Massey awards and appointments

Christchurch design scholarships to be judged by top Canterbury design trio

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Rodney Adank, head of the Institute of Design
for Industry and the Environment at Massey’s
College of Creative Arts.

The best urban design ideas in a competition for rebuilding quake-affected Christchurch will be judged by David Sheppard, President Elect of the Institute of Architects, and design experts David Lovegrove and Jacky Bowring.

The British Council Christchurch Scholarships, in partnership with Massey University, challenges current students and graduates to submit concepts to support Christchurch’s redesign. Two travel scholarships worth $6000 will be offered to the designers offering the best solutions in the fields of architecture, spatial, industrial and transport design, as well as planning, engineering and landscape architecture

Since last year’s major quake on February 22, the three Christchurch-based judges, have each contributed their time and strategies for Christchurch's inner city reconstruction.

Mr Sheppard, a key advisor in a 30-strong group of architects that made up the city’s Earthquake Response Committee, believes much good is emerging from the earthquake’s dust and devastation. “As the aftershocks subside, our optimism is galvanised by the innovative design ideas that are shaping the future of Christchurch. By drawing on the vision of New Zealand’s emerging designers, we can make positive change for the people of Christchurch - ensuring a more resilient and vibrant landscape - but also allowing our future design leaders an opportunity to create a dynamic and sustainable city that they will ultimately live and work,” Mr Sheppard says.

Mr Sheppard will be joined by fellow Cantabrian judges, industrial designer and owner of design company 4ormfunction, David Lovegrove, and Dr Jacky Bowring, Associate Professor and Head of the School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University, Christchurch. Ms Bowring is a member of the winning team in last year’s 48 Hour Design Challenge for the Christchurch Rebuild.

As part of their travel scholarships, the two design students or recent graduates with the best concepts will visit some of Britain's top university design faculties, and meet with experts in their chosen field who may help with shaping their design ideas.

Ingrid Leary, British Council Director, says the winners would take on their scholarships knowing that their study in Britain would have a real and direct impact on the recreation of Christchurch, making their overseas experience all the more significant. “Each scholarship will be awarded for designing a vibrant and resilient society with return airfares and accommodation for ten working days,” Ms Leary says.

Head of Massey's Institute of Design for Industry and the Environment Rodney Adank says he is delighted to have judges of such high calibre. "To receive this scholarship will be a real feather in the cap for any emerging designer. I really encourage students and graduates to get their first stage submissions underway. It's a chance to use your talents to make a real difference for the future of Christchurch – and New Zealand. That's no exaggeration – design shapes the way economies and societies function, and design that works will get picked up and repeated in other cities."

Scholarship applications and design concepts are open until 6 July and entrants can seek information from www.christchurchscholarships.massey.ac.nz

The two scholarship recipients will be announced in August at the Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference held in Christchurch.

Frozen fantasies tasted for NZ Ice Cream Awards

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

New Zealand Ice Cream Awards judges (from left) Michelle Sinclair, Craig Davis, Aaron Pooch, Kay McMath and Joanna Boese at Massey University’s Albany campus, tasting entries in the 2012 New Zealand Ice Cream Awards.

New Zealand Ice Cream Award 2012 judges doused their taste buds with 286 flavours of ice cream, gelato and sorbet this week.

Flavours ranged from conventional vanilla and chocolate to the more unusual and exotic – violet, japonica, and avocado and goat’s cheese.

The 16th annual awards have drawn a record number of entries this year, up from 248 last year, says chief judge Kay McMath.

She is a contract food technology and product development lecturer at Massey University’s Albany campus where the judging took place over two days.

She was one of five judges tasked with tasting spoonful after spoonful from tubs of frozen confection. Most entries are available to shoppers, produced by large companies to small boutique manufacturers.

Dressed in white lab coats, with the demeanour of serious scientists deep in concentration as they ingest and assess another mouthful – from classics to the likes of gingernut, blackcurrant with liquorice pieces, flat white coffee or blue cheese and pear – the judges (from food and ingredient supply companies) recorded their sensory verdicts.

Entries are scored out of 100 points, with 10 points for appearance, 30 for body and texture, 50 for flavour and 10 for texture in handling. Entries scoring between 95 and 100 receive Gold Awards, and Silver Awards are for those scoring between 90 and 94.9 points. Results will be announced next month.

“Figs have been the trend this year,” Mrs McMath says. “We’ve had fig and pistachio, fig and honey, caramelised fig, rewa rewa honey and crushed, dried figs, lemon butterscotch with fresh fig and ginger coulis.”

There are 12 categories in the awards this year, including a new category for ‘Best of’ with this year’s flavour, the iconic Hokey Pokey flavour.

In the Kids’ Choice category, children from Owairoa Primary School were recruited as judges to choose a winner from 19 entries, including bubblegum with gumdrops, candy floss, and liquorice allsorts.

The ‘New to Market’ award, for a new product launched in the past 12 months, attracted the highest number of entries with 86, followed by 56 in the gelato section, 55 in the premium ice cream and 50 in the sorbet category. Growing consumer interest in lower or no fat options in gelato and sorbet is behind the boom in entries in these categories, Mrs McMath says.

But the Open Ice Cream category is where lactic lateral thinking is in evidence. Inventive ice cream flavours include marmalade, plum and horopito, and a vanilla, soy and yeast combination.

While some of the flavours might sound unlikely to the average ice cream fan, Mrs McMath says a good guide on what works, or does not, is the compatibility of ingredients with milk or cream in sauces. ?Thus, a savoury duet like salmon and dill – appealing with a creamy sauce – is potentially a viable ice cream flavour, she says.

Winners will be announced at an awards dinner in Napier on June 7, in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the New Zealand Ice Cream Manufacturers’ Association.

Kay McMath is also organising judging of this year’s New Zealand Food Awards, run in association with Massey University. Entries open in June, with judging in August and winners announced in September.

Award for company that connects communities

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

College of Business Dean Professor Ted Zorn, Vision Manawatu's Elaine Reilly, James Watts of Inspire Net and University Chancellor Dr Russ Ballard.

An innovative company that grew from a garage to play a key role in getting New Zealand communities connected online has won an award for its contribution to the Manawatü region.

Internet service provider Inspire Net was tonight awarded the Massey University Business Link 2012 award at the Graduation Business Link function co-hosted by the University and Vision Manawatü in Palmerston North.

The award recognises the outstanding contribution the firm and its founder, James Watts, has made to the region and reflects the close and productive relationship between the Manawatü business community and the University.

Inspire Net began in Manawatü but now has built a high-speed fibre optic cable network around the greater district and in other parts of New Zealand. It has developed the central free wi-fi network to offer high-speed wireless Internet access across Palmerston North, Manawatü and Tararua for locals and visitors to get access to the Internet while on the move.

It was founded as a part-time hobby by Mr Watts in his garage in 1998, offering Internet access at approximately 10 per cent of the market rate at the time. It now has a customer base of 20,000 and employs 30 staff.

University Assistant Vice-Chancellor and Registrar Stuart Morriss, who presented the award, said it was for an organisation that contributes value and strength to the city and the wider community, and also supports the industry in which it operates. "Inspire Net easily fulfils all these criteria," Mr Morriss said.

Vision Manawatü chief executive Elaine Reilly, who was on the panel that selected Inspire Net as this year's winner, praised Mr Watts for his energy and work ethic. “Like all entrepreneurs, James likes to get on and do things and brings a practical and professional energy to every task. Keeping the lower North Island connected through central free wi-fi has been a powerful contribution to augment his business success. Inspire Net is a critical part of the fabric of Palmerston North city as a capable and connected central hub.”

Inspire Net also establishes community champions to assist with the roll-out of service and to promote uptake. Mr Watts has worked closely with Massey to ensure students in the halls of residence have access to personal broadband Internet.

Guest speaker at the Graduation Business Link function was Professor Ted Zorn, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the University’s College of Business, who outlined Massey's commitment to continue strengthening links with the business community to ensure its research and teaching reflect the community's needs.

Airports a great investment, says researcher

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Dr David Lyon at Massey University’s Milson flight training centre, just prior to his graduation ceremony. He is only the third person to graduate with a PhD from Massey University’s School of Aviation.

New Zealand’s major airports have experienced impressive growth in both revenue and profits since they were commercialised from the late 1980s, says Dr David Lyon who was conferred with his PhD during a Massey University graduation ceremony this afternoon.

Dr Lyon is only the third person to receive a doctoral degree through Massey’s School of Aviation, and he believes he is the first to make the country’s airports a PhD thesis subject.

He has spent the last eight years researching the airport industry and examining whether the fourth Labour government’s policy of airport commercialisation has been a success. In the process he learned that New Zealand’s airports are very strongly-performing businesses.

“Put it this way, as an investor, I would definitely put my money into airports, not airlines,” Dr Lyon says. “Since they were established from the late eighties, airport companies have been increasingly profitable in real terms and, in 20 years of data, there have only been five times when one of the country’s major airports has reported a negative annual result.

“The outlook is also very positive – both freight and passenger numbers are going up, and the growth projections for the Asia Pacific region are better than for anywhere else on the globe, which can only be good news for New Zealand.”

In his thesis Dr Lyon concludes that the policy of airport commercialisation has been hugely successful, but he points out that this is separate to the debate about privatisation. Five of New Zealand’s seven major airports remain in full public ownership, he says, and Auckand and Wellington, the two partially privatised airports, still have significant public shareholding in them.

“The current arrangements all seem to be working quite well, with airports able to get the capital they need to take advantage of commercial opportunities,” Dr Lyon says. “Airports have operated profitably irrespective of their ownership structures so, on that basis, I don’t think I would recommend a strategy of airport privatisation in New Zealand.”

Not surprisingly, the strong financial performance of airports has led to claims of monopoly profits from airlines. While Dr Lyon has some sympathy for them, he does not recommend the introduction of legislation to control airport charges.

“I do have sympathy for the the argument put forward by airlines as they are not easy businesses to operate profitably,” he says. “But I don’t think the answer is to regulate one part of the aviation industry to create better operating conditions for another.”

Dr Lyon, who heads the business school at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and lectures within the Masters in Aviation course at Massey University, plans to pursue his interest in airports with further research papers. He has also become Massey’s “resident expert” on airport businesses.

His thesis subject was the natural outcome of having a strong interest in both aviation and business. Before being awarded his doctoral degree, Dr Lyon completed an MBA (also from Massey University), a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Research, and a Teaching Diploma (both from the University of Waikato).

Dr Lyon says he has “aviation in his blood” as his parents were based at the Ohakea Air Base during the Second World War. He also has a pilot’s licence – as does his mother and brother – and he is part of a syndicate that owns and operates an aircraft in Tauranga.

Dr Lyon is one of 42 doctoral candidates who will graduate during Massey University’s five Manawatu campus ceremonies this week, where a total of 1326 students will be capped. This follows six Albany campus ceremonies in Auckland last month, and Wellington campus ceremonies will take place at the end of May.

Analyst completes new tertiary education management degree

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Kayrn Kee at her graduation in Melbourne.

Kayrn Kee, a policy analyst from the University's Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori and Pasifika), has graduated from the second intake of a new University of Melbourne qualification, a Master of Tertiary Education Management.

Ms Kee (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Ranginui) is one of only two New Zealanders to have completed the degree and is the first from a New Zealand University.

The course comprehensively covers the range of management issues at tertiary education institutions – academic, human resources, research and strategic, she says. There is nothing like it offered in New Zealand. It took her two years to complete part-time, while working full-time at Massey, and required travelling to Melbourne eight times.

Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori and Pasifika) Professor Sir Mason Durie supported her application for the LH Martin Institute Scholarship that assisted with half of the course fees. “She has both the necessary academic background and the practical experience to benefit from the course and to transfer knowledge gained to the New Zealand tertiary sector,” Sir Mason said. “As one of relatively few Māori policy analysts within the tertiary sector she has the potential to become a leader in the field, with benefits for Māori and for the wider sector.”

Ms Kee has a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching (Primary) from Waikato University and a Master of Library and Information Studies from Victoria University. She joined Massey in 2003 has worked with senior management, university units and the community on a range of initiatives, including gaining approval and funding for a position dedicated to student data analysis and increasing the University’s capability to engage with Māori communities. She was also involved in establishing and maintaining the successful Highbury Scholarship programme. In 2006 she was seconded to the Māori Advisory Unit of the Tertiary Education Commission, which gave her the opportunity to contribute to the tertiary education reforms and the Tertiary Education Strategy 2007-12.

She acknowledges the support from Massey to complete her study and says the degree programme was thought provoking and academically rigorous "as well as being a good opportunity to network with other people who have roles like mine".

“We looked at issues tertiary institutions face at a national and global level – like a shortage of qualified staff and succession planning. For Māori this is even more of a concern. The need to develop specific succession planning in Massey’s People strategy has now been signalled for Māori specific roles over the next 5-10 years.” She says middle managers and academic managers would benefit from completing the course.

Alumnus becomes Australian Fashion Laureate

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Collette Dinnigan

Massey University congratulates fashion designer Collette Dinnigan on becoming an Australian Fashion Laureate. The Laureate is in its fifth year and past winners include such eminent designers as Carla Zampatti, Akira Isogawa, Easton Pearson and Simon Lock.

Ms Dinnigan was last year inducted into Massey’s College of Creative Arts Hall of Fame. She was born in South Africa but raised in New Zealand and studied fashion design at Wellington Polytechnic (now part of Massey University), completing a certificate in clothing and textiles in 1984.

After graduating, Ms Dinnigan moved to Australia and in 1990 established her label, Collette Dinnigan, initially based around lingerie. Her fashion empire is now vast. Her collections, including lingerie and bridal, are stocked in 145 stores in Britain, Europe, Russia, the United States, Japan and the Middle East. Her delicate dresses are frequently worn by celebrities at red carpet events.

The Australian Fashion Laureate award was announced last night as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in Sydney.

Fashion Programme Coordinator for the School of Design Mary-Ellen Imlach says Ms Dinnigan’s career is an inspiration to many aspiring young designers. “It takes huge creative talent, shrewd business sense, guts and stamina to build and maintain an international fashion brand.

We’re tremendously proud of what Collette has achieved.”

College of Creative Arts Hall of Fame Inductees:

2007
Len Lye – sculptor
Rebecca Taylor – fashion designer
Sir Richard Taylor – special effects supervisor

2008
Mark Pennington – industrial designer
Kate Sylvester – fashion designer
Gordon Walters – artist and graphic designer

2009
Grant Alexander – graphic designer
John Drawbridge – painter and printmaker
Jane Ussher – photographer

2010
Manos Nathan – ceramicist
Avis Higgs – textile designer
Fane Flaws – artist and designer

2011
John Churchward – typographic designer
Mark Elmore – industrial designer
Collette Dinnigan – fashion designer
Arthur Riley – school of design founder

Massey PhD student inspired by Nobel scientists

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

PhD science researcher Paulina Hanson-Manful
in a science lab at the Albany campus.

Meeting Nobel prize-winning scientists at a forum in Japan has given Massey University PhD researcher Paulina Hanson-Manful added zest for her own work which she hopes will save lives.

She was selected for a New Zealand delegation of top science PhD researchers to attend the fourth HOPE meeting, held annually to provide the opportunity for high achieving graduate students to meet and talk to Nobel laureates and other distinguished scientists pioneering new knowledge.

Ms Hanson-Manful, who was born in Ghana, came to Massey’s Albany campus via Belgium and the UK on a doctoral scholarship in 2009. She says she is excited by her research on antibiotic resistance that could improve disease treatment in the age of superbugs. But after attending the HOPE meeting earlier this year, she feels even more inspired to do research with the potential to advance scientific knowledge and alleviate suffering.

“The main message I came away with from the HOPE meeting was the importance of doing something you love that will have some purpose, and seeing beyond personal ambition,” says Ms Hanson-Manful. “They [the Nobel scientists] talked to us about looking at science as a whole, and seeing where we could make a difference.”

The Nobel winners also impressed upon the emerging young scientists of the need to challenge scientific orthodoxy at times, and to be open to unexpected findings and phenomena that could lead to an important discovery, she says.

The HOPE meeting, held in Tsukuba, Japan, and themed on “Chemistry for Creating the Future”, brought together ten distinguished lecturers including eight Nobel laureates, and 100 graduate students from 17 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Among the science stars were Professor Dan Shechtman, awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Ei-ichi Negishi, a Japanese chemist awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Makoto Kobayashi, a Japanese physicist awarded one quarter of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics; Professor Robert McKinnon, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with Peter Agre in 2003; and Professor John Walker, an English chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997.

Ms Hanson-Manful completed a degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Durham, followed by a Masters in Biosciences at the University of Leeds (both in the UK). She worked as a research technician on a project investigating how epigenetics can be used to non-invasively diagnose Down’s syndrome. She is now completing her PhD in enzyme promiscuity and its role in the evolution of antibiotic resistance, under the supervision of molecular biologist Dr Wayne Patrick, who was named New Zealand’s Young Biotechnologist of the Year in 2010.

Massey?s industrial design school ranked among best in the world

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Lamp design and construction project by a
current entry-level industrial design student.

Massey University has been ranked among the best industrial design schools in the world in the international Red Dot Design Awards.

Red Dot is a global design awards scheme based in Germany and Singapore. The awards are highly competitive. Last year, Red Dot received a total of 3,536 entries in the design concept category. These entries came from 54 countries and comprised concepts and prototypes from 90 universities, 230 companies, and a host of individual designers.

Red Dot has ranked Massey 12th in the Asia Pacific region for design concept - the only New Zealand or Australian design school to be so recognised. The top ranked Asia Pacific institution for design concept was National Taiwan University of Science and Technology; in the Americas and Europe, top rank went to ENSCI - Les Ateliers in France.

In a letter to Massey’s Vice-Chancellor, Red Dot’s President (Asia) Ken Koo says; “This ranking recognises your organisation as one of the top universities in the Asia Pacific to continuously and progressively produce cutting edge and forward thinking projects.”

The ranking is calculated using a weighted formula considering the number and classes of awards won by an institution over five years, with a strong emphasis on the most recent awards won.

College of Creative Arts Pro Vice-Chancellor Associate Professor Claire Robinson says the Red Dot endorsement is great news. “Few New Zealanders appreciate what a world class design school we have in this country. There are fabulously talented staff and creative young people working at the forefront of design innovation right in the heart of our capital city.”

www.red-dot.org

Massey receives new award for emerging artists

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:05:00 +1200

Student artwork on display in the School of Fine Arts gallery, The Engine Room.

Viewing of massive video projections by Fine Arts students.

?Massey University is honoured to be gifted a new award for emerging artists.

The New Zealand Affordable Arts Trust has created four new awards for emerging artists, one of which will go to a student at Massey’s School of Fine Arts.

The awards, each worth $3000, are a generous gift from avid art collector Richard Nelson, patron of the New Zealand Art Show and trustee of the Trust.

Head of School Associate Professor Heather Galbraith says she is thrilled by the generosity of the trust and particularly of Mr Nelson.

“Our faculty will nominate senior students who are not only making excellent work, but who have demonstrated a commitment to showing their work within the public realm through compelling and innovative sites and fora,” Ms Galbraith says. A committee will meet in June to select the award recipient.

More information:
www.artshow.co.nz

NZ world champions at VEX Robotics in US

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

New Zealand high school robotics teams after winning the VEX Robotics World Championships in Los Angeles this week

New Zealand robotics teams mentored by Massey University engineers have won the VEX Robotics World Championships in the United States for the fourth time running.

Overall world champions are Onehunga High School, with other groups from the Kiwibots New Zealand team winning three of the four division championships. Otumoetai College, Tauranga, are the Mathematics Division Champions; Lynfield College, West Auckland, are the Science Division Champions; and Onehunga also took the top prize as Engineering Division Champions.

The championship – held this year in Los Angeles – involved more than 10,000 intermediate, high school and university students, teachers and mentors from 20 countries who competed at regional and national contests to qualify for the world championships. The competition requires teams to build customised robots with VEX Robotics design systems and deploy strategy, tactics, software skills and team cooperation to overthrow rivals in a fast-paced game. This year’s was called Gateway.

Massey University’s Associate Professor Johan Potgieter, a mechatronics senior lecturer from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology at Albany, was inducted into the VEX Hall of Fame as a Volunteer of the Year, as was Massey University for winning the Excellence Award in 2011.

American-based Vex Robotics was launched in New Zealand in 2008 by Massey University. In 2009 the University held the first national Vex competition at its Albany campus, and has provided mentoring for participating schools ever since. It is now run by a charitable trust Kiwibots New Zealand, headed by national manager Chris Hamling.

He says the phenomenal effort this year by all the New Zealand teams has proved “that yet again we are the country to beat. It’s astounding how far above our weight we punch and how we are respected and liked by teams across the world”.

“All the judges I have spoken to have been very impressed with the quality of the teams from New Zealand and how much they help other teams. We should be proud of our teams and I know they are well respected,” Mr Hamling says.

Vex Robotics was developed in response to a worldwide shortage of engineers. It is a platform for high school pupils with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths to participate in an exciting, challenging game requiring teamwork, leadership and problem solving.

Onehunga High School, 1st, World Champions
Otumoetai College, 1st, Mathematics Division
Lynfield College, 1st, Science Division Champions
Onehunga High School, 1s, Engineering Champions
Auckland University, 1st, Autodesk Inventor CAD Design Champions
Kristin School, 2nd, Website Design Challenge
Pinehurst School: Community Award
MAX Home School: Amaze Award
Massey University: Build Award
Free Range Robotics: Sportsmanship Award
Auckland University: College Championship

Massey names its top teachers

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Professor Ingrid Day, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Dr Zoe Jordens,
Dr Elizabeth Gray, Associate Professor Andy Martin, Liz Norman, Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey
and Professor Mark Brown, Director, National Centre for Teaching and Learning at the
teaching excellence award ceremony

Massey names its top teachers

Four Massey University teachers, in fields as diverse as veterinary medicine, design, microbiology and communications, have won this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey presented the awards for sustained commitment to teaching excellence at a ceremony at the Manawatu campus today.

Dr Elizabeth Gray, Liz Norman, Dr Zoe Jordens and Amanda Yates were recognised as the University’s top teachers for 2012.

Mr Maharey told the ceremony teachers transform lives. “All of us can look back during our lifetime and we meet some teacher at some time who switched the light on and made an impact on our lives.”

This year’s winners made lasting impressions on students but were also leaders in new ways of teaching. There is a shift in learning so students leave University “not only knowing things but how to do things”, Mr Maharey explained.

It was a sentiment shared by Dr Elizabeth Gray who says teaching is about change. “If we are effective teachers, we are teaching to effect change.”

Dr Gray is a senior lecturer in the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing. She teaches internally and by distance, with students from as far as Tanzania, Dubai and China.

Her teaching is underpinned by her belief the words we use make a difference, whether in business or literary analysis. She says a good teacher has expertise and enthusiasm, loves to teach and loves what they teach. She also makes sure learning is relevant, innovative and when in a lecture theatre talks “to and not at” students.

For Liz Norman, a senior lecturer and director of the Master of Veterinary Medicine (MVM) programme, good teachers know what their students need to know and can help them connect theory and practice in their profession.

She joined Massey in 2001 and has developed the MVM, a distance learning programme for practicing veterinarians worldwide, which has grown from 13 enrolled students in 2004 to 92 this year.

Ms Norman strives to go “beyond the textbook” and has developed innovative strategies to engage with students, including online tools that mimic real steps in case investigation and “replay” exercises and tutorials to provide feedback. “It is one of my great joys to see students gain the confidence and practical insights from teaching that helps them no only to do their work but to enjoy their work more,” she says.

Dr Zoe Jordens is a lecturer at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences and sees her teaching role as facilitator, or “tour guide”. She uses a student-centred, inquiry-led approach to teaching.

Dr Jordens worked as a researcher in medical microbiology in the United Kingdom before coming to Massey in 2002 and believes students learn by doing. “By being treated as scientists in an authentic environment, students develop scientific ways of thinking, in addition to learning facts and practical skills.”

As well as having a BSc (Hons) and PhD in microbiology, Dr Jordens gained a postgraduate certificate in tertiary teaching in 2007 and a postgraduate diploma in Education in 2011. She is currently enrolled in a Masters in Education.

Amanda Yates has been at Massey since 2004 and is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Design for Industry and Environment, College of Creative Arts. She has a research-led project-based approach to learning. She believes giving students opportunities to work on “live” projects outside the classroom builds skills, confidence and passion.

To her, design is not just a field of study or a potential job – it is a passion, a way of thinking, and she loves seeing students succeed.

“I get emails from some of those students who were struggling – and they are now doing a Master of Design in New York or working with one of New Zealand’s leading architects. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I helped them onto their life path.”

Ms Yates will receive her award in Wellington next month.

Associate Professor Andy Martin was also awarded the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Academic Fellowship at the ceremony today. He will work with staff to develop a comprehensive Applied Learning Strategy for the University.

New science medal named after Sir Mason Durie

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Professor Sir Mason Durie

The Royal Society of New Zealand has named a new award for social sciences after Massey University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Mason Durie.

The medal is in recognition of Sir Mason’s outstanding contribution to social sciences in New Zealand and the international acclamation of his work, the society says. It will be awarded for the first time later this year to a social scientist whose work has had an international impact but originated in a New Zealand environment.

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says Sir Mason is someone who does outstanding work that is firmly rooted in New Zealand but relevant and important to the global community. "The solutions to the problems the world faces almost inevitably have a social dimension – whether we are talking about transport, energy use, climate change or public health," Mr Maharey says.

Sir Mason (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa) is from Feilding. He attended Te Aute College in Hawke's Bay and the University of Otago, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychiatry from McGill University in Canada and was appointed Director of Psychiatry at the Palmerston North Hospital in 1976.

From 1986-88 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Social Policy and, in 1988, was appointed to the chair in Māori Studies at Massey. He is currently Professor of Māori Research as well as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori and Pasifika). He is a member of Te Mana Whakahaere (the governing body of Te Wānanga o Raukawa) and chairs Te Kāhui Amokura, Universities New Zealand's Māori committee. He has been a commissioner on the New Zealand Families Commission and led the Guardians Group of Secondary Futures.

Apart from research into health outcomes and practice methodologies he has been closely involved with the ongoing development of health policy in New Zealand and has worked extensively with Māori community health providers. Sir Mason has a special interest in Māori health workforce development and remains actively involved as chair of the Henry Rongomau Bennett Māori Health Leadership Foundation, Te Rau Puāwai, and Te Rau Matatini. He is a member of the Whānau Ora Governance Group, an adviser to Health Workforce New Zealand, and chair of the District Health Board Research Fund Mental Health Committee. He was knighted in 2010 for his services to public health and to Māori health.

The award will be offered annually and applications close on June 30. For more information: http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/programmes/awards/mason-durie-medal/

A fifth Tui for Fox

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Dr Rodger Fox

Journey Home, the CD recorded by Rodger Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra, has won the Tui for Best Jazz Album of the Year for 2012 in the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

As one of New Zealand's foremost jazz trombonists and big band leaders, Dr Fox is no stranger when it comes to winning Tuis – he was a winner in 1981,2000, 2004 and – with the NZSM Big Band – in 2010.

Other finalist albums were Seven from Wellingtonian saxophonist Tim Hopkins and Delayed Reaction from Aucklander Phil Broadhurst.

The 2012 Tui was always going to be a cause for celebration at the Te Koki, New Zealand School of Music. Tim Hopkins recorded his album as part of his postgraduate study at NZSM and both Mr Broadhurst and Dr Fox are NZSM lecturers – at the Albany and Mt Cook campuses respectively.

In addition, the members of Dr Fox's Wellington Jazz Orchestra are largely current and former NZSM staff and alumni including Colin Hemmingsen (tenor sax), Dave Lisik (trumpet), Alex Nyman (alto sax), Nick Granville (guitar), Lance Philip (drums), Nick Tipping (bass) and Anita Schwabe (piano).

The Jazz Tui is announced and presented annually at the National Jazz Festival, hosted in the city of Tauranga during Easter weekend, and followed showcase performances by all three finalists. The National Jazz Festival in Tauranga was in its 50th year in 2012 and attracted more than 60,000 jazz enthusiasts over the four days of Easter.

The album Journey Home is the first CD from the Kiwi jazz legend's new band and was released in June 2011 by Jayrem Records. The album compositions are by acclaimed jazz pianist, arranger and composer Alan Broadbent and were produced by Rodger Fox and the band. The judging panel felt such a wealth of experience resulted in a thoroughly mature and accomplished first release.

New Zealand Music Awards spokesperson and RIANZ managing director Chris Caddick says, "It's fitting that a real icon of New Zealand music has won the Tui for Best Jazz Album in the 50th year of the National Jazz Festival in Tauranga. Sincere congratulations to Rodger Fox for a much deserved win."

The Wellington Jazz Orchestra has performed and honed its craft with some of the biggest names in jazz including Michael Brecker, Bill Cunliffe, Joe Williams, Louie Bellson, Bob Sheppard, Bruce Forman, Bill Reichenbach and Jim Pugh. Each side of the National Jazz Festival this Easter they performed with Grammy award-winning USA Jazz vocalists Kurt Elling and Patti Austin and saxophonist Eric Marienthal in concerts held in Wellington, Auckland and Tauranga. Proceeds from these concerts are going towards their next project: to travel to the USA in July to record an album at the legendary Capitol Studios in Los Angeles.

Best business students take a bow

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

2012 Dean’s Scholars: Pouyan Nikrou, Duc Toan Do, Professor Ted Zorn, Ashney Govender, Michael Pearson

Best business students take a bow

Dean's List recipients with Professor Ted Zorn at the
Academic Excellence Awards 2012

The best College of Business students were recognised at the Albany campus’s Dean’s List presentation last night at the Bruce Mason Centre.

It was the first of three ceremonies to celebrate academic achievement over the past year, and presentations will also take place in Palmerston North and Wellington next month.

Across all three campuses, a total of 302 students made this year’s Dean’s List, and seven will be named Dean’s Scholars, meaning they achieved straight A+ grades for the year. Four of the seven Dean’s Scholars received their awards at the Albany ceremony.

Duc Toan Do, an international student from Vietnam, said his parents were extremely proud that he had been named a Dean’s Scholar in his first year at Massey.

“I think international students study particularly hard because there is such high expectations from family back home. My parents have given me an opportunity and it is up to me to pursue my dreams,” he said. “When I finish my accountancy and finance degree, I hope to stay in New Zealand to do post-graduate study at Massey.”

For Pouyan Nikrou, being named a 2012 Dean’s Scholar was the pinnacle of his academic achievement over the four years of his Bachelor of Business Studies degree, and marks his fourth year on the Dean’s List. Mr Nikrou, who emigrated from Iran with his family 12 years ago, is now working towards a Graduate Diploma in Science and Maths and hopes to pursue a career in quantitative finance or as an actuary.

Michael Pearson, who is studying for a Bachelor of Aviation Management through distance learning, said he was “surprised but thrilled” to be named a Dean’s Scholar. He is studying while working as a pilot for Air New Zealand and hopes the degree will open up additional career opportunities for him with the airline.

The fourth Albany Dean’s Scholar was first-year accounting student Ashney Govender. Ms Govender already has an engineering degree under her belt, but felt a business degree would help achieve her aim of becoming a project manager.

“There is so much competition out there, you really need to do something extra,” she says. “Hopefully, this award will also help.”

The Dean’s List was established five years ago to recognise excellence, and all undergraduate students who achieve an overall score of A-minus or better qualify for the accolade. Of the 302 students on the 2012 list, 22 are receiving their third award and six are receiving their fourth.

Professor Ted Zorn, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Business, congratulated all this year’s Dean’s List students and encouraged them to build on their achievement.

“You already have the focus and determination to succeed, but to grow into a leader you need to take advantage of all the opportunities put in front of you,” he said. “Get an internship, stand for a leadership position, challenge yourself, and develop your leadership potential. This is just the start of a lifelong process.”

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey told the Dean’s List students they were “high achieving, elite people” and he hoped they would use their talent in practical and meaningful ways.

“Get out there and make a real difference because there are real challenges that need to be solved,” he said. “Be the future leaders of this country, and make the world a better place.”

The other three Dean’s Scholars for 2012 are Robert Barr, Jessica Fraser, and Katrina Geerlofs. Dean’s List functions will take place in Manawatu on May 14 and Wellington on May 30.

Sponsors of the Albany awards ceremony were 3M, ACCA, ASB Bank, Auckland Property Investors Association, BDO, Buildcorp, CCH, Cengage Learning, CFA New Zealand, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, CPA Australia, Deloitte, FINSIA, McGraw Hill, New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, Pearson, Property Institute of New Zealand, Perceptive, and Westpac.

New prize for Massey sports journalism students

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +1200

Brian F. O’Brien and the publication he produced
for 30 years, Sports Digest.

A gift from the son of one of New Zealand’s most famous sports journalists and publishers has resulted in a new annual prize for Graduate Diploma in Journalism students: the Brian F. O’Brien Memorial Prize in Sports Journalism.

The $1000 prize, funded by Dennis O’Brien, is a tribute to his late father, journalist and publisher Brian F. O’Brien, famous publisher over three decades of Sports Digest.

The Digest, New Zealand’s only sports monthly magazine, was a must-read for sports fans from its first publication in 1949 till ill-health forced Brian out of the game in 1979.

It enjoyed a huge readership for its reporting on sports as diverse as badminton, fencing, football, tennis, squash and table tennis – alongside its publisher’s personal loves of boxing, rugby and cricket.

Brian believed that sport and physical activity had a direct correlation to mental and physical well-being, a foundation stone in a life-long belief in the worth of young people and the value of sport.

Regular contributors of the magazine included T.P. McLean, Peter Heidenstrom, Alex Veysey, Garry Ward, Ian Wells, Spiro Zavos, Bob Jones, Joseph Romanos, Ian Gault, and photographer Peter Bush.

Brian wrote many articles under his own name but also under pseudonyms – a favourite being Phillip Dennis, the names of his two sons.

A Commonwealth Games boxing judge, Brian wrote what is still the only complete history of New Zealand boxing, Kiwis With Gloves On.

Each student will submit a portfolio of two sports stories, with the best portfolio collecting the prize.

Massey Journalism head Dr Grant Hannis said the prize would be a great addition to the prizes and scholarships already available to Graduate Diploma in Journalism students.

“The industry already funds a range of prizes and scholarships for our students.

“It’s fantastic to have this level of industry support for our course.”

Top Spanish students recognised by Ambassador

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +1200

Mr Fernando Escalona, Ambassador of Argentina, with prize winner Deborah Thompson.

Argentine Ambassador Fernando Escalona has presented Massey University’s top Spanish students with the Argentine Embassy Prize.

The new award recognises academic achievement in Spanish language and culture papers in the 2011 academic year.

Mr Escalona says the embassy had an excellent relationship with Massey University, which was well known in Argentina especially in the agricultural sector.

Now the embassy wants to strengthen ties between Massey and universities in Argentina.

“The Spanish department is very important as it allows students to feel more at home when they get to Argentina, not only with language but also with culture,” Ambassador Escalona says.

He congratulated the students for their enthusiasm. “We invite you all to visit Argentina to practice your Spanish.”

Deborah Thompson and Peter O’Gorman won the prize for 100-level, Tracey Castro Whare for 200-level and Daniel Harman for 300-level.

Miss Thompson says watching the Spanish football team in the FIFA World Cup in 2010 inspired her to learn the language and she hopes to go on exchange to Spain or Latin America.

Spanish lecturer Dr Leonel Alvarado of the School and Linguistic & International Languages says Miss Thompson’s level of Spanish was extraordinary.

“She hasn’t been to any Spanish speaking country but she speaks so well and is so studious.”

Mr Gorman, Mr Harman and Ms Whare are distance-learning students and were unable to attend.
Ms Whare lives in Panama but her parents accepted the award on her behalf.

Distance student wins public relations prize

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +1200

Terri-Lee Swinfen, winner of the Pearson New Zealand
Prize in Public Relations Practice.

An Auckland Bachelor of Communication student has proved that studying online is no barrier to great grades.

Terri-Lee Swinfen is the inaugural winner of the Pearson New Zealand Prize in Public Relations Practice, awarded to the top student at Massey University.

Ms Swinfen achieved an A-plus in the paper by distance learning ahead of fellow students from internal classes at Manawatu and Wellington campuses. She receives $250-worth of books from Pearson.

The paper was taught by Dr Kane Hopkins, who uses social media and real-time online technology to offer live tutorials, audio-visual content and other innovations to help students learn.

Ms Swinfen says the Public Relations Practice paper interested her so much that she seized the chance to take it as an extramural paper. “Although I was apprehensive about studying through distance learning, my concerns were soon eased by the immense online support and interpersonal care provided during my time of study. I truly credit my success to a great lecturer and Massey’s superior technical support," Ms Swinfen says.

Professor Frank Sligo, Associate Head of the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, says, “It’s great to see our distance students continuing to do so well. Typically they are juggling a larger set of professional and family commitments than our on-campus students, but they also bring to their studies excellent professional insights to complement the theory they learn with us.”

From this year, Massey is offering the public relations practice paper internally at all three campuses, Albany, Manawatu and Wellington, as well as by distance from anywhere in New Zealand.

Institute honours staff

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +1200

Professor Barry Scott with Distinguished Professor David Penny.

Long-serving staff at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences were honoured at an event at the Manawatu campus last week.

Institute head Professor Barry Scott presented 16 staff with an award marking their years of service.

Among those to receive awards were Distinguished Professor David Penny and Robert Cleaver, who have been at Massey University for more than 40 years.

Professor Scott says the awards recognise the commitment the staff members, both academic and general, have made to the institute and the University.

“The teaching and research success of the institute relies on all the staff,” he says. “We are a team that works together toward common goals. I value the contribution of all staff in helping us achieve our goals. Recognition of long service is a very important part of the institute’s values, because the corporate knowledge and continuity provided by long-serving staff underpin our success.”

The staff honoured:
David Penny (40 years service since 1966)
Robert Cleaver (40 years service since 1972)
Kathryn Stowell (30 years service since 1976)
Evelyn Clinch for (30 years service since 1982)
Paul Hocquard (30 years service since 1982)
Gillian Norris (20 years service since 1983)
Neville Honey (20 years service since 1984)
Barry Scott 20 (years service since 1985)
Trish McLenachan (20 years service since 1985)
Carole Flyger (20 years service since 1986)
Adrian Koolaard (20 years service since 1986)
Christopher Burrows (20 years service since 1987)
Mark Patchett (20 years service since 1991)
Rosie Bradshaw (20 years service since 1991)
Jan Schmid (20 years service since 1992)
Peter Lockhart for (20 years service since 1992)

Bevan-Brown recognised for work with gifted Maori children

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +1200

Associate Professor Jill Bevan-Brown

Massey University education researcher, Associate Professor Jill Bevan-Brown has been recognised for her work on increasing understanding of gifted and talented Māori learners.

Dr Bevan-Brown will be presented with the inaugural Te Manu Kotuku award later this month at the first conference of giftEDnz, the Professional Association for Gifted Education.

The University will also be recognised for its leadership in the field, with Associate Professor Jill Bevan-Brown to be awarded the inaugural Te Manu Kotuku award for her work into understanding gifted and talented Māori learners.

GiftEDnz chair Associate Professor Tracy Riley, also from Massey's College of Education, says Dr Bevan-Brown is "the leading light" in this area of research. “She has contributed the greatest amount of research into our understanding of Māori gifted and talented learners.”

Dr Bevan-Brown describes what she says is relatively common scenario of a quiet, well-liked, sociable Māori school pupil with a recognised ability to gather other children around themselves and bring out the best in them in class and in the playground. A confident leader but the child does not seek recognition and, despite being liked by teachers, is overlooked when it comes to recognising the pupils who are gifted.

It’s a common and complex problem, Dr Bevan-Brown says. "In New Zealand schools we tend to focus on academic things – and that is perfectly valid for Māori students – but giftedness in Māori students is broader. Social giftedness is just as important. Being outstanding in manaakitanga [hospitality] for example, is just as important as being gifted in maths.”
But those skills are harder to recognise, particularly by teachers who are not aware of what to look for or who are culturally remote from their Māori pupils. And because there is a shortage of Māori teachers, and even fewer who specialise in special needs, Māori pupils may not be getting the support they need.
Dr Bevan-Brown says her research with Maori pupils has found that giftedness can manifest itself in groups, as well as individually. She uses a musical analogy to explain how this works: Individually a musician might be recognised as talented but when they come together with other talented artists, the results are brilliant.

Typically though, teachers will try to identify the gifted individual within the group “who’s done all the work, who’s provided the spark of genius. But there could be three Māori children working together, uplifting each other’s talent to produce something great. If you separate them out, then you lose that spark.”

Dr Bevan-Brown is quick to point out that group giftedness is not instead of individual talent – it can be in addition to. “Māori preferences for working in groups can’t be at the expense of looking for individual talent," she says.

"There is an erroneous belief that Māori children won’t want to stand out so are uncomfortable with their giftedness. But if Māori children are in a supportive and valuing environment they are quite happy to exhibit their ability. “Individual success is celebrated. If students feel safe and understood they won’t feel whakamā [shy, inadequate] about showing their skills, because they know that they wont be perceived as being whakahïhï [arrogant or conceited] and that others will celebrate their success.”

She cites her own experience: There’s no chance that her nephew Tamati Ellison is going to be able to let his national and international success on the rugby field go to his head. His whānau are proud, and Tamati’s skill and success are celebrated and supported but if he was to become whakahihi he would be quickly pulled into line, she says.
While there are Māori, Pākehā and other teachers all over the country doing a wonderful job to provide that supportive environment, she says, the shortage of Maori teachers does make it harder for students.

“Research shows that Maori feel more comfortable working with other Maori. Just seeing another brown face makes Maori more likely to engage, for example,” she says.

She says the issues that the shortage of Maori teachers create for gifted students apply to all special needs students. ”Maori teachers working with Maori special needs students will most likely have greater understanding of cultural implications of their special needs and they can often interact with whanau more effectively to provide better service to the students and their families.”

Massey University, in collaboration with the University of Canterbury, offers a Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching, which she would love to see more Maori students enrolling in. “We have some excellent Maori students doing this Diploma but we need lots more.”

Again, she says, it comes down to providing a supportive, caring classroom environment. “If students are having difficulty learning and don’t feel comfortable about showing they are struggling it is easier to be disruptive. They lose less face by being removed than staying in the classroom and admitting they can’t do it.”

Dr Bevan-Brown says a lot of behavioural problems occur when pupils don’t feel safe being themselves in class. But if teachers get it right and set work at appropriate levels then performances will match expectations. “If you don’t expect them to perform, then they won’t.”

Feeling liked and valued is particularly important for Māori children because they are from a minority group “and there is always the potential to be disadvantaged – and children realise that".

She says that despite her concerns, there is a lot to celebrate. “Many gains have been made in recent years, and I feel real aroha for those teachers that are doing a wonderful job. There is lots of really good work being done by Pākehā teachers in this area, but we need more Māori teachers – not instead of, but as well as

Alumni award recognises Henry's leadership

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +1200

Read the special edition of DefiningNZ magazine

Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Graham Henry, Russia-based economist and merchant banker Stephen Jennings and highly regarded New Zealand businesswoman and company director Sue Suckling are among those recognised as distinguished alumni of Massey University at an awards function in Wellington tonight.

Sir Graham Henry, who graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Education, won the supreme honour – the Sir Geoffrey Peren Medal – at this year’s Defining Excellence Awards.

The awards recognise achievements by Massey graduates and by staff in research and teaching. Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says Massey aims to be New Zealand's defining university through its contribution to the future of the nation. "We do that by taking the best of the new New Zealand to the rest of the world. Of course, it is people who make the actual difference. Massey has outstanding staff and high-achieving alumni located all over the globe. Tonight we recognise their contribution to both the University and to the wider community."

The Sir Geoffrey Peren Medal, named after Massey founding principal, recognises a graduate who has reached the highest level of achievement in business or professional life or who has been of significant service to the University, community or nation.

Sir Graham's award is in recognition of his teaching and rugby coaching. He was a teacher at Auckland Grammar School when he studied by distance learning for his degree over six years and he was headmaster of Kelston Boys' High School for nine years before becoming a professional rugby coach in 1996.

He credits his university and teaching days with giving him the skills to become the nation's premier rugby coach. “I was involved in education for 25 years. I loved it and got a lot of personal satisfaction out of it,” he says.

Mr Jennings was also honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Mr Jennings has achieved phenomenal success in his chosen field, surviving multiple economic challenges, including several global financial crises, to be one of the top market makers in the Russian merchant-banking sector.

He says his professional life and career really kicked off at Massey “My love and passion formally began during my time at Massey University and my aspiration to go and work for the New Zealand treasury also developed in that time,” he says. “The economics I began to learn during those years, together with having an open kiwi mind-set, has helped me on many occasions to look objectively at opportunities and to persevere with opportunities in countries that many other people at that time were just too scared to tread.”

Other alumni honoured at the ceremony are Sue Suckling (Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for her contribution to science, innovation and business), Dennis Oliver (Distinguished Alumni Service Award for service to the community and nation) and Luke Di Somma (Distinguished Young Alumni Award for his contribution to music).

Others recognised for their achievements in research and teaching were:

Massey University Research Medals (2011)
Individual – Professor Paul Moughan, Early Career – Dr Lara Shepherd, Supervisor – Professor Michael McManus, Team – Sleep/Wake Research Centre.

Teaching Excellence Awards (2011)
Sustained Commitment to Teaching Excellence Awards – Dr Mark Henrickson, Dr Nigel Parsons and Dr Gina Salapata. Excellence in Teaching First-Year Students – Professor Tony Signal. Excellence in Teaching Support – Neil Ward. The Darrylin O’Dea Award in the Field of e-Learning – Dr Brennon Wood.