said he hoped his
and the iwi corporation Te Rūnanga o Ngāi corporate structures have come to resemble research would help build knowledge of the
Tahu in New Zealand. Western companies and reflect Western complexities of indigenous organisations.
values.
“These organisations are very different and “The goal is to generate understanding and
are operating within different political, legal, “This is an interesting dynamic. Indigenous wisdom, to help other indigenous
economic and cultural contexts, as well as organisations have to ‘play the game’ and be organisations to think about the challenges
having varying population bases and social part of the broader society within which they may face in the future. The rules of the
agendas,” said Prendergast-Tarena, who they operate. However, there is a risk of Western corporate game don’t reflect
currently works for Te Tapuae o Rehua. cultural assimilation – the risk of the tribe indigenous aspirations so it is essential
losing its identity and agenda. Indigenous indigenous organisations are designed to fit
“Each organisation exists in very different organisations can be empowering and indigenous purposes.”
realities and cultural contexts. However, emancipatory but, conversely, there are fears
despite these differences each organisation of Western structural models contributing
faces the same tensions and complexities in to assimilation.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 21Pasifika success
boosted by strategy
A new strategy that aims to increase the success of
Associate Professor Mofreh Saleh
Pasifika students is already making an impact at UC.
The UC Pasifika Strategy, launched last and relevant for the future. Research and
Engineer’s road November, is a four-year plan that outlines
five specific goals to expand the aspirations
government statistics tell us that if Pasifika
evaluation tool
succeeds, New Zealand succeeds,” she said.
for Pasifika people and their communities at
“We ultimately want to see Pasifika students
makes its mark
the University.
excelling, thriving and leading in their
The goals include UC becoming a learning environment. Their experiences,
world leader in advancing the educational values, and the talents they bring with them
A new technique for structural outcomes and aspirations of Pasifika people, are embraced and understood at UC, and
evaluations of highway networks that creating an innovative Pasifika-inspired contribute to the University’s core values,
could save hundreds of thousands of learning environment, offering a culturally offerings and identity.”
dollars on road network maintenance diverse and distinctive student experience
and rehabilitation costs has been Chancellor Dr John Wood said the strategy
and producing graduates who will take the
designed by UC academic Associate came from intensive consultation and
lead in a changing, multicultural world.
Professor Mofreh Saleh. discussion with the Pasifika community.
UC Director of Pasifika Development
Saleh (Civil and Natural Resources “I think the strategy is very important for
Liz Keneti said the strategy had already
Engineering) has developed new models both the University and the Pasifika
increased Pasifika scholarships and
for structural designs of flexible pavements community. Participation rates at tertiary
academic awards, generated more
that can be used to improve the currently education level are relatively low, so the
College-led initiatives with intentional goals
adopted guidelines to help engineers build potential is there for quite a big expansion
for Pasifika, produced greater collaboration
roads and highways more efficiently. and uptake from the Pasifika community,”
between the Pacific Development Team and
he said.
The technique has been published in service areas, and more engagement with
several international journal articles and Pacific community representatives. “The Pasifika community in Canterbury is
presented at international conferences. large and very well-led. It’s committed to
“The responses so far have been heartening.
education and very well disposed to working
“Some of the models we currently use in The strategy is about success, not just for
with the University. I think Pasifika people
New Zealand are based on work done in Pasifika but for New Zealand. UC plays an
are going to be represented at our University
Europe in the 1970s and these models were important and significant role in the
at much higher levels through this initiative,
never meant to represent our conditions. creation of a society and an economy that is
and that’s pretty exhilarating.”
However, because of a lack of research in socially, economically and culturally strong
Australasia in this area, engineers have
taken these models and tried to customise
UC Director of Pasifika Development Liz Keneti and Chancellor Dr John Wood.
and use them anyway.
“I have created a better model to predict
and forecast the fatigue-life of our asphalt
pavements that better suits New Zealand’s
materials, traffic loading and
environmental conditions.
“I already demonstrated the deficiency of
the current models we use that waste a lot
of money and if we use the correct model
we can have great savings.”
Saleh, who was named a Fellow of the
American Society of Civil Engineers last
year, has already had interest in the use of
his model from Australia and America.
22Professor Jack Heinemann with UC Master of Science student Paddy Gibson (left) and postdoctoral scholar Brigitta Kurenbach, who worked together on the ground-breaking research.
Herbicide-antibiotic resistance
link surprises researchers
University of Canterbury-led research has found that commonly used herbicides
can cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics.
UC’s Professor Jack Heinemann (Biological “We were so surprised by what we were Heinemann said the concentration of
Sciences) said the study, which was a world seeing, we wanted to be sure it wasn’t an herbicide needed to induce the response to
first and involved researchers from Mexico, artefact of conditions in our laboratory or an antibiotic was above the maximum
Lincoln University and Massey University, some kind of contamination so we enlisted residue limits allowed under international
found that three widely used agricultural a fellow researcher at Massey University who trading laws.
and home-use herbicides changed the conducted the same experiments but
“Provided that food and animal feed
response of bacteria to common antibiotics without knowing what she was adding to
contains less than the maximum residue
such as tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. the bacteria. She got the same results.”
limits, residue on food should not, on its
“While other substances, such as aspirin, Heinemann said the findings, which were own, induce a change in gut microbiota,”
have been shown to change the tolerance of published in MBio, the open access journal he said.
bacteria to antibiotics, herbicides have never of the American Society for Microbiology,
“Even when people and animals are not
been tested,” he said. suggested that herbicides could be
directly exposed to the herbicide, they may
contributing to the frequency and
“The team at UC investigated what happens be exposed to bacteria after they were
persistence of antibiotic resistance, which
to species of disease-causing bacteria when indirectly exposed. For example, in some
was a serious and growing problem for
they are exposed to common herbicides countries antibiotic use in farm animals is
human and animal health.
such as Roundup, Kamba and 2, 4-D.” so high that the antibiotics are detected in
“In rural areas this is most likely to arise in manure. This manure is also spread on fields
Heinemann said it was surprising to discover
farm workers, farm animals and bees. In as fertiliser, where it may also come into
everyday herbicides could cause bacteria to
urban settings it is most likely to occur in contact with herbicide. This is the mix that
alter their response to antibiotics.
children and pets who are also taking results in the resistance response. Other
“They often become antibiotic resistant, but antibiotics, and the effects can be additive research has shown that insects such as flies
we also saw increased susceptibility or no with other chemicals, such as those found in that visit the manure can acquire the
effect. In most cases, we saw increased aspirin,” he said. bacteria, potentially transferring them
resistance even to important clinical to people.”
antibiotics,” Heinemann said.
CHRONICLE 50, No.1, May 2015 23You can also read
