The University of Auckland Alumni magazine | Autumn 2009

A FAST TALKING PI Researching evolution across disciplines Incubating young businesses Grafton Campus re-development

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 1 In this issue

Ingenio – The University of Auckland Letters to the Editor 4 alumni magazine 12

Autumn 2009 ISSN 1176-211X University news

Editor: Tess Redgrave TBA 5 Editorial advice and proof reading: New Deputy Vice-Chancellor 6 Bill Williams Art direction/production: Brigid Cottrell High-flying alumna on campus 8 Design: Vanda Tong Photography: Godfrey Boehnke, Kathryn Robinson Features Advertising manager: Don Wilson Proof reading: Treena Brown, Marion Fast talking PI 10 Dimond, Amber Older, Judy Wilford Charles Darwin’s legacy 12 Editorial contact details Grafton Campus re-development 16 Ingenio Communications and Marketing Opinion 19 The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 The ICEHOUSE 20 Auckland 1142, New Zealand 16 Level 10, Fisher Building Distinguished Alumni Awards 23 18 Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland Dick Bellamy retires 26 Telephone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 84149 Facsimile: +64 9 373 7047 In the limelight 28 Email: [email protected] www.auckland.ac.nz/ingenio Research in brief 30

How alumni keep in touch To ensure that you continue to receive Ingenio, and to subscribe to @auckland, Regular sections the University’s email newsletter for alumni and friends, please update your details at: Alumni snapshots 31 www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/update Alumni Relations Office Alumni news and noticeboard 32-33 The University of Auckland 19A Princes Street, Private Bag 92019 Advancement news 34 Auckland 1142, New Zealand 23 Telephone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 88723 Sport 36 Email: [email protected] Art 37 www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz Books 38 Copyright Articles reflect personal opinions and are Student life 39 not those of The University of Auckland. No parts of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of The University of Auckland. All rights reserved. ©The University of Auckland 2009

Cover photo Selina Tusitala Marsh. Photo by Dean Carruthers. See story on page 10.

Ingenio is printed on 100% recycled, elemental chlorine free paper, using soy-based ink.

2 | The University of Auckland From the Vice-Chancellor

Looking beyond the economic storm

In the last issue of Ingenio, I commented on opportunities for university students over the Māori and Pacific students and those from the University’s $100 million “Leading the summer vacation. Another of our proposals to underprivileged communities. Way” Fundraising Campaign. Since then, be taken up by the Employment Summit was A new major study, Growing up in New the full scale of the global financial crisis the opportunity to grow New Zealand’s export Zealand, has been launched by the University has become apparent. That will undoubtedly education business (now our fifth largest under contract to the Ministry of Social have an impact, albeit temporary, on the export industry). The University will shortly Development. It will follow 7800 children University’s Campaign but its effects will also be hosting, with Trade Minister Tim Groser, and their families from before birth to early touch our wider community in many ways. a high-level meeting to look at how this adulthood, providing invaluable information As Graeme Wheeler, alumnus (BE 1958, ME important industry can be enhanced to the on the social and other factors that impact on 1959) and Managing Director of the World benefit both of New Zealand and of our large their health and education outcomes. Growing Bank, pointed out in an address to our recent cohort of international students. up will be the first study of its type to include New York alumni event: “The losses in wealth We will also be making our own major significant numbers of Māori, Pacific and Asian are enormous – they are thought to total contribution to enhancing New Zealand’s families, and so to reflect the ethnic diversity around $60 trillion or about one year’s global infrastructure. The most significant project will of modern New Zealand. At the same time we GDP. In effect, we are seeing a revaluation of be a complete redevelopment of the Grafton are, again in partnership with Government, every asset across the globe.” Campus, home to the Faculty of Medical and establishing a programme that will see As New Zealand’s largest provider of Health Sciences and the Liggins Institute (see counsellors working in selected secondary degree education and research, The University story page 16). At $240 million, this project schools to help students make good subject of Auckland has a unique contribution to will be of a similar scale to the much vaunted choices, and to succeed in those subjects, so make in helping our country weather the redevelopment of Eden Park for the Rugby that their chances of progressing to tertiary recession and position itself strongly for the World Cup. As well as making a major and education (with the well known consequences recovery that must ultimately come. immediate contribution to sustaining Auckland’s of higher incomes, lower unemployment rates An immediate issue is the need to protect construction industry, this project will provide and better health) are enhanced. our students against the consequences of us with teaching and research facilities of These developments are, of course, rising unemployment. If students are unable genuinely international quality. That will allow all consistent with the five objectives of to secure work over the coming summer then our researchers to create new knowledge in the our “Leading the Way” Campaign: major their ability to support themselves through medical and related fields - knowledge that will, improvements in human health; an ideal university in 2010 and beyond is likely to where appropriate, be commercialised by our start for all our children; a strong export-led be constrained. To that end, I proposed at research company, Auckland UniServices Ltd, economy; the best urban living in the world; the recent Prime Minister’s Employment creating the foundation for new industries to a confident and cohesive nation. They are Summit that the University would advance help grow the national economy. UniServices important ideals for a research-led university a considerable sum of money to support reached an important milestone last year, such as ours, and activities in which I hope we summer scholarships for students in exchange achieving $100 million of revenue in just its may continue to enjoy your support. for a matching government contribution. 20th year of operations. That idea was picked up by Education Finally, we need to acknowledge that the Minister Anne Tolley and the New Zealand recession will have its greatest impact on Vice-Chancellors’ Committee. the least privileged members of our society, As a result we will, subject to a successful exacerbating the significant inequalities ministerial budget bid, have a joint fund that exist even in the good times. To that of $8 million to provide work experience end we are expanding our support for Stuart McCutcheon

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 3 Letters to the Editor

the whole academic community (including Critic and conscience students) in whatever field of knowledge is of society being considered. The process accommodates the teaching and writings of all those who Members of a university rightly claim academic participate in the university’s corporate role by freedom. For two classes of members, academic sharing in the “involvement and responsibility” staff and students, “academic freedom” is described by Malcolm and Tarling. defined and secured by section 161 of the This participation is, in principle, distinct Education Act 1989 (“the Act”). That freedom from any advocacy role for any moral or empowers staff and students as individuals to political cause that an academic may as an “question and test received wisdom” and to put individual pursue in exercise of academic forward or state “new ideas” and “controversial freedom. He or she should accept the or unpopular opinions”. The person exercising distinction and, as a scholar, be able to stand that freedom sometimes claims to be exercising back from the advocate’s role. also the university’s “role as critic and One specific difficulty must be mentioned: conscience of society” under section 162(4). might a university’s position in relation to I think such a claim can be justified only in a the Treaty of Waitangi affect the above? Is a much qualified way. university required under the Act to “adhere” Recently, in their comprehensive survey of to the “principles” of the Treaty, with the background and effects of the educational whatever implications that may have? Both reforms of 1990, Crisis of Identity? The Elizabeth Rata (Ingenio, “Cultural Relativism”, Mission and Management of Universities Autumn 2007, page 38) and Raymond Nairn in New Zealand (2007), Wilf Malcolm and (Ingenio, “Another perspective”, Spring 2007, Nicholas Tarling have discussed (pages page 40) refer to a university as so required. 227-28) the “critic and conscience” role. They If it were, I would share Dr Rata’s concern point out that the role of “critic” may be mainly that it has “taken on a political position” that negative, censuring society from outside. might in some situations impede the free The added role of “conscience” is positive, exercise of the critic and conscience role. “opera[ting] from within society in a stance of Fortunately a university is not so bound. The shared involvement and responsibility”. That statutory requirement (s181) is not that it responsibility “includes ensuring that [the “adheres to” the Treaty principles, but that universities’] academic programmes enable it “acknowledges” them. This admittedly those within them to develop the intellectual vague requirement has the merit that it maturity to exercise their own judgements in leaves a university free to maintain (as it expression of the role”. should) Western ideals that some too easily Moreover, “A university’s commitment to dismiss as pejoratively monocultural and in the search for truth in support of human well- need of radical, even revolutionary, reform. being is a primary expression of its academic (As urged, for example, by Jane Kelsey, in L responsibility as critic and conscience of Simmons (ed), Speaking Truth to Power: Public society”. That is of course the established ideal Intellectuals Rethink New Zealand (2007) of the Western university tradition. 141, 158-59). The wording of the statute, convincingly I follow John Bishop (see his “The Treaty explained by those writers, shows clearly that and the Universities” in Oddie and Perrret the critic and conscience role belongs to the (eds), Justice, Ethics and New Zealand Society corporate university. Send your thoughts to: (1992) 109, 122-23) in affirming strongly that What of the individual academic who Tess Redgrave universities are custodians of the Western claims to exercise it personally? Most do so Editor tradition that led to their foundation; those in an advocacy role, to urge the redress of Ingenio of matauranga Māori are the wananga. perceived grievances and injustices or to Communications and Marketing Whatever tensions there may be in this argue for some hitherto neglected truth. For Private Bag 92019 relationship have to be recognised and are that they have (within uncertain limits) the Auckland 1142 themselves a matter for debate. New Zealand protection of academic freedom (even for By email: [email protected] writings and speech that may be outside Emeritus Professor FM (Jock) Brookfield, By fax: 09 373 7047 their expertise or little more than polemic). (BA, LLB, 1951), DPhil (Oxford 1973), Preference will be given to letters that So also do those who argue in opposition to former Dean of the Faculty of Law and address the content of the magazine. them. New wisdom must be tested as much author of Waitangi and Indigenous Rights: The editor reserves the right to edit letters as the “received wisdom” it seeks to augment Revolution, Law and Legitimation (updated for style and content. or replace. The process of testing involves 2006, Auckland University Press).

4 | The University of Auckland NEWS

New Chancellor Honorary doctorate for Helen Clark Roger France, a prominent chartered accountant and company director, has been elected Chancellor of the University. The Chancellor chairs the University’s governing body, the Council. Roger also presides at graduation ceremonies and confers degrees, and represents the University on formal occasions. Mr France succeeds Hugh Fletcher who stepped down after four years in the role and still remains on the University Council. Appointed to the University Council in 2001 Mr France has chaired its Finance Committee and has been Pro-Chancellor (the Chancellor’s deputy) for the past two years. For 15 years he was a partner of what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers, concentrating on corporate advisory work. He served for a period as managing partner in Auckland and on the firm’s governance board. Earlier he The Council of The University of Auckland Development Programme. spent nearly ten years as chief financial officer will confer an honorary degree on the “As well as being a distinguished of two large listed companies. former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Helen graduate and former academic staff Lindsay Corban has been elected Pro- Clark, one of its most illustrious graduates. member of the University she has shown Chancellor in place of Mr France. Mrs Corban She will receive an honorary Doctor of a consistent interest in her alma mater. joined the Council when the University Laws (LLD) at a ceremony to be held at the She attended many University functions, amalgamated with the Auckland College of University later this year. encouraged the teaching and research Education in 2004. She had been a long- The degree recognises Helen Clark’s activities of the University and supported serving member of the College Council. enormous contribution to New Zealand the two Knowledge Wave conferences.” and on the international stage, says the Helen Clark attended Epsom Girls’ Chancellor, Roger France. Grammar School and then studied at The As a Member of Parliament since 1981 University of Auckland, majoring in politics. and Prime Minister for nine years, Helen She graduated with an MA (Honours) Clark has made a mark nationally and in 1974 with a thesis on rural political internationally in a way that few leaders behaviour and representation. can aspire to, says Mr France. “She became Helen was junior lecturer in Political highly respected at home and abroad Studies from 1973 to 1975, studied for strong, principled and intelligent abroad on a University Grants Committee leadership. The experience, knowledge and postgraduate scholarship in 1976, and networks built up in this role will enable her then returned to lecture again in Political to make a powerful contribution in her new Studies at Auckland from 1977 until her position as Head of the United Nations election to Parliament in 1981.

Tall poppies Professor Peter Hunter, Director of the Enterprise to the country’s greatest "tall Physiome Project, an international network of Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and poppies” for giving their time, knowledge and researchers developing mathematical models alumnus and business leader Dr John skills to help New Zealand companies and of all aspects of human physiology. Buchanan (BSc 1964, MSc 1965, PhD 1968) industries succeed internationally. British-based John Buchanan, one of New were among the outstanding Kiwis to receive Professor Hunter won the "Research, Zealand’s most astute expatriate businessmen, World Class New Zealander awards at a gala Science, Technology and Academia" won the "Finance, Investment and Business dinner in Auckland in April. category. He is best-known for his pioneering Services" category. He is chairman of the UK Seven awards were presented by Kea mathematical modelling of the human heart. Friends of the University of Auckland and an New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and He also heads the institute’s flagship Human adviser to the Business School.

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 5 NEWS

John completed his BA and MA degrees New Deputy in Political Science at the University of Vice-Chancellor Canterbury and graduated with a PhD in Social and Political Thought from York University in Canada in 1980. He then returned to New Zealand and took up a junior lectureship post in Politics at Victoria University of Wellington. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1988 and to a personal chair in 2001. From 1997-2001 he was Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research). John joined the academic staff at Auckland in 2002 as Professor of Political Studies and in 2003 became Dean of Arts. “I have really enjoyed working with my it was agreed that she would return to the colleagues in the Arts faculty during my term Department of History at the end of the three- as Dean,” says John. “I’ll miss this in the year contract. Several extensions of the contract new role but I look forward to engaging with and ten years later, she plans to do this. academic issues across the University and in Raewyn gained her BA, BA (Hons) and PhD the wider community.” in History at Victoria University of Wellington and on 23 April this year her alma mater acknowledged her contribution to New Professor John Morrow, currently Dean of the Exceptional service Zealand history and tertiary education with a University’s Faculty of Arts, will take over as Professor Raewyn Dalziel will take research Distinguished Alumni Award. the University’s new Deputy Vice-Chancellor and study leave when she steps down from After completing her PhD, Raewyn studied (Academic) from the beginning of July. the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) role at the Institute of Historical Research in John replaces Professor Raewyn Dalziel who at the end of June. London on a postdoctoral fellowship before has been in the role since 1999. When she took up the position in July 1999, returning to take up a lectureship in History at

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6 | The University of Auckland

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HSB0688b Ingenio.indd 1 20/10/08 2:24:23 PM The University of Auckland in 1972. delegation to Korea. In 2004 she was disciplines, from architectural history to music. Publishing on New Zealand politics and awarded the ONZM for services to education. For the past five years he has worked as social history, she worked widely across the “Raewyn has been an extraordinary servant Director of Art and Collection Services at the spectrum of New Zealand history and also of this University”, says Vice-Chancellor, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. took an active role outside of the University, Professor Stuart McCutcheon. “She is probably Moving easily across the worlds of Māori on curriculum development, as Chair of the unique in her knowledge of every facet of how and Päkehä, Jonathan is widely regarded as a Advisory Committee of the Historical Branch the institution works, her willingness to take on pioneer for the development of contemporary of the Department of Internal Affairs and any task, often without being asked, and her Mäori and Pacific art and art history. the New Zealand History Research Trust, a utter dedication to improving the quality of Although his academic background is in member of the National Archives Advisory everything The University of Auckland does.” early modern European art and architecture, Committee and on government working To mark the University’s 125th birthday he is also involved in an analytical survey of parties on tertiary education. She served in 2008, Ingenio published an article in the contemporary Māori art; projects on major a term as president of the New Zealand Autumn 2008 issue by Raewyn titled “From historical New Zealand artists; and he is Historical Association and on the Humanities the 1970s” in which she wrote about the embarking upon a global study of indigenous Panel of the Marsden Fund. changes she has witnessed during 36 years art. A collaborative examination of the history In 1990, then an Associate Professor in the at the University. of Māori art from ancient times to the present Department of History at Auckland, Raewyn day is in the pipeline. was appointed as Head of Department and served in this role from 1990 to 1993 and New head of Elam again from 1996 to 1999. She was appointed One of New Zealand’s most respected figures to a Chair in 1996. in the arena of fine arts has been appointed She has been Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor of Fine Arts and Head of Elam (Academic) at the University since 1999 School of Fine Arts. and from July to December 2004, in the Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (Ngapuhi/Te interregnum between John Hood and Stuart Aupouri/Ngati Kuri) is an art historian, McCutcheon, was Acting Vice-Chancellor. architectural historian and a cultural historian. In 2001 Raewyn represented the tertiary His broad range of professional experiences education sector on a Prime Ministerial and research outputs encompasses many

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Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 7

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HSB0688b Ingenio.indd 1 20/10/08 2:24:23 PM NEWS

shortlist of 47 individuals from which High-flying alumna on NASA will select 10 to 15 people to train Animal protection sabbatical at University to be astronauts this year. scrutinised “I’ve always been interested in space The fraught legal relationship between and air travel so naturally I’m pretty humans and animals is explored in a book excited to be considered by NASA. I’m launched at the University in March. trying not to think about it too much until Animal Law in Australasia, the first scholarly they make a decision,” she says. book on the topic published in this part of the world, is co-edited by Peter Sankoff, a senior lecturer in law at The University of Auckland. Accolade for University It is surprising that such a book has been publisher so long in coming, says Peter. “Post-colonial Australia and New Zealand were built in part upon the backs of animals. “Today, farmers raise several hundred million animals for slaughter every year, and animal-based industries producing meat, dairy products, eggs and wool form a key part of our economies.” Until recently animals were regarded as property and could be treated as their owners Karen Willcox (BE 1994), who leads an saw fit. “We could breed them, sell them, kill international research effort to drastically them – even torture them – without running reduce the fuel consumption and carbon foul of any law.” emissions of 737-size aircraft, is on a year- Elizabeth Caffin, who managed Auckland The once radical notion that inflicting long sabbatical in the University’s Faculty of University Press for 21 years, received an pain and suffering on animals by humans Engineering. honorary Doctor of Literature degree from the should be constrained is now commonplace An associate professor at Massachusetts University last month. across the Western world, says Peter. “This Institute of Technology (MIT) where she The award recognises her contribution as is reflected in elaborate regulatory regimes teaches aeronautics and astronautics, Karen managing editor and then as director until ostensibly committed to protecting animals says reducing fuel consumption can be done, mid-2007. In output, range, quality and from human mistreatment.” and should be done. “But it isn’t going to stop electronic innovation AUP strengthened its It is now commonplace for the popular climate change,” she adds. local and international standing as a publisher media to debate the ethical acceptability “Aircraft overall contribute a small amount of high quality books during Elizabeth’s time. of live sheep export, battery hen cages, to human-induced carbon emissions globally, While Elizabeth was at the helm, AUP sow stalls and other practices exploiting about four percent,” she says. “But in saying published 359 books as against 192 in the animals. “However, there has been very little that it is still important for aircraft to play previous nearly 60 years. Some 47 received assessment, or even understanding, of how their part. An aircraft operates for 20 or 30 awards including 14 prestigious Montana the law addresses these practices.” years so any actions we take now will last well Book Awards and many more were finalists for The book, the work of New Zealand and into the future, and we can do better.” awards (sometimes up to five in one year). Australian specialists in animal welfare law, Karen leads the international research Under her leadership AUP became the takes up this challenge. It asks whether project in partnership with Boeing, NASA, leading publisher of New Zealand poetry, existing laws really do protect animals, Purdue University, Stanford University entered new areas such as art history, politics identifies where the law is inadequate and and MIT. “This project isn’t about making and contemporary issues, while continuing proposes how it can be improved. small improvements in fuel efficiency,” she to produce major books in New Zealand explains. “We are looking at the whole design history, archaeology, biography and memoir, process and integration of systems from and on Māori and Pacific topics. These aerodynamics, to better controls, and smart have contributed to the understanding New computer systems, to dramatically change Zealanders have of themselves. the way an aircraft uses fuel. The key thing is She sought books of depth and originality there isn’t a single technology which is going which are accessible to the thoughtful reader. to achieve the results we want,” she says. She also moved AUP into electronic and Karen is pursuing her research while on internet publishing, putting out collections sabbatical in the Department of Engineering of Māori waiata and contemporary poetry Science and says she is thrilled to be back with CDs and working with the NZ Electronic working alongside the academics who taught Poetry Centre. her the fundamentals of Engineering Science. Stop press: as we go to print, Karen has learnt that she has made it on to a

8 | The University of Auckland Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 9 ALUMNI

She’s a fast talker Alumna Selina Tusitala Marsh is opening doors into Pacific literature. She talks to Tess Redgrave.

“I’m a fast talkin’ PI collection, which comes with a CD and is I’m a power walkin’ PI dedicated to her mother, she tells tales I’m a demographic, hieroglyphic fact- about her life as an academic and a mother, sheetin’ PI” about mixed ancestry, history and about her It’s a late summer’s evening and a large favoured creative place as “a darling in the crowd has gathered at the University’s Fale margins” in a nod to former black American Pasifika for the launch of alumna Selina Tusitala poet and feminist Audre Lorde. Marsh’s first collection of poetry fast talking PI. “Selina is the sassy hip-hop streetwise The 37-year-old Afakasi (part-Samoan or Samoan siren of South Pacific poetry,” says half-caste), dressed in a traditional Samoan acclaimed writer and University of Auckland dress called a Puletasi, chants the title poem Professor and Distinguished Creative Fellow in in time to the strumming of a ukulele. As she Literature, Witi Ihimaera. “Her aesthetics and performs the audience laughs and cheers, indigenous politics are meld-marvellous and her some echoing “PI” after her. ideas will blow you away.” The eight-minute-long performance Selina is a “tusitala” and much more. poem which has entranced audiences from The first Pacific Islander to receive a PhD Mangere to Queensland is inspired by in English at The University of Auckland both American poet Anne Waldman’s “Fast when she graduated in 2005, she is paving speaking woman” and Selina’s mother (Lina the way for Pacific literature, and poetry Tusitala Crosbie) who died at the end of in particular, to come out in the sun and January this year. shine for a wider audience. In many ways publish in English from 1979 onwards. They “Mum was the original fast talker,” she is what she herself calls the “calabash were Jully Makini (Solomon Islands), Grace laughs Selina as we talk in her office in the breakers” in her poem by the same name. Mera Molisa (Vanuatu), Haunani-Kay Trask University’s Department of English. Calabash breakers cross boundaries, “stroke (Hawai’i), Konai Helu Thaman (Tonga), and “One of the memories that inspired this the lines of our stories”, “reign in the dark Momoe Malietoa Von Reiche (Samoa). poem is of when I was a teenager walking hour” and “catch bigger suns”. “These women were all basically making to school with my friends and Mum drove After being head girl at Avondale College known the parallels between a feminist past in her little roofless sports car – she in 1988, Selina began her study at The agenda and post-colonial agenda,” explains was quite a non-conformist Samoan – and University of Auckland with a BA in English Selina. “They were saying the power she yelled out ‘rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr’.” Selina and then went on to an MA for which she structures we critique in this colonial system imitates her mother speaking so fast that I studied the films of Whoopi Goldberg looking are reproduced in our cultures so we need to can’t understand a thing she says. at black, feminist theory. not only empower the nation but we need to “My friends looked at me and said ‘Was “But then I realised I was going round see that as connected to the empowerment of your mother speaking in English?’ ‘Yeah!’ I the globe looking at black women’s work women and children. replied and they went: ‘What’d she say?’ and when I was living in supposedly the largest “In a post-colonial era men took over the I went ‘Selina, the key’s under the door mat, Polynesian city in the world … and where positions of power in the Pacific and the the Crunchie bar’s on the bench, don’t fight were the critical writings about Pacific women and children still had no voice. Poetry with your sister, listen to your brother’. women’s literature?” was used as a political voice. These women “‘Oh man’, my friends said, ‘she’s a fast So when it came to choosing a topic for were all quite remarkable boundary-breakers.” talker…’” her PhD, Selina decided to uncover the huge After marrying David (also a Afakasi Selina does not talk as fast as her mother critical silences surrounding Pacific Island who like Selina has a Samoan mother and (though she can when she wants to), but literatures, especially literature by women Palagi father) Selina spent two years during nonetheless she is upholding the tradition and “to meet the challenge that Pacific the early part of her PhD on a Fulbright of the surname Tusitala inherited from her literature generally seemed to be the poor scholarship to Hawai’i University and Samoa. mother’s family (her grandfather was called cousin of English literature proper”. During her thesis research she decided to Tusitala Tusitala). Tusitala, means “writer For her doctoral thesis she began start her family and ironically her three sons of tales” but is more commonly translated researching the work of five “first generation” provided the final motivational thrust to as “teller of tales” and in Selina’s poetry Pacific women poets who had begun to complete her PhD.

10 | The University of Auckland Selina Tusitala Marsh at Pasifika with members of the Nuiean Avatele Liku family. Image: Dean Carruthers.

“I remember when I first became pregnant holistic indigenous epistemology with which fast talking PI I chant to the music and a male colleague said to me you can say to approach text as opposed to an exclusive people laugh here and there, or clap a little goodbye to your PhD now,” recalls Selina. “I linear one.” bit. At Southern Cross I couldn’t even get was so upset and I thought – I’ll show you.” Selina has also pioneered the development through the second stanza because the And show them she did. Selina finished of a Pasifika poetry sister site on the New students were screaming so loudly at me her thesis “Ancient banyans, flying foxes and Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre hosted at about the kind of PI they were. white ginger: Five Pacific women writers” in the University (www.nzepc.auckland.ac.nz/ “I had been sitting there thinking I hope 2004 concluding that like the multiplying pasifika/index.asp). It features interviews and I can touch these students. I hope they banyan tree “exploring and analysing works videos of performance by poets like Tusiata don’t see me as representative of an elite that have largely been ignored … and Avia, Albert Wendt, Robert Sullivan, Sia Figiel institution that they are never going to get uncovering the ‘roots’ of Pacific women’s and Sina Va`ai, Professor of English at The to. But it was amazing … the normally eight literature, inevitably aids in fostering new National University of Samoa. minute-long spoken word poem took about roots, new growth, new lines of poetic For Selina the Pasifika website is a tool for 15 minutes because after each stanza I had inquiry, and more importantly, new poems”. teaching and is also part of her outreach into to stop and let the screaming and cheering In May 2005 Selina graduated the same the Pacific communities of Auckland. As well die down.” day her eldest son Javan was in Starship as her academic work she talks and performs A few days after her book launch Selina Hospital receiving donor bone tissue to fill in schools when asked and has just joined Tusitala Marsh was again out in the in a tumour found the previous Christmas. the Faculty of Arts’ Schools Partnership team community, this time performing “fast talking That year she also joined the University’s as a Pasifika representative. PI” at Auckland’s Pasifika 2009. Department of English as a lecturer. Now, By all accounts her streetwise, performance- “Bloodless coup jimmy choos as well as teaching a Pacific Poetry masters style poetry resonates with the people she Lover blood clot melting pot course, in this year’s second semester she wants to reach. Last November she gave the Shark-toothed brothers let loose is introducing a new stage three Pacific prize-giving speech and a performance at the White Sunday lippy BA literature paper called Te Torino (the spiral). Southern Cross Campus in Mangere. I’m a fast talkin’ PI”. “The course examines Mäori and Pacific “It was the most incredible performance,” literature and uses the spiral as a theoretical she remembers, her smile widening, Ingenio has five copies of Selina’s book to paradigm to approach the texts,” she “especially the call and response between give away to the first readers who email explains. “The spiral symbolises a more audience and poet. Normally when I read the editor at: [email protected]

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 11 RESEARCH

12 | The University of Auckland From dinosaurs to Mr Darcy Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been called “the best single idea anyone ever had”. Judy Wilford speaks to a diverse selection of evolutionary researchers across the University about Darwin’s continuing influence.

Pictured from left: Allen Rodrigo and Brian Boyd.

hink of Charles Darwin and what I predict that this gap will barely exist by 2059 was informed by a new body of knowledge leaps to mind? Fossils, finches and and that the theory of evolution will be the about genetics. “Darwin had always struggled T the Galapagos Islands? Primates and hinge connecting these two vast planes of with the question of what was the mechanism humans? The missing link? human endeavour.” for heritability. Understanding of genetics How about Hepatitis B and HIV, the Allen and Brian stand, in this sense, at provided a framework for looking at the existence of which Darwin never dreamed either end of the spectrum of evolutionary evolutionary processes.” about; or the songs of the New Zealand researchers at The University of Auckland. Now Allen believes we are on the cusp of saddleback, which he probably never heard; Allen’s concern, at the scientific end, spans a new revolution, which will require a new or even the invention of the outrigger canoe, a the fields of bioinformatics and evolutionary framework, a new way of conceptualising the technological prerequisite for the great waves biology, looking to answer questions on the type of data that need to be collected and of migration across the Pacific Ocean over a nature and rates of evolution and to create a the conclusions that may be drawn from it. period of 5,000 years. framework for analysing and gaining insights This, he believes, should incorporate a way of Take it further and think of the novels of from the vast amounts of genetic data that predicting evolutionary processes, allowing Jane Austen, the murals of Michelangelo, or can now be gathered, thanks to recent biologists to look forward as well as back. the brilliantly zany picture books of Dr Seuss, dramatic advances in technology. The challenge for Allen and his team is to relished as much by the parents who read The focus of interest for Brian is on the help develop this framework by studying the them aloud as by the children entranced by evolution of art, and especially the art of constraints on evolution and the rates at the stories of The Cat in the Hat and Horton storytelling, as a human behaviour; on the which organisms can evolve. Hears a Who! vital importance of the imagination in the His specialisation in the evolution of What draws these together is that they survival and advance of the human species; fast-growing viruses such as FIV (Feline all form part of research taking place at on the role of pretend play and storytelling Immunodeficiency Virus) and Hepatitis B gives The University of Auckland, spread across in strengthening the imagination; and on him the chance to contribute to this. a number of departments and faculties, how an understanding of human nature as “Viruses change very rapidly and therefore involving dozens of eminent researchers, but it has evolved clarifies what's at stake in can provide a kind of laboratory for evolutionary all based on concepts that originated with fiction. “Mate choice” for instance is central processes,” says Allen. ”The changes they Darwin - and with most of the investigators to natural selection and to Darwin's other key evolve through over 20 years are equivalent to using the approaches and methods developed theory, sexual selection. Seeing the choices of changes in animals over five hundred million in evolutionary biology. partner Jane Austen's heroines make in the “Darwin’s writings on evolution were context of evolutionary pressures can cast a revolutionary, igniting a scientific and social surprising new light on these novels and help powder keg whose reverberations can still explain their universal appeal despite their In 1959, physicist be felt today,” says Professor Allen Rodrigo restricted social range. from the School of Biological Sciences. “His Allen Rodrigo has been hooked on diversity and novelist CP Snow legacy has extended beyond biology, beyond since his childhood in Singapore, a nation deplored the gap between natural science and into the humanities and with a rich mix of traditions and beliefs. the sciences and the social sciences.” What he later found fascinating, during his “Science and the arts or humanities seem undergraduate studies at a time of rapid humanities. I predict that like very different enterprises with different advances in computing, was the “emergence this gap will barely exist directions and standards,” says Distinguished of process and pattern from apparently Professor Brian Boyd from the Department of random and variable biological data by using by 2059 and that the English, a world-renowned literary figure who mathematics and statistics”. And of course, theory of evolution will earned his fame through his work on Vladimir this diversity is precisely the base on which be the hinge connecting Nabokov and other Russian writers. “In 1959, natural selection depends. physicist and novelist CP Snow deplored the Evolution took a great leap forward in the these two vast planes of gap between the sciences and the humanities. 1930s, Allen explains, when evolutionary theory human endeavour.

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 13 RESEARCH

years, which is the time it took for an animal to evolve from a simple sponge-like ancestor.” Already he and his colleagues are able to predict the kinds of changes that can be seen in a virus when a drug is administered - or when it is taken away. They are now beginning to understand the differing responses in the hosts to the viruses. “It turns out we can predict by looking at the signature of evolution of a virus in a patient whether the patient is going to live for a long or a short time, whether he or she is going to clear the virus or co-exist with it.” Every human patient, it is now understood, has a different immunotype. Allen’s current work, with Dr Bill Abbot, is to look at how the Hepatitis B virus changes according to the different immunotypes within a particular population of humans. The other huge – and related – challenge Russell Gray on the roof of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, a structure exemplifying one of the many for Allen and his colleagues is to find parallels between evolutionary and cultural advances: that both can carry, alongside the change that is of meaningful ways of analysing the vast direct adaptive benefit (in this case the arches that support the structure), other changes that are by-products amounts of data now becoming available. of that change but may also prove to have uses of their own (in this case the “spandrels” or intervals “It took 15 years to sequence the first between the arches, often used as spaces for murals). Photograph by Matteo Mameli. human genome,” he says. “Now, with the great advance in technology since 2004, we “The appeal of physical play helps animals centre of her novels which is also at the centre are gathering and sequencing phenomenal develop the skills to cope better with key of evolution: mate selection”. amounts of data from entirely different behaviours. In the same way the cognitive Strategies men use for selecting mates environments – for example, the marine play of art helps us produce and process and criteria females use for evaluating men environment, the soil, and the gut. The new information in our key human modes of sight are surprisingly similar across the world, he technology has made it possible to sequence and sound and sociality.” says, with both males and females placing a human’s genome in less than three months. Storytelling has a particular contribution to “kindness” and “intelligence” top of their lists, We can now sequence a mammoth genome. make, he adds, in supplying examples to help while “access to resources” comes next for We have the science to construct extinct solve problems of cooperation. “Good stories women and “good looks” for men. species. What we haven’t yet got is the high- communicate, in memorable and emotionally “It has been said in anthropological and level framework to ask the right questions saturated forms, ideas of sociality that will cultural studies that there are no constants in of this great array of data. We see the tidal help make a society more cohesive and male/female relations, that romantic love is wave approaching and we are frantically therefore successful.” a Western invention. Some people have even trying to build our canoe.” In a social world based on cooperation as claimed it was invented by the troubadours well as competition, human beings need to be in the 12th century. That is quite firmly rian Boyd faces two tasks as he looks at able to understand “not just the actions but also disproved by neurological and comparative literary evolution. the desires, the intentions and even the beliefs psychological evidence. People everywhere B One, discussed in the first half of of others”. Biologists believe that the need to have romantic attachments, as do animals his new book On the Origin of Stories, is understand others has been one of the drivers that have monogamous relationships.” to examine art and storytelling from the of our evolution towards high intelligence. What distinguishes Jane Austen from other perspective of natural selection, asking the The second task for Brian – forming the writers, says Brian, is her “brilliance at people evolutionary questions: “Is art adaptive? Does focus of the second half of his book – is to look reading people. it have hard benefits in terms of evolutionary at the evolution of sociability and cooperation “She sets up a simple little incident that competition? Does it actually mean we survive through specific texts, and to analyse what characters will read in half a dozen different and reproduce at higher rates than those who makes a story appealing to its audience. ways. And we will be able to deduce so much have a lesser inclination to art?” The texts he chose were Homer’s Odyssey about the characters by the way they read Says Brian: “I would argue that it does. and Dr Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who!, the first an incident or by the way they read others A work of art acts like a playground for the selected to show “how sophisticated stories reading the incident. And of course the time mind: a swing or a slide or a merry-go-round could be, even almost at the beginning of we’re most intensely scrutinising others is of visual or aural or social patterns. Like play, alphabetic writing”, and the second “to show when we’re choosing a partner for life, and so art succeeds by engaging and rewarding a work of genius aimed at an audience as the urgency or the exactitude with which we attention, since the more frequent and young as possible in biological development”. have to read others goes up. And that is the intense our response, the more powerful the Brian has also analysed some of the work of key to Jane Austen’s success.” neural consequences. Jane Austen with a focus on “something at the Strong support for this line of thinking

14 | The University of Auckland comes from world-renowned primatologist the Polynesian populations, but also in a study represents a form of cultural evolution. Dr Frans de Waal – 2009 Robb Lecturer at of the evolution of bacteria carried in their “Russell Gray is the one who led the The University of Auckland – whose work on digestive tracts. way on studies of this kind,” says Associate primate behaviour has convinced him of the “By analysing linguistic and cultural data Professor David Bryant from the Department power of empathy as a tool of survival for all using computational methods, we are able of Mathematics. “He showed how we could primates, including humans. to integrate inferences from genetic and use technology from biology to model the way Of the economics of cooperation, archaeological data. So taking an evolutionary languages have developed and spread. Other Frans has this to say: “The whole [current] framework enables us to formally synthesise researchers were inspired by his success to economic crisis is because people have too different lines of evidence to give a more look at other cultural artefacts in this way.” much belief in competitive principles and robust picture of our past,” says Russell. For David himself, who has expertise in music that’s not really in accordance with how He also sees the evolutionary framework as well as mathematics, it seemed a natural human nature is designed. as “an immensely powerful tool for giving next move to attempt to analyse the patterns of “I think human beings have a highly remarkable insights into how cultural music, for example in the rhythms of drumming cooperative society. That’s how we survive. advances have been shaped by important or hand-clapping, to see if these could also be Our economy is based on reciprocity and technological inventions”. said to “evolve” and to discover what this could cooperation, and in that context it is important For example it was the quantitative reveal about the movement of peoples. to work out how others feel, what they want language trees, with their clear revelation This study (of hand-clap rhythms in the west and how they will respond to us.” of the pulses and pauses of migration, of Africa) brought some insights which David All of these researchers agree that which confirmed the vital importance of hoped could later be applied in the South the one great thing about Darwin’s vision is the outrigger canoe. After a thousand-year Pacific. The study is now on hold, awaiting its generality. pause it was the invention of this technology collection of more data and the development “Evolution is possible,” says Allen Rodrigo, “in that allowed for the movement of peoples of more powerful frameworks for analysing any system that has heritable traits that may from Taiwan to the Philippines over 350 it. However, David, who uses his skills as an confer an advantage, mutation and competition. kilometres of strongly north-flowing seas, and applied mathematician and statistician to Language therefore fits those criteria, as do the subsequent rapid expansion over 7,000 create the tools needed by other evolutionary knowledge systems and religions.” kilometres to the outer edges of Polynesia – in researchers, is convinced of the value And indeed Professor Russell Gray from the just 1,000 years. within a university of exploring a variety of Department of Psychology is using the tools of perspectives on the same questions. evolutionary biology to gain profound insights Russell Gray believes the University is in a field where opposing theories have been now in a “great position to build on its hotly contested over more than 200 years. wonderful strengths in evolutionary biology”. For work published in Nature in 2003, Researchers have already begun discussing causing quite strong ripples across the the feasibility of a cross-campus course, academic world, Russell and his colleagues bringing together students from arts (such as used the tools of evolutionary biology to trace anthropology, ethnomusicology, history and the origin and diffusion of Indo European literature), from sciences (such as biology, languages through detailed comparison of mathematics, physics and computer science) NZ Saddleback. data from different languages formalised Photo: Dianne Brunton. and from bio-medical sciences, who share an through the creation of phylogenetic trees. interest in evolution. Their conclusion was that these languages Other research using similar tools is a study So what is it that evolutionists have in originated around Anatolia some 8,500 years of the evolution of bird song in separated common, given the variety of their interests ago, which “fits precisely with archaeological populations of the endangered New Zealand and disciplines? evidence on the origins and spread of saddleback, conducted by PhD student Louis “First,” says Allen Rodrigo, “most share a agricultural settlements”, says Russell, and Ranjard with his supervisor Dr Howard Ross fascination with the diversity that lies at the could rule out the competing theory that the from the School of Biological Sciences in centre of evolutionary theory.” languages spread much later, “by conquest, collaboration with Associate Professor Dianne And second? and after the horse was domesticated”. Brunton (Massey). “Of all the biological disciplines, evolution In work published in Science in March this The song of birds is an interesting study for is the one that most encourages philosophical year, the insights – just as dramatic – were evolutionists, since it combines inherited and thought. ‘What does this mean in the context closer to home, with language trees built learned behaviour. of who we are? What is human nature? Is from detailed comparison of key words “Songbirds learn their song,” says Howard. consciousness unique to the human condition? from 400 Austronesian languages giving “Though they have a genetic template for song, How can we envisage a God?’ So someone a precise picture of a rapid migration from that is not sufficient. Birds raised in the absence who grows up thinking about those issues is Taiwan to Polynesia over the last 5,000 of song will sing, but it won’t make sense.” likely to be drawn to evolution.” years. This is again very much in line with Louis’s study has shown that even over 40 He thinks again: “Or physics.” the archaeological data, and bears strong years – the longest period of separation of the parallels with the genetic information that four saddleback populations being studied – is emerging not only from the study of measurable differences have already emerged mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome in from their patterns of song. This probably

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 15 CAMPAIGN

This is the first in a series on the future of the University and the 2012 “Leading the way” Campaign – where vision, strategic planning and philanthropy meet. Transforming Grafton Campus A major redevelopment of Grafton Campus is underway. Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Iain Martin shows the plans to Louise Callan.

Iain Martin looks at concept drawings in his office.

16 | The University of Auckland rofessor Iain Martin is a happy man. formal opening, Iain Martin had a stream of completed for just a year. Since taking over as Dean of the Faculty staff who will be moving into the new labs Since then academic units have been set up P of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS) passing by his office, smiles on their faces, at Auckland City Hospital, Greenlane, in 2005, the goal of creating an environment thrilled with their new facilities. Even better, Middlemore and Waikato hospitals and most that helps attract and retain the best and the laboratory development had been recently in Northland. Schools of Nursing and brightest in staff and students on the Grafton completed on budget and on time. Iain gives Pharmacy were introduced and accredited, Campus has occupied much of his time. credit to Peter Fehl and his team at Property the Liggins Institute established as the “It was the first project we started when I Services for this achievement, together with University’s first large-scale research institute, arrived,” he says as he spreads rolls of the architects and contractors who have and the School of Population Health opened architectural and design plans. “I looked delivered what he calls a superb new space. at the University’s Tamaki Campus. around and rapidly came to the conclusion He sees it as a reassuring beginning to the Today 3200 equivalent full-time students that a radical redevelopment of the Grafton undertaking, particularly because it has been are studying at FMHS with 800 staff and 600 Campus was required.” at the most complex end of such a project – a honorary clinical teachers. The faculty’s In his temporary offices overlooking the often refurbishment of a 40-year-old building with clinical teaching spreads from Kaitaia in clogged entrances to the southern and north all the unknowns that entails. Approximately Northland south to Rotorua, while medical western motorways, rolls of working drawings half of the cost of the development will go to students from overseas have been part of the are always at hand. Working alongside the refurbishing existing buildings. student body since 1984. Director of Property Services, Peter Fehl, he has Iain’s decision to re-create the faculty’s passed barely a week in the last three years principal campus was based on three main without spending time on the task. issues – capacity, capability and the In March, this drive and commitment aesthetics of environment. We are about people, produced results. The Vice-Chancellor, “We are about people, and that has to be Professor Stuart McCutcheon, announced that number one, two, three on the faculty’s list of and that has to be the University Council had agreed to a major priorities,” he says. “To recruit the very best number one, two, three redevelopment of the Grafton Campus which staff and students, we need an environment on the faculty’s list of houses most of the Medical and Health that makes them feel a valued part of the Sciences Faculty and part of the Faculty of faculty and University, and that makes the priorities. Science (Optometry). Work will take place over most of what we have to offer. Grafton the next four years at an estimated cost of Campus is lacking in that respect currently When Iain talks lack of capacity, the $240 million. It includes refurbishment of the and certainly has little if any potential left for increase in numbers alone leaves little need existing buildings to provide high quality future expansion.” for explanation. “Capability” problems have research laboratory space, a major upgrade of It is more than 120 years since the first emerged from the enormous changes in the central plant and infrastructure, most of it vestige of medical training was introduced in teaching, training and the dissemination of now 40 years old, and the construction of new Auckland with the appointment of a lecturer information. Research, too, has changed out space to provide extended student facilities to in Anatomy at what was then a college of the of all recognition. Teams now are much bigger accommodate the School of Pharmacy, School University of New Zealand. The previous year, and there is a huge load on the building’s of Nursing, faculty administration and the 1883, one of the University’s first support services and infrastructure, designed Liggins Institute. philanthropists, Dr Thomas Moore Philson, for a very different way of working: some At the beginning of April, in a taste of the had donated his retirement fund of 270 parts of the building can no longer be used development to come, the first component of sovereigns (worth $95,900 today) to provide because they cannot be serviced properly. the campus redevelopment, a new purpose- books for medical students in Auckland. The “The University has recognised these needs built research laboratory complex, was opened Philson Library still carries his name. It would and has supported the project,” says Iain. “At on level five of the current FMHS block, home be another 80-plus years before the the same time we are looking for the to a cluster of some 150 researchers. curriculum for a School of Medicine was opportunity to partner with friends and This first stage of the grand project was developed and the first Dean, Professor Cecil supporters who wish to be associated with this undertaken ahead of the main build because Lewis, appointed. In 1974, the first cohort of very exciting development.” the pressure and need for a dedicated space students graduated from the school – 53 in He describes the project as an evolution, the was so great. In the weeks preceding the all. The new Grafton Campus had been next stage in the development of the faculty.

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 17 CAMPAIGN

work better and to meet modern operating students also requires more direct standards; a significant upgrading of plants and philanthropic support. High on the faculty’s Our work has to make infrastructural support; a general refurbishment list is repatriation fellowships to attract of the bulk of the existing buildings; and a new talented early to mid-career researchers back a difference, otherwise building in Boyle Crescent which will house part to Auckland by offering them a package of there’s no point. And the of the Liggins Institute, two new lecture support that might include a post doctoral numbers show that we theatres, the nursing and pharmacy schools, fellow and laboratory costs. optometry and administration. Other staffing needs requiring support are have an impact. But perhaps the most visible transformation more area-specific – professorial-level will be in the area around the front of the positions in cancer biology, genetics and “It is challenging. We are not designing the current building on Park Road. Parking will clinical genetics, paediatric oncology, buildings in a way that is fixed around the work move underground with the old hard surface immunology and pharmaceutical sciences. On we are doing now, but for what may happen in courtyard softened and greened with planting, the student side there is an ongoing need for the future. If we look back, there is no way providing a connection to the trees and green scholarships for honours students and people would have foreseen where we are of the Auckland Domain across the road. Entry postgraduates. now; there is no reason to see us as any to the main faculty complex will be through a The end point is in the faculty’s mission smarter than them. I don’t want someone to light, airy, glassed atrium. The Dean believes statement: To improve the health and come back in ten years time and say, ‘What the new environment will have a huge impact. wellbeing of our local, national and global did they think they were doing!’” “It really will be a campus that will have a communities through excellence in teaching, His task, he says, quoting French author great working feel about it for staff and research and service. It is re-stated in two of Antoine de Saint Exupéry, “is not to foresee students. It will equal anything in Australia, the strategic goals of the University’s “Leading the future but to enable it”. important given that this is where we the way” Campaign launched last November: At present the shape of things to come is frequently lose staff to.” the health of the nation and the development laid out in page after page of schematics and The new improved working environment of our children. drawings schematics anddrawings from the with all its extended capabilities is still only “Our work has to make a difference,” says Iain, development’s architects, JASMAX of Auckland one half of the equation in raising the faculty “otherwise there’s no point. And the numbers and Daryl Jackson Architects Pty Ltd from to the next level of excellence in scholarship, show that we have an impact. We are ranked Melbourne. They show the reorganisation of the learning and research. The ability to recruit 26th in the world in biomedical research. We loading dock and basement to make the space and retain the best and brightest in staff and already punch well above our weight.”

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The University of Auckland Grafton Campus

18 | The University of Auckland OPINION

Doing business better

t a recent business lunch my host, a the spectrum researchers in our Retirement senior member of a large industry Policy Centre are developing a web-based A organisation, leaned earnestly across platform for the aged to enhance their ability the table and inquired “What is the purpose of to manage their retirement savings. the Business School? Don’t tell me teaching and Facilitating entrepreneurship. In just six research”, he said. “I am not interested in your years the UABS entrepreneurial ecosystem activities; I am interested in your purpose.” has transformed programmes and lives. I reflected momentarily because it is easy SPARK, a student-managed initiative, has to fall into the trap of telling people what we led to the creation of at least 35 companies. do, not why we do it. These have raised over $43 million in capital Ultimately a university’s role is “the and grants, created more than 170 jobs betterment of the human condition”. A for New Zealanders and now sell products/ scientist might do this by inventing a new services in over 20 countries. Many of these vaccine or cure, a medical specialist a new companies are at the forefront of technology. procedure, an engineer a new device. These For example, Coda Therapeutics (revolutionary things are relatively easy to see or recognise wound healing), Power by Proxi (inductive and few would question their value. The power technology), Brightminds (affordable business scholar’s purpose is no different. ways of treating children with mental Business is the principal engine of economic health problems), INRO (robotic forklifts), compulsory internship/research component growth, employment creation and prosperity; Transfercar (cost effective car relocation for that has proved enormously successful. the vehicle for improving “living standards” rental companies), Guinea Pigs (pioneering Enhancing national productivity. Our and the “quality of life” not just for individuals ways in which patients for clinical trials can Centre for Supply Chain Management is but for entire societies. In the midst of today’s be found faster and at lower cost) and Scrubs embarking on a study of the freight task and economic crisis there would surely be few who (a website aimed at increasing the retention infrastructure capacity in the upper North do not believe that better business practices of doctors in New Zealand and improving the Island with a view to improving the efficiency (if not also values and ethics) are required to quality of its healthcare). and productivity of an essential component of move things forward. Complementary to the UABS ecosystem is New Zealand’s supply chain. The study of business matters. Learning The ICEHOUSE, one of New Zealand’s most Addressing environmental challenges. how to “build” or “do” business better matters. successful business accelerators (see profile of Our Energy Centre is working with industry Better business models, better business the ICEHOUSE on page 20). Since 2001 The on renewable energy (including hydro and processes, a better fit between people and ICEHOUSE has worked with 65 start-ups who geothermal) as well as with the forestry sector tasks, improved productivity, better decisions have raised over $30 million in capital and on carbon sinks aimed at addressing some of and better regulatory and policy frameworks created over 280 new jobs. Some 40 firms the challenges created by the Kyoto protocol are just a few of the foundations we need have also been helped along their growth (work this team recently had the opportunity to build “a bridge to a better world”. And path by consulting projects of 300 hours to present to Cabinet). therein lies our purpose. Business education is provided free of charge by student teams from Capacity building. The School has recently a powerful agent for change, for generating our recently re-engineered MBA programme. assumed responsibility for the New Zealand insights through engagement with ideas and The launch of The University of Auckland Asia Institute and is refocusing its attention knowledge, for questioning today’s practices Business School’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, on enhancing the capability of New Zealand to help generate tomorrow’s answers, for with a $3m gift from New Zealand organisations to engage productively engaging with and making a difference to philanthropist and businessman Charles with Asia and, in light of the Free Trade business practices and the communities in Bidwill, will assist New Zealand businesses that Agreement, particularly China. which we live. have reached a critical point in their growth In short, the Business School – our people Presently students and staff of The and development to move to the next stage. and our programmes (both teaching and University of Auckland Business School (UABS) Growing the nation’s pool of business- research) – is increasingly engaging with, and are engaged in a variety of initiatives of real savvy scientists. Born out of SPARK, Chiasma, making a difference to our community. In social and economic benefit to this nation. To another student-led initiative, builds a bridge doing so we are helping build that “bridge to illustrate we are: between the biological sciences and the a better world”. Building the nation’s financial literacy. biotech industry. And in a unique alliance A group of students who are social the Business School, the School of Biological Professor Greg Whittred is Dean of The entrepreneurs have developed and are Sciences and the Law School, in partnership University of Auckland Business School and delivering financial literacy programmes in with industry and NZTE, have developed a is on The ICEHOUSE board of directors and low-decile high schools. At the other end of Master of Bioscience Enterprise that has a the New Zealand Leadership Institute.

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 19 ALUMNI

In 2003 MCom was a small, innovative Growing business company run by two West Aucklanders who were aiming to provide mobile phone financial services to banks and mobile network The ICEHOUSE is New Zealand’s premier business operators in New Zealand and Australia. growth centre. Its CEO, alumnus Andrew Hamilton, Today MCom is consistently rated the number one brand in the global market. gives Tess Redgrave the inside story. It provides mobile banking and mobile payments software to some of the world’s biggest banks such as Westpac, Credit Agricole, Washington Mutual, Bangkok Bank and GE Money, and it has penetrated markets in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the Middle East and South East Asia.

In 2001 Trevor Hamilton owned two dairy farms producing 300,000 kilograms of milk solids. Today Trevor’s company Dairy Farming Business owns seven farms, four in the South Island and three in the North Island. With a total of 5,200 milking cows, it will produce two million kilograms of milk solids for the 2009-2010 season. Over the past eight From right: James Madelin and Naomi Wiggins of Orbis, and Andrew Hamilton.

20 | The University of Auckland sk why these three companies have and create a learning environment that would been so successful and you will find help owners and managers transform their A they have one key ingredient in companies. common. They have all been through The To see The ICEHOUSE in action today, ICEHOUSE – an Auckland-based business Ingenio met CEO and alumnus Andrew growth centre founded in 2001 by The Hamilton (BCom 1993, LLB (Hons) 1995) at the University of Auckland Business School and company’s warehouse-style offices at the Textile funded through endowments from New Centre in Parnell. Zealand and international companies such as As we talk, members of the 12 start-up BNZ, The Boston Consulting Group, Telecom, companies currently on the books at The and Microsoft, HP, Ernst & Young and Minter ICEHOUSE come and go from circular hubs Ellison Rudd Watts. nearby. “That guy there is a developer for a Since its beginning, the ICEHOUSE has company working on an occupational health put 65 start-up companies through its ICE product,” explains Andrew. “Over there Accelerator incubation programme and over they’ve developed a professional photography 2,000 owner/manager companies from as far add-on called ‘The Orbis Ringflash’, which is away as Australia through unique ICE Bridge now being marketed globally.” learning and development programmes. Its Andrew, 40, has been CEO of The investor group ICE Angels has invested some ICEHOUSE since its inception and is clearly $16 million in start-up companies to date and a driving force in its success. A one-time the company’s ambitious overall strategic aim car-cleaner for Michael Fay while on his OE is to deliver to New Zealand 70 internationally in San Diego during the 1991-92 America’s capable companies per year to 2014, driving Cup campaign, Andrew worked for Russell the country into the top half of the OECD. McVeagh, Skellerup, Masport and was The idea for The ICEHOUSE originally director of Fletcher Building’s venture capital emerged after David Irving, a former chief arm before joining The ICEHOUSE. Today he executive of Heinz Wattie’s and honorary is also director of Start-Up Media – a multi- Professor of Enterprise and Management at media platform organisation focused in the the University’s Business School, went on a online start-up and eCommerce markets’; is programme for senior executives at Stanford Chair of the Angel Association New Zealand; University in the US. a director of ANZATECH which guides “I came back thinking we need a companies into Silcon Valley, USA; and is programme like that for owner/managers in deputy chair of the Auckland Metro Project to New Zealand,” recalls David who immediately make the region a more innovative place. set about designing a programme. He is passionate about New Zealand “The first question I asked myself was: business and says he is deeply rooted to the years, the company has had 60 percent ‘What troubles the owner/manager the most?’ New Zealand cause. “When I was younger compounding growth in net worth. The answer is loneliness and not knowing I aligned myself to New Zealand sporting In 2005 Grant Sargent, a technician in what they don’t know. Most have no planning success but now I’m more focused on the the Faculty of Engineering’s Robotics and and have learnt how to run their business business success of our owner/managers and Intelligent Systems research laboratory and on the street. They are also unlikely to trust entrepreneurs. Making a difference to New Glen Slater, who has a Master of International anyone to help them.” Zealand is the oxygen that keeps me going.” Business from Waikato University, teamed At the same as David was focused on “New Zealand is a highly creative nation,” up with a group of enthusiastic University of owner/managers, businesswoman and alumna he adds, “but we’re not an innovative nation Auckland Engineering students to establish Bridget Wickham (MA 1974, BCom 1987) was because we haven’t turned those ideas into a pioneering robotics company (see story in looking at setting up an incubator for start-up businesses that create wealth in global terms.” Ingenio, Autumn 2006, page 12). companies from The University of Auckland. And this global perspective is where The Today their robotic forklift company “We both had ties to the University and the ICEHOUSE is focused. called INRO is partly owned by Stephen Business School, but we knew that we needed to Most start-up companies that join the Tindall of The Warehouse and KIWI, create something that linked us into Auckland incubator have got an idea for a product Fonterra, smart angel investors and venture City,” explains David, who in March handed and want to make sure it’s viable, explains capitalist partners. It has a factory base at over the chairmanship of The ICEHOUSE to Andrew. “They’ll spend three to six months Penrose and currently has a $600,000 FRST new chairman Greg Cross, previously the CEO working on that with us. Half the companies research grant to work on advanced vehicle responsible for driving growth in revenues and who come in here don’t last six months automation that could revolutionise the market share for Microsoft and Advantage because they work out their product isn’t efficiency of industrial supply chains. Last Group. “So the Business School founded going to fly. If an idea is viable then they’ll summer the company hosted five engineering The ICEHOUSE with what I like to call non- spend another six to seven months with us interns from The University of Auckland. competing, competitive partners.” developing the idea and getting it into the The vision then was to foster new start-ups market in New Zealand. During the second

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 21 ALUMNI

processors, growers and farmers. “All new companies have to find capital We both had ties “I took the Agribusiness Programme at somewhere,” adds Glen “and no new a time when my business was changing entrepreneur has the slightest idea where to the University and fast and I needed to upskill and learn staff to start. The ICEHOUSE has a whole suite the Business School, but management and business growth skills,” says of training and tools for companies, but in we knew that we needed Trevor Hamilton, owner/manager of Dairying the end the single most valuable is how to Farming Business. take the first steps in capital-raising. With to create something “The course taught me to let a deal go ICEHOUSE training, we were able to raise that linked us into by if the returns didn’t stack up and made over $3million in 2007.” me more aggressive to growth within the Glen says associating with The ICEHOUSE Auckland City. business. I was able to set forward planning gave INRO credit when dealing with goals and it is fair to say The ICEHOUSE customers and with government funding. “We year they’ll start looking off-shore.” gave me more confidence. Networking with were clearly a group of young, inexperienced The ICEHOUSE has 12 permanent staff in motivated people has had a major effect and guys with a new business – the fact we marketing, sales and delivery. It then has a tends to inspire one further I think.” were in The ICEHOUSE was a risk-reducing vast base of networks and contacts including On average, says Andrew Hamilton, the factor for our investors, our customers, and more than 100 mentors drawn from the owner/managers going through ICEHOUSE government agencies such as FRST or NZTE.” Business School and wider New Zealand programmes are growing their Earnings Before This year the Business School, with help business community. Income Tax (EBIT) 31 percent per annum. from The ICEHOUSE, is launching another When MCom joined The ICEHOUSE The ICEHOUSE is run as a charitable project that will benefit New Zealand in 2003 for example, CEO Adam Clark trust and maintains a close relationship entrepreneurs. It is the Charles Bidwill/ remembers “the stream of good speakers and with the University’s Business School. One University of Auckland Business School (UABS) advisers that came through The ICEHOUSE of the more interesting initiatives that Entrepreneurial Challenge. who we were able to talk with”. He says has come out of the relationship between “It will be led by the Business School and MCom also benefited from the vast network the two is the University’s annual SPARK project-managed by The ICEHOUSE and will of The ICEHOUSE “and the contacts we were Entrepreneurial Challenge, which aims have investment capital available for a small able to leverage”. to turn first-class ideas into world-class number of New Zealand SMEs (Small to Medium The ICEHOUSE draws on the expertise of the businesses with the first prize a six-month Enterprises) looking to grow,” explains Andrew. University Business School and the wider New residency in the ICE Accelerator programme. Despite the global recession, he Zealand business community to run its unique A company that has flourished as a result of remains optimistic about the growth of ICEBridge owner/manager development SPARK is INRO. It won the 2005 competition entrepreneurship in New Zealand. courses. These account for nearly 70 percent and spent two years at The ICEHOUSE. “Sure it is tough to raise money or get of its business today and by teaching things “We were a bunch of part-timers,” customers generally at the moment,” he admits. like leadership, good management practice, remembers INRO CEO Glen Slater. “We had “But it’s almost bi-polar. The new companies marketing and governance, aim to “help to be: INRO wasn’t really a company at that coming in are insulated while the ones that have owner/managers to identify and overcome stage, so we had to earn a living elsewhere, been here two, three, four years are probably road-blocks, and give them the tools to move finish our studies, and work on the business. suffering more because the capital’s dried up their business forward”. The ICEHOUSE was vital as it was a ‘place and the customers are a bit more reticent.” Among the programmes is a special of work’ that we could come to and know we But, he concludes: “You can choose to be ICEBridge Agribusiness Programme were all there for the same purpose. Without affected by the recession or you can find tailored to the needs of owner/managers of it we would likely have lost focus during opportunities.” agribusinesses, including food and beverage those early years. See: www.theicehouse.co.nz

Make your best business decision. Ever.

The Auckland MBA™ | The NZ Executive MBA The Master of Management | The Postgraduate Diploma in Business

www.gse.auckland.ac.nz | 0800 227 337 22 | The University of Auckland DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS Pictured left: Andrew Grant.

Courage, resilience and ‘mucking in’

he sounds of conch shells and drums “That will require two things. The first is He spoke of three positive attributes that added to a distinctive Pasifika flavour at the creation of a well-educated, adaptive, New Zealanders needed to bring to the Tthis year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards ingenious population – a key role for fore: courage to respond boldly and “punch (DAA) Dinner, where the Samoan Prime universities since we are the major providers above our weight”; our neighbourly spirit and Minister, the Hon Tuilaepa Malielegaoi, and of degree education and of teacher willingness to “muck in”; and resilience. He filmmaker Toa Fraser were among those being education and almost the sole providers of also described three attributes that would honoured. postgraduates. The second is international not be helpful: complacency, or a belief that Some 470 guests, including senior staff, quality research and development, innovation we might be insulated from the international previous DAA winners, donors and friends of and technology transfer. Here too the crisis; “winging it”, or the attitude that an 80 the University, local and central government universities – and particularly The University percent solution would be good enough; and politicians, and media attended the festive of Auckland – are leaders.” meanness of spirit towards others, rather than event, which was organised by External Guest speaker alumnus Andrew Grant (BE backing the agents of change. Relations and held in the Alumni Marquee in 1989), Managing Partner of McKinsey & Co in Video footage from the evening will be the grounds of Old Government House. China, proposed that an appropriate response posted on the Alumni and Friends website DAA recipients the Hon Tuilaepa Malielgaoi, to the economic crisis at this time would be (www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz). This will include former politician Sir Douglas Graham, author a discussion around who we are as a nation the Tu’oro and Mihi; introductory comments Lynley Dodd, and Toa Fraser were led into rather than what we do. from the Director of External Relations, John the marquee with a Cook Islands Tu’oro Referring to research conducted by Taylor; the speeches from the Vice-Chancellor Make your best performance, which was followed by a Mihi. McKinsey & Co, he said that for the world’s and Andrew Grant; citations from the alumni The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart truly great organisations it is less often about orator, Distinguished Professor Brian Boyd; McCutcheon, saluted the achievements of our the “what” and more often about the “who” and the presentation of the awards by Dame DAA recipients and invited guests to also turn of their companies that sees them through in Cath Tizard, Patron of The University of business decision. Ever. their minds to creating an even better future for tough times like these. Auckland Society and Judge David Abbott, the University. He suggested that rather than “It’s the characteristics and mindsets of the President of the Society. A recorded message hunker down through the current economic leaders and the employees, the principles and from DAA recipient Professor Ngaire Woods, crisis, our response should be to minimise harm values that they adhere to, rather than their who received her award in London on 16 to our economy and position ourselves strongly goals, strategies and plans – all important March, will also be available to view. The Auckland MBA™ | The NZ Executive MBA for when economic recovery comes. things no doubt, but not sufficient.” Helen Borne The Master of Management | The Postgraduate Diploma in Business www.gse.auckland.ac.nz | 0800 227 337 Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 23 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS Our 2009 Distinguished Alumni Tales of alleged cheating at the Law School, smashed sculpture and bruised egos at Elam art school, and life-changing learnings were recounted with much humour and nostalgia as the University’s 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented in March.

Lynley Dodd (DipFA 1962 ) Hairy Maclary of Donaldson’s Dairy would Lynley graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts from Elam in 1962. She sit alongside Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat spent five years as an art teacher before embarking on a career as an for memorable childhood literature in many author and illustrator of children’s books in 1973. Three years later she New Zealanders’ minds. The story of the wrote and illustrated her first solo effort, The Nickle Nackle Tree, which canine’s adventures was also the beginning of is still in print, and in 1983 came the first of the series of Hairy Maclary international fame for its author, Lynley Dodd. From Donaldson’s Dairy. Back at the University and Elam School of Lynley is one of New Zealand’s best known authors, her career in Fine Arts for the first time in 50 years, Lynley children’s literature spanning over 30 years and as many books. Lynley’s was “wallowing in nostalgia” at the DAA books have sold over six million copies worldwide. She has received Dinner. She described the dusty sculpture many prizes and accolades including the New Zealand Children’s studios, the smell of oil paint and turps Picture Book of the Year in 1984, 1988 and 1992; the Gaelyn Gordon and her horror one day at discovering that Award for a Much-Loved Book in 2006; and the Margaret Mahy Medal her bust of Julius Caesar’s head had been destroyed by the crash of for Services to Children’s Literature in 1999. In 2002 she was made a someone’s miniature moon rocket. Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

The Rt Hon Sir Douglas Graham (LLB 1966) Like Lynley Dodd, Sir Douglas Graham’s Auckland in 1966. After a 20-year legal career, he entered Parliament association with the University dates back in 1984. In 1990 he was appointed Minister of Justice, overseeing the 50 years. He recalled a Law School that was reform of major company and securities law. A year later he became the “quite tiny”, some hard-earned grades and Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, a role for which a particularly memorable class in Equity in he is widely acknowledged and lauded. which a very stern professor announced that, In 1998 he was appointed to Her Majesty’s Privy Council and was for the very first time in the history of the knighted the following year. In 1999 Sir Douglas retired from politics, Law School, there had been a case of alleged taking up a visiting fellowship at Wolfson College, Cambridge, and cheating. The room froze as the professor a series of directorships. He is currently chairman of OTPP New announced gravely that the students Zealand Forest Investments Ltd, Deputy Chairman of the New Zealand concerned would have to be expelled and Superannuation Fund, Commonwealth Special Envoy to the Kingdom produced the note that had been passed of Tonga, and an associate of The Boardroom Practice Ltd. from one student to another during a term test. It read: “I’ve had an Sir Douglas lectured in the professional legal ethics and advocacy absolute gutsful, I don’t understand any of it, and I’ll see you in The courses at The University of Auckland for ten years. He has been a Grand in five minutes.” member of The University of Auckland Society and a contributor to Sir Douglas graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from The University of alumni scholarships.

The Hon. Tuilaepa Malielegaoi (BCom 1969, MCom 1970) When the Hon. Tuilaepa Malielegaoi gained he was the first Samoan to gain a masters degree in Commerce. He his Master of Commerce degree at The returned to Apia where he spent ten years working in senior roles University of Auckland it was “so that I could for various Samoan ministries. Between 1978 and 1980 he worked go back and start serving my country”. Forty as an expert in trade transport and communication at the General years later, on receiving a DA Award, his Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in commitment to his people is still at the fore. Brussels, Belgium, winning a seat in the Samoan Parliament on his “I consider it an honour to rededicate the return in 1981. award to our people back home, the people Tuilaepa has held ministerial portfolios in Finance, Economic Affairs, whom we serve.” Transport, Police and Tourism and was Deputy Prime Minister between Tuilaepa holds a bachelors and a masters 1988 and 1998. He is currently serving his third term as Prime Minister degree in accounting from The University and, in addition, is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Police and of Auckland. When he graduated in 1970 Minister of Telecommunications.

24 | The University of Auckland Professor Ngaire Woods (BA, LLB(Hons) 1987) Professor Ngaire Woods remembers some International Relations and later a DPhil. She went on to win a “fairly merciless shredding” of her arguments prestigious J. Arthur Rank Research Fellowship at New College back at Law School but suggested that this before accepting a position at Harvard. This was followed by a training may have held her in good stead as fellowship at University College, Oxford. she addressed guests at the DAA Dinner via Ngaire Woods is one of the world’s leading experts on global a recorded video. economic governance. An adviser to the United Nations, World Bank “It was only when I came to Oxford and and International Monetary Fund, Ngaire is Professor of International subsequently taught at Harvard that I was able Political Economy at Oxford University. She is the founder and to look back and realise that The University director of the Global Economic Governance Programme, an of Auckland is a genuinely world-class place. adviser to the UN’s Human Development Report, has served on an Its teaching its students to be rigorous and external evaluation panel for the International Monetary Fund, is a competitive in a way that competes with the board member of the Overseas Development Institute, London, is very top universities in the world.” a governor of the UK’s Ditchley Foundation and an adviser to the A graduate of both the Arts and Law faculties, Professor British Prime Minister on international affairs. She is also a popular Woods holds a BA in Economics and Bachelor of Laws (Hons). She media commentator. successfully applied for a Rhodes Scholarship, studying at Balliol Professor Woods’ DA Award was presented at an Alumni and Friends College, Oxford, where she completed a Master of Philosophy in reception in London on 16 March.

Richard Chandler (BCom 1979, MCom 1981) In his citation for Richard Chandler, Alumni prosperity for financial and social businesses. Orator Professor Brian Boyd commented In 2007, Orient Global launched a US$100 million Education Fund, that “Richard seeks to do well by doing which has already made significant grants and other investments in good.” Richard is one of New Zealand’s most Africa and Asia. A contribution to Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust successful entrepreneurs and investors and a funded the provision of 38,000 books for children in Nepal. significant international philanthropist who in Richard completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting at The 2008 was named by Forbes magazine as one University of Auckland. He gained a Master of Commerce in 1981, of Asia’s top 50 philanthropists. leaving New Zealand in 1986 to establish Sovereign Global with his Richard was unable to attend the DAA brother, Christopher. Dinner but conveyed in a message to guests Together the Chandler brothers targeted undervalued business- how honoured he was to have been nominated sectors in countries undergoing transformational economic change: and his regret at not being able to receive his award in person. Brazilian telecommunications during the transition from hyperinflation Richard Chandler is founder and chairman of Singapore-based, to economic stability; and Russian oil and gas during the changeover multi-billion dollar private investment group Orient Global. His 20-year from communism to capitalism being just two examples. At the time of career has been shaped by his passion for the positive role that capital Orient Global’s formation in 2006, the brothers had built an investment and principled entrepreneurship can play in developing sustainable company with net assets of more than US$5 billion.

Young Alumnus of the Year, Toa Fraser (BA 1998) Toa Fraser paid tribute to the teachers who by the Sunday Star Times Bruce Mason Award in 1999, and a year as inspired him at University and who continue Writer in Residence at the University of the South Pacific. to inspire him. He dedicated his award to “a It was his second play, No. 2, which captured the theatre world’s great New Zealander” and mentor who passed attention, securing the Festival First Award at the 2000 Edinburgh away two days prior to the DAA Dinner. Festival. The play was later adapted for the screen with Toa as writer “Allen Guilford was one of New Zealand’s and director in his debut as a film-maker. No. 2 went on to win the great cinematographers. He was a mentor 2006 World Cinema Audience Award at the prestigious Sundance Film to me as a child. He taught me a lot about Festival, and was nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury prize. In film: he invited me onto film sets as a kid; he 2007 Toa was invited to direct Dean Spanley, which premiered to rave gave me my first job in the film industry with reviews in Toronto and London and stars Peter O’Toole, Sam Neill and a music video.” Jeremy Northam. Toa completed a Bachelor of Arts in Toa has worked with major names in the film industry, including English, with a minor in Film, Television and Media Studies at The iconic New Zealand director Vincent Ward. He has directed two feature University of Auckland. In 1998 he won the Chapman Tripp Best New films, written five plays and has been nominated for 16 national and Play and Best New Playwright Awards, aged just 23. This was followed international awards, ten of which he has won.

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 25 ALUMNI

Dean retires Alumnus Dick Bellamy has studied and worked at the University for some 50 years. He looks back with Bill Williams.

Pictured right: Dick Bellamy in the lab and at his beloved O’Neills Beach on Auckland’s West Coast.

ick Bellamy has experienced his alma else in New Zealand and arguably competitive a Crown Research Institute.” mater from every conceivable angle: with Australia.” The accommodation – prefabricated shacks D as student, teacher, researcher, Dick has watched the University reach – was nothing fancy but his supervisors, the generator of outside funding, local president out to its communities in ways that he legendary Dick Matthews and Dr Rod Bieleski of the academic union, director and then long advocated. Relations with alumni and (also DSIR), were top calibre and cutting edge. dean, on the governing body; and from a fundraising activity, non-existent 20 years ago, Dick’s doctoral research examined nucleic distance as a local body politician. are now flourishing as is the relationship with acid metabolism in tobacco cells. “These were After 50 years’ association with The schools (and hence the able students whom the early days of molecular biology and it was University of Auckland he stepped down as the University wants to attract). a very exciting time.” Dean of Science last December and formally The Alumni Marquee on Old Government Embarking on postdoctoral work Dick “retired” without becoming much less visible. House lawn, now an integral part of defied the trend by heading for the United Such are his dedication and affection for graduation as well as being the venue for States rather than Britain, the destination the institution that mention “Dick” and staff at other large university functions, was his idea. then favoured overwhelmingly by gifted New most levels know at once it is him. The academic route which Dick followed was Zealand students. His ubiquity across campus and his not pre-ordained. His father was an accountant He had secured a position in the new willingness to speak his mind and proffer who became company secretary for L.D. Department of Cell Biology at the Albert advice, always in a constructive and genial Nathan, and his late brother (“much cleverer Einstein College of Medicine in the Outer manner, made him something of an identity; than me”) was an engineer who finished up as Bronx. There he worked on the replication infuriating gadfly to some, far-sighted Dean of Computing and Information Sciences of reovirus, a newly-discovered group which mover and shaker to others. A tireless at Monash University in Melbourne. possesses a genome of double-stranded RNA conversationalist, he was invariably the last to Showing little aptitude for physics and the (ribonucleic acid). leave any event. mathematical sciences at Auckland Grammar Like many talented Kiwis of his generation Since first enrolling at the University in School, he tried biology and found it to his he was tempted to remain overseas. The 1958 Dick, a leading molecular virologist, has liking. His interest was sparked by weekend call of family determined otherwise as did a seen it transformed. The campus, comprising expeditions into the bush with his father. fortuitous job offer from Dick Matthews, head mainly old houses and hotels, was cluttered At university he completed his BSc and MSc of the University department by now named with unsightly temporary structures. Lecturers in Botany. Its “element of modern biology” Cell Biology instead of Microbiology. wore gowns, students jackets and ties. appealed as did the expanding botany library Back then (1968) young academics in his Then modest in size, facilities and academic where he recalls the excitement of seeing the field “had to be pretty determined” to forge reputation with staff of variable quality drawn first issue of the Journal of Molecular Biology a worthwhile career in this part of the world. particularly from Britain, the University has on the shelves. “You communicated by letter and simply developed into a force on the world stage. The Thomas Building was still several years organising a trip abroad required a month’s Academic standards have “risen out of away and the equipment in the 1930s Biology exchange of correspondence. Scientific sight”, he says, both among staff and among Building was “pretty primitive. All the scientific supplies came on the slow boat from England students at an advanced level. grunt was then in the DSIR at Mount Albert.” – air freight was in its infancy. The School of Biological Sciences, where And so it was to the DSIR that Dick “The journals we read here were at least 12 he spent most of his career, “is now the progressed to undertake his PhD. “Dick months old whereas today at an international biggest and most successful group of Matthews took up the Chair in Microbiology meeting you don’t talk about anything unless university biologists in the country. When but did a deal for the department to operate it is coming out next week.” SBS is combined with Biomedical Sciences at there while the Thomas Building was Travel overseas for academics was more the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, constructed. It was the first positive interaction expensive and much less frequent than now. Auckland is significantly ahead of anywhere between the University and what we now call Dick aimed to attend conferences and visit

26 | The University of Auckland support of Colin Maiden (Vice-Chancellor) and a university needs even more than top-notch Ted Bollard (a senior member of the University physical infrastructure, desirable as this may How a botanist Council and his ex-DSIR boss) it probably be, is individuals with “get up and go”. would have faltered.” He also owed much to He is grateful to the University in many ways, became a microbiologist; loyal colleagues like Professor Euan Young not least for being allowed to involve himself in making a living and Sandra Jones, the School Registrar. the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, the All the while he maintained his ground- Environmental Defence Society, the Auckland out of diarrhoea. breaking research on the role of rotaviruses Regional Council (where he chaired the Bus as infectious agents in such ailments as Transport Committee), the Auckland Museum colleagues across the world every 24 months. diarrhoea among infants and the young. Council (as President), and innumerable other Meanwhile his department, along with Indeed one of his recent presentations made outside bodies and activities. Chemistry and Geology, was showing the way before retiring was entitled “How a botanist Mind you, he has given plenty back, serving for the rest of the University by gaining grants became a microbiologist; making a living out on countless university committees, chairing the for equipment from external — mainly US — of diarrhoea”. Association of University Teachers’ Auckland sources. “We were staffed largely by people The scale of his academic contribution is branch, and sitting on the University Council for with North American experience in how things impressive. He has been principal research several years. His many contributions to science, needed to be done.” investigator for 43 externally funded research education and the community were recognised Until the mid-1970s Dick was a Senior projects which brought in hundreds of in 2005 when he was made a Companion of Research Fellow dependent on competitive thousands of dollars, and has 98 original the NZ Order of Merit. funding grants (“soft money”) from the papers in refereed journals and review articles What now for Dick after devoting himself Medical (now Health) Research Council to to his name. He was elected a Fellow of the to academia through half a century of almost keep his appointment going. This rather Royal Society of NZ in 1989. revolutionary change? He certainly won’t be precarious existence helped hone his In addition he has supervised 41 MSc and idle, remaining on the boards of UniServices entrepreneurial instincts. PhD students, many of whom have gone on and DNA Diagnostics Ltd (a DNA testing Later Dick became Director of the Centre to stellar careers across the world. In turn he laboratory), and “doing the odd job for the for Gene Technology, a “ginger group” recruited a cosmopolitan crop of talented staff Vice-Chancellor”. where academic, government and industrial and research students. Nor is he much less in evidence day to day. scientists collaborated on molecular After ten years at the helm of SBS he faced When Ingenio interviewed Dick a hard-hitting biological research. “The recombinant genetic an even more formidable assignment as Dean op-ed piece by him criticising government engineering revolution was upon us and we of Science, the University’s third largest faculty. moves on the electrification of Auckland's rail had to take advantage of it.” A decade on he can take pride in greatly network had appeared that morning in the The same revolution was the catalyst for improved facilities such as the new Computer New Zealand Herald. bringing together the different biological Science complex, the revamped laboratories The pace will slow sufficiently, though, to disciplines. Following a high-level review in 1989, in Chemistry, Physics and Biological Sciences “catch up on 20 years’ deferred maintenance” on Biochemistry, Botany, Cellular and Molecular and, just under way, a major extension to his house in Mt Eden and help restore the native Biology (as it now was) and Zoology were merged the Thomas Building. A South Pacific Centre bush on the hillsides surrounding his weekend into a School of Biological Sciences. for Marine Science is in the offing at Leigh and holiday hideaway north of Bethells Beach. The next challenge for Dick, by now a full while a Wine Science Programme has been He also keeps himself busy clearing the professor, was to serve as the school’s inaugural consolidated at the Tamaki Campus. Te Henga-Goldies Bush Walkway. The lure director. Blending these disparate groups What gave him most satisfaction, though, of the natural environment that triggered a proved a protracted, often vexed business. was creating opportunities “that have enabled distinguished and rewarding career is, for “If it hadn’t been for the unswerving bright young staff to get established”. What Dick, as potent as ever.

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 27 RESEARCH

Into the limelight through a finely honed lens Our Film, Television Vanessa Alexander (who directed feature film Damage (1999), Georgie Girl (2002), Sheilas: Magik and Rose) and Head of Department and 28 Years On (2004), Pacific Solution (2005) and Media Studies acclaimed novelist Professor Annamarie Jagose, and Elgar’s Enigma (2006); in 2007 she Department is heaping is to discover a department committed to became an Officer of the New Zealand excellence across its programmes, all of which Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to success upon success. are impressive in terms of scholarship, creative film. For Annie, the relationship between Amber Older reports. practice and relevance. film production and scholarly excellence are “We have an excellent mix of screen inextricably linked. practitioners who are committed to teaching, “Even though I am increasingly working and academics who work in the creative more as a filmmaker than an academic, I industries. That crossover is important,” felt drawn to an academic career and have ou may not realise it, but if you’ve been says Shuchi, an Indian-born New Zealander a strong publishing record. Particularly in the to the cinema or watched television who teaches screenplay writing in the documentary genre, the research I undertake Yin New Zealand lately, chances are postgraduate Screen Production programme. is highly academic – I do extensive reading you’re already familiar with the University’s It is this programme that is perhaps the and critical analysis as I develop a film. The Department of Film, Television and Media most visible component of the department – only difference is the output, which takes the Studies (FTVMS). and a glance at the programme’s teaching form of a documentary rather than a book,” Staff, students and alumni have all been says Annie, who will soon travel to Cambodia making an impact and the department is reaping for her next documentary – a film that will the rewards of an approach that simultaneously follow rowing champion Rob Hamill’s journey delivers rigorous academic teaching while I want the industry to Cambodia, where his brother was tortured maintaining very close links to industry. to see how good and murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime in In the past year, Associate Professor Annie our students are, the late 1970s. Goldson’s documentary An Island Calling, Vanessa Alexander is a multi-award winning about a double gay murder in Fiji, has won to understand that writer, director and producer best known awards here and abroad, including Best we are very much on for her feature Magik and Rose and her Documentary at the 2008 Qantas Film and Emmy nominated television series Being Eve. Television Awards. Senior Lecturer Shuchi the front foot. Teaching half-time in the Screen Production Kothari’s co-written Apron Strings made its programme, she regularly works in the world premiere as the opening-night feature staff makes clear why. Shuchi’s Apron Strings, industry as a director (Outrageous Fortune), at last year’s Auckland International Film as well as her short film, Coffee and Allah script editor/development producer (Burying Festival. Along with her colleague, Senior (co-produced with Sarina), were both warmly Brian, The Pretender) and as a board member Lecturer Sarina Pearson, Shuchi wrote and received at festivals around the world. for the New Zealand Film Commission. produced A Thousand Apologies, a six-part, Shuchi’s latest film, Firaaq aka Separation, Vanessa says continuity between the industry pan-Asian comedy sketch show which earned is an ensemble film that takes place over a and the academy is crucial to a department’s enthusiastic reviews when it aired last 24-hour period, a month after the horrific “relevance” and the students’ “success”. September on TV3. communal carnage in Gujarat in 2002. Upon “There is arguably no film school in New Recognised as some of New Zealand’s finest its debut at the Telluride Film Festival, Salman Zealand that offers teaching from so many film and television makers, Annie, Shuchi and Rushdie praised the film because it “allows the staff who are still actively involved in the Sarina can claim at least partial credit for humanity of its characters to shine through industry at such a high level,” says Vanessa. the department’s strong and ever growing the darkness, even the horror, of the events it “I believe this is why so many of our students reputation among scholars and industry describes, and because of the skill with which are successful in creating work that has a life professionals alike. To sit down with these the many narrative strands are interwoven”. in film festivals here and internationally. We academics, along with their equally heralded As a documentary filmmaker for more know how to help them.” colleagues Senior Tutor and freelance producer than 20 years, Annie Goldson is recognised This awareness is present even at an Margaret Henley, part-time Senior Lecturer internationally for such works as Punitive undergraduate level. Margaret Henley oversees

28 | The University of Auckland Clockwise from left: Annamarie Jagose, Annie Goldson, Sarina Pearson, Margaret Henley, Vanessa Alexander and Shuchi Kothari.

FTVMS alumni who have earned national and international praise include Young Alumnus of the Year 2009 Toa Fraser (BA 1998), Roseanne Liang (BA/BSc 2000, MCPA 2003), Susan Potter (LLB 1990, MA 2004), Kirsty MacDonald (BA 2005, MCPA 2007), James Frankham (BArch 1998, MA 2007), Leo Woodhead (BA 2006), Alex Lee (LLM 1986, MCPA 2004), Paul Scantlebury (BCom 2003 , MCPA 2006), Briar March (BFA 2004).

the department’s television journalism, sports historical perspectives. Sarina Pearson, who history of New Zealand cinema, mainstream and studio production courses, which focus produced the TV documentary A Taste of news broadcasting, Mäori television and on honing students’ technical skills. Margaret Place and co-produced several short films mediatised sports events. Several members of believes FTVMS academics have an important including Fleeting Beauty and Clean Linen, the department are exploring popular culture role to play in helping students get jobs. To that says working within the University allows through popular music, reality television and end, she regularly invites broadcast, sport and FTVMS staff and students to be less focused new media technologies like the internet and production professionals to join her classes. on the bottom line. cell phones.” Visiting sport media are interviewed by students “We encourage our students to experiment, Despite its vast collection of accolades as part of their live, in-house media sport to try things out on a conceptual level. Our and achievements, smug complacency does magazine show, Full Credit. The chance to see people are engaged with ideas that don’t not exist within FTVMS. Perhaps inspired by students perform under pressure in the studio, necessarily reflect a commercial engagement. the strong sense of collegiality and support as well as behind and in front of the camera, Of course we teach students how to navigate that emanates from staff and students alike, gives media professionals a valuable opportunity the commercial realities of the industry, there is a strong determination to see the to identify talented individuals who could but they also learn about the conceptual department grow in resources and reputation. potentially become their future employees. framework. Even if students don’t ‘succeed’ in Ask any of these academics what their “I want the industry to see how good our some ways they will in others. We want them ten-year vision is for the department, and students are, to understand that we are very to ask, ‘what did we learn from this?’” the answers range from “delivering the most much on the front foot.” Although Annamarie Jagose is the first to competitive Screen Production programme in Margaret says there is another bow in the admit she “doesn’t know one end of a camera Australasia” and “building the flow between department’s quiver: the fully-operational from the other” her skills as a theorist, writer academia and the industry” to having a television studio in the Kenneth Myers Centre and critical analyst set a high standard for the “purpose-built cinema on campus” and (74 Shortland Street), formerly the home of Radio department’s scholarly outputs – as reflected being “more cutting-edge with technological New Zealand Broadcast House and TVNZ. in the 2006 PBRF rankings, which place the resources and creative engagement so that on “Industry people love coming back to the department first among its competitors. a conceptual level we keep ahead of the curve KMC – it really counts for a lot in getting She says the research undertaken by and stay relevant”. them to visit a class. Sky Television’s Director FTVMS academics can be “clustered” into However these aspirations are realised, of Sport Programming and Production three categories, all of which reinforce the it is clear that the fundamental ethos of the Kevin Cameron came in recently and was department’s position as a research leader. FTVMS department will remain: to create what reminiscing to students that he used to have “Our three primary areas of research reflect Annamarie describes as a “vital and exciting the job of ironing the isobars onto the weather the scope and diversity of our teaching staff. environment in which students critically analyse map,” laughs Margaret. Several academics are examining how media and participate in the ever-changing film, While production skills, networking ethnicities have been historically represented television and media industries”. opportunities and creative drive are integral and are now being reclaimed and re-examined to the department’s reputation across by different indigenous, national and diasporic For more information see: the industry, the department is equally peoples. Other staff are focusing on the www.youtube.com/ScreenProduction committed to delivering academically rigorous New Zealand film and media industries in www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/departments/ftvms programmes that emphasise critical and relation to a wide range of topics such as the

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 29 RESEARCH IN BRIEF

Green roof flourishing Raising children well

Auckland city will soon be sprouting “green roofs” if the results of a “There’s nothing more important than raising your children well,” study in the Faculty of Engineering are anything to go by. says Professor Matt Sanders, leader of a new parenting research The city’s first green roof was planted on top of the Engineering group at the Faculty of Education. tower on Symonds Street two years ago as part of an Auckland “It is the greatest challenge we face in a lifetime and it’s a job Regional Council-funded study. most tackle with virtually no preparation or education for the role. All Dr Elizabeth Fassman, from the Department of Civil and parents should have access to high quality parenting programmes Environmental Engineering, says emerging results show the roof that work.” is soaking up about 75 percent of rainfall. A snapshot recording Matt has been advocating this message for decades as the between 5 September and 5 October 2008 recorded 101mm of rain, founder of the Triple P Positive Parenting Program. Triple P is a seven storms, and only 25mm runoff. tool used by parents worldwide to deal with behaviour problems Green roofs are tipped as a solution to reducing the stormwater in children and adolescents, based on the evidence of 30 years runoff that pollutes our waterways and can lead to flooding. The of research and clinical trials. A University alumnus, Matt started study is helping to determine the best plants and materials to retrofit developing the programme as a postgraduate student in Education existing buildings with green roofs. Psychology in the 1970s. He is now Director of the Parenting and “We’re learning that things change from storm to storm, but Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland, and the overall I’d say we’re really pleased with performance and fully Triple P Programme is run in 17 countries. believe it is a viable stormwater control technology - with the added The programme has only recently made its way back to New factor of multiple environmental benefits from a single technology,” Zealand, with the appointment of Matt as an Adjunct Professor in Elizabeth says. the Faculty of Education, where he is establishing a Triple P Positive Elizabeth, postgraduate students and Landcare Research are Parenting Research Group. The group will evaluate a new web- involved in the project. They have been trialling a mix of hardy native based interactive DVD version of the programme with 160 families. and foreign sedums and different lightweight mediums on the roof. Further research will study the engagement of fathers in parenting The sedum mexicanum and the native New Zealand iceplant have programmes and family-based interventions for children who have emerged as early flourishers. Pumice, zeolite and composted pine been bullied. bark have emerged as favoured substrates, or planting mediums. Matt, who is a father of two and grandfather of two, says one of Soils are not used because they are too heavy. the most basic things the Triple P Programme advocates is the need The study has also helped to determine if only native plants to parent strongly, consistently and positively. can be used. You can contact the Triple P Centre: Ph 09 579 1794, “We think if you wanted a green roof with a diversity of only native email: [email protected], or see www.triplep.net plants you would need a substrate depth of at least 100mm, which Danelle Clayton might be too heavy for a retrofit solution, but certainly acceptable for any new construction,” Elizabeth says. Elizabeth is due to present a “how to guide” to green roofs to the ARC in July. Danelle Clayton

30 | The University of Auckland ALUMNI SNAPSHOTS

Emily Baragwanath (BA 1999, Education and the Institute of Education and whenever Robert Muldoon or later, Jim Bolger, MA 2001) is now Assistant Professor of has run national teaching workshops. He has appeared in a news piece.” Classics at the University of North Carolina, also worked with top artists such as Wynton is Chapel Hill. Last year, having recently Marsalis, Joan Armatrading, Philip Glass and Richard Wagener (BCom 2002) a Business and Sports Development Manager completed her studies at Oxford University, the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra. for the Joshua Foundation, a mission NGO she published Motivation and Narrative in Tanzania providing development and in Herodotus in the Oxford Classical Ron Sang (BArch 1964) is one of education to East Africa. Monographs series and was awarded the several artists who will be speaking at the triennial Conington Prize for the book. The Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas conference held at the Business School from 18-19 July. Susan Yoffe (BA 1992, MA 1994) award is for the best doctorate out of Oxford is a trustee for the Rangitoto Island Historic Classics each year. Ron who works full-time as an architect in Auckland is renowned for his books on artist Conservation Trust which won “Honorable Mention” in the 2008 Asia Pacific UNESCO Andrea Corbett (PGDip HSc 2002) Michael Smither, potter Len Castle and most Heritage Awards for restoration of bach has been awarded her doctorate by Monash recently artist Ralph Hotere. 38 on Rangitoto Island - the first time a University, Melbourne. Dr Corbett completed New Zealand project has received such an her thesis study into the interface between Carmel Sepuloni (BEd 2001, accolade. Interest in conserving the historic the tertiary and primary health care sectors PGDip 2006) is New Zealand’s first baches on Rangitoto began in 1993 when in rural New Zealand. member of Parliament of Tongan descent. Carmel, a newly-elected Labour List MP, has Susan researched the holiday communities John Seong Lee (Lee Seong-uk) worked as Equity Manager for the University’s that formed on Rangitoto each summer for (BA 2002, LLB 2002) is a prominent Faculty of Arts, and then Project Manager for her masters in Social Anthropology. member of the newly established New a Pacific Workforce Development Research If you would like your contemporaries to Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea Project at the School of Population Health. know what you are up to, email the editor: called the Kiwi Chamber. See: www. The daughter of a Samoan-Tongan, “Labour [email protected] kiwichamber.com/ Mr Lee is a foreign legal man” father and a New Zealand European counsel at Kim & Min law firm, and he is also mother (from a resolute Tory farming family), a member of the bar in New South Wales and she was born and raised in Waitara. During New York. the 90s, approximately 1500 jobs were lost in this small town of only 6000 people – directly Patrick Leung (BCom 1994, BSc impacting Carmel and her family and all (Hons) 1995) has recently moved from those she had grown up alongside. New York City where he worked as a software “This was undoubtedly when my interest in engineering manager for Google Check politics began,” says Carmel, who was also Out to Palo Alto to join Playlist.com as Vice fascinated by the contrasting political views President, Engineering. Playlist is an online of her sheep farming maternal grandparents music community that serves an audience of and freezing worker union activist father. “The over 40 million music fans. heated political dialogue for our immediate Carmel Sepuloni. family generally sprang to light whenever we Peter Romhany (BMus 1990) is watched the six o’clock news in the evening head of Music at Morpeth Secondary School in – the most passionate outbursts occurred inner city London. He is a consultant for BBC and the most colourful language was used

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Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 31 ALUMNI

Message from the Volunteer alumni Alumni Relations co-ordinators and Postgraduate Information Week Manager alumni clubs With the job market tightening now may be a good time for local alumni to consider further We are working with a number of our professional development. The University is international and nationally-based holding a Postgraduate Information Week in Volunteer Alumni Co-ordinators (VACs) Auckland from 18-22 May which will enable We were delighted to have more than1,000 to setup and run their own alumni you to visit your faculty of interest for alumni & friends attend the Distinguished clubs. These clubs will provide informal information sessions, display presentations Alumni Awards Dinner and Speaker Day at and inexpensive social networking and professional development opportunities and to discuss your research or study interests The University of Auckland in March. for alumni and friends, particularly those with postgraduate advisers and current Subjects ranging from politics and overseas who wish to maintain a link to students. You need to register to attend so developing sustainable prosperity to global Aotearoa and the University. please visit www.auckland.ac.nz/postgradweek economic governance, film-making and the We currently have 28 VACs around the for further information. much-loved tales of Hairy Maclary From globe (listed on the next page), who act as Donaldson’s Dairy featured at the Speaker a main point of contact for alumni living in Day. You can now view video coverage of the a local region. We have recently developed Speaker Day presentations at an Alumni Clubs Handbook and Events Rising Dragons, Soaring www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz Guide, which outlines the procedures for Bananas International Given the current global economic crisis becoming a VAC, how to start-up or rebuild Conference, 18-19 July, many of our alumni may be considering their a University of Auckland alumni club, while career options. Remember the University offering practical advice for alumni wishing Auckland employs many of its alumni in academic and to further serve their alumni community and The University of Auckland is once again general staff positions. The staff vacancies alma mater. If you would like to receive a proud to support the New Zealand Chinese website contains all current staff vacancies copy of this handbook for more information on Association Auckland Inc’s conference which at the University, and is updated weekly. volunteering please contact Sarah Crosswell has been organised in association with the To search for job opportunities visit: at [email protected] International Society for Studies of Chinese www.opportunities.auckland.ac.nz Overseas (ISSCO). “Rising Dragon, Soaring We currently publish Ingenio magazine Alumni survey report Bananas” celebrates the journeys, stories and twice a year and it is mailed out to a identities of high-profile New Zealand and In October and November 2008, all 46,000 database of around 100,000. About 5,000 overseas born Chinese. Breakout sessions will of our alumni community for whom we hold alumni receive an electronic version. If you draw on experiences of Chinese communities an email address, received an email from would prefer to be environmentally friendly Colmar Brunton inviting them to complete a across the globe. The venue is The University and receive the magazine electronically 15-minute electronic survey on The University of Auckland Business School, Owen G Glenn instead of in hard copy please visit: www. of Auckland’s Alumni Relations Office. Some Building. Speakers include: Robyn Wong, alumni.auckland.ac.nz/update 5,531 of you responded, which is a higher than Mai Chen, Ron Sang and Jock Phillips. Please Our @auckland newsletter contains usual response rate for this type of survey. The visit www.goingbananas.org.nz for further relevant information on the latest University survey aimed to gather feedback on our core information and to register for the conference. news, research, events, benefits and services. services so that we can improve them and If you would like to receive this monthly provide you with better ways to connect with Regency Duty Free e-update please visit www.alumni.auckland. each other and with the University. The Alumni Relations Office (ARO) has had ac.nz/update and provide us with your The results received have been collated and a lot of requests from alumni wanting a current email address. are being analysed and will be used to inform replacement Regency Duty Free Discount Live well! our strategic priorities for the future. A more detailed report will be included in the next Card. Unfortunately Regency Duty Free has edition of Ingenio but I would like to thank lost out at Auckland Airport as second duty- all those who participated in this research free provider (DFS Galleria has been retained) project. Your support and feedback are highly to the Melbourne-based James Richardson Group. The ARO is still in negotiations with Amanda Lyne valued and warmly received. Congratulations to alumna, Leesa Russell, Regency Duty Free and hope to be able to Alumni Relations Manager on winning the Apple iPhone draw. offer a new duty-free discount card in the near Leesa graduated with a BA in Sociology future to alumni with a provider. Regency will (Minor in Philosophy), and achieved a MA retain a retail presence at Auckland Airport in Sociology (while working as a Research until August 2009. Assistant for the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences). She currently works as Research Ethics Coordinator at the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

32 | The University of Auckland ALUMNI NOTICEBOARD

International alumni network If you live in or near any of the areas below and would like to be involved with local alumni, we encourage you to make contact with your Volunteer Alumni Co-ordinator. *There will be positions for VACs opening up in Jakarta (Indonesia), San Francisco and Shanghai. If you would like to put yourself forward for any of these positions, please contact Sarah Crosswell with your CV at [email protected]

Australia Brisbane – Allanah Johnston [email protected] From left: John Taylor, Director of External Relations, Gordon Nicholls, Bill Taylor and Melbourne – Rupert Saint the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon. Image: Kathryn Robinson. [email protected] Perth – Anne Morrell, [email protected] First Science PhDs return to campus Sydney – George Barker, [email protected] Regan van Berlo, [email protected] “We learnt to climb out of an upper level around the end of the Second World War. Canada window of the Chemistry laboratories in Bill, who is now 86, went overseas soon Calgary – Allison Hall, [email protected] Old Choral Hall, then traverse along the after completing his degree and worked as Vancouver – Nigel Toy, [email protected] window ledges to the office/lab window of our a research associate of Professor Vladimir China superviser Dr [later Professor] l.H. Briggs; we Prelog in Zurich. He has since spent most of Beijing – Vivian (Yang) Jiao, [email protected] devised a technique to open the window so his career working on the chemistry of natural Joy (Fengxin) Ding, [email protected] we could get access to needed equipment.” products in the United States based in New Chengdu – Hua Xiang, [email protected] Hong Kong – Raymond Tam Such are the memories of alumni Gordon Jersey at Ciba (Novartis). He has now retired [email protected] Nicholls (BSc 1946, MSc 1947, PhD Chemistry to Radford in the Appalachian Mountains. Shanghai* – Jessie (Li Jun) Lin, [email protected] 1949) and Bill Taylor (MSc 1946, PhD Gordon has also had a prestigious career. Europe Chemistry 1948) who made a special visit to In 1949 he became a US Public Health Germany – Philipp Schuster the City Campus at the end of January. The Service, National Cancer Institute, post- [email protected] two scientists began studying at Auckland doctoral fellow at the University of Rochester, Scandinavia – Duncan Lithgow University College in the 1940s during the New York, and then in 1953-54 he was a [email protected] Second World War. research associate of Dr J.W. Cornforth at Belgium – Ken Bauer, [email protected] Ken also welcomes contact from alumni in Europe They remember “the gas pressure was the National Institute for Medical Research where there is no VAC in their area. lousy during and just after the war” so they’d (NIMR), in Mill Hill, London. There Gordon India often wait until everyone had gone home and and his associates anti-tubercular research led Chandigarh – Rahul Gautam cooked their dinner before there was enough to the substance now called Macrocyclon. He [email protected] gas pressure for their experimental work. “But returned to Auckland to research work with Indonesia for that we needed access to Briggs’s lab”. New Zealand Forest Products and in 1985 Jakarta* – John Wishart, [email protected] The unorthodox night forays were fruitful in in recognition of his research publications Israel Ofir Goren, [email protected] that Briggs without comment began leaving he was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Japan his door unlocked. Science at his alma mater. Gordon’s three Tokyo – Simon Hollander, [email protected] Both Bill and Gordon, along with fellow student daughters each have University of Auckland Korea and later renowned New Zealand cot death degrees in Science. He now lives in Auckland Seoul – Nalin Bahuguna, [email protected] campaigner, Dr Jim Sprott (BSc 1944, MSc 1947, and maintains links with the University. Malaysia PhD 1949), were the firstS cience PhDs from Interestingly both men’s early mentors, Kuala Lumpur – KC Yong, [email protected] Auckland University College after the degree Cornforth and Prelog, jointly won the Nobel Singapore of Doctor of Philosophy had been reintroduced Prize for Chemistry in 1975. Von Chan, [email protected] Taiwan Taipei – Mago Hsiao, [email protected] UK Up coming Alumni & Friends events for 2009 London – Cecilia Tarrant [email protected] Seoul (Korea) Alumni & Friends reception (VAC event)...... Friday 22 May USA San Francisco Alumni & Friends reception...... Tuesday 23 June New Hampshire – Rushan Sinnaduray Los Angeles Alumni & Friends reception...... Wednesday 24 June [email protected] Tauranga Alumni & Friends reception...... Wednesday 5 August New York – Rosena Sammi Hamilton Alumni & Friends reception...... Thursday 15 October [email protected] Auckland (Golden Graduates) function...... Wednesday 21 October Philadelphia – Nai-Wei Shih, [email protected] Christchurch Alumni & Friends reception...... Friday 6 November San Francisco* – Sue Service [email protected] Texas – Jyoti Maisuria, [email protected] Washington, DC – Ruby Manukia [email protected]

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 33 ADVANCEMENT

Primary matters – Goodfellow Unit turns 30

When the University Grants Committee “Dr Philip Barham was a very experienced the introduction of videos, email, video turned down a proposal from the then GP from Dargaville and a brilliant conferencing, internet discussion groups, and Associate Dean of Postgraduate Studies and appointment, even if I say so myself,” Dr CD ROMs, the student spread reached as far Medicine, Cam Maclaurin, because it didn’t fit Maclaurin says with a smile. “He had exactly as the islands of Palau and Yap in Micronesia. their funding remit, he put it to one side. But the right characteristics to commend the In 2008 and 2009, the unit had to he didn’t forget it. programme to his peers. During his first limit numbers to the annual Goodfellow What Dr Maclaurin had proposed was year Phil went around GPs in Auckland and Symposium to 500 when demand exceeded a continuing education programme for Northland to find out what would help them. the hotel venue’s capacity. At this year’s Auckland general practitioners, led by GPs From that he designed a programme of symposium they signed up the two thousandth for GPs, similar to a successful model he had activities, meetings and discussion groups to member of the website’s Goodfellow Club. seen in Canada. help practising GPs keep up to date and up- The unit’s website contains case studies, Support, when it came, was from an skilled. There was not much ongoing training research, study material and quizzes, and unexpected source - his cousin Douglas for GPs then.” is known for the innovative way it presents Goodfellow who was also a patient of his. In its first years the unit consisted of information and learning programmes. It was during a doctor-patient session that Dr Barham and his PA, Ina Hamilton; but As other groups and organisations have Douglas mentioned he was looking for a gradually more staff were co-opted. Many moved into some of the unit’s original course suitable way to mark the fiftieth anniversary were GPs who worked unpaid to support the areas, its directors have kept initiating and of Amalgamated Dairies, the firm his father sole provider of quality face-to-face continuing innovating in response to need. The current Sir William Goodfellow had founded. Dr medical education for the region’s GPs. At director and holder of the Goodfellow chair Maclaurin told him about the idea he had put weekend symposia it was not unusual to have of general practice, Peter Huggard, is keen to before the University a couple of years earlier. 150-plus GPs in attendance. By the end of take the unit into the area around “wellness” It was a perfect fit. the 1980s the unit was moving into distance and “well being”. There were workshops “Douglas loved the idea of doing something education, an innovation for the University, last year and at this year’s symposium poet for GPs,” says Professor Ross McCormick, offering diplomas in geriatrics, accident and GP Glen Colquhoun took two hugely director of the Goodfellow Unit from 1998 and medical care, and sports medicine. It successful creative writing workshops. until 2008. “He is a man capable of seeing had also begun to take on contracts, such Today the Goodfellow Unit sits within the issues very clearly. He saw that people need as a Northland rural practitioner education Department of General Practice and the services of a GP long before they need contract and the long lasting TADS (Training is housed at the School of Population Health high tech medicine.” and Development Services) contract. on the Tamaki Campus. It works closely with Douglas Goodfellow agreed to fund a As the unit’s scope expanded, practice the Faculties of Medical and Health Sciences Sir William Goodfellow Directorship for the nurses, Māori and Pacific nation health and with Education. It also has a special proposed unit, if the University accepted the workers and pharmacists registered relationship with Mercy Hospice as part of idea. It did; and in 1978 the first director for professional development courses the longest-running palliative care education was appointed. and postgraduate studies. And with programme in the country. It operates now under a tripartite board of The University of Auckland, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Goodfellow Foundation. Bruce Goodfellow says that his father, Douglas, knew the Goodfellow Unit would grow. “The Goodfellow Unit today owes a great deal to all those who have contributed over the years to making it such a successful operation in primary health care,” says Bruce “It is well established and very obviously capable of significant achievement in the future.” The Goodfellow relationship with the unit and its staff is more than as a provider of funding and all that that enables. “The Goodfellow family are valued by the director for far more than their financial support,” says Professor McCormick. “The mentoring and From left: Cam Maclaurin, Ross MacCormick, Peter Huggard and Bruce Goodfellow at the 30th birthday personal support they gave, I will value for the celebrations. rest of my life.” Louise Callan

34 | The University of Auckland Campaign passes half way mark

$100,000,000 Attainment for the University’s “Leading the the development of our children; the growth of Way” Fundraising Campaign has reached our economy; the future of our cities; and the $52,660,327, more than half-way towards the expression of who we are. target of $100 million. Health-related research in the Faculty of The Campaign was publicly launched last Medical and Health Sciences has received November (see the Spring 2008 Ingenio), with strong support with recent gifts and pledges an impressive $48 million already raised in for research into lymphoma and leukaemia, gifts and pledges prior to the official launch psychology, optometry, biomedical research or event. Further contributions over the past few medical research. months have seen the total increase by more The Liggins Institute, which plays a key role $52,660,327 than $4 million. in the “development of our children” theme, Included in the new figure are gifts and received a donation to provide scholarships pledges from individuals, families and trusts for students from low decile schools to attend in support of a wide variety of specific projects the Liggins Education Network for Science or research areas, often reflecting an area (LENS) residential summer programme of interest for the donor or sometimes made in biomedical science. Other examples of in memory of a close relative. Most of these recent gifts include those to help support the fall under the Campaign’s five themes, the Business School, and scholarships in Chinese areas of strength in which the University is studies and for the support of disabled focusing its efforts: the health of our nation; students at the University.

Supporting “baby docs” Nurturing our best people is central to the Zealand with a greater sense of confidence in professional skills to benefit communities in University’s vision and the “Leading the Way” his clinical abilities and in his ability to adapt to developing countries in the South Pacific. This Campaign. Sometimes this support comes different environments and challenges. led him to establish a scholarship to enable via a gift that can be enormously rewarding He said the community in Vanuatu University of Auckland medical students to for both the donor and the recipient, with embraced the medical students – or “Baby spend some of their practical training time in significant benefits to the wider community. Docs” as they called them – and the students countries that could most benefit. He believes Spending two months on a sixth year were often involved in running the emergency that by making an endowment gift, he can Medical School elective in Vanuatu, supported department, helping in the wards and contribute in a lasting way and inspire an by a Dr Newton Wickham CBE Elective operating theatres and running the hospital. altruistic orientation in others. Scholarship In PacificI sland Health, allowed Dr After retiring from more than 40 years “I hope the scholarship recipients may Ciaran Thrush to work in a clinical environment in the dentistry profession, Dr Wickham, some day be able to help in the way I have with limited resources. He returned to New better known as “Wicky”, volunteered his been fortunate enough to,” says Wicky. Helen Borne

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Olympics and a silver at the 1950 Empire Games held in Auckland. Three other club members represented Athletic club their country at the 1950 Auckland Empire Games: Colin Kay, a former mayor of Auckland and University Council member 1982-3, Emeritus Professor of Physiology, Jack celebrates 100 years Sinclair and alumnus John Myles (BA 1958; Below: Auckland University College Athletic Club’s Harrier Team, 1955. From top left: Terry MA 1961). Russell, Don Smith, Brian Davis, Warren Travers. Bottom: Peter Aimer, Graham Robinson. Another famous club member (now a life member) is long distance runner Dick Quax, who was a silver medallist in the 5,000 metres hen the first students founded the most brilliant athletes New Zealand has the Auckland University College’s ever produced”. at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Amateur Athletic Club (AUCAAC) Today, having just celebrated its 100th In 1931 a separate harrier section of the club W was formed. This later joined the main club and they had, in the words of secretary N.R.W. birthday, the club can proudly look back Thomas (LLB 1920), two purposes: “to send on many, many years of athletic prowess, in the 1980s the AUCAAC morphed into the an efficient team to compete at the annual and despite a familiarity with the annual Auckland University Track Club (AUTC). [universities] tournament and to promote a tournament’s wooden spoon, enjoy the fact Today the AUTC is a club of veterans social life among college students”. that many of New Zealand’s famous athletes with about 30-odd members who compete On the first count the fledgling club have circled in its orbit. at national level in road and cross country failed miserably regularly coming home In 1931 for example, club member Geoff events. It is headed up by president and with the tournament wooden spoon Sceats was New Zealand high jump champion; Emeritus Professor of English, Don Smith (BA prompting reports like that in Kiwi magazine in 1934 alumnus and international athlete, 1955, MA 1956) who ran the 880 yards at in July 1923: “Auckland with six points Harold Brainsby (BA 1934, Dip Journ 1938, the 1958 Cardiff Empire Games and the strengthened their permanent claim to the LLB 1938) won the bronze medal in the triple same again at the 1960 Olympic Games wooden spoon.” jump at the British Empire Games in London. where Peter Snell won the gold medal in the On the second count, the club excelled One of the club’s most famous athletes, 800 metres. becoming famous in its early years for the named club athlete of the century in 1983, Don joined the club in 1952 and though dances put on by the Ladies Committee – was John Macfarlane Holland known as he doesn’t run now, he says his motivation who incidentally weren’t allowed to become “Dutch”. He competed in the 400 metre for being a member is the same: “You join athletes until the 1930s probably because of hurdles in the 1948 London Olympics and because you love running.” attitudes like the following written in a letter won a bronze medal at the 1952 Helsinki See www.sportsground.co.nz/autc to Craccum, May 10, 1932: “To my mind the athletic woman is about as far from the ideal as she could be. She develops arms and legs which are abnormal and repulsive, her speech is vulgar and her outlook is comparable to any young office girl … this really explains why so many men drink at the Tournament Ball there is so little to keep them sober.” The First World War put a temporary stop to AUCAAC’s social activities. Of 91 club members, 73 volunteered to go to the First World War, 35 becoming officers. Among them was alumnus Ormond Burton (MA 1921) who was a sergeant, and in spite of being wounded, led his “platoon with undiminished dash” winning the Military Medal. Ironically during the Second World War, Burton went on to become a renowned conscientious objector, imprisoned four times. Some 15 members of the AUCAAC were killed during the First World War and many more were wounded which probably contributed to it languishing until 1920 when the first truly formidableN ew Zealand athlete joined its ranks. This was Reginald Mafeking Webber who won the tournament mile in 1920, 21 and 22 and the three mile in 1920, 21, 22 and 23. In addition Webber was national and Australian champion and described as “one of

36 | The University of Auckland ART

A case of mistaken identity?

n the Spring 2008 issue of Ingenio (page 38), many plants became named after Dr Andrew Sinclair retired willingly at the age of 62 art historian Dr Erin Griffey recounted that in Sinclair, including 16 plants in New Zealand. and went to England where he was elected I 1953 a painted portrait of a man, signed by In 1843 Dr Sinclair was the surgeon on a Fellow of the Linnaean Society. At the artist Louis John Steele in 1893, was noticed in a convict ship transporting convicts to Van beginning of 1858 he returned to New a shop in Auckland. Archie Fisher, Head of the Diemen’s Land (later called Tasmania), after Zealand to continue botanising. In 1861, aged Elam School of Art from 1924 to 1959, decided which he went to Sydney. Captain Robert 66, he botanised in the Southern Alps with that it was a youthful portrait of Sir Maurice FitzRoy had been appointed as Governor of Julius Haast, reaching Mesopotamia Station O’Rorke, copied by Steele in 1893 from an New Zealand in succession to Captain William which had been founded a year previously official portrait photograph; and accordingly the Hobson, and in Sydney en route to New by Samuel Butler. Sinclair tried to ford the Auckland University College Council paid 10 Zealand he met Sinclair and they became Rangitata River, and drowned. His gravestone guineas (10 pounds and 10 shillings) to acquire close friends. FitzRoy realised that he would is preserved at Mesopotamia while Haast it for the University Art Collection. need some assistance in governing, and he named a mountain, a river and a mountain When Dr Garry Tee from the Faculty of persuaded Sinclair to accept an appointment range after his friend Sinclair. The shortest Science saw the article, he immediately as Colonial Secretary. Consequently, from street in Devonport is named after him too. recognised the portrait as the pioneer botanist 1844 to 1856 the government of New At Auckland in 1867 Dr Sinclair’s niece Dr Andrew Sinclair (1794-1861), copied from Zealand, under the Governor, consisted Agnes Sinclair (1826-1884) married Thomas the official portrait photograph of Sinclair essentially of Dr Andrew Sinclair. Bannatyne Gillies (1828-1889), a 38-year-old which he had published in The University widower with four small children. He was a of Auckland News (March 1980), in his prominent politician, Supreme Court judge, article on “Charles Darwin’s correspondents founder of the Auckland Institute, and a in New Zealand”. That photograph shows Many plants became founding member (in 1882) of the Council of Sinclair aged about 55. It was printed in Auckland University College. Peter Newton’s book Mesopotamia Station: A named after Dr Andrew Thomas and Agnes Gillies had two sons. In survey of the first hundred years, published by Sinclair, including 16 1884 Agnes died, and Thomas founded the The Timaru Herald Co Ltd, 1960. plants in New Zealand. Gillies Scholarship in physics and chemistry Born in 1794 at Paisley (in Scotland) to a (in honour of his wife) and the Sinclair very poor family Andrew Sinclair graduated Scholarship in botany and zoology (in honour MD in 1818 from Edinburgh University and When Dr Andrew Sinclair’s brother died, of her uncle). became a surgeon in the Royal Navy, with his widow and her children: Andrew Sinclair The Steele portrait, dated 1893, dates intense interest in natural history especially (1833?-1923), Jessie Sinclair and Agnes to after Dr Sinclair’s own death and that of botany. He gathered natural history Sinclair (1826-1884) joined Dr Andrew Sinclair his niece. Presumably a relative of Sinclair specimens at many places around the world in Auckland in 1852. His two nieces assisted commissioned it, and provided Steele with the (including the Bay of Islands in 1841, with him with organising his collections, and his photograph. The most plausible candidate is the naval surgeon Dr Joseph Dalton Hooker nephew (Andrew Sinclair the younger) became his nephew Andrew Sinclair (the younger), who and the missionary printer William Colenso), Auckland’s Chief Surveyor from 1856 to 1892. had just retired after 36 years as Auckland’s and he gave those collections to the British In 1856 constitutional changes abolished Chief Surveyor. Museum and to Kew Gardens. Consequently, the post of Colonial Secretary; and so Dr Dr Garry Tee and Dr Erin Griffey

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 37 ALUMNI BOOKS

In brief The Dragon and the Taniwha “Everyone Speaks English, Right?” How have two very different marginalised groups in New Zealand society A Cross-Cultural Postmodern – Mäori and Chinese – interacted over the last 150 years? The Dragon Perspective on Language in Business, and the Taniwha: Mäori and Chinese in New Zealand, published by published by Saarbrúcken: VDM Verlag Auckland University Press and edited by alumna and associate professor Dr. Múller. Alumna Karin Speedy (BA of Asian Studies, Manying Ip (MA 1978, PhD 1983), looks at the 1992, MA 1994, PhD 2003) uses relationship between the tangata whenua and the country’s earliest and Jean Baudrillard’s theory of the cyclic largest non-European immigrant group for the first time. superposition of the singular, universal and Do Mäori resent Chinese immigrants? Do Chinese New Zealanders global as a framework and applies it to understand the role of the tangata whenua? Contributors tackle such the case of New Zealand-French business questions from many angles. They analyse how Chinese have been communications questioning the beliefs featured in Mäori newspapers and on contemporary Mäori television and how the Chinese media underpinning Anglophone reliance on portray Mäori; they examine the changing demography of the Chinese and Mäori populations English in the postmodern business world. and they assess how Mäori and Chinese are represented in New Zealand literature. Examining historical shifts in attitudes to language, it argues that the universal ideals Learned in the Law of unity and openness popularly associated From modest beginnings in 1883 when Judge Seth Smith was with globalisation are myths. appointed a part-time lecturer in Law, the Auckland Law School has developed into one of the leading law schools in the Southern Church and State in the Post-Colonial Hemisphere, the largest in New Zealand, and has acquired an Era: The Anglican Church and international reputation. the Constitution in New Zealand, Drawing on University, faculty and departmental records and other published by Polygraphia. Alumnus Noel sources, Learned in the Law: The Auckland Law School 1883-2008, Cox (LLB 1981, LLM 1995, PhD 2001, published by the Legal Research Foundation, is mostly written by MTheol 2008) explores aspects of the Emeritus Professor Brian Coote (LLM 1954). Topics covered include basis of the legal authority of the Church, controversies over the introduction of full-time study, Law School as a tool in exploring the relationship governance and the deanship, and whether the Law School should of church and State in a post-colonial have to take over the teaching of non-lawyers. There are accounts of such things as claims for world. It takes as its particular example defamation, student pranks, and the assertion by a judge that legal executives were of more the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New use than Law School graduates. Zealand and Polynesia, but examines issues and concepts which have a much Tohunga Whakairo broader, indeed universal, relevance. Paki Harrison was widely regarded as New Zealand’s greatest master carver, a man with a huge reputation as a leading tohunga of the art Seen this century: 100 Contemporary, form. Named as one of New Zealand’s Icon Artists in 2005, he was New Zealand Artists A COLLECTORS’ responsible for carving ten of the most important new North Island GUIDE, published by Random House. meeting houses in recent years, in particular the outstanding Tane-nui- Alumnus Warwick Brown (LLB 1964) has a-Rangi house at The University of Auckland Marae. He also taught, come up with an up-to-the-minute list of researched and wrote extensively on the art of the tohunga whakairo and the 100 “ones [artists] to watch” in New possessed immense knowledge about the traditional arts of the carver. Zealand’s art scene. He gives the collector In this major biography, published by Penguin Books, alumnus and an invaluable tool by highlighting who Emeritus Professor of Mäori Studies, Ranginui Walker (BA 1962, MA is on the rise, who will become the next 1966, PhD 1970) traces Paki Harrison’s life and work. thing and whose work should be bought now before prices skyrocket. Touching snow If you have published a book in the Set in Taranaki in the 1940s and 50s, Touching snow: A Taranaki last six months, or will do so in the Memoir, published by Ishtar Books, vividly evokes rural New next, email the editor: Zealand, the era of the Tangiwai disaster, Hillary’s ascent of [email protected] Everest, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth and the entry of the first Mäori teachers into mainstream schools. Author alumna Juliet Batten (BA 1964, MA 1967, PhD 1969) is a teacher, artist and psychotherapist and is well known for her books on personal growth, rituals and the seasons.

38 | The University of Auckland

38 | The University of Auckland STUDENT LIFE

Men’s Common Room Circular

ince its establishment 75 years ago, sophisticated echelons of journalism. On the Craccum has been called everything one hand, the magazine took a strong stance Sfrom a “smutty rag” to a satirical in supporting the liberal issues of the period commentary on student preoccupations. while on the other hand, the climate of the Despite this, the magazine has the largest times demanded people, and journalists circulation of any student magazine in alike, pick a side. Craccum was not the only New Zealand, with about 10,000 copies a publication to echo the slogans of the civil week, and is renowned as the challenger of rights movement. mainstream media. The student population of the 1960s So what is Craccum’s age-old secret to and 1970s was a much more radical and raising eyebrows? politically active version of the left-wing The first issue of Craccum (whose name is enthusiasts we have on campus today. This a jumbled acronym of Auckland University supports the most basic ingredients for College Men’s Common Room Circular) was Craccum’s success: the editors have to keep published on 10 March 1927 and was a far cry it current and relevant to the student body of from today’s glossy pages and coarse language. the time. The early editions of Craccum had all the Although recent years may not have been qualities of a well-presented notice-board: club as rich in social movements as they were in and societies’ announcements, as well as the the 1960s and 1970s, Craccum stills finds a then Auckland University College’s students’ way to stimulate controversy with articles like achievements. The editors sprinkled the articles “Craccum rates the rape drugs” (2002) – a with expressions like “petticoat government”, guide to date rape drugs – and “Suicide and “serfdom” and “student merriment”. In short, how to do it” (2000). Today the mainstream positions this year and around 20 dedicated the publication was a polite commentary on media is much more accepting of the ideas volunteers who contribute on a regular basis. wholesome student activity. behind the articles, although still critical of Bearing in mind that Craccum cannot afford However, the radical change of the political Craccum’s approach. Whether outraged to pay any of the volunteers, Matthew Harnett climate during the 1960s and 1970s saw or inspired by its content, one notes the estimates that about 100 students will “put Craccum march to the forefront of controversy cleverness with which the pieces are written, something into the magazine” this year. and criticism. Progressive articles on such aiming to break the silence of taboo topics. After decades of informing the students themes as the “Pope on the Pill” and “The Today with a diverse student population about how best to get involved, advising facts about Lesbianism” sat alongside more numbering some 38,500 students, Craccum’s the first-years what to look forward to during political stories about the cold war, the content has to cover a lot of ground in order Orientation Week and discussing sensitive nuclear arms race and the US civil rights to bring in a bigger crowd. political issues, Craccum has achieved movement. Craccum had left its student Co-editors for 2009, Matthew Harnett and the right balance between student notices rag days behind and moved into the more Valentine Watkins, have already stepped and controversy. This year, Matthew and up to the challenge of sustaining Craccum’s Valentine will not only entertain students reputation for controversy with stories like with quirky stories from around campus “Should We Legalise Incest” (2009) along but will also continue to bridge the gap with student-relevant stories like “A Student between the mainstream media and the Recession” (2009). As Matthew points out, readers of Craccum. the only way to evaluate Craccum’s success is Tamara Lobzina (BA 2009) to check “how many Craccums are left in the box” after distribution each week. Perhaps Craccum’s continued success is a result of student input which keeps it fresh and edgy. Craccum welcomes contributions from students ranging from spending time in the office checking grammar to writing articles. Since AUSA became voluntary for students to join, the funding has dropped dramatically, and although AUSA still maintains Craccum on a basic level, the magazine has to fend for itself financially in all other aspects. Hence, there are only four paid

Ingenio Autumn 2009 | 39 Information, displays, presentations and discussion on postgraduate study at New Zealand’s leading university*.

Monday – Arts, Law, Engineering and Theology Tuesday – Education Wednesday – Business, Science, Medical and Health Sciences, and National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries Thursday – Education Throughout the week – National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries showcasing special exhibitions, concerts and presentations

*Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2008.

For more information and to register visit: www.auckland.ac.nz/postgradweek MKTG0836-09