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Professor one of 22 global experts to advise on preventing pandemics

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +1200

Professor David Hayman says the report is aimed at advising governments and individuals around preventing pandemics.

A new global report that provides advice and solutions to decision makers around how to prevent pandemics has just been released, with input from Massey University’s Professor of Infectious Disease Ecology, David Hayman.

Professor Hayman’s expertise is focused on the relationship between viruses and how they are transmitted between animals and humans, with a particular focus on bats. So, when the COVID-19 outbreak began unfolding and the world was grappling with where the virus came from and what the pandemic could mean, international and national media turned to him for possible answers.

Professor Hayman co-directs the Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health Group in the School of Veterinary Science and is a Royal Society Te Apārangi Rutherford Discovery Fellow. He has just finished co-authoring #PandemicsReport: Escaping the Era of Pandemics, after being selected as one of 22 global experts to contribute to the report that was published by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He was the only New Zealand-based researcher to contribute.

Professor Hayman says the report was designed to give decision makers and governments of the 130 member states of IPBES options to prevent future pandemics. The authors are also hoping the general public will read it too and learn that individuals can also make a difference.

The report makes several recommendations, including: developing and incorporating pandemic and emerging disease-risk health impact assessments in major development and land-use projects; ensuring that the economic costs of pandemics is factored into governments’ policies and budgets; reducing or removing high disease-risk species in the wildlife trade and valuing Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ knowledge and engagement in pandemic prevention programs.

“The first step [of the report] was to make the link between processes that are leading to biodiversity crisis and disease emergence and look at the factors that cause infections to go from wildlife to people. Then we looked at what is causing pandemics and where they come from.

“We wanted to explain to governments, ‘this is why it’s failing to date and these are the measures we think you need to consider, to stop these in the future’.”

The report states the more humans enter wild life habitats, the greater the risk of disease emergence. Image credit: Sebastian Kerpial.

Professor Hayman says environmental health and human health is intrinsically linked, but too often global and government agencies are working in silos. He gives the example of the World Health Organisation that’s focused on human health and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

“It raises the question, who’s looking at the intersection of human and animal health? That’s one of the things we’re recommending is having an intergovernmental panel across all those areas, including biodiversity.”

Professor Hayman says a pandemic like COVID-19 is not new, but there needs to be change to ensure prevention rather than the current situation of relying on a reactive health response.

“Many of us [scientists] have been warning these things would happen. Viruses like the flu and HIV have all come from wildlife, so COVID-19 is nothing new and that’s the point: we’ve seen this before and need to learn from this. ”

He says New Zealand could be a world leader in the way we manage ourselves and the environment after COVID-19, but he says there has to be change. “In New Zealand we can all do more. We need to think about what we’re eating, what we’re buying and where it’s come from through to how we’re creating new urban developments, new roads and how we might do this to reduce both the impact on our environment and the disease emergence risks. If everyone all did better and had a little less, it would make a huge difference.”

The report states that COVID-19 is at least the sixth global health pandemic since the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918, and although it has its origins in microbes carried by animals, like all pandemics its emergence has been entirely driven by human activities. The report estimates that another 1.7 million currently ‘undiscovered’ viruses exist in mammals and birds – of which up to 827,000 could have the ability to infect people.

“All wildlife have their own suite of infections; they all have their own viruses. What we’re saying is the more people go into their habitats, the more we chop down trees, build more roads, do what humans do, all of that leads to increased human wildlife contact and trade. Every time you increase those numbers, you increase the chances of disease emergence.”

Professor Hayman says there needs to be change in the way people view wildlife trade, which can often be controversial.

“People often put a racist view on it, but actually all around the world, people eat wildlife, including in New Zealand.

“There’s heaps of wildlife eating and there’s heaps of wildlife trade, but we need to shift our thinking. When is trading in crayfish not wildlife trade but trading bats in China is wildlife trade? Or when it’s Africans hunting bush meat but it’s not called bush meat when it’s a New Zealander hunting a deer. There’s really interesting language and views around that.”

Professor Hayman is leading research in Uganda to identify different viruses and bacteria in animals and humans.

Research underway in Uganda hoped to provide further answers

Professor Hayman describes Uganda as a “hot spot for disease emergence” with its high human density, high biodiversity, increasingly large livestock densities and how it’s increasingly connected. He is leading research with his Ugandan collaborators that’s trying to measure human and animal contact rates and use modern technology to identify different viruses and bacteria in both the animal and human populations.

“We have projects involving livestock, humans and mountain gorillas all in the same environment to see what infections they’re sharing, how frequently they are being shared and what the characteristics are of those infections that might lead to disease emergence.

“Then the ideal outcome is to be able to give informed advice to people about ways you can prevent that.”

Taking a deeper look at the cannabis question

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +1200

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In the second episode of Conversations that Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take we take a look at the detail and implications of the upcoming Cannabis Legalisation and Control referendum.

The debate around whether or not cannabis should be legalised for recreational use in this country is a long-running one, and one which remains contentious. Barely more than a month from the day of the referendum on New Zealand’s Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill – and just weeks from our original, pre-Covid election date – opinion polls reflect a country whose voting intentions are still split near-evenly.

With the bill and referendum proving so divisive, and with campaigners on both sides of the issue significantly ramping up their marketing efforts, we felt that this was an issue in need of closer examination. Produced in partnership with The Spinoff, this episode of Conversations that Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take sees The Spinoff Ātea editor Leonie Hayden ably filling the shoes of regular host Stacey Morrison, joined here by Massey University Associate Professor Chris Wilkins and Hāpai Te Hauora chief executive Selah Hart for an insightful, wide-ranging kōrero about the impending referendum.

Leonie Hayden (L), Associate Professor Chris Wilkins, Selah Hart.

Episode highlights

The episode covers not only the particulars of what we’re being asked to vote on this October, but the potential implications of either outcome, as well as what our guests see as the most critical downstream factors for consideration should the referendum pass. For Massey University’s SHORE & Whariki Research Centre leader Dr Chris Wilkins, the polarisation of the issue drives home the need to make available clear and impartial information about the bill and referendum.

“As a research group, we think it’s really important that people can trust the evidence and the analysis that we present, and that’s essentially what we’ve been trying to do: present evidence from overseas jurisdictions that have already legalised cannabis, and our knowledge of drug policy in general. But given that it’s a referendum, and it’s a kind of competition between ‘yes’ and ‘no’, there’s been a lot of overpromising from people that are in favour, as well as demonisation from people that are [against the bill].”

Dr Wilkins believes that, were legalisation to proceed, the ideal outcome would be a market in which only not-for-profit organisations would be able to participate – prioritising community and iwi groups, especially, and those who can provision services to ensure that young people have better access to recreational options that don’t include drugs or alcohol. Hart, a public health professional with more than a decade of experience in the sector, has been clear in the past about what her organisation sees as the need for any prospective legalisation programme to prioritise outcomes for Māori communities, but she also acknowledges that the path to iwi participation in a regulated cannabis market isn’t necessarily a straightforward one.

“We’ve got some iwi that are very strong in their position that it’ll be ‘no’ for them, they’ve seen too much harm. So we need to strike that balance; if there are rohe in Aotearoa that are an absolute no [on legalisation], how are we going to ensure that the protective mechanisms of iwi partnership exist? And how do we ensure that the government’s going to [meet] their Treaty responsibilities? We’ve got to make sure that the execution of whatever it is we land on is done in the right way.”

Much has been said about the contemporary application of the existing law, with some arguing that following the passing of last year’s Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill, the criminalisation of cannabis has dramatically reduced. But while the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor has referred to the current approach as one of ‘soft decriminalisation’, critics say that its impacts have been vastly overstated. The issue is one that remains top of mind for Hart who, while having legitimate concerns with the potential health ramifications of cannabis use, is concerned with what she sees as the inequities in the way that the current law is applied.

“We have nannies that have had to raise their grandchildren because of the incarceration rates of Māori males being picked up for low-level drug offences. So when we’re trying to strike that balance, we need to strike it from a place which reduces harm from a health perspective and also from a justice perspective.”

Hart is concerned that a ‘no’ vote would lead to a retention of the status quo, which in addition to not addressing the concerns around criminalisation would also mean forsaking the downstream benefits of bringing regulation to the cannabis market. She points out that, under the current regime, “We have no control over the current market. We don’t have a tax take that can support more investment into health services or social services.”

Regardless of how the results of the referendum fall, both Wilkins and Hart believe it’s crucially important that people feel they have enough information to make their vote count – and that they feel empowered to express their own feelings at the ballot.

“I think that everyone needs to have the opportunity to weigh up both sides,” Hart says, ”We need to share both pros and cons – what we think are the most positive parts of this, or the most negative parts of that – and then give the mana motuhake to those people to make their own decision and make their own call based on their own values, and what [their vote] means to them and their whanau.”

For more information about the cannabis referendum and to help you work out your stance on the issues needed to consider before you vote, visit Cannabis Convo.

This is the second episode of Conversations That Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take which is out now. Subscribe and listen via iTunes, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform.

International eyes turn to progress of COVID-19 genome testing

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200

Andrea Sajuthi (L), Alyssa Earnshaw, Bhargava Reddy Morampalli. Olin Silander, Stella Pearless, Nikki Freed, Georgia Breckell, Daying Wen, Markéta Vlková (also an author on the genome sequencing paper).

Developing a faster, more robust and affordable way of sequencing the genome of the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2) is a significant development in the global fight against the virus, say the researchers involved.

The School of Natural and Computational Sciences’ senior lecturers in genetics Dr Nikki Freed and Dr Olin Silander were awarded $165,471 by the Ministry of Health and Health Research Council of New Zealand in April to create a faster, cheaper way to turn around test results and undertake genome sequencing to track the evolution of the virus among people who have tested positive.

Two months on, the pair say they are building on the existing work that’s taken place around the world and their results and method of sequencing are now gaining international interest.

Genome sequencing looks into the makeup of the virus and Dr Freed says identifying subtle differences in the sequence of the ribonucleic acid can help them to identify the sources of outbreaks. The genome sequence can be determined in a single day.

Their new method decreases the cost of reagents (substance or mixture for use in chemical analysis) for genome sequencing, and results in genome sequences that are more complete than current methods. This has sparked interest in the method from universities and testing labs overseas.

“Genome sequencing lets us understand how the virus is changing over time, which is important for understanding outbreaks,” Dr Freed says.

Their aim is to enable a single person to screen more than 500 samples per day and obtain up to 24 whole genome sequences per day. They are also working closely with health authorities and the Institute for Environmental Science and Research (ESR) to track where new cases of COVID-19 in the Auckland area have come from in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. “For example, we have had a few people who have arrived into Auckland recently and have tested positive for the virus at the border. We were able to sequence those COVID-19 samples and provide the viral genome sequences to the New Zealand reference laboratory, ESR within 48 hours."

“We are proud to be building on the work that a lot of people have done. This work has gone from conception to experiment to pre-print and has been accepted in a journal within less than three months. That’s really exciting and quite a quick timeline in terms of research,” Dr Silander says.

Dr Freed agreed, adding that it is a career highlight for her. “This research has the possibility to make the most impact out of all the other research I’ve done in terms of the number of people that might use it.”

Further testing work

Part of the Ministry of Health and Health Research Council of New Zealand funding is earmarked for finding a quicker and cheaper COVID-19 testing method, which the pair say they are still actively working on.

They have partnered with an Auckland-based biotech company, Ubiquitome, to research the use of portable devices for rapid detection of the virus that causes COVID-19

The goal is to try and develop “point of care testing” where a mobile testing device can be taken into a nursing home, airport or hotel, to test a patient using their saliva, rather than have a medical professional have to wear full PPE and do a nasal swab.

“This work takes more time because the stakes are much higher,” says Dr Freed. “You do not want to get that type of test wrong, especially a false negative.”

“It’s going to take a lot of work to make sure a saliva test is sensitive and specific enough. There are a lot of variables,” she says.

Dr Freed acknowledges that much of this work hinges on the herculean efforts from the local diagnostic labs and District Health Boards who are testing thousands of samples for COVID-19. She highlighted Dr. Fahimeh Rahnama from the Auckland District Health Board as a critical partner in providing samples in a timely fashion.

Global study raises grave concerns for reef sharks

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200

Reef sharks were not observed on nearly 20 per cent of the reefs in 58 countries. Image credit: Global FinPrint.

Dr Adam Smith.

Massey University researchers have played a crucial role in the first global assessment of sharks on coral reefs, by providing project data from the Kermadec Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

The study, published in Nature today by a team of scientists under the Global FinPrint project, reveals that, in many parts of the world, sharks are virtually absent and functionally extinct as a result of overfishing. This means they are too rare to fulfil their normal roles in the ecosystem.

Of the 371 reefs surveyed in 58 countries, sharks were not observed on nearly 20 per cent, which researchers say indicates a widespread decline that has gone undocumented on this scale until now. The study is being dubbed the first-ever benchmark for the status of reef sharks and was funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Over four years, hundreds of scientists, researchers and conservationists around the world captured and analysed more than 15,000 hours of video, which was captured by Baited Remote Underwater Video. The study was led by a network of collaborators from Florida International University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Curtin University, Dalhousie University, and James Cook University.

Researchers say these sharks are an iconic species that are important food resources, tourism attractions, and top predators on coral reefs. They are attributing the decline to the overfishing of sharks and their prey through destructive fishing practices, such as the use of longlines and gillnets. Illegal fishing of sharks for their fins is also causing catastrophic declines of shark populations worldwide.

Massey University School of Natural and Computational Sciences senior lecturer Dr Adam Smith, who has dedicated much of his career to researching sharks, first heard about the project in 2017 and was impressed by the sheer scale of what it was aiming to achieve. The University had just purchased some bait cameras for a separate project, so he reached out to see if Global FinPrint were interested in collaborating and accessing their findings.

“I was intrigued and wanted to become involved because sharks are rare and very hard to study. Contrary to popular belief, they are usually very shy, so sometimes we see lots of sharks on the videos but when we go scuba diving in the same places, we don’t see any.

He says coral reefs are found in some of the remotest places in the world and most of them are very hard to get to.

“It was such a privilege for me and my colleagues and students to see first-hand some of the most remote and pristine coral reefs in the world. It was a rare glimpse of what marine ecosystems would have been like before humans began to exploit them.”

The study revealed several countries where shark conservation is working and the specific actions that can work. The best performing nations compared to the average of their region included Australia, the Bahamas, the Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, the Maldives, and the United States. The study shows these nations reflect key attributes that were found to be associated with higher populations of sharks: being generally well-governed, and either banning all shark fishing or having strong, science-based management limiting how many sharks can be caught.

Dr Smith says sharks are more vulnerable to overfishing than most other fishes because they reproduce slowly.

“Some fish can release millions of eggs in a single day, but sharks give birth to litters of only a few young. In some species, females only reproduce every second or third year. This means they can’t sustain as much fishing pressure, their populations are slower to recover, and they’re more vulnerable to extinction.

“This is the same reason that whales proved so vulnerable to exploitation. Humans stopped widespread whaling because their populations couldn’t take it, but we’re still exploiting sharks. Globally, we catch up to 100 million sharks per year.”

Global FinPrint co-lead and Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Institute of Environment at Florida International University Dr Demian Chapman says the central problem exists in the intersection between high human population densities, destructive fishing practices, and poor governance.

The report highlights what and where protection measures are likely to be most successful.

“We found that robust shark populations can exist alongside people when those people have the will, the means, and a plan to take conservation action,” Dr Chapman says.

Dr Smith says any research into shark populations is a big step forward for the species.

“There is very little research on sharks in New Zealand – you’d be surprised at how easy it is to get to the limit of our knowledge. You start asking questions about our sharks, and you’ll very quickly get to the answer ‘we simply don’t know’”.

Kiribati Language Week celebrated at Massey University

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +1200

Cutting the cake are Raikaon Tumoa, Rodney Kiribati Community Leader; Nick McLennan, Senior Pastor, Mahurangi Presbyterian Church; the Honourable Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social Development and Disability Issues; Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Pacific Peoples; and Professor Palatasa Havea, Dean Pacific, Massey University.

Members of the Kiribati community gathered at Massey University to celebrate the official launch of Kiribati Language Week.

An engaged audience were treated to a fun and lively evening event with food and traditional dance performances from community members at the event held at Massey’s Auckland campus on July 11.

A host of key speakers included Professor Palatasa Havea, Dean Pacific, Massey University; The Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social Development and Disability Issues and Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Pacific Peoples; and Rodney Kiribati community leader, Raikaon Tumoa.

Ms Sepuloni told the assembled audience language is a key part of Pacific people’s identity: “For us Pacific people language is an important bridge between our place in modern New Zealand and our heritage as peoples of the Pacific.

“Languages and culture must be valued and treasured, not only ensuring the preservation of our unique heritage for future generations but to also empower our Pacific communities as fellow leaders in the future Aotearoa.”

The theme for Kiribati Language Week is 'Ribanan te Taetae ni Kiribati e Kateimatoa ara Katei ao Kinakira;' which in English means 'Nurturing Kiribati language promotes our Cultural Identity and Heritage'.

The theme supports Kiribati people living in New Zealand, to connect with their culture and identity through the Kiribati language.

“Language is a God-given gift and identifies us as people and verifies our uniqueness”, Professor Havea said.

This is the first Kiribati Language Week in the New Zealand Pacific language weeks programme and runs from July 12-18. There are approximately 3,225 (as per the 2018 Census) Kiribati people live in Aotearoa.

Watch the keynote speakers below.

Massey recognises top alumni, teachers and researchers in 2020 awards

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +1200

Dr Dick Hubbard (right) being presented the Sir Geoffrey Peren Medal by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students and Alumni, Tere  McGonagle-Daly.

Costume designer Kate Hawley received the Distinguished Achievement Award

Brooke Roberts, an investment entrepreneur who founded Sharesies,
received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award

Dr Mahsa McCauley, computer science and technology
educator, received the Distinguished Service Award

An investment entrepreneur, a theatre and film costume designer, an artificial intelligence researcher and the founder of an iconic New Zealand cereal company have been recognised in Massey’s Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Dr Dick Hubbard, ONZM, is this year’s recipient of the University’s most prestigious award, the Sir Geoffrey Peren Medal.

Best known as the founder of Hubbard Foods, Dr Hubbard also founded the New Zealand Businesses for Social Responsibility (now the Sustainable Business Network), was chair of the New Zealand National Parks and Conservation Foundation and a supporter of Outward Bound.

Other recipients are:

Kate Hawley, costume designer (Diploma in Visual Arts and Design, 1992) -Distinguished Achievement Award
Brooke Roberts, investment entrepreneur (Master of Finance (with Distinction), 2013) - Distinguished Young Alumni Award
Dr Mahsa McCauley, computer science and technology educator (PhD in Computer Science in 2013) - Distinguished Service Award

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says Dr Hubbard is a highly deserving recipient of the ultimate accolade for Massey’s alumni, of whom there are more than 140,000.

“Unfortunately, our awards ceremony could not go ahead this year due to the unprecedented COVID-19 emergency. However, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding recipients. It’s inspiring to see such a diverse array of talented people and we’re proud to recognise their innovative contributions to our wider society, and especially pleased to connect their achievements and values back to their experiences at Massey.”

Award recipients will receive a medal, certificate and copy of the programme by post when things return to normal.

The Sir Geoffrey Peren Medal

The award is presented to someone considered a visionary and a leader, respected in their field of expertise for significant and ongoing contributions to business or professional life, as well as meritorious service to the University, community or nation.

Paeroa-born Dr Hubbard graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Technology (Food) in 1970. He worked as a research scientist for the Co-Operative Dairy Company in Hamilton developing specialised powders for the baking trade, then spent several years managing the Food Processing Factory in Niue.

After working in management roles including as chief executive at Tasti Food Products for 13 years, he and wife Diana Reader set up Hubbard Foods in 1988. The company gained prominence for its promotion of socially responsible business perspectives.

He was Mayor of Auckland from 2004 to 2007 and member of the Massey University Council 2003-06, and was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Science in 1999.

When Hubbard Foods was sold to the HFG Group in 2017, Dr Hubbard was quoted as saying; “after making three billion bowls of mueslis and cereals over 30 years, it was time to hand over the reins to a younger generation”.

In recent years he has given his time as an Ambassador for the Massey University Foundation’s Refectory Restoration project.

Annual Research and Teaching Awards

Massey’s Joint Centre for Disaster Research team are among the winners of the Massey Medals for their diverse work on disaster risk management, from developing resilient communities to providing insights on the recent Whakaari/White Island eruption.

Individual recipients include computational biologist Professor Murray Cox, evolutionary ecologist Dr Libby Liggins, human nutrition and dietetics Associate Professor Kathryn Beck, marine biologist Associate Professor Karen Stockin, and animal health and veterinary experts Professor Patrick Morel and Distinguished Professor Nigel French.

A veterinary science lecturer and a linguistics lecturer have been recognised for their outstanding teaching skills.

Nicola Smith, a senior lecturer in the School of Veterinary Science, received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence in recognition of her dedication to nurturing a holistic and relevant learning environment.

Dr Victoria Kerry, a lecturer in linguistics in the School of Humanities, received the Early Career Teaching Award. She was recognised for her teaching philosophy which involves creating inclusive, safe and engaging teaching spaces for her diverse linguistic students, both in online and face-to-face teaching scenarios.

The late Heather Lamond, who sadly passed away on March 22, was the recipient of the Teaching Support Award for her role as Associate University Librarian. Ms Lamond has led the development of the Library’s teaching model (for face-to-face, online synchronous, online asynchronous and mixed mode teaching of information literacy skills) which emphasises the importance of establishing a sense of connection with the learner, the value of collaboration with academic staff, and the importance of modelling techniques in skill learning.

Distinguished Alumni Awards

Brooke Roberts, co-founder and director of Sharesies, received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Ms Roberts says the philosophy behind Sharesies, a sharemarket investment company, is to create a level playing field for investors regardless of how much money they have and remove some of the jargon that causes nervousness.

“We wanted to give someone with five dollars the same investment opportunities as someone with $500,000. With the technology available today, there’s no reason why access to wealth development should be so unequal.”

Two years on, Ms Roberts says Sharesies is going from strength to strength. “We started with seven founders, six of us full-time. We now have 24 staff and we’re still growing. We have over 36,000 Kiwi investors who have invested over $38 million. What’s great is a lot of that is money that probably wouldn’t have been invested otherwise.”

Dr Mahsa McCauley, who also received the Distinguished Service Award, is recognised for her vision to address the gender imbalance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

In 2014 she founded She Sharp, which runs networking and development events each year for secondary school girls and women who are tertiary students and industry professionals

In her role as a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology’s School of Computer, Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences, she is a recognised leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning, including researching how these fields will revolutionise our future.

Costume designer Kate Hawley worked in local productions and in 1996, received a Television New Zealand Scholarship and assistance from Wellington City Opera to study at London’s Motley School of Theatre Design.

Less than a decade later her career took off with film credits including On A Clear Day, The Ride, Pacific Rim, Crimson Ring and The Hobbit, along with numerous other costume and set design credits ranging across film, television, theatre and opera in Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

She worked again with Peter Jackson’s untitled DreamWorks project and his 2009 film The Lovely Bones as well as episodes of The Lord of the Rings television series.

Ms Hawley’s awards include the Gold Key Award from the Bretislav Film Festival for her designs for the Channel 4/BBC production of T DANCE, and in 2013 she was inducted into Massey University’s College of Creative Arts’ Hall of Fame.

Kārearea returns to the wild after long recovery

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +1200

Kārearea at Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery

A kārearea, New Zealand’s native falcon, is ready to return to the wild after three months in hospital and rehabilitation.
The juvenile falcon was brought to Massey University’s Wildbase Hospital by a veterinarian from Totally Vets in Feilding on June 27.

Wildbase Hospital wildlife technician Pauline Nijman says the bird had clear signs of trauma.“She had blood around the beak and in the mouth, but she was feisty and active, so that was a really good sign for us. The next day, we gave her an anaesthetic and radiographed her to show us the extent of the injuries. She was found to have a fractured lower leg bone [tarsometatarsus]. After the fracture was found to be misaligned, a veterinarian realigned the bone and set it with a splint,” she says.

“During her stay in hospital she ate really well and put on weight, so we were very happy with her progress and no further complications arose. However, the point of fracture developed a large bony scar tissue and the bird’s strength and dexterity had suffered due to the injury. This meant that rehabilitation was needed.”

Healed fracture

Long road to recovery

The bird was sent to Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery on July 21 and was put inside the Raptor Aviary, one of the public facing portions of the facility.

“Wildbase Recovery was built for these birds to be able to recover," Ms Nijman says. "Freeing up needed space within the hospital. It was really special to be able to allow people to see her in the aviary while we kept a close eye on the progress of her leg and her weatherproofing.”

Final checks before release (left), in-flight at Wildbase Recovery

Keeping wild animals wild

“During her stay, we wanted to encourage her to test out her injured leg without interfering with her too much,"Nijman says. "So we made some clever adjustments to her environment and watched her grapple with the challenges via video link. This included putting food on thinner branches and watching her to assess her strength and dexterity. Two months into rehabilitation it was decided that the leg was good enough for her to be released.”

The release took place at Reid Line in Feilding, close to the spot she was found. It was covered by veteran radio presenter and host of Mike West in the Morning, Mike West.

Kārearea after release in Feilding

Driving force of volcanic super-hazards uncovered

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +1200

Associate Professor Gert Lube.

Massey volcanologists have discovered the driving force behind superheated gas-and-ash clouds from volcanic eruptions, which may help save lives and infrastructure around the globe.

Endangering 500 million people worldwide, pyroclastic density currents (or pyroclastic flows) are the most common and lethal volcanic threat, causing 50 per cent of fatalities caused by volcanic activity. During volcanic events, these currents transport hot mixtures of volcanic particles and gas over tens of kilometres, causing damage to infrastructure and loss of life.

One of the issues to studying these phenomena is that they are impossible to measure in real life. Using Massey’s Pyroclastic flow Eruption Large-scale Experiment (PELE) eruption simulator facility, the team were able to synthesize the natural behaviour of volcanic super-hazards and generate these flows as they occur in nature, but on a smaller scale.

Until now, scientists could not find the mechanism responsible for the super-mobility of these flows, and previous models were unable to accurately predict their velocity, runout and spread through hazard models, which put lives and infrastructure at risk.

Massey University’s Associate Professor Gert Lube says that through their unique experiments, the enigmatic friction-cheating mechanism was found.

“With several tonnes of pumice and gas in motion, our large-scale eruption simulations uncovered the flow enigma that has been baffling researchers for decades. We measured a low-friction air cushion that is self-generated in these flows and perpetuates their motion. We were able to mathematically describe the resulting flow behavior. There is an internal process that counters granular friction, where air lubrication develops under high basal shear when air is locally forced downwards by reversed pressure gradients and displaces particles upward.

“This explains how the currents are able to propagate over slopes, bypass tortuous flow paths, and ignore rough substrates and flat and upsloping terrain, without slowing down.”

“The discovery necessitates a re-evaluation of global hazard mitigation strategies and models that aim to predict the velocity, runout and spreading of these flows. Discovery of this air-lubrication mechanism opens a new path towards reliable predictions of pyroclastic flow motion and the extreme runout potential of these lethal currents, thereby reducing future casualties. It will be used by hazard scientists, as well as decision makers, and is envisaged to lead to major revisions of volcanic hazard forecasts.”

The article, Generation of air lubrication within pyroclastic density currents, was published in Nature Geoscience.

Authors include Massey’s Professor Jim Jones, Dr Luke Fullard, Eric Breard and Joseph Dufek of the University of Oregon, Shane Cronin of University of Auckland and Ting Wang of the University of Otago. Funding includes Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Endeavour Fund.

VNZMA Artisan Awards to be hosted on Wellington campus

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +1200

From left to right, chief executive of Recorded Music NZ, Damian Vaughan, chief executive of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Lance Walker and Massey University's head of the School of Music and Creative Media Production, Associate Professor Andre Ktori inside the venue for the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards' Artisan Awards being hosted on the Wellington campus on November 5

Massey University’s School of Music and Creative Media Production will host the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards’ Artisan Awards which recognise the best technical and production values in the music industry.

Presented by Massey University, the awards will be hosted in the school’s new music and production facilities, part of the College of Creative Arts on the Wellington campus on Monday November 5. The event is in Wellington for the first time and will be livestreamed.

Head of school, Associate Professor Andre Ktori, says “it’s very exciting that the Artisan Awards and Tui Music Series are in Wellington this year and we are really pleased to be able to support and host VNZMA in our new facilities in the college.

“Supporting and partnering with the creative sector is an important part of our mission so this is a fantastic opportunity for us to actively engage again. We have our annual end of year show, Exposure happening at the same time, so it’s great that attendees will be able to experience the brilliant work our students have produced across the music, design, media and fine arts programmes.”

The awards will be held in the main recording studio, which is one of seven new recording studios designed by leading UK studio designer Andy Munro, and feature the very latest in recording and post-production facilities. The facility also houses motion/performance capture, music technology and mixed reality labs, a dubbing theatre and screening room, edit suites, animation and digital video production suites and games labs.

Chief executive of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Lance Walker also welcomed the event to the city.

“Wellington is a breeding ground for the country’s top bands and musicians, and a huge part of that success has been the local talent behind the scenes – the sound engineers and artists who all contribute to the final package.”

Massey University will sponsor and present awards for Best Engineer, Best Producer and Best Album Cover. Awards will also be presented in the categories of NZ On Air Best Music Video and the new award for Music Teacher of the Year.

Recorded Music NZ chief executive Damian Vaughan said it was an “incredible honour”, to bring the Artisan Awards to Wellington and renew the partnership with Massey University.

“The Artisans have been established to honour the depth of Kiwi talent who craft the best of the years’ local music, and Massey’s world class music facilities provide the perfect setting for this event.”

Coinciding with the awards evening are several panel events – the Tui Series featuring local and international leading industry practitioners. Panels include:

The NZ Music Producers Series: Involving local and international producers
Design Studio: A free seminar with local designers discussing music projects, album covers, artist brands and digital media.
Film-makers studio: A free seminar with local film-makers on topics related to music video production.

Click here for information about Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards' Artisan Awards finalists

Wheelchair revolution

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Dr Rory Flemmer and Dr Claire Flemmer with Ezy-wheels.

Watch the video

A new wheelchair prototype with an innovative propulsion system has been developed by Massey University engineers that attempts to minimise chronic shoulder and wrist problems for self-propelled wheelchair users, while making it easier for users to travel uphill.

The chair, named Ezy-wheels, employs an innovative propulsion method where the user pushes and pulls the chair forward without their hands ever having to leave the pushrim.

Dr Claire Flemmer of the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology says conventional manual wheelchairs have not changed in their essential design in over one hundred years and studies have shown that many people develop upper limb pain within a year of use.

“Manual wheelchairs require an inefficient push effort, where the user grips either the wheel or a slightly smaller rim on the outside, called the pushrim, and propels the chair forward by pushing the rim, until they are forced let go and repeat the action. This means only about 25 per cent of the action actually contributes to the chair going forward.”

“This method causes an imbalanced repetitive strain on the shoulders and wrists that can lead to chronic pain - the longer a person uses the manual wheelchair, the worse it gets until they have to change to a powered wheelchair.”The new system is able to improve upon the stroke efficiency by keeping the hands on the push rim and utilising 100 per cent of the arm movement.

Dr Flemmer says this will reduce the impact on the shoulders and wrists and delay or prevent pain as the load on the joints is now balanced.

This new system is employed in one of the chair’s two modes, called Run mode. Run mode is designed for use on longer journeys and more challenging terrain. It also employs the second innovation, a three-gear system.

“The gearing system is similar to a bicycle. High gear is used when the path is easy, such as a flat or downward sloping, smooth surface and low gear when the path is harder, such as up a ramp or tarred path. Run mode does not allow the user to reverse, preventing the user from rolling backwards down a slope.

“A standard chair performs poorly on even a mild upward slope and when you add age and physical ability into the mix it can be a real challenge,” says Dr Flemmer.

In standard mode, the chair operates just like any other manual wheelchair, allowing indoor manoeuvrability, but with the addition of three gears.

Close-up of Ezy-wheels.

30 years in the making

Dr Flemmer’s husband, Dr Rory Flemmer has collaborated on the project with her from the outset.

“It all started around 30 years ago when Rory and I were watching a lady struggle to get up a wheelchair ramp because of the slope. We spent many years barking up the wrong tree with other ideas to make four-wheel drive type chairs, but I think we have it now.”

“This work is so important when you look at it from the point of view of someone in a wheelchair. When movement causes you pain over long distances, your world shrinks to how far you can go and if you are able to drive or have someone drive you. It’s not just the physical pain as it reduces social interaction, which can lead to depression, anxiety and poorer quality of life.”

The chair is still a prototype but the Dr Flemmer says that plans have already been drawn up to use lighter materials to make the chair more user friendly for the final production model.

International award for film lecturer and script writer

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +1200

International award for film lecturer and scriptwriter

A still image from the short film A World In Your Window, photo, Gareth Moon

Costa Botes

A film with a script written by Wellington filmmaker Costa Botes, who lectures in screenwriting and documentary making at Massey’s Wellington campus, has won best short film at a Japanese film festival.

Mr Botes, who teaches at the School of English and Media Studies, and director Zoe McIntosh’s 15-minute film The World In Your Window was awarded first prize at the festival Short Shorts in Tokyo.

It follows the film being awarded the student prize in the international section of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France in March.

Jurors described Mr Botes’ script about a son helping his father recover from the grief over his wife’s death, as a “real visual poem”. The film, praised for “the breath of humanism and tolerance that emerges”, will have its New Zealand premiere at the New Zealand International Film Festival next month.

Mr Botes is a long-time independent filmmaker with experience in short films, television and features. More recently, he has specialised in long form documentaries, alongside his lecturing role at Massey University.

“For me, having been a freelancer for 35 years, it’s quite a culture shift.”

While the reality of making films was a long way from the glitz and glamour often portrayed in the industry, entering and then being acknowledged for such awards remained “incredibly special”.

“It’s all about creating a buzz around your work. It can make a very tangible difference too.”

It is the fifth time Mr Botes has worked with McIntosh, who has had approaches that could soon see her make her first full-length feature film.

Mr Botes seeks to inspire his students with his experiences and encourage them to also enter screenwriting and documentary-making competitions.

“Any opportunity to validate yourself is good, as you can be working a long time and I think [filmmaking is] about being able to meet an audience.”

He sees his own role as being more about creating an atmosphere of trust rather than just applying academic rigour to the task of teaching the craft.

His style clearly works. Last December one of his students, Alice Guerin, was presented with the Weta Digital Award at the annual Outlook for Someday Awards – a sustainability film project open to budding filmmakers aged under 25. At the time she credited Mr Botes’ advice and support for helping make her own film project.

Teaching is just the latest skill Mr Botes has added to a resume of film-based work.

A graduate of the llam School of Fine Arts in Christchurch, he collaborated with Peter Jackson on the 1995 made-for-television historical spoof film Forgotten Silver. Other works in Mr Botes’ back catalogue include Act of Kindness, a story of a young Kiwi’s search in the streets of Rwanda for a homeless crippled beggar who years earlier had helped him out of a potentially risky predicament, and editing and producing Lost in Wonderland about iconoclastic lawyer Rob Moodie, who made headlines last decade when arguing a case in court while wearing a dress.

He encourages his students to seek out their own documentary film subjects noting that it’s a definite advantage if the filmmaker has regular access to their subject.

Despite entering the movie industry industry at a time of upheaval triggered by streaming services and growing instances of film piracy, Mr Botes says today’s budding filmmakers still have plenty of opportunity to make their mark.

“I tell them if you’re good enough, have talent, persevere and work hard you have every chance.”

How legalising cannabis can help society

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Associate Professor Chris Wilkins is proposing a not-for-profit public health model for the regulation of recreational cannabis.

Leading drug researcher Associate Professor Chris Wilkins from Massey University’s SHORE and Whāriki Research Centre is calling for the adoption of a not-for-profit public health model for recreational cannabis. It would allow regulated cannabis products to be sold by philanthropic societies, in an approach similar to the Class 4 gambling regime which was introduced in 2003 to regulate “pokie” trusts in New Zealand.

The Class 4 gambling regime has operated in New Zealand for more than 10 years - returning around $260 million to community groups annually, benefiting sports, arts, education and community services.

“Cannabis societies would pay 20 per cent of all cannabis sales revenue to drug treatment, 20 per cent to community groups and 20 per cent as government levies. Drug treatment and community grants would be distributed in the areas where cannabis sales occur, ensuring local people have good access to drug treatment if they need it. And local community groups would benefit from cannabis sales in their area,” Dr Wilkins says.

A legal model would result in community groups and drug treatment facilities being better funded, he says. “The pokie trusts gave out $262 million to community groups in 2015, so this model would mean those drug treatment and community groups would be getting extra sources of income. Also, the government would receive revenue to cover the wider health and social costs linked to cannabis use.”

But would cannabis use increase? “Inevitably, we have got to accept that if we have a legal cannabis market there’s going to be some increased use and that will increase harm. But that’s offset by knowing how the legal cannabis market will impact the alcohol market and alcohol related harm, other drug use, and the provision of better access to drug treatment and other health and community services.”

Watch Dr Wilkins explain how the model would work.

What have we learnt?

Dr Wilkins says many important lessons should be drawn from the commercialisation of alcohol and tobacco. “They attract profit driven companies who invest a lot into promotion and marketing that targets young people and heavy users. They also lobby strongly to reduce regulatory restrictions and lobby for more pro-consumption environments which normalise use.”

A successful legal regime would also reduce the scale of the black market and consequently make the existing level of policing more effective against black market supply and organised criminal gangs involved in cannabis supply, he says. “In our model we propose a minimum price to start off with that would mirror the black market price, and also taxation based on the THC level to make sure that the more potent products had higher levels of tax. It’s reasonable to expect the legal cannabis sector and the public in general will engage more with reporting black market activity once legal supply networks are available.”

Despite calling for recreational cannabis to be legalised, Dr Wilkins isn’t claiming cannabis is harmless. “Cannabis poses a serious health risk to some users with a family history of mental illness and addiction. But the evidence says moderate occasional use by the vast majority of the population causes health risks in the same ball park as alcohol.”

Dr Wilkins says legalising cannabis offers a number of benefits which would attract users away from the black market. “You get product innovation, different types of products, accurate labelling, and they will be safely cultivated under agricultural standards in terms of pesticides and fertilisers and other contaminents.”

Approved cannabis products have set maximum limits of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol – the principal psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) allowed, and would set minimum levels of CBD (cannabidiol – the non-psychoactive ingredient known for its medicinal benefits) to minimise harmful side effects such as psychosis and dependency.

Dr Wilkins says more detail could be provided about how the regulatory regime would work in practice with some of the finer details set out in a longer academic paper.The aim at this stage is not to provide a blueprint for a Cannabis Act, but rather start a conversation about the key aspects of a public health approach to legal cannabis.

“Inevitably, details will be negotiated by politicians, informed by public submissions from interested parties, and subject to analysis by government agencies. Our primary aim is to set out the key pillars of a public health approach to a legal cannabis market which benefits the local community groups and illustrates how this approach has operated effectively with respect to gambling machines for more than 10 years,” he says.

Dr Wilkins, who heads the illegal drug research team at SHORE, holds a doctorate in Economics with research expertise in drug trends, drug markets, drugs and crime, legal highs and drug policy. For the past 10 years, he has conducted many studies of drug use in New Zealand including methamphetamine, cannabis, legal highs, ecstasy and the non-medical use of pharmaceuticals.

Key points:

Cannabis would be sold by “not-for-profit” philanthropic societies
Cannabis societies would return 20 per cent of the revenue from cannabis sales to drug treatment and 20 per cent to community groups such as sports, arts, education and community services
A further 20 per cent of cannabis sales revenue would go to the government to cover the wider health and social costs of cannabis use
There would be a minimum set price for cannabis, in line with the current black market price
Taxation would be based on THC levels in products
There would be a minimum level of CBD in cannabis products
Smoking products would be taxed at a higher rate than lower health risk options such as edibles and vaping
Advertising would be restricted to the physical premises only
No internet sales
Local government authorities would have the power to determine the number of retail outlets in their areas

For more information click here.

Video: Sheep milk kitchen at Field Days

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Our first sheep milk muffin evaluators.

We ask people at the Massey Stand at National Field Days in Hamilton what they think of muffins, cheeses and desserts made with sheep's milk.

Read more about sheep milk and Massey's work with it here.

Spoon, balloon and more removed from birds stomach

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +1200

The giant petrel after surgery.

A plastic spoon, a pink balloon and some sharp unidentifiable plastic was taken from stomach of a giant petrel at Massey University’s Wildbase Hospital.

The bird wasfound floundering in the sea by surfers at Castlecliff and was brought to Massey by New Zealand Bird Rescue on Sunday.

The plastic was removed from the bird’s stomach by gastroscopy, where a flexible fibre-optic scope is put into the bird’s stomach, under general anaesthesia. This procedure is carried out when seabirds come into Wildbase Hospital to look for foreign bodies in the stomach.

Unseen killer

The birds also get a range of other tests including blood work and x-rays to look for the cause or causes of their illness.

Wildbase co-director Professor Brett Gartrell says plastic waste is a real threat for birds and wildlife.

“We aren’t just talking seabirds, but dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles and much more. The team was very excited to remove the contents from the stomach, but the sad thing is that many animals who swallow plastic will die before they make it to us. They are fighting a battle just to survive long enough for someone to notice and bring them here.”

The objects taken from the petrel's stomach.

Unseen killer

X-rays, which are taken from every bird who enters the hospital, cannot detect latex or plastic in the animal's stomach and is often only found during a post mortem examination. The plastic can sit in an animal’s stomach preventing other food from being digested, can cause irritation to the stomach’s lining, gastric ulcers, or in rare cases can move into the intestines and cause more serious obstructions.

While the total number of animals affected by plastic each year is unknown, Professor Gartrell says, “It is a global problem and we know it is killing seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles right throughout the world. New Zealand is lucky to have a rich and unique range of coastal and marine wildlife and keeping plastic out of the oceans is an important way of protecting them. Our choices matter, so make sure they're sustainable!,” says Professor Gartrell.

Career planning will be critical in the age of automation

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Eighty per cent of the research participants did not think their job could be automated in the next decade.

Most New Zealanders are still confident their jobs will be safe from advances in technology over the next decade, according to the latest findings of an ongoing research project into attitudes around the future of work.

Dr David Brougham from the Massey Business School and Professor Jarrod Haar from AUT surveyed 500 New Zealand employees earlier this year and found that 80 per cent of participants did not think their job could be automated.

The results did not deviate significantly from data collected in 2015 and 2016, despite extensive media coverage of the issue over that time.

Dr Brougham will discuss his research findings at Massey University’s Big Issues in Business seminar series, ‘Robots vs Humans – the future of work’, which will take place in Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North in June.

He says there is an “interesting cognitive bias” going on when you look at the gap between the number of New Zealanders who are aware of the potential threat of automation and the number who think it will affect them personally.

“We found that half of the people we surveyed had seen media coverage of the issue and only seven per cent said they think that technology will lead to an overall decrease in the number of jobs. Yet only 20 per cent felt that their own job would be affected.”

Are Kiwis in denial about the impact technology will ahve on their jobs? It seems so.

View technology as workplace competition

Dr Brougham says New Zealanders are aware that smart technology, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and algorithms will change many of today’s jobs – 50 per cent had seen the issue covered in the media – but the majority remained unconcerned.

“Seventy-one per cent of our survey participants said they don’t discuss these issues with their work colleagues and 79 per cent have not actively researched how technology might affect their job in the future.

“Cognitive bias can play a role here, but it is also very hard to predict the future and make plans around something that ‘may not’ happen. And while the full automation of your job may be unlikely, several parts of the job might be, so it’s hard for employees to know how that will impact on their employment situation.”

Dr Brougham says that while the impact of technology on the future of work cannot really be known, there is no doubt that many of today’s jobs will either disappear or develop into something quite different.

“The key message is that looking at the developing technology in your line of work as a potential competitor is going to become a factor when planning your career and considering future training opportunities,” he says.

Dr David Brougham.

Big Issues in Business – event details

Dr Brougham will be joined at the Big Issues in Business ‘Robots vs Humans – the future of work’ events by Flow Software chief executive Chipp Dawson and Glenn Andert, head of enterprise innovation at Creative HQ.

These industry and academic experts will discuss the likely in-demand skills in an automated workforce, what individuals can do to future-proof their careers and how businesses can transform to remain relevant.

For full event details – including dates, times and venues – or to register to attend visit: http://bit.ly/RobotvsHumans

Massey staff create bursary to assist students in need

Wed, 24 May 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Promising Student Assistance Bursary recipients Samantha-Jo Toohill and Bronwyn Bruce-Brand with Massey Business School Dean Professor Ted Zorn, at the first of the Academic Excellence Awards events in Auckland.

When the Massey Business School asked its staff to support the University’s direct-from-salary giving programme, it allowed staff to decide how their donations would be spent. They voted overwhemingly to use the money to support students facing financial hardship.

This month the first recipients of the Massey Business School Promising Students Assistance Bursary are being recognised at the school’s annual Academic Excellence Awards. A total of $15,000 will be awarded to ten students to cover course-related costs like textbooks and travel expenses, or to assist with general living costs.

“Many of the students have made direct contact to tell us about the real difference these funds will make as they continue on their educational pathway,” says Associate Professor Elizabeth Gray who heads the school’s Development Fund Advisory Group.

“We know everyone faces challenges juggling study and life, but some people face more challenges than others. While study is not always easy to finance, it can be life changing, so we wanted to offer something different to other scholarships, which are generally tied exclusively to academic prowess.”

For sport management student Samantha-Jo Toohill, the bursary means food, textbooks and petrol for getting to class.

"I found a sense of pride in my situation"

Sport management student Samantha-Jo Toohill says the bursary has made the difference between being able to afford petrol and missing classes. The single mother says she realised furthering her education was the key to a better future for herself and her two daughters.

“The bursary didn’t just affect my life by assisting financially, there were intrinsic benefits too,” she says. “I found a sense of pride in my situation and a boost in my confidence. It’s definitely reflected at home with my kids. I feel more capable knowing there are people out there who want me to do well.”

Similarly, communication student Leilani Baker credits the bursary with assisting her to be financially independent.

“My dad actually has a mental illness so it means he can’t work strenuously and that puts a lot of financial strain on my mum who is a school teacher,” she says. “The bursary is going to make a huge difference to me because I already have two part-time jobs…when I left home I kind of made the decision that I wanted to support myself.”

Pasifika student Leilani Baker says the bursary has allowed her to be financially independent.

Small actions, big impact

Master of Economics student Bronwyn Bruce-Brand will use her bursary for something quite different – an overseas exchange at the University of Copenhagen.

“The bursary grant is hugely helpful – as most people would expect going overseas is pretty pricey and doing an exchange is no exception,” she says.

“It’s incredibly humbling to know that the staff have directly contributed from their salaries to make this bursary possible. Without this bursary it would pretty much be impossible to go overseas and do an exchange like this, and it’s such a good experience for me.”

Massey Business School Dean Professor Ted Zorn hopes the fund will grow steadily in 2017 as staff see the impact the bursary is having in just its first year.

“I am proud at how the staff in the Massey Business School have chosen to use the funds they have donated and, without their generosity, many promising students would not reach their potential,” he says.

“It is my hope that, in future years, we can support a larger number of students and, in some cases, offer larger amounts of money. These bursaries are a perfect example of how small actions can have a big impact.”

To help grow the fund, both the University and the Massey Business School have committed to matching staff donations dollar-for dollar.

Master of Economics student Bronwyn Bruce-Brand's bursary is helping her to do an exchange at Copenhagen University.

Full list of bursary winners for 2017

School of Aviation: Krishneel Naicker
School of Accountancy: Chen Ziyang
School of Communication, Journalism, and Marketing: Boyd Mower
School of Economics and Finance: David Bennison
School of Management: Samantha Toohill
Māori student award: Kodyn Brown
Pasifika student award: Leilani Baker

Additional bursaries were awarded to:

Lee-Ann Cordeaux (Management)
Bronwyn Bruce-Brand (Economics and Finance)
Adrienne Sheridan (Communication, Journalism, and Marketing)

Top Māori academic returns to Massey University

Tue, 16 May 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Professor Meihana Durie arrives supported by his whānau and iwi.

Watch the Māori Television item.

In a moving powhiri, Massey University has welcomed Professor Meihana Durie, of Rangitāne, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Rongo Whakaata, Ngāi Tahu, to head the school his father established 20 years ago.

Professor Durie’s appointment to Te Pūtahi-ā-Toi, the School of Māori Art, Knowledge and Education, follows in the footsteps of his father, renowned Māori mental health expert Professor Emeritus Sir Mason Durie, who established Te Pūtahi-a-Toi in 1997.

Sir Mason says Monday’s pōwhiri was a celebration of Māori education and the excitement people feel around realising Māori potential. “When I came here 30 years ago it was quite a different picture and now it needs a different approach and I think the team with Meihana will move forward in a way that’s relevant for today and tomorrow,” Sir Mason said.

Professor Durie says he’s happy to be working where education is the focus. “To me education is a vessel that will propel Māori forward. We know that by educating and instilling knowledge in our children we will prosper.”

Nadell Karatea, Te Rina Warren and Mari Ropata-Te Hei from Te Pūtahi-a-Toi peform the karanga

The appointment is also a homecoming for Professor Durie, who completed his PhD at Massey University in 2011. While he comes from a renowned academic family, including his mother Māori educationalist Professor Lady Arohia Durie, Professor Durie is an award-winning researcher in his own right.

He received the Sir Peter Snell Doctoral Scholarship in Public Health and Exercise Science in 2008, and a recent Health Research Council of New Zealand Hohua Tutengaehe Postdoctoral Fellowship.

About 100 people representing Professor Durie’s varied iwi travelled to Massey’s Manawatū campus for the pōwhiri to support his move from Te Wānanga o Raukawa, where he helped to establish Ngā Purapura, a development committed to the empowerment of whānau through education in health, exercise, and sport.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas speaking at the powhiri

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas told the large crowd that Professor Durie’s arrival had been hugely anticipated since his appointment late last year and she vowed to give him all the support he needed to fully reach the potential of his new position.

Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which is home to Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, said Professor Durie’s arrival in the milestone 20th anniversary year was great timing. He said Te Pūtahi-a-Toi is Massey’s Māori powerhouse. “At last week’s Celebration of Māori Graduates, two thirds of the graduates came from the school and this appointment marks a new dawn.”

New VC welcomed with powhiri

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +1200

Professor Thomas accompanied by Massey University Council member Tina Wilson (second from right) and members of Mrs Wilson's extended whānau from Tū Korehe, Raukawa, Rua Muaūpoko, Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Apa.

Massey University's new Vice-Chancellor was welcomed to the University with a powhiri at the Manawatū campus yesterday. Professor Jan Thomas took over the role on Tuesday this week.

Afterward the formal ceremony Professor Thomas, formerly University of Southern Queensland Vice-Chancellor, thanked all those involved in the welcome, saying she was proud to be joining a University that is a world leader in many fields in a country that is also a leader on the world stage.

Study to investigate 'surf rage'

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +1200

Kaupapa Māori psychology lecturer Jhan Gavala

Surfing may be seen as a laid-back pastime but a Massey University researcher is looking to find out why some surfers erupt into what is called "surf rage" and what can be done about it.

Surf rage, and an associated phenomenon known as localism, arises when surfers, protective of their local surf, end up competing for waves with new comers and the conflict can boil over into acts of intimidation and even assault. Massey University kaupapa Māori psychology lecturer Jhan Gavala (Ngāti Kawau, Ngāti Ruamahue, Ngāi Tūpango) is an avid surfer and, having experienced the behaviour, he wants to find out what motivates surf rage.

“I’m keen to find out what psychological and cultural factors are associated with surf rage," Mr Gavala says. "By looking at how and why localism appears in surfing communities I might be able to get a greater understanding of surf rage and how to overcome such behaviour.”

“What sparks or leads to surf rage is an infraction of the protocols around surfing; for instance, dropping in on another surfer. Once, they might get a warning; twice, they get told to get out and then there’s aggressiveness. As a psychologist I want to look at the personal dispositions of surfers about what leads to people calling someone out of the surf break because the surf breaks are public space – no one owns them."

Watch the video

Mr Gavala’s PhD study will look at "localism" at major surf breaks around the New Zealand. He is keen to talk to a range of surfers about their experiences and what makes locals protective of their patch. “At those different surf breaks I’ll be in the surf among the surfers, I’ll be on the beach making observations of any incidents that I think would constitute surf rage or intimidation or general unfriendliness and I’ll see how people react in the car parks.”

Mr Gavala agrees some may think his research is just an excuse to go surfing but there is a serious side. “Along with understanding this complex human behaviour, I’m really interested in using surfing as an intervention to deal with all kinds of psychological challenges and stresses”.

His research will also look at the origins of Māori surfing and the possibility of rekindling the craft of Māori surf board-building as a therapy programme.

Braking bad - know your weakness

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +1200

Matt Miller and the Brake Power Meter - a world first invention from Massey University staff.

Massey University Sport and Exercise scientists Matt Miller and Dr Phil Fink have invented the Brake Power Meter, which automatically measures braking power and time spent braking while you ride – a world first.

The invention allows cyclists to accurately quantify braking, analyse their braking patterns, and use the data to train their braking style to shave minutes off their lap time.

Mr Miller, Assistant Lecturer and PhD candidate, heads to Las Vegas on Saturday to present the New Zealand invention at the annual Interbike International Bicycle Expo – North America’s largest bicycle industry trade show. Exhibitors gather to sell their products and services to bicycle retailers, wholesale distributors and manufacturers.

A patent protects the technology and Mr Miller is speaking with bike manufacturers and suppliers already interested in the product. A second prototype is currently under construction by Dr Frazer Noble and Neil Payne from Massey’s School of Engineering and Advanced Technology.

Mr Miller and Dr Fink have spent more than two years researching the importance braking has on mountain bike race performance and rider fatigue. Mr Miller says it improves riders’ performance by enabling them to target braking training, resulting in increased speed and performance. “We took several national-level mountain bikers and had them repeat a descent without pedaling. Not only was there huge variation in the time it took them to complete this descent, but there were also differences in their braking as they practiced the track more.”

Matt Miller explains how the Brake Power Meter works.

Competitive edge

He says top mountain bikers and trainers are keen to get their hands on the meter as soon as possible, to give them a competitive edge. Seamus Powell, a professional mountain bike racer from the Giant Factory Off-Road Team has been training with a drivetrain-based power meter for years, and thinks that being able to analyse his braking could improve his descending performance.

Harlan Price, a Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association skills coach says, “Braking is one of the first things we address when trying to improve a rider’s skill, but we have never had any way to give hard numbers on this.”

Drawing on his ten-plus years of elite mountain bike racing in America, Mr Miller says the Brake Power Meter is a game-changer for the industry. “What wins races? Speed. Speed is a result of how hard you pedal [propulsive power] and how little you slow down. Changing your speed depends on how fit, or unfit you are, and of course how much you brake. We think braking indicates the level of a rider’s skill.

"So far, cyclists have only been able to measure propulsive power using power meters, and analyse this data to focus training on improving their fitness. But we have uncovered distinct braking pattern differences between trained mountain bikers and untrained, which indicates that focusing on skill training could make riders faster as well.”

Mr Miller says research shows braking power and time spent braking is directly related to lap times. “More skilled, faster riders brake powerfully over a short space of time, whereas slower, less skilled riders brake with less power over a longer time period.”

He is expecting huge interest from the market for this technology, likely to result in successful sales once the Kiwi product is commercialised.

Giant Bikes New Zealand supplied Mr Miller and his team with top-level bikes for the testing. Mr Miller was supervised by Dr Phil Fink, Professor Steve Stannard and Dr Paul Macdermid from the School of Sport and Exercise.