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News Releases

05/02/2003
Animal behaviourist says dogs will be dogs
Massey University animal behaviourist Dr Kevin Stafford says the number of dog attacks appear to have decreased since the Dog Control Act was introduced in 1996.

05/02/2003
Rehabilitating the environment with soil and plants
'Environmental management using soil-plant systems' is the title of the 16th Annual Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre Workshop to be held at Massey University on the 12 and 13 February.

"World Cup Orientation 2003"
On the anniversary of MUSA's 75 Years of service to students on the Palmerston North campus, this year's "World Cup" orientation promises to be one of the best ever. Includes links to Albany and Wellington events.

03/02/2003
Teenage messy bedrooms subject of Massey research
Is your teenager’s bedroom a disaster area? If so, Massey University Bachelor of Social Work coordinator Jenny Jakobs would like to hear from you.

03/02/2003
The new public health dream team
Public health research in New Zealand is taking a quantum leap forward

30/01/2003
Massey survey shows support for euthanasia
More than 70% of New Zealanders support assisted suicide for someone with a painful incurable disease, provided a doctor gives the assistance.

30/01/2003
Award for Interpersonal Communication
Professional communicators sometimes need to step back and take a hard look at just how well they're communicating, says award-winning student Selina Gentry.

23/01/2003
Are we doing enough for gifted kids?
Researchers from Massey University College of Education are to look at how effectively New Zealand schools cater for gifted and talented children.

15/01/2003
Friedrich’s Ataxia drug breakthrough discovered
The discovery of a treatment for Friedrich’s Ataxia and Huntington’s disease by New Zealand scientists opens doors to establish New Zealand in the international pharmaceutical industry.

09/01/2003
Dick Hubbard and Liz Gordon join Massey Council
Massey University alumni have voted in Auckland businessman Dick Hubbard and former MP Dr Liz Gordon as members of their University’s Council.

07/01/2003
Television news a selective reconstruction
A Massey University researcher has found that television news does not reflect all that happened on any particular day, but is a selection and reconstruction of some of the available and more newsworthy occurrences.

Wellington Fringe Festival 2003
Wellington – Fringe NZ has celebrated the launch of this year’s Ten Fast Years festival with an opening party in the Museum Building’s Great Hall. The invitation-only event celebrated a decade of Fringe in the Capital.

NZ School of Dance to jointly teach Graduate Diploma in Dance Studies.
Wellington – The University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NZ School of Dance to jointly teach a new Massey University Graduate Diploma in Dance Studies.

University News

Seeking former student reps
The Massey University Students' Association celebrates its 75th anniversary this year – a year after the University itself marked its 75th

Academic expertise enriches Maori development
The realm of Maori development and its associated wealth of knowledge will strengthen with the graduation of six Maori academics at Massey University’s graduation ceremony on December 6. Includes Video

Council Report
In welcoming members to the December meeting of the University Council, Chancellor Morva Croxson noted the significance of the meeting, as the last for several long-standing members

A new team heads the University Council
Wellington businessman Nigel Gould has been elected unopposed as the University’s new Chancellor.

Professor Bhamidimarri farewelled
The solemn delivery of a piping hot haggis kicked off the farewell for Professor Rao Bhamidimarri, who leaves the University after 17 years.

Massey expert joins oil clean up operation in Spain
New Zealand wildlife expert Dr Richard Norman has gone to Spain to help with clean-up operations on more than 100 beaches, following the sinking of the tanker Prestige earlier this month.

Massey staff in the news
A record of Massey staff in the media over the past 2 weeks

School joins IT training scheme
Heretaunga College last week became the third secondary school in the Wellington region to sign up for an online training programme for future designers, builders and operators of the Internet.

Mainstreem 'Employer of the Year'
State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham says the University has won this year’s ‘Mainstream Employer of the Year’ award through “going the extra mile” in providing equitable, supported employment for people with disabilities.

New course in aircraft maintenance
A shortage of qualified aircraft maintenance engineers within the industry has prompted the University and Air New Zealand to develop a specialised course unique to Australasia.

Grant for new Christian Centre
The Palmerston North Community Christian Centre moved a little closer to reality at a function held at Wharerata.

Planning to start on a new concept for the heart of the Palmerston North campus
Massey University and the Palmerston North students’ association MUSA have issued a joint statement on planned renovations to the Student Centre.

Features

The University’s face of success
For many thousands of Massey University graduates, a handshake and warm words from Chancellor Morva Croxson have been the mark of personal achievement.

Students get theatre experience
Design for Performance students have recently been working with award-winning theatre company Under Lili’s Balcony to create the spectacular set for the company’s latest production Salto.

Wellington Metro gets some Massey flair
Tranz Metro has kicked off it’s rebuilding of the aging Johnsonville Line with a creative input from Massey University Industrial Design students.

Challenges ahead for Orpheus Choir
Writes author Simon Tipping: “The Orpheus Choir stands poised on the verge of new things. Artistically, the choir has achieved as much in the last decade as in any previous period, but it is also clear from the past few years, if not the last decade, that ‘business as usual’ is not a viable option.”

Essays examine Kiwi socialism
A collection of essays spanning more than a century, On the Left: Essays on Socialism in New Zealand is the first such survey of the political left in New Zealand.

NZ Piano Quartet launches debut CD
The debut CD is called Hill Records 001 and the performers are the New Zealand Piano Quartet, formerly known as the Massey Piano Quartet.

An historian’s view of Massey
Former colleagues and friends of W.H. (Bill) Oliver joined the esteemed historian for lunch at Wharerata earlier this month.

Research and Development

Scientists contribute to national research
A team of Palmerston North-based scientists will play a lead role in the work of the two latest Centres of Research Excellence.

Zero Waste Academy launched
The national zero waste programme has stepped up a gear with the establishment of a Zero Waste Academy in Palmerston North – one of only two in the world.

SHORE study finds amphetamine use up
Amphetamine use has doubled over the last three years, making stimulants the second-most-popular illicit drugs in New Zealand after cannabis, according to a new study.

Untreated wood more risky than arsenic
Concerns about the transfer of carcinogens from treated timber to children using playground furniture could lead to children being exposed to even greater risks.

Research reveals home stay student satisfaction
A Massey University researcher is casting doubt on the accuracy of recent reports citing poor standards of home accommodation for international students in New Zealand.

Gifted and Talented Students programme - Talent x 2 = Leadership
A new pilot programme will team up bright high school students with university students, as part of a Government bid to foster future leaders.

New Speech Language Therapy degree
The College of Education has received approval to offer a Bachelor of Speech Language Therapy at the Albany campus next year.

New course in modern logic
It’s logical – the philosophical science of reason, thought and argument is a stepping-stone to the language of computer technology.

Funding for workplace safety study
The University and the Centre for Human Factors and Ergonomics (COHFE) have been granted funding of about $400,000 from the Health Research Council, ACC and OSH, for a two-year study concerned with small business/self-employed safety in the residential construction and dairy farming sectors.

Boost for the battle against bird flu
The University’s contribution to the battle against the threat of an international flu epidemic – similar to the bird flu that killed six people in Hong Kong in 1997 – has been supported with an injection of funding from the Wellcome Trust.

Family well-being study set to continue
The perception of well-being within New Zealand families and the different approaches to family life is at the heart of a research project recently granted an extra four years of funding.

Events

Good food, good wine, good company
The threat of rain could not keep Palmerstonians away from the Massey Wine and Food Fest in The Square on 7 December.

Old and new graduates honoured
The achievements of Massey graduates past and present were honoured at the end-of-year graduation on 6 December.

Winemaker honoured
Wine industry leader Peter Hubscher is being awarded an honorary doctorate in science from Massey University on Friday (December 6, 2002).

Eight awarded special Massey medals
To celebrate the University’s 75th anniversary eight one-off Massey University Anniversary Medals have been awarded to alumni who have made special contributions to their community and their country.

Thirteen Doctorates awarded
Thirteen people received doctorates at the University’s end-of-year graduation in Palmerston North on 6 December.

First Te Aho Tatairangi degree graduates
Te Kupenga o te Matauranga Marae at Hokowhitu hosted more than 300 people at a special College of Education graduation ceremony on 30 November.

Summer Shakespeare is back
A tempest is set to storm this summer with full-blooded Shakespearean fervour.

Friends farewell Ephra Garrett
A labour of love, Te Korowai Aroha, was handcrafted and presented to Ephra Garrett in commemoration of 30 years’ research and teaching.

TelstraClear sponsors musicians on tour
Jazz and classical musicians from the Conservatorium of Music have just completed mini tours of New Zealand under sponsorship from TelstraClear.

Awards and Appointments

Prof Fraser to head Health Research Council
Health Minister Annette King has announced that Professor Graeme Fraser is to be the new chair of the Health Research Council. Professor Fraser is currently Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Recruitment system wins award
Massey took the top prize at last month’s Human Resources Institute of New Zealand awards with a web-based recruitment system designed to streamline the process.

New appointments in Maori Studies
The positioning of Massey University’s School of Maori Studies for future development has been enhanced with the appointment of three leadership roles.

New social work scholarships offered
New scholarships for Mäori and Pacific Island students have been created to counter disproportionate representation in the social services.

New awards for Professor Roger Morris
The contribution of BSE and foot and mouth expert Professor Roger Morris, Director of Massey University’s EpiCentre, has been recognised with two prestigious awards in the same week.

Three researchers made Fellows
Three Massey University researchers have been elected Fellows to the prestigious science academy, the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Another success with United Nations handbook design
Graphic design students are continuing their winning ways at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade by designing the second United Nations Handbook in succession.

Scholarship winner aims for life on land
Agricultural major Kristin Gordon is the inaugural recipient of the James Bull Undergraduate Scholarship.