Final graduation celebrations for 2009

Close to 400 graduates were capped at two ceremonies in Palmerston North today, including 26 who received doctorates.

They were the final graduation ceremonies of a year in which more than 6000 have received Massey qualifications, 385 of them doctorates.

University Chancellor Dr Russ Ballard told the graduates that regardless of economic conditions the statistics clearly showed that people with university qualifications would have higher earning potential throughout their career.

Dr Ballard said the University's reputation was built on the efforts of its staff and alumni, and their contributions professionally and in the community. "Sixteen of our alumni were recipients of Queen's Birthday honours this year alone," he said.

Guest speaker at the morning ceremony former Member of Parliament and Minister Margaret Austin advised the graduates to remember their roots. The ceremony was for those who had studied at the Colleges of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Sciences and the Centre for University Preparation and English Language Studies.

"You can walk the corridors of power, engage in diplomacy, contribute to the highest levels of academia, scientific research and enterprise; you may become a great writer or poet, a philosopher or entertainer but your roots are of extreme importance," Mrs Austin said.

"This daughter of a railwayman had the enormous advantage of a New Zealand education. It opened a great many doors for me as a teacher, MP, Minister, Chancellor of Lincoln University, Chair of the NZ National Commission for Unesco, President of Chairs for Unesco worldwide, consultant to the director-general of Unesco, Vice-President of the Royal Society of New Zealand. No-one, least of all myself, would have predicted the wealth of experiences I have had."

Guest speaker at the afternoon ceremony Dr Gregory Chawynski, the general manager of Manawatu construction company McMillan and Lockwood, talked about business ethics to the College of Business graduates.

Dr Chawynski said that as future business leaders they should take a balanced approach when making decisions and consider the needs and wants of other parties when negotiating.

"Too often, business people make a decision that contractually may be correct, however morally undermines a long term interest. Remember that in business, relationships may be life-long and a short term gain may disadvantage you in the long term."