Deputy Vice Chancellor Māori Professor Meihana Durie says it is an important appointment for the university.

"Veronica's appointment to the role of Pūkenga Tiriti acknowledges her outstanding level of scholarship and leadership in Te Tiriti education over many years.  She has worked tirelessly not only within the university, but across many communities and networks throughout Aotearoa where she has advanced Te Tiriti education in ways that have had a significant and enduring positive impact.  As Pūkenga Tiriti, she will help to lead work that contributes to fulfilment of the University's commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are tremendously excited to welcome her into this new role."

With 20 years of experience advancing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in tertiary, government and community spaces, Associate Professor Tawhai has held national roles in Te Mana Ākonga (National Māori Tertiary Student’s Association), the Ministry of Education’s Māori tertiary team, the Tertiary Education Commission’s External Māori Reference Group, UNESCO’s Education sub-Commission, and the Iwi Leaders Forum’s Matike Mai AotearoaRangatahi project, an initiative engaging youth and tertiary students on Te Tiriti and constitutional issues.  As recipient of the 2012 Fulbright-Nga Pae O Te Maramatanga Senior Scholar award, Associate Professor Tawhai conducted research on teaching and learning about Indigeneity and the implications for citizenship education in the US, Canada and Aotearoa.  She has also held research fellowships at the Centre for World Indigenous Studies based out of The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA) and the National Centre for Indigenous Studies, Australian National University (Canberra, AU). 

In 2004 Dr Tawhai co-founded the tertiary-based political education collective Te Ata Kura (Society for Conscientisation) and since 2009 has delivered Tiriti o Waitangi workshops nationwide as a Te Ata Kura Educator. She has published widely and contributed as a keynote speaker, expert facilitator and media commentator on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori development, constitutional and citizenship issues.  Her current work encompasses a Marsden project that addresses pedagogies for the teaching of Aotearoa NZ histories in schools and a second edition of her 2011 co-edited book ‘Always Speaking: The Treaty of Waitangi and public policy’.

Her appointment represents an important part of the next phase of the university’s Te Tiriti planning, where, alongside other contributors, she will help lead work for development of a Te Tiriti education programme for staff and continuation of work towards a Te Tiriti Centre.

Soochi's founders Margie, Naz and Tina.

Growing up on a dairy farm, food technology alumna Margie Hunt originally enrolled in a forensic science degree at Auckland University before realising her true passion.

“I started studying and actually didn’t enjoy the degree. It wasn’t until I did a biochemistry paper that I realised food science and food technology was this huge world of science, analytics, everything that I wanted but way more hands-on, way more exciting and way more focused.”

After transferring to Massey, working for a food technology start-up company and graduating with a Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours, the COVID-19 disruption brought Margie an opportunity to start her own company Soochi.

“Soochi started because I was contacted by Tina, Soochi’s Chief Executive, who knew people in my network that was looking for a food technologist. She wanted to create a product from a plant that grows really well here in New Zealand, is very nutritious but doesn’t taste great. It was a huge risk to take on.” 

Margie says the idea of creating a drink was based on a product she created during her study at Massey, a collagen drink.

“Soochi’s founding team included Tina, Naz and I. We all worked on improving the drink. We also added the gut health element because that was what the whole business stemmed from. What came out of it was a functional drink that doesn’t compromise on taste. Our products merge the science of nature, taste and innovation to deliver on functional benefits for skin, body and mind.

We started with drinks first instead of collagen powder as they are more accessible and mainstream for people who don’t have the mean to buy premium products.” 

Not only did her Massey degree offer practical knowledge and skills that she can apply in her business, but it also presented networking opportunities, she adds.

“This is a very practical degree. A lot of what I learned in my fourth year about product development has really helped now.

 I also really liked the fact that we had people who work in the food technology sector coming into class as guest speakers. As this is a small industry, it was a great opportunity to chat with them and ask them for help.”

Apart from Soochi, Margie is a member of the Asia NZ Foundation network. Established in 1994, the Foundation is a non-partisan and non-profit organisation dedicated to building New Zealanders’ knowledge and understanding of Asia. 

“It is all volunteer based. The point of this network is creating connections and bringing people together. I can see people in other countries who also work in the food technology space and connect with them. There are a few of us and we help each other out. I’m surrounded by some incredible people in that network.”

Margie’s best advice for food students would be finding networking opportunities while you still study.

“Get to know people in the industry as much as possible while you’re studying, get involved in organisations such as the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology because it’s such a small industry. If you need help with anything, everyone is so lovely and wants to help you out. It’s a really neat group.

At the end of the day, it’s not about how perfect your work is or how diligent you are, it’s about how you interact with others and network so that you can ask for help when you need it. You don’t have to have all the answers because you can’t be a specialist in every area. Just ask for help!”

Sport practicum coordinator Professor Andy Martin says that for more than 30 years WIL experiences have enhanced many students’ employability in the sport and exercise industry and provided a graduate point of difference that employers value.

"The sport and exercise practicum provides students with a great opportunity to enhance their networks, gain significant industry experience, and integrate theory to practice in areas such as sport development, sport event management, sport coaching and sport coordination, as well as exercise prescription and athlete conditioning."

Keegan Bremner has been appointed as the Community Partnership Advisor for Active Recreation. His sport practicum experience was as the volunteer coordinator for the 2020 Under 18 Men’s Softball World Cup held in Palmerston North.

"It was an unreal experience in a role that I never thought would be given to me at the start of my practicum. I was able to see what goes into creating such a positive experience for the consumers of this global event. My confidence, communication and human resource management skills have really grown since."

Sarah Munn’s new role is as the Green Prescription Advisor. She says it was a great experience meeting staff from Sport Manawatū and learning from them.

"I learnt a lot of practical skills being in a gym environment and created great relationships with those attending the programme. My public speaking confidence grew hugely due to the amount of interactions I had with my volunteers and with teams and their supporters."

Joel Gordon is now employed as a Healthy Active Learning Advisor after completing his masters degree in sport and exercise, which focused on developing game-based learning activities for generalist teachers in primary schools.  

Exercise practicum coordinator Dr Lynette Hodges also noted that a number of students have been employed by other organisations such as Manawatū Golf Club, Hockey Manawatū and local gyms.

Massey’s Bachelor of Sport and Exercise, offered internally on the Manawatū campus and by distance, prepares students for work in the varied and growing areas of sport and exercise. The practicum provides important industry partnerships, enabling students and staff to connect, collaborate and contribute to their community of practice. 

The extensive sport and recreation facilities on the Manawatū campus provide an attractive point of difference through student and staff participation and community engagement initiatives. The Massey Academy of Sport also provides attractive opportunities for high-performance student-athletes.

Dr Geoff Lorigan has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM).

Dr Geoff Lorigan

Diploma in Dairy Technology alumnus (1978) Dr Geoff Lorigan has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to business and leadership development. 

In 1979, Dr Lorigan began his CEO career by transforming Canterbury Dairy Farmers, a commodity milk company, into South Island Dairy Farmers, a nationwide provider of consumer foods and beverages. In the United Kingdom, he led Associated New Zealand Farmers Ltd. to become the largest and most profitable New Zealand importer group, increasing its market share of the New Zealand Lamb market from 13 percent to 55 percent. He chaired the New Zealand Lamb Promotional Council, enhancing the reputation of New Zealand’s primary exports in the UK in the 1980s.

He returned to New Zealand to begin a career enabling other leaders to succeed across the public, private, and not for profit sectors. He was Professor of Strategy and directed the MBA and Executive Programmes at University of Otago from 1996. In 2001, he was appointed Professor of Strategy, Director of MBA and Executive Programmes, and Associate Dean for the development of the Business School at the University of Auckland.

He subsequently founded the Institute for Strategic Leadership in 2001. The Strategic Leadership Programme now numbers many international company leaders amongst its 2,200 alumni. In 2008 Dr Lorigan developed Smart Leader Diagnostics, which provides evidenced-based team leadership tools for monitoring organisational performance.

Dr Lorigan says the award came totally unexpected and has given him an opportunity to reflect on his four careers: dairy industry, meat industry, academia / university, and strategic leader development.

“What has surfaced and been top-of-mind are all the amazing and impressive people who I co-created with along the way — colleagues, bosses, customers, suppliers, and the academics who taught and mentored me. I realise that I am a composite of all that I learnt from them, and all those experiences.

The award also validates my career and my standing in society. It will enhance my credibility and enable me to open doors and provide pathways for young people who have the potential to be the next generation of leaders. I am currently mentoring some young Afghani refugee migrants who are at university and helping them build their confidence, standing in the community, and get their careers off to a good start. The CNZM award will help in this regard.” 

The Diploma in Dairy Technology was a very humble starting point for Dr Lorigan’s career. But it has been re-introduced recently, by request of the Dairy Industry, as a modern, digitally delivered Massey University qualification with practical experience gained both on the job and in block mode on our Manawatū campus. This year will see the graduation of the first of the new cohorts.

Other Massey alumni named in the 2022 New Year Honours were:

• Professor Emeritus Stuart Middleton – CNZM for services to education (PhD (Education in 2003, Diploma in Second Language Teaching in 1979, Diploma in Education in 1973)
• Professor Paul Moon – ONZM for services to education and historical research (PhD (Arts in 2002, Master of Philosophy in Development Studies in 1998)
• Dr Rodger Fox – CNZM for services to music (Honorary Doctorate - Doctor of Music in 2005)
• Dr Angela Jury – ONZM for services to victims of family and sexual violence (PhD (Arts in 2009, Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and 1999)
• Dr Kathie Irwin – MNZM for services to Māori education (Master of Education in 1988, Bachelor of Education in 1979)
• Detective Superintendent Peter Read – ONZM for services to the New Zealand Police and the community (Graduate Diploma Business Studies in 2001)
• Superintendent Andy McGregor – ONZM for services to the New Zealand Police and the community (Bachelor of Business Studies in 2005)
• Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Blythen – DSD for services to the NZ Defence Force (Bachelor of Defence Studies in 2011)
• Christopher Farrelly – KNZM for services to health and the community (Graduate Diploma in Business Studies in 2016
• John MacKintosh – ONZM for services to the legal profession (Graduate Diploma Business Studies in 1997)
• Phillip Ker – ONZM for services to tertiary education (Master of Education Administration in 1996)
• Victor Walker – ONZM for services to the Māori community (Master of Arts in 1997, Bachelor of Arts in 1988)
• Shane Pakura – MZNM for services to social work (Master of Social Work in 2008, Master of Business Administration in 2002)
• Patrick  Newman – MNZM for services to education (Bachelor of Education in 1990)
• Jessie Chan – MNZM for services to dairy and agriculture (Bachelor of Applied Science in 2000 and 2002)
• Nigel Borell – MNZM for services to Māori art (Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts in 2001)
• Marilyn Moffatt – MNZM for services to surf lifesaving (Bachelor of Business Studies in 1980)
• George Reedy – MNZM for services to people with disabilities and the community (Master of Business Administration in 2001, Bachelor of Business Studies in 1991)
• William Fleury – MNZM for services to conservation (Bachelor of Science in 1975)
• Allan Stowers – MNZM for services to the Samoan community (Bachelor of Social Work in 1998)
• Michele Whiting – MZNM for services to education (Master of Education Administration in 2009)
• Kelly Feng – MNZM for services to health and Asian communities (Postgraduate Certificate in Arts in 2010)
• Gloria McHutchon – QSM for services to the community (Certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language in 2007)
• Peter Caccia-Birch – QSM for services to the community (Diploma in Agriculture in 1962)
• Glorious Oxenham – QSM for services to the Melanesian community (Graduate Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood Education in 2013)
• John Williamson – QSM for services to the community (Master of Business Studies in 1997, Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration in 1996, Bachelor of Business Studies in 1993, Bachelor of Agricultural Science in 1971)
• Jennie Oakley – QSM for services to the community and the arts (Bachelor of Arts in 2007)

Peter Fennessy was also a New Years’ Honours awardee. He was on the Board of Massey’s ‘Food Industry Enabling Technologies’ six-year MBIE programme that spanned all the key research deliverers in the NZ food industry. Massey greatly appreciates his advice and perspective from the food industry in shaping that multi-million-dollar partnership.

KNZM: Knights and Dames of the New Zealand Order of Merit

DNZM: Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

CNZM: Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

ONZM: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit

MNZM: Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit

QSM: Queens’ Service Medal

DSD: New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

Find the full list here.

Sam is a Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts (CoCA) alumni, having completed an industrial design degree. During the second year of his degree, he took a year off to complete a nine-month internship with Honda motorcycles in Rome. After returning to New Zealand and finishing his degree, he worked with Formway, tutored at Massey, and worked with a Californian design consultancy before being approached by Ducati and making the move to join them in Bologna.

He’s now been with Ducati for four-and-a-half years but says it feels like yesterday that he arrived.

Sam says his Massey degree set him and his fellow classmates up well for their design careers. “While you’re at university you think of it as a little stressful and chaotic trying to hit deadlines and figure out what you’re supposed to be doing project-wise, but when I look back now it was all preparing me for the professional studio life.”

He says he appreciated the mix of projects that he was exposed to as part of his studies. “While some transport designers focused solely on vehicles in their education, I bring experience from other design areas to supplement my projects. In a world where transport design and product design are growing closer together every year, I think this is super important.”

Sam cruising around Italy on a Ducati.

Moving to Italy alone without knowing the language was difficult, Sam says, but a challenge he would recommend to anyone. “In general, moving to a foreign country is a step off the deep end. You learn a lot about yourself as a person and a designer, and there is a great sense of satisfaction when everything lines up nicely. It’s a challenge worth pursuing.”

The beauty of the country, its great design industry, great people and dangerously good food and drink make up for it, he adds.

“Being in Northern Italy, you really do feel like you are at the centre of a vehicle design hub with Lamborghini, Ferrari, Pagani and Maserati close by. To feel that energy from all these legendary companies really is quite inspiriting. Of course, being a petrol head, it is a bit of a dream.”

Sam has a number of other projects under way with Ducati but says his next career goal is to take the learnings from his first lead project and apply them to the next vehicles he designs. “I think it’s an exciting time to be a designer, and especially a transport designer, and I hope to be able to bring these future vehicles to life in a way that everyone can appreciate. I think the best projects are definitely yet to come for me.”

The Manawatū-local began studying at Massey University in 2008 and alternated between studying full-time and working part-time, and then working full-time and studying part-time.

“I used Massey’s flexibility to my advantage and developed my own schedule using the support of lecturers, family and friends,” she says. 

Courtney graduated with a Diploma in Business Studies in 2014 and graduated again the following year, with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Environmental Studies.

After studying she knew she wanted to work for the Horizons Regional Council, but was unsure in which area. A quick chat and some advice from a former rural advisor at the council Pete Taylor, helped steer her in the right direction.

“Pete told me there was a vacancy in the local plant nursey and suggested that I should apply for it. This plant nursery Starter Plants worked alongside local government and the Green Corridors Project. After 18 months, I was working in a general managers position and had gained a mammoth amount of knowledge in native plant husbandry.

“The timing couldn’t have been more perfect because then the role I am currently in was advertised and I was able to tick all the boxes. In July 2018, I became a Freshwater Advisor at Horizons Regional Council.” 

The role involves working with landowners and community groups providing advice and connecting them to funding to support the fencing and planting of riparians and natural wetlands. 

“The end goal is to improve water quality and make our degraded awa safe for future generations,” she says. “Not only do I get to help improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and native aquatic habitat – I get to reconnect people with the awa and at times, that is the most rewarding outcome.”

While working for Horizons she was also able to continue her studies and in 2019 she graduated with a Certificate in Sustainable Nutrient Management in New Zealand Agriculture.

Courtney says studying various programmes with Massey helped to prepare her for working in this area. 

“The Planning and Treaty of Waitangi papers assisted with my understanding and ability to read policy and Geography and Earth Science learnings helped me in regards to the engineering infrastructure of things like drainage schemes and culverts in our waterways and the way these interact with the movement of water.” 

Her advice for other students is to find a way of studying that works for them – and to not be afraid to ask questions. 

“I found that it wasn’t until my final years of study that I had enough courage to ask questions, this helped my understanding of topics and my assignments, greatly.”

The new funding from alumni Bryce and Anne Carmine is in addition to the $221,000 they have already donated to the project. The research could be used to develop drugs to fight all types of cancer.

Led by Associate Professor at the School of Fundamental Sciences Dr Evelyn Sattlegger, researchers have identified two molecule families that could potentially be used to deactivate an enzyme that cancer cells depend on to survive, develop blood vessels and grow aggressively.

Cancer cells make this enzyme more active to suit their needs. This enzyme, like many other enzymes, needs energy to work and has a docking site to bind energy molecules. Conventional anti-cancer drugs block the docking site but can have negative side-effects by also accidentally blocking the docking site of other enzymes in the cell. 

Dr Sattlegger’s team aims to find molecules to switch off the enzyme without affecting other enzymes. 

New thinking is required to overcome drug resistance and increase the potency of cancer-fighting therapies, Dr Sattlegger says.

“We are looking for different weapons to fight cancer; we have to start thinking outside the box.”

“If we are lucky, we will find something that leads to a new drug. If not, we will get great insight as to what else we can do.”

Any drug resulting from the research could be used in combination with other drugs, effectively attacking the cancer cells on two different fronts at the same time and reducing their ability to develop resistance to either drug.

The six-strong research team is currently investigating the characteristics of the two molecule families that are crucial in enabling them to block the enzyme effectively. 

The team has so far been using Baker’s yeast – rather than mammalian or human cells - as a model system for their research. Baker’s yeast cells can be easily modified, allow for faster and more in-depth research, and – importantly - are very similar to human cells at the cellular and molecular level. Because of this, the team was able to make progress last year, despite disruptions and laboratory closures forced by Covid-19.

The $30,000 will fund master’s scholarships, which are vital to the progress of the research, Dr Sattlegger says. The project has several different research streams, each led by a master’s or PhD student. “Each is working on a different piece of the puzzle.”

The scholarships will help master’s students cover their living expenses and focus on the research. Dr Sattlegger is encouraging students interested in joining the project to come forward.

Because of their perceived risk, research projects taking an unconventional approach often struggle to get backing from the main funding agencies, she says.

This has made the Carmine’s support even more crucial and has meant the project can progress faster than it would otherwise - if at all. Their generous funding has enabled Massey researchers to employ the best, rather than cheaper and less-appropriate, methods.

“We are so grateful to the Carmines for funding this project.”

The Carmines, both of whose fathers attended Massey Agriculture College, have a special interest in biomedicine. Bryce Carmine had a very successful career in this field, becoming executive vice-president and president of United States bio-medicine giant Lilly Bio-Medicines and Company before he retired. He is now chairman and chief executive of Australian biotech firm HaemaLogiX. 

Anne Carmine (née Percival) worked in clinical drug research and government registration for the major pharmaceuticals firm Merck, and then as a medical writer and editor for Adis Press. She later specialised in pharmacology, gaining a master’s degree in the subject from Butler University, Indianapolis.

Sophie Burling will continue her research of tissue engineering techniques at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Sophie Burling

Sophie Burling graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2018, a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in 2019, and is a PhD candidate at Massey. She will continue her research of tissue engineering techniques at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, United States. Her work seeks to develop models of neuromuscular disease that could change the way we approach diagnostics, research, and drug discovery. The eventual goal is to move toward a human clinical trial in the incubator that would allow the testing of a broad range of drug compounds on the tissues of real people who suffer from these conditions.

Studying globally has always been an aspiration of hers. “Being in the Southern Hemisphere is a bit lonely in my chosen field of research. The United States has always been of particular interest as it is the epicenter of organ chip work,” she says.

“I think many of us suffer from imposter syndrome, me included, so when I found out about my Fulbright success, it was a huge personal affirmation to keep striving for what I believe in. It’s more than obtaining a prestigious scholarship; it places one amongst a community of internationally recognised alumni, of which I am immensely proud.”

Ms Burling plans to leave in March 2022 and will have six to 12 months to complete her research.

“I took a lot of time to find a lab with areas of research that I find exciting and that I thought would challenge me.” She plans to visit Professor Robert Langer's lab dubbed the "Edison of Medicine". The serial biomedical entrepreneur holds more than 1400 patents and is one of the world's most highly cited researchers. His research and inventions are thought to have improved the lives of over 4.7 billion people.

Victoria Macann's research focuses on relationships between the teaching of computational thinking in schools and teachers beliefs.

Victoria Macann

Victoria Macann will continue her PhD studies focusing on the implementation and teaching of computational thinking in primary and intermediate schools, and how this is affected by the beliefs and behaviours of teachers, at Michigan State University, United States.

Ms Macann graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Canterbury in 2009, and a Master of Education (Digital Education) with First Class Honours from Massey University in 2018.

Computational thinking focuses on computer science principles and formulating solutions to problems which can be solved with or without technology.

With the compulsory teaching of computational thinking from year one to year 10 in all New Zealand schools to prepare young people for a digital future, Ms Macanna will conduct two case studies in New Zealand primary and intermediate schools and two case studies will be conducted next year in America.

As a professional learning and development facilitator, Ms Macann has been introduced to hundreds of teachers.

“Their stories, goals and aspirations resonate with me, driving me to focus on how I can build confidence and alleviate some of their stress about teaching computational thinking.

“Given the importance of computational thinking and digital technology in general to the development of New Zealand society in the future, it is important that research is undertaken that explores its implementation and use.”

Being based in Michighan, she says, will be an opportunity to learn from leaders in the field and enable her to think more deeply about her research that may be limited in New Zealand where the curriculum content is so new.

“It will also give me the chance to observe and interview teachers in the United States familiar with computational thinking, and will strengthen, and give contrast to, my own research conducted in New Zealand. This knowledge will not only assist my PhD but also my role as a professional learning and development facilitator in the future.”

Ms Macann leaves New Zealand in December to begin her studies in January until mid-July 2022.

“I grew up around sheep, and in a family with sheep experts. The chance to work on a new project that could help New Zealand's sheep industry was very exciting, so I jumped at this opportunity. Massey is internationally renowned in the food sector and studying towards a PhD at Massey allowed me to learn from an extremely talented and innovative team of experts,” Dr Morel says.

Dr Jolin Morel (front centre) with his parents
Jenny Wickham and Patrick Morel, grandparents
Sue Wickham and George Wickham, and chief
supervisor Professor Richard Archer.

Sheep dairying is a fast-growing industry with recent research showing that sheep milk farms are more environmentally friendly than regular dairy farms. New Zealand’s fledgling sheep dairy industry needs a reliable method for aggregating multiple milkings from a single farm or multiples farms into lots large enough to process.

Dr Morel says freezing milk is common, but current methods leave a lot to be desired, requiring labour and impacting product quality. For his PhD project, Dr Morel developed a process to freeze sheep milk rapidly with support from staff and facilities at Massey’s School of Food and Advanced Technology.

Working on a PhD is often challenging, but the staff were always helpful. Massey has a huge range of technical expertise and equipment, which I was able to leverage to overcome challenges during my PhD.”

Dr Morel has been able to utilise the knowledge and skills from his PhD project in his current role at Callaghan Innovation.

“My research had a strong commercial focus, and this gave me a great background which I am applying to my current role as a Research Scientist at Callaghan Innovation, helping New Zealand food processors grow through innovative science and technology.

“If there is some advice I can give to students, it would be: pick an area of study that you’re passionate about, and never pass up an opportunity to learn something new.”

The competition that has been running since 1969 puts contestants through a diverse range of practical, theoretical, and technical farming challenges.

The winner of this year’s series is 24-year-old Jake Jarman who was representing the Taranaki/Manawatū Region.

Mr Jarman completed his Master of Science (Agricultural Science) in 2020 at Massey University.

“I opted to go down the commerce route for my studies because it’s always been something I’ve found interesting. When I did my master’s we looked at the financial aspect of the farm system change which was something I really enjoyed.”

Second Place Joseph Watts 

Second place went to Joseph Watts from the East Coast region who graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise in 2013 and a Graduate Diploma in Rural Studies in 2018.

Mr Watts also took out the Agri Skills challenge and this is the second time he has been named runner-up in the prestigious competition.

She recently graduated after studying by distance part-time while working full-time in the construction industry as a project manager. She’s currently contracting as a software project manager.

The inspiration for her winning entry, UpdateCove, was born after seven years working in the sector.

“Being passionate about digital transformation and driving innovation with technology, I noticed there were lots of ways we could improve processes. As I became more experienced as a project manager, I found that a lot of the communication was very ineffective. And as a resident, I've faced the common frustration in local communities of not knowing what was happening with road works or why there might be cones sitting outside my house. These inspired me to use digital tools to help make communication on construction projects more efficient,” she says.

Boredom during one of the lockdowns resulted in working on UpdateCove. Ms Fung says it was a long process from idea to action, with lots of feedback sought and many iterations.

“When we did the pilot with the custom-built prototype website, it was just to prove the concept.  At that time, it was still quite a fresh idea and we hadn’t thought about making it a bigger thing. But it gradually evolved and I eventually realised it had potential to benefit the whole construction industry. This led to me coming up with the idea that we could build a platform that provides construction companies and government agencies with tools such as project websites and sentiment analysis so they could improve engagement and make data-driven decisions. We now have our first user on board trialling our product and providing feedback.”

UpdateCove co-founders Hayley Fung and Nathanuel Mills.

The Grand Ideas competition is run by the ecentre for Massey University students, distance students, and staff who have a great idea for a commercial or social enterprise. Winners gain access to $5000 and bespoke support from the ecentre to progress their idea.

"When I found out about Grand Ideas, I was really excited that ecentre and Massey University were supporting student entrepreneurs. I entered because I knew that even if I didn't win, pitching to a panel of judges and sharing experiences with other entrepreneurs would be a great learning opportunity. Everyone was extremely supportive and we learnt a lot from each other. I’m really glad we did it and getting some positive feedback from the judges and other contestants gave me more confidence to continue developing UpdateCove."

As far as next steps are concerned, Ms Fung has been working with seasoned entrepreneur and former civil engineer Brad Booysen at the ecentre to work out the milestones UpdateCove would like to achieve with the grant.

“We would like to finish our MVP [minimal viable product] and get it out to more users for feedback.  We would love to be able to take it further. In the long-term, we want to grow our customer base and get further investment. That way, we can scale up and empower more construction leaders to redesign their engagement and really make a difference in reducing the impact construction projects have on local communities.”

Click here for more information about UpdateCove.

National Geographic cover shot by Robin Hammond.

National Geographic cover shot by Robin Hammond.

Internationally acclaimed documentary photographer and Massey alumni Robin Hammond recently made a visit to the Wellington campus to meet with his former lecturers and students.

Mr Hammond’s work focuses on amplifying the stories of marginalised groups through visual storytelling and has graced the covers of National Geographic and Time Magazine. He shared stories from his career as a photojournalist and his not-for-profit organisation Witness Change with students in a guest lecture and student workshop.

Mr Hammond studied an “intensive” two-year Diploma in Photography at the Wellington School of Design, graduating in 2001, and was welcomed into Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts’ Hall of Fame Te Pae Tātāriki in 2014.

He credits his photography diploma with exposing him to what photography could do. “When I started studying I knew that I vaguely liked photography and maybe there could be a job at the end of it, but the lecturers exposed us to the work of some of the really committed photojournalists who were working on social change issues and I was really inspired by that. Within two or three months of being at Massey I knew that was the direction I wanted to go.

“I have to say that was probably two of the most exciting years of my life. I don't think it's an understatement to say that I was taught to literally see the world differently. It really opened my eyes to a new possibility for what my life could be. I totally credit the passion of the lecturers for photography and a big part of that was exposing me to the work that had come before me from traditional photojournalism practice and they [the lecturers] have always been a constant encouragement.”

After graduating, Mr Hammond worked at the New Zealand Listener before moving to London. His first job was scanning negatives in the basement of a photo agency, during the time when photography was moving from film to digital. “I got a job in the north of England at a photo agency and that was probably my real start, and has been my only actual salaried job as a photographer. It was an amazing and steep learning curve in that I was doing two, three, four jobs a day, every day, working six or seven days a week – it was a real sweat shop, but it was an amazing learning opportunity.”

Mr Hammond has gone on to win multiple awards including two World Press Photo prizes, the RF Kennedy Journalism Award, six Pictures of the Year International Awards, the W. Eugene Smith Award for Humanistic Photography, six Amnesty International awards for Human Rights journalism and was named by Foreign Policy as one of the 100 Leading Global Thinkers in 2015.

He says getting his work first published in National Geographic and on the covers of National Geographic and Time Magazine were huge career milestones, as was winning the W. Eugene Smith award in 2013. “I remember very clearly when it was announced that I won, his work was a massive influence on me. Like a lot of artists I suffer from imposter syndrome, and I think having my work recognised at that level when I knew that some of the best photojournalists in the world have won that award really made me feel that maybe I could do something with my work.”

His not for profit organisation Witness Change was created to amplify the voices of marginalised groups. At the moment, it has three main areas of focus: Where Love is Illegal, for LGBTQ+ people who live in countries where who they are or who they love makes them illegal; In My World, which focuses on mental health stories around the world and amplifies the voices of people living with mental health conditions; and 1000 Dreams, a refugee project which is stories about/by refugees in order for refugees to take back control of the narratives of their lives.

The organisation relies on volunteers from all over the world and organisations who offer their services pro-bono. Mr Hammond says for him, doing this work is his obligation as a privileged person. “I was largely motivated to found Witness Change out of frustration. I had covered some really important work for some of the biggest newspapers in the world but I didn't see that translated into change for the people whose lives I was documenting.

“I was deeply moved by their stories and felt a level of obligation to them and I realised that raising awareness wasn't necessarily going to be enough. I had to have this much more change-focused approach to the storytelling. And I had to be able to ensure that if there were other people who were moved like me by these people's situations, that they had an avenue to be able to support them because I think the great injustice of our world is that your health/life outcomes comes down to essentially an accident of where you're born.

“I don't feel like what I do is a good thing, I feel it's an obligation that I have to carry out in order to support people that I meet in my work.”

He will stay in New Zealand until July with his wife and 16-month-old child while they spend time with family, before returning to the United Kingdom to carry on the 1000 Dreams project. “That will keep us going for the rest of the year,” he says.  He also has ongoing work as part of a grant from the National Geographic society, and some more mental health work in South Sudan.

“Every time I come back to New Zealand I try to get in touch with my lecturers and do workshops like this. The world of photography is pretty small really. It's amazing just being back here. This place definitely holds a special place in my heart and I feel the roots of my career started here.”

Dane Lett always knew he wanted to study and have a career in sport.

Returning to campus

Mr Lett, 30, grew up in Wairarapa and knew he wanted to study at Massey in Manawatū, describing life in the region as “a different speed to Wellington and bigger cities.”

He says the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition’s reputation is what drew him to Massey and he studied a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise for two years in Manawatū before completing his final year online from Wellington after he joined the Black Sticks. He says his lecturers were really supportive of him balancing study with sporting commitments.

“Sport has been a passion of mine forever, I’ve always played sport and wanted a career that I was passionate and excited about on a daily basis.

“My degree set me up for a platform to go and work. It was really important for me to complete my degree and have something behind me because it’s important to have a career and life after hockey. I’ve always been mindful of that.”

He, along with many of his fellow players, balances working full time while representing New Zealand in the sport. He says he’s fortunate to work as Head of Hockey for Wellington Hockey because they are supportive of him being away and working remotely.

He is enjoying being back in Manawatū and says the facilities are ideal to train, stay and play.

“We’re lucky to be based here on campus, the Sport and Rugby Institute has everything we need like the gym and the turf. In most places everything is jammed, but here everything is open, there’s plenty of space and it’s great.”

His advice to anyone who is studying, working and training is to make sure there is balance in life.

“I’ve found that really beneficial, having balance, because one area never gets too stressful and it’s good not having your eggs all in one basket.”

Mr Oram says the series brings more than 140 players and support staff to Manawatū.

“This series puts the turf at Massey on the map, which will hopefully pave the way for future events and tournaments. This will undoubtedly enhance Massey's reputation as a leading sport and recreation university and will contribute to the attraction of the Manawatū campus as a destination for athletes, especially hockey players.”

Kerris O’Donoghue , Liv Woodmass , Kezia Thompson, Regann Rees-Henry and Bekky Boyce originally became friends through various creative courses while studying for their Bachelor of Communication.

It was a simple message in the group chat suggesting they participate in the Wellington Fringe Festival that finally pushed them to form their own company, Introspect Theatre.

Their debut show, INTROSPECTION, consists of five characters set in a room untethered from time or place, to represent a phase in each of the characters’ lives. The audience watches each character come face-to-face with internal struggles and go on a journey to knock these barriers down before they can go through the door and proceed to the next phase in their lives.

The group began the devising process for INTROSPECTION in August of 2020 and have just wrapped up their three-day run at BATS theatre in Wellington.

Ms O’Donoghue says the process has been a roller-coaster with moments of pride and joy, as well as moments where they were very close to canning the show all together; “but that’s all part of the journey.

“Because INTROSPECTION told such personal and vulnerable stories, we’ve definitely felt a big sense of accomplishment by putting it out into the world.”

Art that shares stories of vulnerability

While all five of the group studied communications, their majors ranged from public relations to expressive arts and media studies.

Producer and actor Kerris O’Donoghue thanks Massey and their time here for building the group’s confidence in their abilities.

“It was the knowledge and skills we had gained through [Associate Professor] Elspeth Tilley’s theatre courses at Massey that gave us the confidence and belief that we were capable of creating our own shows from scratch.”

With some abstract elements, INTROSPECTION explores self-growth, self-acceptance and self-discovery, and sees the characters reach their destination with the help and support of those around them.

“We all share a love for art that tells stories from vulnerable places, and that gives Queer people like ourselves a platform to share their experiences and help others not feel so alone, so we knew that we’d be creating something quite personal from the very beginning.”

INTROSPECTION evolved from personal experiences, feelings and internalised issues they’ve each had to deal. The crew says at the very least they hope to deliver experiences that people can either relate to, or that enable audiences not to feel so alone in their struggles.

“Beyond that,” says Ms O’Donoghue “it has messages about accepting who you are, acknowledging your struggles and what has made you who you are today, doing what’s best for yourself in situations that don’t necessarily serve you - and doing that when the timing is right for you.”