THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2017

VISION FOR CHANGE GRAFFITI CRIMES Creativity with street cred HAPPINESS How can we have more of it? ALUMNI PROFILE

Ingenio The University of Auckland Alumni magazine

Autumn 2017 ISSN 1176-211X

Editor: Judy Wilford Contributing editor: Helen Borne IN THIS ISSUE Art Direction and Design: Mike Crozier Advertising manager: Don Wilson Proofreading: Rupert Alchin, Tess Redgrave, Julianne Evans Editorial 3 Writers: Tess Redgrave, Julianne Evans, 8 Margo White, Judy Wilford, Suzi Phillips, Letters 4 Vaughan Yarwood University news 4

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Cover image Erna Takazawa. Photo: Dean Carruthers

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2 | Ingenio | Autumn 2016 EDITORIAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH EDUCATION

The University is committed to two of our largest degrees that provide delivering high impact learning the foundations of a liberal education. experiences that prepare students to We are in the process of implementing face the challenges of working and significant changes to the structure of contributing to an uncertain world, in these degrees, and programmes within which they are likely to change careers them, to embed clearly-defined, highly more than five times. marketable skill sets that provide enhanced career and postgraduate study n 2016, as an expression of this outcomes for students. commitment, the University renewed Our profile also frames the Iwhat is known as its graduate development of new types of active and profile, which defines aspirations learning experiences (internships and for all Auckland graduates and the work placements, for example) that areas (e.g. introductory data analysis, developmental opportunities that are being embedded in programmes academic integrity, and logical and every student will have access to while and courses, as part of the University’s critical thinking). The development of completing a University of Auckland student employability strategy. These a MOOC based on our Logical and degree. From 2017 our academic opportunities are increasingly being Critical Thinking course has led to the community is working to embed this made available to students within their enhancement of our face-to-face course framework to ensure that all students programmes of study and are designed as well as the development of an online are aware of and have access to the to support them to develop forms of for-credit version for University of significant personal development knowledge that are acquired in context Auckland students. This option provides opportunities available to them. and thus increase their professional flexible access for students. The overarching aspiration shared as well as academic capabilities. The Finally, the University is exploring by our academic community is that emphasis of these experiences is on the introduction of micro-credentials a University of Auckland degree will problem-solving, critical thinking and – a type of alternative credential that transform graduates into independent collaboration. provides students and alumni with and critical thinkers able to apply their In addition to renewing its graduate opportunities to develop knowledge in disciplinary expertise in all spheres of profile, the University has harnessed new niche areas relevant to their professional their lives. Our vision is that University learning technologies and pedagogies goals. These credentials are typically of Auckland alumni exhibit a number to support student learning. In 2016 modular and delivered in short time of trademark qualities that set them it invested heavily in a state-of-the-art frames in a range of flexible formats – apart from other graduates in the learning management system (Canvas) online, blended and face-to-face. marketplace. These include the ability and technology suite. Our teachers These significant developments in to develop unique and sustainable and students now have access to a wide the University’s teaching and learning, solutions to real world problems, and to range of new and exciting technology combined with our ranking as the most lead and influence others with integrity (including lecture recording tools) to innovative university in Australasia and fluency across global cultures and support learning within lecture contexts (excelling in knowledge discovery perspectives. and extend opportunities for engagement and application) will ensure that our The new graduate profile is central to beyond the classroom. graduates have the best chance possible the University’s long-term academic plan. We are using our increased capacity of enjoying fulfilling careers in which It provides academic staff and student for blended and online teaching to they make significant contributions to support services with a shared framework increase educational opportunities the quality of material and cultural life for designing and delivering high impact for distinct constituencies of learners, of all New Zealanders. educational experiences to our students. including off-campus learners. The For instance, it provides the frame University has expanded its Massive for a major reconceptualisation of the Open Online Course (MOOC) offerings Professor John Morrow structure and content of our Bachelor of to provide global access to University of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees – Auckland staff in popular curriculum

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 3 LETTER TO THE EDITOR

health while reversing malignancy. CREATIVITY AND

THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE | SPRING 2016 At the very least, broadening the scope of research might help to address the THE FUTURE unwanted production of reactive species A two-day summit is being held to highlight resulting from cancer treatment protocols, the significance of creativity for the future these species invariably thwarting long of business and enterprise. This inaugural term survival. event, which aims to create engagement and collaboration between researchers, Best regards, business leaders, social entrepreneurs, Stephen Butcher educators, and artists, is co-hosted by the Creative Thinking Project, the University GEORGE of Auckland Business School and the MASON New Zealand Leadership Institute. The A life of many layers FOR ALL “Creativity: The HeART of Business” OUR FUTURES Reponse from Distinguished Professor summit will take place on 5-6 September Can we do it together? Bill Denny, Director, Auckland LIGHT FORCE 2017. Find out more at: Driving scientific advances Cancer Society Research Centre, www.business.auckland.ac.nz/creativity- University of Auckland the-heart-of-business

The writer asks whether the aim of the Campaign to "dramatically improve RANKINGS LEAD RISKS AND cancer survival rates" is too narrow, by REINFORCED focusing on the development of new OPPORTUNITIES treatments. That would be true if it was The University of Auckland’s standing all that was going on in the University, as the country’s leading university was Dear Judy, but there is much complementary reinforced in the latest QS World University research in better nutrition, lifestyle, Rankings by Subject, with the University May I comment on the "For All Our screening and diagnostic technologies; judged best in New Zealand in 37 of the 40 Futures" campaign? I wonder if the not all can be featured specifically in the subjects for which it is ranked. partnership between philanthropy and Campaign. It was rated best in New Zealand in each increased capacity can really focus on the The writer notes that “for most solid of the broad subject rankings, including needs of society and not be limited by its cancers the prerequisite oxidation of 25th in the world in Arts and Humanities. own funding model, in one of its aims in DNA should be regarded as cancer It featured in the top 50 in the world in 16 particular. causing”. In the vast majority of cases this subjects (up from 15 last year), with two of That aim is to "dramatically improve is not correct. The ultimate cause of all those in the top 20. cancer survival rates”. The risk is that the cancers is changes in the sequence of a funding model is a preconception which cell’s DNA (genome), which gives rise to prefers the development of new treatments altered proteins (enzymes) that, in certain NEW CHANCELLOR which demonstrate a productive business combinations, result in uncontrolled cell AND PRO CHANCELLOR outcome rather than a broader approach growth and replication (cancer). Most to include prevention and a reduction in of these DNA changes occur during Scott St John became Chancellor of the the demand for services, including new the normal process of cell division, University of Auckland on 1 January 2017. cancer treatments. where the cell has to replicate its entire Scott was first appointed to the University Cancer treatments almost always have genome and the wrong unit (base) is Council in 2009. Since then he has served side effects because they invariably are occasionally inserted in the new chain. on the Capital Expenditure Committee, the at least partly indiscriminate in their A small proportion of cancers are caused VC Review Committee and the Finance destruction of cells or the inhibition of by carcinogens (radiation and some Committee which he chaired. In 2014, DNA replication. At the risk of attracting chemicals). These alter DNA by either Scott was appointed Pro-Chancellor. This criticism, I suggest that the jargon used attaching themselves to it or causing year also marks the appointment of a new by the industry is slightly misleading. oxidative damage to it; both processes Pro Chancellor, Jan Dawson. Jan also served The reference to “carcinogen” implies a change the structure of the DNA units. as a member of the University Council causal relationship which does not exist: Whether the individual units of DNA before becoming Pro Chancellor. for most solid cancers the prerequisite are wrongly inserted during replication oxidation of DNA should be regarded as or are altered by carcinogens, the end cancer causing and I suggest the addition result is changes in the sequence of a of a carcinogen to oxidised DNA should cell’s DNA (genome), which gives rise to be regarded as consequential. If the scope altered proteins in the cell. The former of cancer research is expanded to look (majority) process cannot be controlled, at the causal process prior to carcinogen but much work goes into controlling the attachment then I suggest there is a much latter: minimising exposure to radiation bigger opportunity for both prevention (including sunlight), smoking and and treatments which support good workplace carcinogens.

4 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 NEWS ALUMNI POEM

Elegy again

You are on a railway station in the driest country we had ever seen. We stand in the heat by a row of shagged pot plants and I think how green

was always the colour as you came to mind, a green coat once by a corner in Florence when you didn’t see me, leaning towards a match. You are ten yards away and ah, the distance,

even then; or our lying side by side, your hair that I joked was like a fire stalking a step behind you, a smoky AN EXTRA FRISSON FOR A brilliance even now, when words like ‘desire’

GLITTERING EVENT are husks, shells, dead tongues, as once we reached them down from the living he wild burst of torrential rain on The impressive new pavilion which tree, the green sky, and our hands the evening of the Distinguished housed the event (seen from the inside brushing like something scorched, loving T Alumni Awards Dinner only above) is built from a combination served to add to the feeling of warmth of safety glass and sandwich walls, without the palaver of having to say. and conviviality for the guests inside the with a floor area of 110 square metres And the utter ashes of it now, the same new pavilion and to make it even more and a capacity to hold 1,420 people. as if I’d read about someone else, un- memorable for all who attended. Dismantled after the dinner to allow moved. And you, caged in freedoms beyond flame. Members of the University community the lawn and tree roots to recover in the and of the University of Auckland historic garden, it was rebuilt for the Vincent O’Sullivan Society were gathered to honour University’s Autumn Graduation and our five Distinguished Alumni for for other occasions that will follow. It 2017: Carol Hirschfeld, one of New replaces the former Alumni Marquee Zealand’s best-known and most popular which has hosted many events over the broadcasters; Ian Hunter, Professor of last 20 years. Mechanical Engineering at MIT; Dr For more information about our Lance O’Sullivan, GP and public health Distinguished Alumni see the stories on champion; Lisa Reihana, an acclaimed pages 8, 14 and 30. To see the photos artist who is representing New Zealand taken at the dinner and at the Bright at the 2017 Venice Biennale; and Erna Lights event held the night before see: Takazawa, the first and only fully- www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz. qualified optometrist in Samoa, our 2017 The Bright Lights event, always a Young Alumna of the Year. hit with the audience, features lively, Each was presented with the intelligent, amusing and occasionally traditional medallion to mark the irreverent conversations between Finlay occasion, and gave a speech that offered Macdonald and the Distinguished fascinating insights into their lives. Alumni.

Vincent O’Sullivan, DCNZM (BA 1959; MA 1960; D Litt 2008) is one of our foremost writers: a poet, short story writer, novelist, NOMINATIONS FOR 2018 playwright and editor. He was New Zealand’s Poet Laureate from 2013 to 2015 and was Nominations are now open for the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Awards. The honoured writer at the 2016 Auckland Writers University of Auckland and the University of Auckland Society bestow the annual Festival. A profile of Vincent, written by Tess Distinguished Alumni Awards to honour alumni who have made outstanding Redgrave, appeared in the Autumn 2014 contributions, through their different achievements, to their professions, to their issue of Ingenio. “Elegy again” was published communities and globally. To discover more about previous winners, see photos in Being Here: Selected Poems (Victoria and videos from past events. To submit nominations, visit University Press, 2015). It is reprinted with www.auckland.ac.nz/daa. Nominations close 30 June 2017. permission.

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 5 NEWS

but to create new ways of thriving A PROMISE together.” Alumna Courtney Sina Meredith, KEPT also a writer, describes Max’s book as a “poignant reminder that New Zealand is longside a “Letter from Oxford”, a journey we are all on together.” written by alumnus Max Harris Max completed a Master of Public A for the Autumn 2015 issue of Policy and Bachelor of Civil Law at Ingenio, was a note that said: “Max Oxford University while on a New hopes to spend the first two years of his Zealand Rhodes Scholarship from 2012 fellowship writing a book on progressive to 2014, and a Law/Arts conjoint degree DOWN TO politics in New Zealand…” (with Honours in Law) at the University The fellowship to which it referred was of Auckland from 2006 to 2010. Not BUSINESS an Examination Fellowship at All Souls yet 30, he is already acknowledged as a College at Oxford, which is awarded to brilliant New Zealander with singular rofessor Jayne Godfrey is the up to two exceptional scholars each year talents. new dean of the Business and qualifies the scholar for seven years PSchool and the first woman of funding to pursue an approved course to hold the post, taking over from of study of their own choice. the previous dean, Professor Greg Right on time, just two years later Whittred, who held the position for (and about a week ago) Max was eight years and has left a strong legacy back in New Zealand to speak at the of achievement. Auckland Writers’ Festival about the Jayne has a Master of Economics promised book, The New Zealand Project, from the University of Sydney published by Bridget Williams Books in and a PhD from the University of April, 2017. Queensland. Her past academic “This work” writes Max in the roles include two years as President introduction, “was born out of an of the Academic Board of Monash instinct that something was not quite University and three years as Dean right in New Zealand society, that and Director at the College of politics is partly to blame for this, and Business and Economics at the that collective political action might be Australian National University. able not only to address these challenges

ast month we lost a highly- funds for the construction of the FAREWELL respected member of our University University’s Business School and his L community when Sir Douglas personal gift of $1 million for this TO DOUGLAS Myers died in London, aged 78. purpose in 2002 was noteworthy for more Sir Douglas was best-known to than its magnitude. It took the funds MYERS most New Zealanders as a successful over the $25 million mark and allowed businessman, and a member and former the University to draw down the full $25 chair of the Business Round Table. To million pledged by the government to the University he will be remembered as a match private sector donations. generous friend and benefactor who had a He encouraged young New Zealanders deep belief in the value of education and to focus on offshore opportunities in the young people who will lead this through the Douglas Myers Scholarships, country in the future. which offer outstanding year 13 Kiwis In 2000 Sir Douglas was principal the chance to study at Gonville and Caius donor to the University’s visual and College at Cambridge University, where performing arts centre (named the he himself read history. Kenneth Myers Centre in memory of “When you meet young people, they his father) – which he saw as helping to think the world’s their oyster,” he said at create a partnership between the business the time the scholarship was established. community and the University. He “They don’t yet know any better than felt that the building at 74 Shortland to think they can have extraordinarily Street, bridging the past and present in wonderful lives. What I want is to assist performing arts, placed halfway between them with those dreams.” the campus and the CBD, offered a Sir Douglas Myers was conferred with physical symbol of the new link. an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in He played a leading role in raising 2005.

6 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 #highway?

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DLR0051 COVER STORY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE

This year, for the first time, the majority of the University’s Distinguished Alumni are from Polynesian backgrounds. They are all high achievers who are having a signficant impact on their communities.

Tess Redgrave met the three female winners.

ring together broadcaster Carol encouraged to learn Te Reo when I was Lisa, from a young age, decided she Hirschfeld (54), Head of Content young.” wasn’t going to be pigeon-holed. “My Bat Radio New Zealand, with artist For Erna, whose father came to Samoa mother is English/Welsh, my father is Lisa Reihana (52), who is representing from Japan, the word she knows is not Māori. I am an in-between person. That New Zealand at the 2017 Venice “half caste” but “afakasi”. “I didn’t feel is my gift and I like to investigate being Biennale, and Erna Takazawa (28), like a typical Samoan. I stood out as this dual hybrid in my art.” Samoa’s first optometrist, and there is different – an Asian-looking slit-eyed For Carol, who readily admits she had one thing they all quickly identify in afakasi.” to take beta blockers for her nerves when common: Each knows what it is like But the minute you learn about these she first fronted our television screens, to be a “half-caste” or as Lisa jokes “a three women you realise that no matter her mother’s courageous journey to the hybrid or bitzer”. what life has thrown at them, they city is something she holds close. “I “I was always aware of the word when have stood firm and met the challenge. think it’s given me the courage to be in a I was young and it was derogatory,” says Ironically growing up a “hybrid” has difficult place.” Carol, whose Māori mother left her home been part of the crucible on which their Significantly too, each is a member of at Rangitukia near East Cape in the early careers have flourished. the first generation in their families to 1950s to make her luck in the city. “Being an afakasi pushed me to be go to university. They take nothing for “I was aware of a sense of unfairness stronger,” says Erna, who in 2015 was granted and I sense they are having an as a child,” says Lisa. “My father was one of nine young people from the impact on their communities, not just the first of his whānau to come down to Pacific to win a Queen’s Medal. “I found because of their work, but also because the city from up north. He was caned at ways to blend in. That’s why I put my of who they are and where they have school for speaking Māori so I was never energy into sports and academics.” come from.

8 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 COVER STORY

Left to right: Carol Hirschfeld, Erna Takazawa and Lisa Reihana. Photo: Dean Carruthers

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 9 COVER STORY

a Japanese technician, when he worked as TRAILBLAZER a volunteer at a Post Office and Telephone Communication Company in Samoa. Money has never Young Alumna of the Year: They married and returned to Japan, “been the driver for Erna Takazawa, BOptom 2012 School where I was born.” of Optometry and Vision Science, But Erna’s mother was one of 16 me. I wanted to go Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. children and missed island life. “So we returned to Samoa and I grew back to Samoa and up there.” make a difference. Erna’s parents stressed the importance ” n June 2015, Erna Takazawa did of education to their three daughters. something that most of us can only At 15 Erna found her vocation when Idream about. She stood in Buckingham her older sister Melissa began having Palace and shook Queen Elizabeth II’s vision problems. At that time there was “Money has never been the driver for me,” hand. only one optical shop in Samoa, run by she says. “I wanted to go back to Samoa “The Queen looked at me and said in an American. Melissa was fitted with and make a difference and do something her British accent: ‘so Erna are you really distance glasses costing $700. I was passionate about.” She hopes her from Samoa?’ And I said ‘yes I am but I “I wondered why it was so expensive,” choice inspires other young people to am part Japanese, you are very good to recalls Erna. “Most people in Samoa return to work in their communities. notice your Majesty’.” couldn’t pay that much. It also made Erna began working with a few eye Erna was in London because she had me aware that we lacked any eye care nurses before moving to the newly won the Queen’s Young Leader Medal specialists in our country.” established Samoa Vision Centre. “I am (the first Samoan to do so), a top honour She became determined to study still the only optometrist on the island; awarded to 60 young people across the optometry. Her parents couldn’t afford however we now have an ophthalmologist Commonwealth each year. to send her overseas to university but and nine eye nurses to look after things “It was one of the most memorable in Form 7 she won a New Zealand Aid while I am out of the country so we have a experiences of my life.” Scholarship for developing countries: very good eye team.” Erna is poised, gently-spoken, and often one of only five science scholarships and Erna goes on community outreaches to wears a frangipani flower in her hair. the only to the University of Auckland’s rural areas of Samoa and the other island There is nothing “unmemorable” about School of Optometry and Vision Science. Savaii, taking eye care (free glasses and her and her remarkable achievements. At There she flourished, taking part in the medication) to the people who cannot just 28 years old, she is the first and only Tuākana programme and benefiting from come to the main hospital in town where optometrist in Samoa and the country’s the support of older Pacific mentors. her clinic is based. National Eye Co-ordinator. Since 2012 In 2012 Erna graduated with First Class In a more recent development she has she has been single-handedly instrumental Honors, having twice won a New Zealand become a workforce support consultant in improving access to free eyecare for Association of Optometrists’ award. for the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ and Samoan children, people with disabilities But despite lucrative offers of work lectures regularly in Fiji, training nurses and over-65s. in New Zealand and Australia, Erna to take up eye care. “My Mum was a Samoan cultural returned to Samoa, where she became “This work is really important to dancer,” she explains. “She met my father, Samoa’s first fully qualified optometrist. me,” she says. “My students come from all around the Pacific including from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru, and Samoa.” Erna has also worked as a vision trainer with the non-government organisation SENESE, training teachers in primary and secondary schools to detect vision problems in their students. “But currently this initiative is not active due to funding issues. Without national vision screening for children we are not able to properly identify if the reason a child is not learning is because of their vision or hearing. “Funding is a big issue for eye care in Samoa,” she stresses. “My next challenge is to connect with more funding and find ways to make eye care initiatives more sustainable.” “I want to end avoidable blindness in Samoa and have the best eye care possible. “As good as New Zealand.”

10 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 dress maker. She made all our clothes.” Her grandmother was a wardrobe FACE TO FACE mistress for the New Zealand Opera Lisa Reihana (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine Company and owned a haberdashery and Ngāi Tu) Bachelor of Fine Arts 1988, in New Lynn, where Lisa and her three Creative Arts and Industries sisters were models. “I grew up around people fixing and making things. isa Reihana is one of New Zealand’s “Going to the theatre all the time with most important contemporary Mum opened my eyes to a community L artists. Right now her work is and how it takes a whole lot of people to wowing the world as New Zealand’s 2017 create a live event.” entry to the Venice Art Biennale. She A self-proclaimed “social butterfly”, Lisa has exhibited in New York, Liverpool, was in the top class at Lynfield College, Brisbane and many cities around the where her teacher Beverley Austin world. In 2014 she was a New Zealand encouraged her to go to Art School. Arts Foundation Laureate. Her works But it was a whole different world from feature in NZ collections at Te Papa, the Blockhouse Bay cul de sac. “There Portrait of the artist Auckland Art Gallery, New Plymouth’s were very few students of Māori descent Govett-Brewser; and the University owns at Elam [and no marae on campus at the and original, the work spans 26 metres, is three. time]. I felt singled out sometimes. This four metres high and 64 minutes long. It But just as Lisa doesn’t like to be makes you super aware of yourself and foregrounds the complexities of cultural pigeon-holed in life, neither is it easy to that’s where a knowledge of biculturalism identity and colonisation, re-envisioning pigeon hole her art. It has encompassed came in; I became hyper-sensitised to scenes of encounter between Europeans video, animation, story-telling, cultural politics.” and Polynesians set against a utopian sculpture, textiles, performance, sound Soon after Lisa started at Elam, Tahitian landscape. Famous figures such and photography. She is described as musician/artist Phil Dadson of From as botanist Joseph Bank, navigator Tupaia a filmmaker who makes art, has been Scratch fame, set up the Intermedia and Captain Cook feature. coupled with Michael Parekowhai as department. Lisa, “cresting the new Last year the work brought viewers a maker of “ethno pop”, and has been wave”, left her sculpture class and into the Auckland Art Gallery again and hailed “as a New Zealand pioneer of specialised in film-making. Her first short again. It broke records, with more visits media art, utilising technology to create experimental films developed her interest than any exhibition by a living New new ways to explore Māori culture”. in animation and she began tackling Zealand artist. Meet Lisa with her cheeky grin, subjects of Māori culture and politics. Lisa recalls being in the lift at the and you quickly sense she is a natural One music video Wog Features reflects gallery with a group of senior viewers “disrupter”. the rising politicisation of indigenous art excitedly going up to see her work again! “I have always been on the crest of practice. She didn’t reveal who she was but their something new.” In 1991 she was showcased as one enthusiasm made her aware of how her This may have started when she of eight “exciting younger artists” by work was creating “a safe space for people was growing up in a no-exit street in the Moet & Chandon New Zealand to look at our history”. Blockhouse Bay, where the neighbouring Arts Foundation. Then in 1997 “Lisa creates an immersive environment children ganged together to rescue she created Native Portraits, a large with digital media,” says Linda Tyler, native frogs and to barricade the street’s gateway comprising 11 video monitors Director of the University’s Centre for Art entrance, making their parents pay a toll commissioned for the opening of Te Papa Studies. “You’re plunged into the thick of to enter. Tongarewa Museum and forming part it and engaged emotionally.” Her father worked as “a lineman for the of her ongoing Digital Marae project – All Lisa’s recent art has involved county” with the Auckland Electric Power which recreates mythological ancestral working with big teams of people just like Board while her mother was an amateur figures in digital format from carvings those she watched her mother work with actress with Little Dolphin Theatre in historically found on a marae. in the theatre. An art teacher in schools Onehunga. “Mum was a maker and a In 2007 Lisa took part in Global and at Unitec for many years, Lisa calls Feminisms at Brooklyn Museum, New this collaborative way of working kanohi York. ki te kanohi (face to face). A New Zealand In 2008 Lisa completed another major “The art I do is really just an artifact of commission for Te Papa Mai i te aroha, the relationships I make,” she says. “They “pioneer of media art, ko te aroha (From love comes love). “Art create more opportunities for me to meet utilising technology has allowed me to examine who I am, my new people and learn more.” identity.” to create new ways By far Lisa’s greatest triumph to date to explore Māori has been In Pursuit of Venus (Infected) See Lisa Reihana: Emissaries featuring In a cinematic re-imagining of the neo- Pursuit of Venus [infected] (2015-17), alongside culture. classical French wallpaper Les Sauvages de new photo-based and sculptural works, in ” la Mer Pacifique (1804–05). Challenging Venice at: www.artprojects.net.nz

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 11 COVER STORY

news with John Campbell. Since then up to Auckland Technical Institute she has been in the public eye as head of (ATI)’s journalism course and didn’t get CONTINUING production at Māori TV for five years, in, she decided to enrol for a Bachelor of and now as Radio New Zealand’s head of Arts at Auckland the following year. content, responsible primarily for news. She took the advice of her older brother THE JOURNEY She's also been in the public domain as an and chose subjects that really engaged her: MC and speaker, and as an ambassador a major in English literature and minors Carol Hirschfeld for the Breast Cancer Cure Trust. in history, art history and Bhasa (the (Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata), “I have always just got on with what native language of Indonesia). Bachelor of Arts 1984, Faculty of Arts. was in front me,” says Carol, of her “University was an essential bridge to success. Yet she is also very aware of what adulthood. It helped me learn to set goals, is behind her. develop the capacity for critical thought ne day during the years when Carol’s father Charl is an Australian and gave me insights into many different Carol Hirschfeld was fronting engineer who came to New Zealand in worlds.” OTV3 News, she popped into the mid-1950s. Her mother, Ngawiki, There were also many hours spent at the a bank to get some money. “A young was a “Ngati Porou princess” who left student café with her sister and various Samoan teller leaned over the counter and Rangitukia, a small town about two friends “drinking too much coffee, said: ‘it's so good to see another brown kilometres from Tikitiki out on the North smoking furiously (we didn’t know the person on TV’. Island’s East Cape, when she was 15. dangers back then) and dreaming of what “It’s that simple,” says Carol, using this “Mum was eldest of her family and our lives might become”. anecdote to reflect on her impact in the was kept home from school to look after From the outside Carol’s career community. “I hope I show others you can the younger ones. So she had no formal does seem like the stuff of dreams. have a prominent role despite there not education. It must have taken enormous After University she got into the ATI being many people who look like you.” courage to leave her small Māori-speaking journalism course, became a cadet Most Ingenio readers will know Carol’s community to work in the city.” reporter for Radio New Zealand and a face from our television screens. For 12 Ngawiki moved to Wellington and sub-editor, first at the Auckland Star and years she worked as a reporter, director, then eventually Auckland, where she was then at TVNZ. The rest is history. Her presenter and producer on programmes a nurse aid and met Charl Hirschfeld in career has kept growing and changing. A such as Frontline, Assignment, One News, Otahuhu. They were married for 17 years one-time television director of long-form Holmes, Fair Go and Crimewatch. In 1998 until Ngawiki died prematurely at the age current affairs programmes, she is now she moved to TV3, where she read the of 36 of a cerebral haemorrhage. Carol steeped in management. was 10. “You learn that life means you’ll “I miss deeply the creative side of being lose somebody you love,” she told E_ someone who produces stories directly Tangata magazine in a candid interview. and I miss being involved in the hurly But her mother’s story remains warm. burly of the newsroom.” I feel very strongly When I ask Carol what Ngawiki would But innovation excites her and is part of “that I want to be a think of her Distinguished Alumni her role at Radio New Zealand. Award, there is a poignant moment as she “I am a decision maker and one of the guardian of credible says: “I hope she’d be proud. She started truly innovative things is to be able to journalism. this journey.” open your mind and allow diverse input Carol’s father is now 85 and she is quick into how you make those decisions, and ” to assert that he has been her greatest allow others to be part of those decisions. teacher. “All roads lead to dad. He is the It’s exciting to allow the younger fairest person I have ever met and that generation to inform the decisions you sense of fairness has carried over to every make. I want to be a conduit for that. aspect of my life.” That is how sustainability is achieved.” Education was “a non-negotiable” Making Radio New Zealand a in her family. “For dad it wasn’t about sustainable organisation is key. “I want it whether we could go to university; it was to be recognised by New Zealanders as a about what we would do there. There was taonga that needs to be cared for and also an absolute belief in us.” as the ‘go to’ in terms of connecting and When Carol was 14 she spent a year on informing them. We are involved in story- Sulawesi in Indonesia where her father telling and hopefully we are truth tellers. was posted as an electrical engineer. It’s very difficult to know in today’s world. She looks back on that as “liberating “I feel very strongly that I want to be a and eye-opening”. She then spent a year guardian of credible journalism.” with relatives in Bendigo, Australia, and worked on the local newspaper getting her CAN WE END INCREASE THE CONTRIBUTION first taste of journalism. OUR COMMUNITY MAKES TO THE WORLD? Back in New Zealand she passed up a 7th form year to work on a trade magazine Hospitality. When she rocked

12 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 OPINION

Journalists themselves can band together and create a non-profit cooperative media where their salaries and production become the primary expenses. Without the added pressure of generating greater VITAL TO and greater profit for shareholders, they can refocus their resources into great journalism. Another alternative is for universities to continue expanding their roles beyond SAVE OUR their own campuses and collectively build a strong media together—a media that offers breadth and depth of knowledge, society-wide. And while universities too are being squeezed so NEWS tightly that they can barely breathe, they When the AP wire service’s Twitter feed was compromised must push back, so they can continue to stand for an educated society, a public by a hacking group, there were serious, though short-lived interest that benefits all of us. Better consequences arising from the resulting misinformation. education and better civic knowledge mean better problem solving for the big problems that beset us all. Whether we get one or all of these he hacked tweet falsely declared about the public interest role that an options will be a public service to New that the White House had been institution, such as the press, provides. Zealand, and maybe, if wildly successful, T bombed. Within seconds the The “fake news” industry is the offer a model for others in the world who market plunged. During the US election, economic model gone wild. Enabled by are struggling with similar issues. conspiracy theories, preposterous ones, a free and open internet, the very system also spread via the internet. In one false that was once thought to spread the Maria Armoudian is lecturer in Politics claim, the Clintons were running an ideas of democracy and human rights and International Relations at the illegal trafficking, child-sex ring. One throughout the world has simultaneously University of Auckland. believer of the falsehood showed up at given us a new creature with which to the pizza place mentioned, armed with grapple. The young men (in Macedonia) an assault rifle ready to defend and were just one example of what “news” rescue the children. gets created when money is what matters Mass-mediated lies can have real most. They spread fabricated pro-Trump consequences when they are believed. stories that were then shared through Sometimes such consequences mean social media, for one primary reason – it the fabric of society can be torn apart, was how they made the most money. as in the case of Chile before, during As imperfect as any human institution and after the coup in 1973. Sometimes is, our news media have been a vital they can mean life and death: the worst source of information from which kinds of lies have been used to eliminate we learn about our community, our entire races of people in the Holocaust, government, our world. What will the Rwandan, Armenian and Bosnian we, as societies, do in the face of these genocides. challenges? How will we understand the But even seemingly innocuous lies policies, the representatives, the systems make it extremely hard to sustain that either better or worsen our collective democratic societies, which rely upon lives? Will we be forced to rely upon accurate, reliable, fact-checked, rational fabrications, insulting tweets and blame- information from which we – as citizens framing blog posts that give us no true – can understand government policy understanding of the real factors that got and decide what is best for us. Bad us to our current situation or where we information can logically lead to bad should go? decisions. It’s true of any system. New Zealand is exploring new media In the political economy of media projects, which as a whole, are hopeful as a business, where is the line? Which in the quest for building a model. A value takes precedence? Is it the finances government interested in an informed that keep profits growing? Or is it the society might shore up its support for its Dr Maria Armoudian receives her University of existence of a public service or the very holdings such as Radio New Zealand Auckland Early Career Excellence Award for 2017. function of society? When money is and by taking commercial pressure off Photo Sampford Cathie the bottom line, it is difficult to think TVNZ. But there are other models.

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 13 ALUMNI PROFILE

The FABULOUS HUNTER BROTHERS Ian and Peter Hunter talk with Margo White.

14 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 Photo: Dean Carruthers ALUMNI PROFILE

rofessor Ian Hunter identifies his the development of the Physiome Project, first invention as a device he called an international consortium involving Pthe ‘smell-o-meter’, constructed dozens of research institutions around when he was six from an old meter the world, of which he is co-director. thrown out by his father. The collective aim of the Project is to He opened it up, wrote “nice” at one build a computational model of a virtual end and “smelly” at the other. He’d hold human, one that integrates mathematical the device in front of his classmates and, and physiological information about in a way that wasn’t visible to them, use organs, tissues, cells, proteins and genes, his finger to move the dial to one end or ultimately to guide interventions and the other. treatments in human health. The Hatsopoulos Professor of Both Hunter brothers have received Mechanical Engineering at the too many accolades and awards to list Massachusetts Institute of Technology here. Evidently something runs in the (MIT) was in Auckland recently family. Is there something in the genes? to receive a University of Auckland “I don’t think so,” says Ian. “But we had Distinguished Alumni Award for a father who, whenever we showed an science, one of five graduates to receive interest in an area, he’d turn up with the the honour. I caught up with him relevant goodies. If we had an interest in on the sixth floor of the Auckland optics, lenses would appear. If we had an Bioengineering Institute, in the office interest in mechanics, mechanical things of his brother, Distinguished Professor would appear, normally with very little Peter Hunter. explanation.” Both Ian and Peter had We had a father “Everyone was fooled, including electronic workshops in their bedrooms. who,“ whenever we the teacher,” he recalls. “I remember “And then when I had an interest in thinking, ‘Wow, the power of chemistry, chemicals and beakers would showed an interest in instruments’. I had the whole class under appear,” adds Ian. “When the passion an area, he’d turn up my spell; they were terrified of being became even greater, my father set up a smelly. That was an early foray into chemistry lab in the house.” with relevant goodies. instrumentation.” Their father, Les, was an electrical If we had an interest in He laughs. His brother laughs. “And engineer and an inventor who, in deception,” adds Peter. 1950, constructed New Zealand’s first optics, lenses would Let’s begin with a few truncated experimental closed circuit television appear. If we had an biographical details. Ian describes station in his backyard. This was ten himself primarily as an inventor, whose years before television was introduced in interest in mechanics, interests include micro-instrumentation, New Zealand. There’s archive footage on mechanical things micro-fabrication, micro-robotics and YouTube, a short film made by the New medical devices. As well as being the Zealand National Film Unit capturing would appear. Professor of Mechanical Engineering their father’s “experiment in television”. ” at MIT, he’s director of the Institute’s Their mother Mary is featured talking BioInstrumentation Lab. Over the years to the camera and Peter, a pre-schooler he and his students have developed in short pants, comes briefly into view a number of innovative instruments, along with his two elder brothers. including needle-free drug delivery Ian hadn’t been born then, and who technologies, confocal laser microscopes, knows if it was nature or nurture, but he scanning tunneling electron microscopes began following in his father’s footsteps and a miniature mass spectrometer. The when, aged nine, he built a miniaturised latter is an instrument used for chemical transistor radio. He then started building analysis, to characterise smells, detect and selling transistor radios to other kids undesirable chemicals such as lead or in the neighbourhood. The radio waves pesticides and possibly assess health were weak back then so he’d rig up an status by analysing a person’s breath. antenna as part of the service. “Usually He has more than 100 patents and has a wire that I’d run from a kid’s bedroom founded or co-founded 25 companies. out to some adjacent tree, and then I’d Peter Hunter is the Director of the climb under the house and connect it Auckland Bioengineering Institute to the plumbing, to get a good earth (ABI), whose pioneering research connection”. is based on the premise that the Ian recalls getting his first business physiological function of the human lesson from the mother of one of his body can be analysed and modeled in young customers, who quizzed him on the same way a complex engineering his profit margins. “Being nine I didn’t system can be. His research has led to have a clue, so she said: 'If you add

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 15 ALUMNI PROFILE

up the cost of your components, the Peter also spent a lot of his childhood profit margin is when you add on some in his father’s workshop, he says. “It was additional charge.' I remember thinking more often to help him, rather than to this was immoral, the notion of charging build my own things. I was there more more.” He laughs. “But she said you have for company.” He has a vivid memory to take your time into account. And she of finding a ten-shilling note when he paid me three times my asking price, so was on holiday in Taupo and, after he I learned that profit margins could be handed it in to the police station and it quite significant.” wasn’t claimed, he used the proceeds to There were other instances of start building his own tool set. His first precociousness. He was ten when he purchase was a drill and a vice. published his first journal paper (in the “Oh, I remember that!” says Ian. “You Australian and New Zealand Electronic coming into great wealth, and buying Review) in which he detailed the design that beautiful die cast enclosed drill. You and cost of his single transistor radio. At couldn’t even see the gear, it was hidden 14 he built a gas liquid chromatograph in that grey case.” (an instrument used for chemical There was also music. Their eldest analysis). This was after visiting the brother Terry was the most talented, says University of Auckland and meeting Peter, playing the violin in the national a chemistry professor who had a PhD youth orchestra. The second brother, It involves a student who was building one. The Bruce, played clarinet. (Both elder “personal vehicle, one race was on. “My challenge was to see brothers have passed away.) Ian played if I could build one at home before this the piano and clarinet, but now plays that is light, powerful PhD student could. And I did. And it the drums. Peter played the piano as a worked.” child but never really liked it, and took and sustainable. It's That was the sort of thing the Hunter up classical guitar in his teens – “which I a vehicle so light its brothers did. Peter, before Ian started still love to play but don’t play very well”. building and selling transistor radios, There were, of course, differences. development depends had a repair service in his bedroom, Ian, says Peter, was the rebellious one, on a model of the repairing valve radios for people in the standing up to a sometimes overbearing neighbourhood. “It brought in a bit of father. “Partly because of his position in human being who is pocket money,” says Peter. “But it was a the family, the youngest, partly because likely to drive it. What pretty natural thing to do in our family of who he was. He was a very robust because our father did a lot of electronics character when he was little. Still is.” (“I will it look like? Like and all sorts of engineering, so we grew just didn’t care,” says Ian.) What was nothing you've ever up expecting to do those sorts of things. Peter then, the diplomatic one? “Maybe We’d all built our own radios and the introvert,” says Peter. seen before. gramophones. I think Ian was probably Peter enjoyed school, at least well ” a bit more entrepreneurial, so he made a enough. Ian couldn’t abide it. “I hated better business of it.” it,” he says, going on to say that it was time away from his workshop and he resented it. School, as far as he was concerned, was a waste of time. “It wasn’t the way I would learn anything. I was used to learning by doing.” Possibly because he was the youngest, his mother let him dodge school on “the flimsiest of excuses” and he could stay at home and work on his projects. Ian remains skeptical about traditional approaches to education. He has also received several teaching awards at MIT, which he suspects is because he recognises that people learn in different ways. He’s still a staunch advocate of learning by “doing” and from your mistakes, rather than by “sitting and listening”. He feels strongly about this, citing Richard Feynman, the American theoretical physicist and outspoken critic of the way science was often

16 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 ALUMNI PROFILE taught, and who coined the term “robust knowledge”. “Which is acquired after you struggle to build something, or to understand something, and then get it to work. That turmoil is what results in robust knowledge. He would also say that ‘fragile knowledge’ is the knowledge acquired when you cram for an exam, and it drains out of your brain in the days afterward. So I try my best when I lecture to use an experiential approach, and I think students appreciate that ... learning about an area by getting in and feeling it and smelling it and touching it.” He always was something of an autodidact, says Peter, although not in those words. “He didn’t do an engineering degree, but he’s become the most talented engineer I know. He was self-taught really. He came into the whole engineering and physics world slightly later, but with a vengeance.” Peter could also be described as an autodidact. He studied engineering at University, but later gravitated toward biology and did his PhD in the physiology department at Oxford where he taught himself physiology. They have collaborated and worked together often; Peter pitching in with the mathematics, and Ian with his expertise in instrumentation. More recently they’ve been collaborating on a project that actually depends on bringing their two areas of expertise together. They things take a long time to mature, and a won’t divulge any details, other than to lot of work.” say it involves a personal vehicle, one Peter agrees – persistence is Anything I've done that is light, powerful and (using electric paramount. “The ability to keep going, “that is any good has and solar technologies) sustainable. It’s to not give up, is crucial. You go through a vehicle that is so light its development long periods of drudgery ... the creative taken me ten years. depends on a model of the human being process is mysterious.” who is likely to drive it. What will it They probably wouldn’t be where they But Peter and I have a look like? “Like nothing you’ve ever seen were if they weren’t competitive, which tremendous interest before,” says Ian. Watch this space. makes you wonder if there have ever Were there any moments, in either been instances of sibling rivalry. Or, to in history so we know of their disciplines, that they would put things more bluntly, were they ever that historically describe as particularly significant, as jealous of each other? breakthrough moments? Ian waves his “That’s one of the bizarre things,” things take a long arm up and down, tracing one bell curve says Ian. “I think Peter is absolutely time to mature, and a after another, depicting the way things wonderful, but even as a kid I never felt are in the world of scientific innovation. jealous. My wife has asked me that on a lot of work. “Struggling to solve something, getting number of occasions, but I never have.” ” downhearted about it, and then, Peter shakes his head. “No, never. suddenly the solution hits, and you My only regret is that we haven’t been become ecstatic. In my case it’s 99 able to spend more time together. There percent perspiration and one percent are a number of moments in my career CAN WE DEVELOP THE GO-TO PRODUCTS inspiration. Anything I’ve done that is when Ian’s influence has been absolutely AND SERVICES OF TOMORROW? any good has taken me ten years. But critical.” Peter and I have a tremendous interest Says Ian: “And vice versa, over and in history, so we know that historically over again.”

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 17 TAKING ISSUE

WHAT IS HAPPINESS? And how can we have more of it?

The recently-published World Happiness Report shows New Zealand ranks eighth in the world for happiness, behind Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands and Canada. Six key variables help predict levels of happiness – GDP per capita, healthy years of life expectancy, social support, perceived lack of corruption, freedom to make life decisions, and generosity, as measured by donation levels.

Helen Borne asked two of our academics for their response to the report.

18 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 TAKING ISSUE

How happy ought we to be to live in he exuded this aura of warmth, peace WHY WE SHOULD a country where the major industries and openness. He said that he was very (both tourism and dairying) add to content and thankful for what he has NOT BE HAPPY dangerous levels of greenhouse gases – (two sets of robes, toiletries, jandals, and how happy should we be to live a study materials and a cracked cell ABOUT FEELING nation that corners wealth in a world phone). I pushed him to tell me if he crying out to be included in a more wanted anything else in his life. I even SO HAPPY humane global order? asked if he wants sex (Buddhist monks choose to be celibate), normal clothes Dr Ross McDonald is a national award- or a faster internet. He kept on saying, he recent World Happiness winning teacher working in the areas of with a smile, “Not really. I am happy”. Report makes for interesting but well-being, ethics and sustainability. He I insisted that surely there is something T somewhat complacent reading. is a Senior Lecturer in Management and else he wants in his life. Finally he gave It is all too easy to miss the fact that in International Business at the Business in. I felt that I won. He said, “Oh yes, all of the top countries, high levels of School. there’s one thing. I wish I can wake happiness are supported by high levels up earlier so that I am not late for our of long-term ecological recklessness and morning meditation”. a widespread blindness to the inherent I would probably get a different inequities of the global order. response from a 14-year-old from The World Happiness Report would IS IT REALLY Norway, Denmark, Switzerland or New be better read alongside two related Zealand. reports – the Living Planet Report and MEASURING the Happy Planet Report. The first of Dr Tony Fernando is a senior lecturer these analyses the ecological footprint HAPPINESS? in Psychological Medicine, Faculty of of a nation’s lifestyle and finds that Medical and Health Sciences, and “a all of those deemed to be happiest are perpetual student”. You can listen to enjoying life well beyond the pale of ew Zealand being ranked as one his meditation on gratitude through the sustainable living. The second integrates of the top 10 nations in terms University’s CALM (Computer Assisted each nation’s ecological footprint as a Nof the World Happiness Report Learning for the Mind) website: moderating factor to rank countries makes me “happy”. The situation in www.calm.auckland.ac.nz according to the relative efficiency with New Zealand is very different from my which happiness is achieved. Thus, if country of birth, the Philippines, which a country manages to produce high tops world lists for corruption, human levels of the feeling of thriving with few rights violations, journalists murdered resources and little pollution, it rises and cataclysmic disasters. Digging WHAT DO YOU THINK? in the ranking. In New Zealand’s case, deeper though, I have doubts as to how WHAT MAKES YOU we fall from 8th to 38th place as the accurate this “Happiness Report” is. Is environmental price of our happiness is it really measuring happiness? HAPPY? taken into account. The World Happiness Report uses Everyone has an opinion on what As with ignoring the ethical variables which are important in happiness is and how we can be requirements to generate happiness living a materially comfortable and happier. The views of our academics in ecologically responsible ways, the safe life, but not a genuinely happy are intended as the beginning of a World Happiness Report similarly life, characterized by self-acceptance, discussion, which our readers can then ignores the ethical requirements of meaning and contentment. respond to. Please visit our Ingenio justice and equity. It is important to I know many people who are website www.ingenio-magazine.com or remember that most New Zealanders physically healthy, not wanting in write a letter to the editorto continue the belong to the global elite in terms of our comfort, material possessions and conversation. material lifestyles and that the miserable external safety but suffering internally You can also comment on “Taking Issue” conditions endured by the billions who from self-doubt, disconnection, anxiety topics from previous issues, including live in the world’s slums are maintained and lack of meaning. On the other gender inequality in the world of work by our (and other happily advantaged hand, I have met materially deprived and New Zealand’s response to the nations) continuing to hold onto the people living in huts, unsure of where refugee crisis. Letters to the editor are lion’s share of the world’s bounty. their next meal will come from, who are also welcome. Please email to Just as our happiness is bought at the content, at peace and have a deep sense [email protected] or post expense of future generations, it is of purpose in their lives. to Ingenio, Communications and also bought at the cost of those we are Last year, while travelling in Marketing, Private Bag 92019, Auckland willing to exclude from the benefits of Myanmar, I had a casual chat with a Mail Centre, Auckland 1142. an advantaged lifestyle. 14-year-old Buddhist novice. He was The views expressed above reflect In the end then, it is not only how practising his English while I was being personal opinions and are not those of happy a nation might be that matters a nosy psychiatrist. I asked him about the University of Auckland. but also how happy we should be with details of his life, his worries as well how our relative felicity is secured. as his dreams. Throughout the chat,

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 19 RESEARCH

Hamish Elmslie at Sacred Hill, the Hawke’s Bay winery where the winegrenade was trialled. SHARP MINDS, BUSINESS SAVVY How the University is helping turn cool ideas into stuff we need. Vaughan Yarwood reports.

small, picturesque town high was keen to build on the momentum set about winning industry hearts and in the Swiss Alps is not the sort of business deals he had sealed in minds. In a Kiwi sector already known A of place you would expect to California's Napa Valley and Mexico. He for its innovation – daring enough, for find a University of Auckland alumna was looking to disturb the equilibrium instance, to replace the ubiquitous corks championing the riches to be found in the of vintners in Chile and Argentina by with screw caps – there is talk of the world's e-waste. "pulling the pin" on a wine grenade or grenades being revolutionary – or, at least, But that is exactly what Privahini two there. These grenades are micro- incendiary. Bradoo did in January when she addressed oxygenators that mimic the way red wine What connects the ventures of a meeting at the World Economic Forum matures in traditional oak barrels, but in a Privahini and Hamish (and more than in Davos. More particularly, Privahini, compressed time frame, making it quicker 120 others who, collectively, have co-founder and CEO of US-based and less costly for wineries to get their raised in excess of $200 million in recycling start-up Blue Oak, spoke about product to market. capital and created over 460 jobs) is the the ‘circular economy' and her company's The idea was born when Hamish and University of Auckland's entrepreneurial role in it. four fellow masters students in the Centre ecosystem. This is an evolving network "From one tonne of cell phones you can for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of organisations, including Velocity, extract as much gold as you can from 100 (CIE) were handed a piece of tech Chiasma, CIE, The Icehouse, and tonnes of gold ore," she explained. Then developed by Plant and Food Research UniServices –which manages commercial there was the silver, palladium, copper... and invited, as part of their masters return for the University's research and It was a far cry from her student days in programme (in commercialisation and intellectual property and is now the Auckland when she steered the Business entrepreneurship), to make a business out largest of its kind in Australasia. School's entrepreneurial development of it. Largely anchored in the Business programme, Spark (now Velocity), as its Having researched the market, the five School, the network is helping reshape inaugural chief executive. But through formed a company, Wine Grenade, with attitudes and aspirations among academic a stellar career, her enthusiasm for Hamish as chief executive. Winning the staff and students across the University, science and her heartfelt desire to make a 2014 Spark $100K Challenge brought and demystifying the commercialisation difference still burn bright. them seed capital and a six-month process in disciplines as diverse as Meanwhile, half a world away from residency at the University's business engineering, medicine and the sciences. Davos, alumnus Hamish Elmslie incubator The Icehouse. That done, they So effective is it that the MIT Skoltech

20 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 RESEARCH

Initiative – a two-year study to identify Taking its cue from these labs, the the best university-based entrepreneurial highly-visible innovation hub – which is ecosystem outside MIT, Stanford, and located in the 900-square-metre space The future is in Cambridge – named the University of formerly occupied by the Engineering “the hands of the Auckland as one the world's top five library on Symonds Street – will provide "emerging leaders in entrepreneurship" the environment and the tools for idea nation's young and a growing international centre of sharing, collaborative experimentation excellence in innovation. In 2016, the and creative play. It will be open to scientists, engineers, inaugural Reuters Top 75: Asia's Most students from all faculties with ideas technologists and Innovative Universities ranked Auckland of any sort. Its integrated programme as the most innovative university in will combine mentoring, workshops, creative professionals. Australasia. and engagement opportunities to help Let's empower them, Achievements like that tend to attract students build and eventually launch and attention, and they no doubt caught the grow their ventures. give them the right eye of philanthropist and business builder The Business School's general manager, tools and let them get Sir Owen Glenn, a long-time benefactor Himendra Ratnayake, who was in the US of the University of Auckland. It was Sir study group, is enthusiastic about how the on with the job. Owen's $7.5 million foundation gift in University's innovation drive is evolving. ” 2005 that enabled the Business School "Five years ago, we introduced team- to bring its scattered faculty together in based learning labs at the school. Now a new state-of-the-art building. And in they are fully booked and have spread like February this year he gifted a further wildfire across the University. Going by Let's empower them, give them the right $2.6 million to the school to promote what has happened overseas, this maker- tools, and let them get on with the job." innovation and entrepreneurship across space is going to be just as popular.” For now, all attention is on the the University, including through the Professor Greg Whittred, who has been University's bold new shop window on creation of an innovation hub. unwavering in his determination to "turn innovation. If all goes to plan, a basic lab The gesture recognised that the up the volume" on innovation, stepped could be open for business there as early challenge for universities was to equip down as Dean of the Business School in as the second semester. students for radically new ways of doing December. However, he will continue business and of thinking about the to push his vision for a university-wide As they say: watch this space... relationship between business and society, "culture change" as the University's said Sir Owen: "It's about nurturing a newly-appointed Director of Innovation CAN WE TRANSFER new breed of graduate who is innovative, and Entrepreneurship. KNOWLEDGE INTO WEALTH? entrepreneurial, business savvy, globally Arguing the rationale for change, he connected, and capable of having both an once wrote: "The future is in the hands of economic and social impact." the nation's young scientists, engineers, More people like Privahini and technologists, and creative professionals. Hamish, in other words. Which is where the innovation hub – also funded by PWC, Beca, and the Li Ka Shing Foundation – comes in. It will be run by the CIE, which is charged with propagating an entrepreneurial mindset across the University, developing a new curriculum, forging visionary partnerships with the business and investment communities, and improving the process of getting ideas to market. In November CIE's Director, Wendy Kerr, led a cross-faculty team to several US universities, including Duke, MIT, Stanford, and Yale, to better understand the thinking behind the ‘maker-space’ phenomenon that is sweeping the country's Ivy League universities. These learning labs, typically, are workshop Photographed at a course in commercialization spaces equipped with hardware such of research for PhD students are Ravishka as 3D printers, scanners, vinyl cutters, Arthur – PhD candidate, Forensic Science; and CAD stations. Many sprang up to Willy Wang – Doctor of Medicine; Amy Liu – PhD Candidate, Biological Sciences. meet the needs of engineering students but found a broader purpose across the faculties.

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 21 RESEARCH IN BRIEF

SPEAKING WITH NADIA

er name is Nadia and she is changing the face of interactions Hbetween humans and machines. Developed by academy award-winner, Associate Professor Mark Sagar, this world-first human-like avatar with the voice of a Hollywood star is based on the Baby-X technology developed at the University of Auckland. The release of Baby-X in 2013 led to the launch of an artificial intelligence company, Soul Machines, a spin-out from the University’s Auckland Bioengineering Institute – which has now released Nadia, an online virtual assistant for Australia’s disabled community. Nadia, who was developed for the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme, can understand thousands of questions put to her in plain English and respond with clear and simple replies. The Discussions with indigenous villagers in more interactions she has with people the Cambodia’s Kratie Province following a land more her knowledge bank grows. grab by a domestic investor – Andreas Neef is pictured to the right Mark Sagar, who won two academy awards for his work on the blockbuster, Avatar, teamed up with Cate Blanchett to create Nadia, with Cate supplying the voice. FIGHTING FOR LAND RIGHTS Nadia has the potential to provide services to 500,000 Australians with rofessor Andreas Neef, director the Philippines have cleared millions a disability, who may not be able to of the University’s Development of hectares of forestland claimed by complete tasks such as typing on a PStudies programme, has carried out indigenous peoples and other forest- keyboard, opening a letter or picking a six-country study on land policies and dependent communities. In Myanmar, up a phone. Mark says the technology land rights systems in Southeast Asia. one third of political prisoners in 2015 empowers people with disabilities to The particular focus of the research were land rights activists. be able to participate more fully in an has been on the potential – and Andreas says human rights activists increasingly digital world. the limitations – of national and are facing an uphill struggle against Nadia is one of the most advanced international legal frameworks to multinational corporations, urban human-machine interfaces developed in contain land-grabbing, dispossession elites and national governments which the artificial intelligence space and will and displacement of people within the are complicit in this new land rush. operate in a trial environment for the region. He has been inspired by the courage next 12 months before becoming fully The study, supported by the German of these activists “who fight against operational. NGO Brot für die Welt, has revealed social injustice in very difficult political that large-scale land grabs are facilitated environments. Some of them face by investor-friendly legal frameworks prosecution, while others have been and weak recognition of customary victims of state violence, yet they land rights at the national level. In continue to risk their own freedom and Cambodia alone, more than 800,000 sometimes even their lives for the most people have been affected by land disadvantaged groups in Southeast Asia”. conflicts and forced evictions from their customary lands over the last ten years. Jonathan Burgess Palm oil companies in Indonesia and

22 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 RESEARCH IN BRIEF

philosophical phenomenology, and the more recent “speculative realism” of the philosopher Quentin Meillassoux. One example of this is her exploration of immersive installation works through Einsteinian physics, including the recent work of German artist Hito Steyerl. Another example is the Danish- Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson's use of large chunks of ancient Icelandic ice that are placed in urban settings where they melt over several hours, Olafur Eliasson, Ice Watch, 2014, 12 ice blocks, Place du Pantheon, Paris, 2015. Photo: Martin Argyroglo © Olafur Eliasson, Courtesy the artist, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York and neugerriemschneider, Berlin. or in temperature-controlled galleries where they retain their form, as a way to address environmental concerns and engage with time frames that are difficult BEYOND THE CLOCK to comprehend. Kate was supervised by Dr Greg r Kate Brettkelly-Chalmers' practices. "Since the late 1950s art has Minissale, and says that he was doctoral thesis on the aesthetics engaged wonderfully diverse media and wonderful in feeding her ambitions to Dof time in contemporary art, modalities that allow us to experience expand the thesis, which “started as a completed last year, has now received a time in remarkably different ways." phenomenological investigation of time, Vice-Chancellor's Prize for Best Doctoral She broke new ground in the emerging but went well beyond that”. Thesis – awarded to the five most field of time studies by drawing upon Kate is currently preparing her exceptional theses successfully examined Henri Bergson's and Gilles Deleuze's doctoral research for publication, thanks right across the University. “philosophies of becoming,” the to a Dame Joan Metge Post-Doctoral Kate argues that time has become relative time scales of Albert Einstein's Research Award from the Kate Edger a central feature of contemporary art physics, the “immanent durations” of Educational Charitable Trust.

has had a stroke, to predict if they will do something about how we rehabilitate STROKE OF have an “excellent”, “good”, “limited” or your hand or arm”. “poor” recovery of their hand and arm. Cathy and her team found that the DIFFERENCE “Your ability to live independently six knowledge gained by using PREP helped months after a stroke depends on three therapists to tailor their rehabilitation main things: your age, the severity of the therapy better to meet each patient’s ehabilitation of stroke patients initial stroke, and how well your hand individual needs. This helped their can now be improved thanks to and arm recover movement,” she says. patients to return home a week earlier on Ra simple process that is helping “We can’t do anything about your age average than patients who didn’t receive therapists make accurate predictions on or how bad your stroke was but we can the prediction information. how well their patients will regain the use of their hand and arm after a stroke. University of Auckland researchers led by Associate Professor Cathy Stinear (left in photo) have created and tested a unique algorithm with therapists treating stroke patients at Auckland Hospital. “The findings showed that the algorithm could correctly predict in about 80 percent of cases how well stroke patients’ hands and arms recovered, something which can be very difficult to do otherwise,” says Cathy. The algorithm, known as PREP for Predicting Recovery Potential, can be used in the initial days after a person

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 23 Photo: Billy Wong

GRAFFITI CRIMES Ron Kramer speaks to Julianne Evans.

plashing a dark alley with colour, Parental and police disapproval aside, an expansion of his doctoral dissertation. turning a blank wall into a talking he says the main thing he felt about “I was interested in how and why legal Spoint; street art is everywhere when getting caught was frustrated that he graffiti now exists and the policies that you start looking for it. didn’t get to finish the piece. repressed subway graffiti in New York. And Ron Kramer does a lot of looking, He became interested in graffiti in It was kept out of trains and train yards and painting. 1989, aged 11, and some of the skills he and that eventually led to a lot of graffiti A senior lecturer in criminology and learnt on the job have been transferable writers asking for permission, often sociology at the University of Auckland to academia. saying, ‘If you let us paint, we’ll do it for where he’s on a fast-rising career “Writing graffiti is a creative free’.” trajectory, he has an unconventional process you can compare with a piece His field research took him all over weekend side-line in commissioned of academic writing, in that it has New York – considered graffiti mecca graffiti, writing under a pseudonym or composition, style and involves planning – through all kinds of neighbourhoods “moniker”. towards a cohesive whole. You’re working where he did interviews with graffiti His work – colourful, confident fast and under pressure and it pays not to writers and took photos of their work. abstract versions of interconnected have a fixed mind set.” “What I saw was often colourful, 3D letters and shapes, overlaid with The art form has also been central to elaborate and sophisticated; visually trademark features like oversized drops of his research interests. striking.” water – decorates public and private space The son of working class Croatian Talking to the writers (a term they around Auckland and elsewhere. immigrants, he was the second in his prefer to artist), he says many of his own Australian-born, Ron spent some family to go to university. Completing his assumptions turned out to be wrong. of his teenage years on the illegal side PhD on the rise of legal graffiti in New “I was expecting my interviewees to of the fence, “bombing” the insides of York city at Yale in New Haven (where be more political, to be making some Melbourne trains and working at speed he was based from 2005-2012), he has sort of statement, but in fact that wasn’t to get his piece done before the police focused on how power imbalances impact often the case. They were graffiti writers turned up. society’s thinking about crime and because they enjoyed it as a creative A risky business, as in those days deviance, and how they shape everyday expression, and just wanted to be left Melbourne had a dedicated graffiti squad. practices within criminal justice systems. alone to get on with it.” It doesn’t sound like the kind of At Auckland, he teaches critical and In common with all subcultures, evening hobby parents would approve of. cultural criminology, subcultures, graffiti has its own hierarchy and codes of “Not really no; they didn’t know about criminalisation and street art, and he’s behaviour. it until a policeman knocked at the door just published a book; The Rise of Legal It’s strongly linked with the rise one night.” Graffiti Writing in New York and Beyond, of hip hop in boroughs of New York

24 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 RESEARCH like the South Bronx, Queens and who does what type of graffiti, and for “They’ve persevered and have now Brooklyn during the 1960s and 70s, which audience, he says. become an imbedded part of the social and to African-American and Hispanic A shifting landscape in recent fabric. A similar thing has happened with communities. decades has seen a whole new wave of tattoo artists.” It also has a rich language; angels respectability for street art, with the rise It would be nice, Ron believes, if and kings, massacres and masterpieces, of globally recognised names like Keith people learned to see the value all types of black books and honour among thieves Haring, Jenny Holzer, Basquiat and graffiti might have. or “hat”: not the plot of the latest Dan Banksy, who is still “technically illegal”, “I think that distinction [what is Brown, but graffiti terms. in that he writes without permission in acceptable and what isn’t] is about The most basic Google search reveals public space. freedom for privileged social groups and the culture’s rich history and stylistic Now solidly mainstream, these artists constraints for less privileged groups. complexities, and yet it’s still widely emerged when street art moved into the That’s what you see playing out. It makes written off as a public nuisance to be galleries and the focus went from nuisance a lot more sense when you think what stamped out, a position Ron’s research value to aesthetic value. agenda does it allow people to pursue, analyses and challenges. and how powerful people, [mayors, While in New York, as here, there is councillors, police, the media] speak a growing public acceptance of graffiti about the less powerful.” and street art – usually distinguished To get an image to go with this from the generally reviled “tagging” – Writing graffiti is a story, Ron takes me and photographer important questions remain. “creative process you Billy Wong on a spontaneous mini “There is a lot of political meaning in street art tour around the back streets what becomes mainstream and legal, can compare with a off Auckland’s Karangahape Road what is considered illegal, and who and Newton gully, an area that I later gets to contribute to public space and piece of academic discover has actively encouraged graffiti be heard. For example, there’s ongoing writing in that it has art to complement its fringy, creative feel. official opposition to graffiti, legal or Like gawking strangers in our own otherwise, in New York; it’s intensely composition, style, city, we pass tattoo parlours, vintage criminalised and vilified by the mass and involves planning clothing shops, hip design companies, an print media.” Asian supermarket and masses of vibrant, The dominant discourse is informed towards a cohesive diverse street art, some of it apparently by the widely followed, but also widely whole. done by well-known names. disputed, “Broken Windows” theory, ” As a dedicated feline fan, Ron’s (James Q. Wilson, George L. Kelling disappointed that a particular cat image 1982), whose simplified premise is; if a has been painted over on Mercury Lane, potential vandal sees an already broken but happy to see a large realistic-looking window or a rubbish-filled street they will “Graffiti writers are often stereotyped owl nearby and a whole wall done in be more likely to break more windows as young, poor, urban, black and from stylish black and white interconnected and toss more rubbish. places like South Bronx and Brooklyn, shapes by BMD. Hence the fervent speed with which but you do have wealthy, white graffiti Despite only living in the city a few authorities remove all unwanted tagging writers. It’s a global phenomenon, every years, he knows this area well because his and graffiti. city produces a graffiti subculture, and its wife is a keen cyclist and often uses the “Graffiti is still seen as a harbinger of participants range across the whole social flash pink cycleway that runs parallel to urban doom,” says Ron, “but a lot of spectrum. It’s become more diverse in the the north western motorway. these ideas have been discredited, so why past 30 or 40 years.” Posed for the photo in a hidden back do politicians endorse them? Cling to And many of the early pioneers haven’t alley, with no ivory towers in sight, he them? Why spend millions to fight it?” left. looks perfectly at home. He believes it’s to do with a certain vision of a city and who it’s designed for; and misguided moral panic. “Middle-class tastes and dispositions are powerful economic motivations. Graffiti supposedly threatens property values, but whose property and values are we talking about?” In western neoliberal societies, wealthy middle-class consumers worry about property values above all else, and thus the state (or council) must protect their investment. “Auckland city, for example, has a $5 million budget to get rid of graffiti.” Art by Ron Kramer in Glen Innes A distinction can be made between

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 25 AROUND THE GLOBE AROUND THE GLOBE Three international alumni tell us a little of what they’re up to. Tianyi Lu is a graduate in Music (BMus/Performance 2011, BMus(Hons)/Performance 2012); Dr Emma Carroll in Biological Sciences (BSc 2004, MSc 2006, PhD 2012); and Dale F Simpson Jnr in Anthropology (PGDipArts 2007, MA (First class hons) 2008).

TIANYI LU UNITING THROUGH MUSIC

Where are you living and what are you announced as the new assistant Europe, I love meeting people from doing? conductor of the Melbourne Symphony different cultures and seeing how music I'm based in Europe at the moment as Orchestra starting in June this year: I'm can unite us. I am also really looking a freelance orchestral conductor, working looking forward to being closer to home. forward to moving back to Melbourne – mainly in the UK. I've conducted one of my favourite cities in the world. various orchestras in Wales and England What do you find exciting about living and I've assisted the Hallé orchestra and and working in Europe? Is the study you did at Auckland Welsh National Youth Opera. Being a freelance conductor means you important to what you are doing now? My role as Junior Fellow in are travelling a lot; I've been fortunate My time at Auckland was crucial to Conducting at the Royal Welsh College to have worked with some incredible my development as a young musician. of Music and Drama involves teaching conductors and orchestras in Russia, I was fortunate to have been taught undergraduate conducting classes and Estonia, Switzerland and Germany. and mentored by the inspiring staff at working with the student orchestras This year I'll be going to the USA, the School of Music (naming them all there, as well as mentoring from the Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, New would push me past my word-count), in musicians and conductors at the BBC Zealand and Australia for both work and particular Professor Uwe Grodd, who National Orchestra of Wales. professional development. has continued to support and guide me I'm absolutely delighted to be I love how everything is so close in over the years. I will always be grateful for my time in Auckland and will always remember the wonderful experiences and opportunities I was given that have been so crucial to my career. My passion for music really blossomed during my time at Auckland and it's a passion that will continue and I hope to share with others for the rest of my life.

For more information see Tianyi’s website: www.tianyi-lu.com

To see her interviewed see http:// www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/ bringing-women-conductors- front-orchestra/

Tianyi Lu. Photo Antony Potts

26 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 DR EMMA CARROLL DESIGNING HER OWN RESEARCH

Where are you living and what are you doing there? Since 2014, I've been living in Scotland, working at the University of St Andrews. I started here on an International Newton Fellowship from the Royal Society of London and I am now a Marie Curie Research Fellow. Using genomics, chemical markers and novel mathematic models, I'm investigating how behaviour influences connectivity in marine mammals. As a Research Fellow, I’m lucky enough to focus on my research and develop new ideas, and form new collaborations with other researchers at St Andrews. It’s also been a great opportunity to get involved in postgraduate student supervision and teaching. One of the highlights has been becoming a member of the Young Academy of Scotland, part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, as it allows me to be involved in outreach activities such as the Research the Headlines blog (https://researchtheheadlines.org).

What do you love about being there? Scotland is a wonderful place to live. In some ways it’s like New Zealand, with DALE F SIMPSON friendly people, rugged coastlines and great hiking. It’s also well-connected to LIVING ALL OVER day and age is more necessary than ever. Europe. [Dale has held teaching positions at the The Scots have a strong, independent THE WORLD College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois culture, and it has been fun to learn since 2009]. Living throughout the world more about it first-hand. St Andrews Where are you living and what are you lets me explore, witness, and enjoy other is an outward-facing University with doing there? ways of life. I bring this information a strong international contingent. It I’m currently in Chicago, Illinois, back to my students, family, and friends. also encourages collaboration among analysing at the Field Museum of What I have learned after 20 years of departments, with many cross-disciplinary Natural History and finishing my PhD doing this is that the more you learn institutions and related seminars. at the University of Queensland [with about other cultures, the more you learn a dissertation entitled: “Identifying about your own, and yourself. Is the study you did at Auckland Prehistoric Interaction on Rapa Nui: important to what you do now? Development of social complexity in Is the study you did at Auckland I completed both my MSc and PhD in extreme isolation”]. important to what you do now? the School of Biological Sciences at the I am also working throughout the The University of Auckland gave University of Auckland. These world- USA – and the world. However, my most me a great background in Pacific class degrees enabled me to contend on constant movement is between Brisbane, anthropology. From my great the international stage and obtain two Australia, Santiago, Chile (where my son adviser, [Professor] Thegn Ladefoged competitive Research Fellowships. The lives), and Rapa Nui (Easter Island). [Anthropology], to awesome field people I worked with at the University and research opportunities in the of Auckland continue to be important What do you love about where you’re department, to living in Polynesian mentors and colleagues, and I will living (and about what you’re doing)? Aotearoa, these experiences have helped continue to collaborate with them in the I love archaeology. I love the people to propel me to the next island, to the future. It was a great place to start a career and cultures of the Pacific. I love next research question, to the next in research. teaching about a topic that in today’s discovery.

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 27 RESEARCH

CREATING

NEW REALITIES Image from publicity poster for In Transit Photo by Paul Simei-Barton

When Alfdaniels Mabingo returns to their methods of teaching dance," he says. role in day-to-day life in Uganda than in Uganda he will go there as the first The teaching is based on “highly complex Western societies, including Pākehā New PhD graduate in dance pedagogy. He principles that are embedded in the Zealand. talks with Judy Wilford. philosophies and realities of the cultures”. “That is true, and I’m trying to theorise Unlike Western frameworks for why it is so,” says Mabingo, who grew up ance is not just something teaching dance – which tend to in a “very big extended family and a big you do with your body,” says separate choreography, history, theory, community” where “learning to dance “Ddancer and dance educator performance, movement and musicality was like learning to breathe”. Alfdaniels Mabingo (usually known as – the frameworks used by the Ugandan “One reason is the difference in Mabingo). teachers aim to integrate all of these. cosmology, in the way we see ourselves “Dancers are knowers, doers, thinkers, Music is seen not just as an in the world. In Uganda the feeling is explorers and creators. Dance is a pool fed accompaniment to the dance. Instead it that, in a sense, we have to ‘become’ the by different streams.” becomes a teaching aid – almost a co- things that are close to us. If music and “In the West many people think dance teacher – working to help give the dancers dance are close to our lives we feel the from African cultures is all about the feedback, to encourage them to learn need to produce them, and by that act body: that all you have to do is mimic through their ears as well as their eyes, of producing them we become a part of and master the movements to become a to give them ways of dealing with the them. The African inside me always wants dancer. But it’s so important to recognise passion of the dance as they attempt to to sing and dance with those around me. that the key to the dances is in the embody the story it is telling. “But in Western society, progress has stories they tell. The dances embody “Teachers will often teach their students turned many people into consumers of philosophies, they express views of the to make music, using drumming, song or music and dance. cosmos, are embedded in the cultures poetry, as a foundation to the dance.” "My theory is that in the capitalist and histories of their communities. If you The teaching of dance among the system, where the major purpose of the think they're just about the body, all that people of central Uganda is anchored people is to spend, then dancers become knowledge of what we are and who we are in the Ubuntu world view, which can the producers of cultural products which is lost.” be expressed as: "I am because we are, the audience consumes. You lose that As part of his PhD, Mabingo has and because we are, therefore I am." The instinct, that sense of being a ‘doer’ of been interviewing cultural heritage community finds its existence through the dance or music – or a worker of the land. dance teachers who are working outside individual and vice versa. If you want to engage with music and the mainstream in central Uganda: Says Mabingo: “It’s based on the dance, your space is the computer, the not in schools or universities, but in possibilities that are created through TV, the headset or the iPhone.” communities, orphanages, youth groups, participation." Which means of course He’s seeing these changes also in churches or NGOs. that dance is an embodiment of this Uganda, as it becomes increasingly urban: “One of the discoveries I have made is philosophy. “This is about the politics and economics that story-telling and music are central to Dance, it is clear, plays a much greater of dance.”

28 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 RESEARCH

Mabingo completed his undergraduate degree and his MA in performing arts at Makarere University in Uganda, followed by a masters in dance education at New York University in the US. There are few universities around the world that offer a PhD in dance studies and Mabingo was attracted to the University of Auckland by its "rich combination of scholarship, dance education, theory, research and practice" and by its international research focus. His supervisors, Professor Ralph Buck and Associate Professor Nicholas Rowe, have carried out research not only in New Zealand but also in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. Mabingo aims in his own research to ignite scholarly interest in new ideas of teaching dance, especially those that draw on non-Western artistic, intellectual and philosophical traditions. He hopes to encourage collaborations that expand possibilities and build awareness and understanding. “Dance can build a bridge between cultures and people,” he says. Which is certainly true of an exciting new production which had its recent world premiere at Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland, and which Mabingo choreographed (with Charlene Tedrow). In Transit, directed by Justine Simei-Barton, is based on a play by Wanjiku Kiarie Sanderson, a Kenyan New Zealander (widow of Martyn Sanderson, founder of Downstage Theatre in Wellington). Through a complex interweaving of drama and story-telling with vibrant and evocative music and dance, it explores the real-life stories of African immigrants as they adapt to a Mabingo rehearsing with dancers from Ura Tabu place far from their countries of origin Pacific Dance for the production, In Transit. or birth. And, in a remarkable creative twist that adds to the complex interplay of cultures, the dancers (and many of Mabingo facilitating a dance workshop with the musicians) are Pacific Islanders by children from Sosolya Udungu Dance Academy ancestry or birth: “Instead of an African in Kabalagala, Uganda. story it’s now a Pacific story as well.” When I met Mabingo it seemed to me he was born to be a dancer, but as a child he had a different plan for his future. “I first aspired to be a Catholic priest, but that didn’t happen. At 13 I wanted to become a lawyer, but later that changed. Then dance claimed me [at about 18], and who was I to say ‘no’? “I’ve travelled in every continent but one, and worked with people from all over the world to create new realities through music and dance. “As a priest or a lawyer I’d never have been able to achieve these things.”

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 29 ALUMNI PROFILE

Photo: Richard Ng

r Lance O’Sullivan is in Auckland with his wife Tracy for the 2017 DDistinguished Alumni Awards, where he is one of five University alumni being honoured. They’re making an event of it, with Lance’s mother, two of their seven DIGITAL children, (aged between seven and 23), and other whānau invited to the glittering dinner in the new pavilion at Old Government House. Unfortunately the rain, the worst the city’s had in years, is becoming a DOCTOR deluge, but it’s not going to dampen their enjoyment of a proud family occasion. After a day packed with engagements, Lance is making time for a brief chat, which he says will be a good practice run for tonight’s speech, before racing back IN THE to the hotel to dust off his dinner suit, an outfit that’s had a few outings in recent times. Named New Zealander of the Year in 2014, supreme Māori of the Year in 2013, Communicator of the Year in 2015, recipient of a Sir Peter Blake Trust HOUSE leadership award … the list of accolades is Far North GP and public health champion, impressive. Lance O’Sullivan, talks with Julianne Evans. “In fact,” laughs Tracy, “we thought things had died down a bit and we’d gone

30 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 ALUMNI PROFILE under the radar, until we were contacted “I said to Tracy, ‘I want you and little about this [Distinguished Alumni] Connor to come with me [to enrol].’ I award." With a digital had a course I absolutely had to get into, The family lives on a rural block 15 “ratio, one doctor I carried my son and we all waited in the kms north of Kaitaia, and making basic queue. I got put to the front and I think I healthcare available for disadvantaged can serve 100,000 got in on the sympathy vote.” people in the Far North has been the “Every year I said to Tracy, ‘I’m going couple’s shared mission for many years. patients to withdraw.’ Every year was challenging. They set up the low cost health clinic ” I struggled with a lack of self-belief.” "Te Kohanga Whakaora" (The Nest Thanks to a rocky early life, marred of Wellness) in the area and a second by “an absent father and a lot of social initiative, the "Manawa Ora Korokoro dysfunction”, he was a troubled teenager, Ora (Moko) programme", which was He believes young doctors graduating expelled from two high schools before Northland's first full-time, school-based today in general practice might not need attending Hato Petera College, a private health clinic, providing medical care to to have a physical space where they see Māori Catholic college on the North 2000 children across the region. patients. Shore. A third, the ‘Kainga Ora (Well Home) “I don’t think we should be having “Hato Petera was a last attempt by my initiative’, focused on fixing cold, unsafe health services delivered by doctors in mother to sort me out, and it worked. houses, starting with the premise that clinics – we need to rethink things, be In the end, it was her love and care and wellness begins in warm, dry homes. brave and aim for better, faster and more the realisation [via the school] of my And now there is iMoko, smart convenient care.” Māori identity and Catholic faith" – and software Lance has developed, alongside But won’t patients, and doctors, miss meeting and making a life with Tracy, his Navilluso Medical Limited, to speed the face to face contact? partner in love, work and parenting. up the process of diagnosis for simple “Not for the basic stuff. When I started Time is getting on and if he leaves now, medical conditions in children. iMoko, people told me, ‘Māori won’t like he’ll have just enough time to have a nap “A South Auckland teacher,” he teleconferencing’, but they’re all on social before the evening’s celebration. explains, “can see a child in their class media, they want to communicate in that Of course he must be tired, although with an obvious healthcare issue like a way; health is just a late adapter to what’s he and Tracy look remarkably fresh in skin infection or head lice, and they can already happening.” the way of highly effective people who fill out a basic form and take a photo, Coming back to tonight’s event, he seem able to function at a different level of which then gets sent to a digital health thinks back to his own time at the intensity to the rest of us. worker in Kaitaia, who sends it on to a University, from which he graduated in And he’s got that speech to write. He's doctor in Auckland – or anywhere in the 2001. author of his own inspirational story, The world – who then writes a prescription “I had a couple of shots at Medical Good Doctor (2015), and in demand as an and sends it to a South Auckland School. As a 17-year-old in pre-med, after dinner speaker; it doesn't hold too pharmacy near that child’s school for the I only attended for 10 weeks, I found many fears. child’s parents to pick up.” it overwhelming; I was one of 20,000 Authenticity and honesty are what And it’s all done on an iPad in a matter students who all wanted to get into a people relate to from public speakers, he of minutes. school of 200. It wasn’t the right time.” believes. By November 2016, 4000 children Coming back aged 20, he was already Hearing him later, I would add a dash in around 35 early childhood centres, married to Tracy and had a young son, of humour and a lot of humility to that Kōhanga Reo, primary, intermediate Connor, who is now 23 and studying for a recipe. and secondary schools were part of this Bachelor of Health Sciences at Auckland. A final word on what he’d do if he healthcare model. “When I came back in 1994, it felt ran our health system: “I’d want to gain At the moment there is roughly one like an exciting adventure. I was a young equitable health outcomes, investing in doctor per 1500 patients, but with a Māori student and there were a small any high-energy, interesting initiatives, digital ratio, one doctor can serve 100,000 number of Māori and Pacific students so which might involve investing in many to patients, says Lance. we were quite close knit. I was exposed find the right one.” “The health service is there but people to a lot of different people – Malaysian, And the thing that makes it all just don’t have access to it. This way, for a Indian, Asian – they were young people worthwhile? range of basic problems anyway, they do.” with energy and ideas.” “To see a child I’ve helped, or a family, He believes traditional models of He says he knew it was an institution getting better, that’s the reward.” care are failing the people who need it that could really help his life. most, and the disruptive approach is the “It was going to give me the tools I transformational change we need. needed to support my family, and my “We have a world-class health system dreams. When I hadn’t succeeded the first CAN WE BUILD STRONGER but third-class treatment, and we have time, it was quite a blow, so I thought I’d COMMUNITIES? the capacity to make a big difference. approach it from a different angle, figure Not enough people with the greatest need out a methodical way to get through it.” are getting access to our services because The University Calendar in those days, we’re stuck in a 19th-century view, but it’s he remembers, was “a big fat book and the 21st century. Orientation had long queues”.

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 31 RESEARCH HEARTENING NEWS Professor Rob Doughty speaks to Suzi Phillips.

here’s good news and bad news on is an acute event, heart disease is a life-long predispose certain individuals to a high risk of heart attacks in New Zealand. issue and affects about 172,000 people – those developing heart disease (and heart attacks). T First the bad news is that one in four are the people living every day with the impact “We hope to understand the genetic factors New Zealanders who have heart attacks are of heart disease. and gene-environment interactions that below the age of 55 years. Professor Rob Doughty holds the Heart contribute to disease, outcomes and response to The good news is that acute care for heart Foundation Chair of Heart Health at the therapy,” he says. attack patients has improved over recent years, University of Auckland, where he runs a This is one study you won’t be involved right across the country. programme of research designed to improve in unless you’ve had a heart attack. It’s run And here are the sobering and sad statistics. understanding of the causes, prevention and as a web-based hospital registry, collecting One third of all deaths in New Zealand treatment of heart disease in New Zealand. data on patients who have heart attacks in each year are due to cardiovascular disease, and Ironically, Rob is himself a fairly recent heart New Zealand. “This allows for a simple and about every 90 minutes one New Zealander attack survivor. As a 51-year-old male with a cost-efficient means to conduct large scale dies from heart disease. Heart attacks happen to healthy diet and lifestyle, he was in the lowest research studies across multiple centres in New 10,000 people each year – those are the figures part of the risk charts. “But we know that the Zealand,” says Rob. for New Zealanders admitted to hospital with risk is never zero and I’ve proved that myself,” The study, run (as part of Rob’s Heart an acute heart attack. And while a heart attack he says. “On just another workday morning, Health Research Group) by Associate walking across a quiet courtyard, I found Professor Malcolm Legget from the School myself experiencing what I’d dealt with in other of Medicine, began in July 2015 and is now people for many, many years.” recruiting patients at Auckland City Hospital, The experience, which luckily occurred Middlemore, Waikato and Christchurch within easy reach of help – between his two Hospitals. More than 600 participants have places of work, Auckland Hospital and the already been enrolled after suffering a heart University’s School of Medicine – has given attack and have been asked some simple him a unique perspective on what he has been questions about their food, lifestyle and family researching for more than half his life. history. They also give a blood sample for Genetics in heart disease in New Zealand is genetic and biomarker analysis. a major focus of the research programme Rob “Due to the nature of this multi-ethnic is leading, with several interlinking studies that study, extensive work has been developed with will contribute to understanding the role of regard to Māori participation,” says Rob. genetics and gene-environment interactions in Dr Anna Rolleston (Ngati Ranginui/Ngai heart disease in the New Zealand context. Te Rangi), previously the Heart Foundation “Important disparities in heart disease exist Māori Cardiovascular Fellow and now a in New Zealand for some ethnic groups and for co-investigator on the study, has provided people living in areas of greater deprivation,” guidance on the project from a Māori says Rob. “Māori are at higher risk of heart worldview. “She has developed and leads the disease at a younger age; age-standardised death Māori Governance Group, whose members act rates from heart disease are about 50 percent as kaitiaki (custodians) for Māori participating higher for Māori men and twice as high for in the MENZACS study," (which received Māori women compared to non-Māori.” initial funding from the Heart Foundation One of the programme’s major studies is Heart Health Trust project grant from 2015 MENZACS, the Multi-Ethnic New Zealand to 2017, and is supported in part by the Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes. This Rob “Healthier Lives” National Science Challenge. describes as a case-controlled study that aims Another study, led by Dr Katrina Poppe, has to gain better understanding of risk factors that resulted in the development of a new clinical

32 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 RESEARCH

But we know that “the risk is never zero and I’ve proved that myself. ”

risk score, which helps to assess risk of future clinical disease for people with previous heart disease. Katrina, a former Heart Foundation Fellow, is now working with Rob’s group and with the VIEW/PREDICT Group led by Professor Rod Jackson from Epidemiology and Biostatistics. “The risk score,” says Rob, “is based on clinical factors easily available for use with people in the community. It can help health professionals to target those people at higher risk for more intensive interventions, so as to prevent recurring heart problems.” The research of Heart Foundation Research Fellow, Dr Nikki Earle, also working with Rob's group, has recently revealed shocking statistics on heart attacks in younger people. Her study showed that one in four patients admitted to hospital in New Zealand with their Photo: Godfrey Boehnke first heart attack is less than 55 years old. “These younger patients have a very high risk factor burden, including smoking, obesity and markers in people from across the spectrum Fortunately, Rob had his heart diabetes,” says Rob. of heart disease, ranging from the early attack within easy reach of help Nikki’s research includes a study to stages before clinical symptoms are evident – between his two places of work – determine whether microRNAs, (small to advanced stages such as heart failure. Auckland Hospital (to his left) and non-coding portions of genetic material), are Identifying those at risk at an earlier stage the University’s School of Medicine associated with the presence of subclinical allows better targeted early intervention such as (to his right). He made it to the atherosclerosis (known in layman’s language medications or behavioural change.” bench he is sitting on before calling as “hardening of the arteries”). This work Rob acknowledges the multiple for help. is conducted in close collaboration with collaborations which he says are “fundamental colleagues from the Christchurch Heart to the success of contemporary research”. Institute at the University of Otago: Heart These include the close working relationship Foundation Senior Fellow, Dr Anna Pilbrow, with the other Heart Foundation Chair, Mark Professor Vicky Cameron and Professor Richards, and Heart Foundation-funded Mark Richards (Heart Foundation Chair of researchers at the University of Otago. CAN WE END NEW ZEALAND'S STEM Cardiovascular Studies). Rob is sure these studies across community SKILLS SHORTAGE? At present, traditional risk factors such as population and clinical arenas will greatly age, blood pressure and smoking status are used improve prevention and treatment of heart to predict the risk of heart attacks and cardiac disease in New Zealand. deaths, says Rob. “Nikki’s research is intended Meantime, something he still doesn’t to make this prediction more accurate by understand is why he had the heart attack, and finding new genetic risk markers as well as new this he will only discover through continued biomarkers that circulate in the blood. research: “It was a salient personal reminder “She and her team are looking for these that there is a hell of a lot more still to do.”

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 33 ALUMNI NETWORKS ALUMNI AND FRIENDS EVENTS

We host events catering to all alumni, from the Golden Graduates Luncheon (this year our GG’s will have graduated in 1967, the same year NZ ditched pounds for dollars) INTERNATIONAL to Raising the Bar, where we bring academia to Auckland’s inner-city bars. Not in Auckland? Connect with us and fellow alumni all over the globe at our international ALUMNI receptions - we’ll be in Jakarta, New York City and London later this year. Visit www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/events to keep up to date. NETWORKS

With over 180,000 alumni living in 147 countries, our alumni networks bring APPLICATIONS TO LEADERSHIP together groups of alumni living all over the world. Our networks are run by FELLOWSHIP OPEN JUNE Volunteer Alumni Coordinators (VACs) who help alumni remain connected with Alumni who want to build their leadership capabilities are invited to apply for the the active life of the University. 2017 University of Auckland Alumni Leadership Fellowship. If you live outside of New Zealand and The fellowship secures a place on the Leadership Mindset Programme at the would like to network with local alumni, New Zealand Leadership Institute (NZLI), which combines the latest in leadership we encourage you to make contact with thinking with a non-traditional development experience. It is designed for mid-career the VAC in your area – their details can professionals and managers leading teams or projects, and those ready for a step-change be found on our website. If there isn’t an in their career pathways. The next programme runs from September to November 2017. existing alumni network where you are, The fellowship covers the full cost of the programme, valued at $4,850. you may want to start one and consider Visit www.nzli.co.nz for more information about the programme and email being a VAC. [email protected] to register your interest. Contact us at [email protected] for further information.

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L-R Fellowship recipients Nathaniel Wilson (2014), Esther Harrop (2016) and Phil Light (2015)

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34 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 ALUMNI NETWORKS

VAC PROFILE

Meet Rob Tedesco, our Volunteer Alumni Coordinator (VAC) in Boston. Rob was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up just outside Image: Fragile Nature, 2017, acrylic of the city. He describes Boston as and gold pigment, 3000 x 7800 mm. Photography by Sam Hartnett. gorgeous and historical with countless things to do. “The history here is amazing,” he says. In 2011, Rob moved to New Zealand CHINESE-NZ ARTIST TRANSFORMS to complete his PhD in musicology and ethnomusicology. “I really enjoyed HISTORIC CBD BUILDING central Auckland and everything that the city has to offer,” he reminisces. “The weather in Auckland is great, too. I’ll arlier this year, alumnus Wei century and was influenced by contact take the rain any day over the snow we Lun Ha took up the challenge to with Europe and Japan. The technique get in Boston!” Ecreate an ambitious three-metre requires almost surgeon-like precision. While studying at the University, by seven-metre painting in the high- His paintings fuse classical Chinese Rob discovered a love for working profile, heritage lobby of the South and Japanese design elements with a with students, and now works for British Company Building, located in contemporary sensibility, often suggesting an area college in the student affairs Auckland’s CBD. the precariousness of existence through department. The best part of his job is Wei Lun Ha is a New Zealand artist of subtle washes, drips, and subjects found getting to collaborate with the students, Chinese descent. in nature. whom he calls talented and inquisitive. Born in Ho Chi Minh city in 1987, In 2015 he won the People’s Choice Outside of work, Rob volunteers for he moved to New Zealand at the age of category in the annual Wallace Art a number of non-profit organisations two. He holds a Master of Architecture Awards, going on to win the Wallace Art and likes to relax with friends. He also degree from the University of Auckland, Award (Vermont Residency) in 2016. enjoys going to the gym, which he something that is evident in the His successful entry, “Breathtakingly credits to his time at the University of architectural and spatial elements of his Fragile” (2015), was painted in traditional Auckland gym. art practice. Chinese ink and resin on fabric. That Rob is interested in hearing from Wei Lun trained in the Lingnan piece will soon tour around New Zealand alumni based in Boston. Get in touch at School, a style of painting that originated and then on to Poland in time for the [email protected] or connect with in Southern China during the nineteenth opening of the Museum Art Fair. him on LinkedIn.

RAISING THE BAR IN AUCKLAND 20 TALKS, 10 BARS, 1 NIGHT

or the first time ever in New part of a city’s popular culture, creates Zealand, the University of Auckland one-of-a-kind, knowledge-driven events in Fis bringing Raising the Bar (RTB) unusual locations. Successful events have to our city. 20 of the University’s top been held around the world, including researchers and academics will be New York City, Sydney, Melbourne, presenting in 10 inner-city bars on and Hong Kong. Sign up to the RTB Tuesday 29 August. RTB, a worldwide newsletter at www.rtbevent.com to initiative aimed at making education a ensure you hear the latest updates.

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 35 ALUMNI PROFILE

which has earned her respect for giving “I was 60,” she says, “and I suddenly people the chance to learn and grow. thought. ‘If I don’t leave work now, I “I’ve had some of my most stimulating never will.’ The next day I rang New Start years at this University,” she says. “I don’t [the University’s preparatory courses for want to come into it just as a visiting people returning to study] and handed in graduate. I want to understand how it my notice at work.” works, and to play a part in that.” New Start was “a joy: I walked around Jennie has always had a passion for all day with a grin. It was just the right learning, but she credits the University preparation for someone like me, who’d with helping her learn to “think for stepped out of study at 18 or 19, and WAYS herself”. needed the confidence to step back in.” “At the time and in the way I was At University she soon discovered there brought up, children were seen and not were certain advantages in starting late. “I heard. You didn’t question your parents, tried everything: history and politics, art OF your grandparents or your teachers. It history, anthropology, education, because was only when I went to the University I knew I didn’t have to use them to create as a ‘very mature’ student that I started a career. The two I most loved – history challenging traditional knowledge. I had and politics – became my double major. GIVING to learn to question, discuss and analyse And because I loved them I got great all I read and heard. I even voted for a grades.” party I suspect no-one in my family had There were also benefits an older “I can’t give money but I can give time,” ever considered voting for – much to my student could offer to the younger ones. “I alumna Jennie Oakley says with a smile. children’s hilarity.” never hesitated to ask a question, and that “And I love people, so I always get back Going to university was a lifelong was good for the young students. They’d more than I give.” dream for Jennie. When she left often be shy about asking questions, but At 78, Jennie is living a life of service Woodford House in Havelock North at once I’d asked one they’d all join in.” and satisfaction – as a wife, mother and the age of 18, the money wasn’t available Jennie graduated with a BA from the hands-on grandmother, a liturgist at to support her as a student. She went University of Auckland in 2005 but her church, a volunteer at the Auckland into nursing but sustained an injury switched to Massey for her honours Museum, a Friend of the Auckland that meant she couldn’t continue – then degree at a distance while on “grandparent Philharmonic Orchestra, a life member of married at 20 and by 25 had three small duties” in Bunbury, Western Australia. the University’s Staff Common Room and children. And through the years of family She then returned to take a full-time a highly-valued committee member of the life, contributing financially and building position in Short Loans at the University University of Auckland Society. a career – from dairy assistant to doctor’s of Auckland Library while studying for So what does she get from her voluntary receptionist to medical centre and then her Auckland MA, which she completed work? – Hugs, smiles, conversations, retail business manager – life rolled on at the age of 72. interesting tasks, and the unexpected with its own momentum, giving little In line with a theory that graduate insights that come from meeting and time to think about her dream. students often choose a topic that has working with a variety of people from But on her elder son’s 40th birthday resonance in their lives, I asked Jennie the different ethnic, religious and social he came to his parents’ house for dinner. subject of her MA thesis. backgrounds. She also gets to understand And that milestone jolted Jennie abruptly “It was set in Medieval Britain,” says the inner workings of the University, into action. Jennie, “in the era of Henry VIII and Cromwell. I wanted to find out how people survived the religious and political Photo: Godfrey Boehnke turmoil of that time.” She looked closely at five families, read their letters, studied their lives and concluded that their resilience came from caring and supporting one another. “Wives and husbands cared about each other, parents loved their children, were interested in their education, their manners and what they were doing. Masters were concerned for the welfare of their servants. That’s my thesis. They survived because they looked after each other.” It seems the theory holds good, at least in Jennie’s case.

Judy Wilford

36 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 HISTORY THE DIGNIFIED AND THE BEAUTIFUL

This year the University’s School of Architecture and Planning celebrates its first 100 years. Dr Lucy Treep reports.

he Auckland School of Architecture started modestly with three night T classes a week – held in a cold and dilapidated basement. Most of the obviously dedicated of student-led strikes and protests of students worked fulltime in architects’ various kinds have taken place within the offices during the day. But from this quiet School, as confident students have sought beginning the school developed rapidly to have influence over their education. It will be the task into a site of vibrancy and influence. One ex-student remembers striking over “of the school to wage Its establishment in 1917 was greeted the proposed design for the new buildings enthusiastically, with the Auckland Star in the mid-1970s; other protests were war on the Philistines. expressing hopes that were probably made over things like perceived lack of generally-held: "It will be an important subject choice; or demands were made part of the work of the new School of for more international visitors. Staff often ” Architecture to teach… that a thing supported or even encouraged student-led should be both beautiful and useful. With action, and dynamic relationships within us…the tawdry, the commonplace, and the school formed a large part of its school’s history. A number of architectural the ugly in architecture overwhelm the century of growth. students are the daughters or sons, nieces dignified and the beautiful, and it will be In the 1950s Professor Knight and or nephews, or grandchildren of staff and the task of the school to wage war on the lecturer Gerhard Rosenberg led the alumni. These links allow not only for Philistines." (14 March 1917) movement to establish a programme a deep inter-generational knowledge of The importance of well-educated in town planning, and in 1958 the the school but also an enrichment of its architects to the community, Philistines Department of Town Planning, the first place within the profession as it enters its or not, was well-understood and by the in the country, accepted its founding second century. early 1920s the New Zealand Institute of students. Professor Robert Kennedy was Architects began urging the University offered the first chair and the department College to extend the scope of the School. began its own decades of teaching and In 1925 the first Chair of Architecture research. in the country (and only the second in Being New Zealand’s only school of Lucy Treep (BArch, PhD English Literature) Australasia), Professor Cyril Roy Knight, architecture till 1975 (when a second holds a Postdoctoral Fellowship to aged 31, was appointed. Educated in the opened at Victoria University) has given research and co-write a book planned UK and working in New York, Knight the Auckland school a significant position to celebrate the centenary of the School of Architecture and Planning. The book represented a trans-Atlantic engagement in the history of architecture in this will be launched at the opening of an with the well-regarded Beaux-Arts country. Many of the personalities that exhibition of student and staff work from method of teaching that he brought to shape the architectural profession in New the school, to be held at the Gus Fisher the Auckland school. Energy at the school Zealand and beyond are alumni of the Gallery September 8-October 18. was high and the Registrar of the time, School, and many of the structures that Lucy says she feels very lucky to hold what is a rare post-doctoral fellowship in Rocke O’Shea, considered it the life and inform our built landscapes are products the arts in a New Zealand university. One soul of the University College. of alumni. highlight has been interviewing a number But by 1946 the world had changed Big personalities on the staff – such of charming and very helpful graduates – and with it the world of architectural as Professor Knight, Vernon Brown, and staff. Another has been burrowing in pedagogy. Students, including returned or Professor Toy (known affectionately the extensive architectural archive held at the School of Architecture and Planning servicemen from WW2, were keen to be as Doc Toy) – have had an influence library. Both have produced moments of taught by more modern methods, and on the profession beyond their own laughter and the excitement of discovery. their protests initiated changes in the time. And the enrolment of Professor curriculum away from a Beaux-Arts focus Knight’s daughter Peggy at the School of For more information about the centenary to one more in touch with modernist Architecture in 1945 represents another celebrations, see http://www.creative. auckland.ac.nz/archplancentenary teachings. Over the years since, a number form of influence threaded through the

Autumn 2017 | Ingenio | 37 BOOKS AND FILMS RUNNING AGAINST THE TIDE

est of Eden is the second feature film by a team W with strong University of Auckland connections, including alumna Vanessa Cohen-Riddell, who wrote the script, alumnus Alastair Riddell, who directed the film, and cinematographer Dean Carruthers, who is best-known around the University for his photographs, which have appeared in many of the University’s publications, including Ingenio. (See the cover photo for this issue and others that appear far response from those who have seen lust and jealousy – and comes to a head within the magazine.) The film was the film has been incredibly positive.” in a shocking conclusion. released through Rialto Cinemas earlier West of Eden is a beautiful film “Our film is a triumph of what can this year and was an official film for the capturing the feel of the 1960s as well as be done with a small budget, good 2017 Auckland Pride Festival. telling a tense dramatic story, centred on planning, a committed core crew and a Vanessa Riddell, who not only wrote a blooming true and deep love between great and talented cast. the screenplay but also plays Eva (as seen two young men, one a Māori city boy, “I am extremely proud of writing this above), describes West of Eden as follows: running from the truth of who he is, and wonderful slice of New Zealand’s past, “The film is set in 1960 rural New the other a privileged Pākehā son of the and bringing a light onto the struggle Zealand – and the challenges that come local farming grandee and respected war that many fellow Kiwis faced at that with making a period film are amplified hero. The drama unfolds in the midst of time, when being with and loving the when it is also an independent film. So rural intrigues – infidelities, power plays, person you loved was illegal.”

sharing site Megaupload, to his arrival in including Professor Laurence Lessig HIGH DRAMA New Zealand in 2010 – and his ongoing (Harvard), founder of Creative legal battles with the New Zealand Commons and ‘anonymous scholar’ im Dotcom, one of the most Government and the entertainment Professor Gabriella Coleman (McGill), flamboyant and controversial industry. journalists Glenn Greenwald, Robert K characters to make the news As a character Kim Dotcom has a Levine and David Fisher, founder of in recent years, is a subject of a new rollicking backstory, but as important as Wikipedia Jimmy Wales and musicians documentary by Professor Annie the narrative is the analysis of the issues Moby and Smudo. Goldson (Media and Communications). underlying the ‘Dotcom case’: piracy and A moment of high drama comes Kim Dotcom: Caught in the Web file-sharing, privacy and surveillance and in 2012, when 70 heavily-armed centres on tech entrepreneur, Kim sovereignty.” New Zealand police storm Dotcom’s Dotcom, tracing his origins as a young The film therefore alternates between sprawling Coatesville Mansion, which he hacker in Germany through his move to the story and a discussion driven by a was sharing with former wife Mona and Hong Kong, where he founded his file- range of international commentators, five children. On FBI orders, Dotcom and his three coders, who were alleged co-conspirators, are arrested on a range of serious charges related to alleged copyright infringement. Bailed five years ago, Dotcom has consistently pleaded his innocence and has openly courted the spotlight, for example founding a political party. Without doubt, Kim Dotcom is a polarising figure who can be "read" in various ways, says Annie. “Whether he has broken the law is another question, and one for the courts to answer.”

38 | Ingenio | Autumn 2017 BOOKS AND FILMS

and performance history but also Elizabeth, Professor Tracey McIntosh and HEAT AND COLD advances knowledge of Shakespeare’s Matt Wynyard from the Department of global reach. It traces histories of Sociology. Gina Cole is a family lawyer in Auckland criticism and performance across Europe, and a graduate in the Master of Creative the Americas, Australasia, the Middle Writing. Her first volume of short stories, East, India and East Asia. Black Ice Matter, published by Huia The essays offer a fresh understanding Publications, has earned high praise. of Shakespearean tragedies, both as The stories explore connections works of literature and as performance between extremes of heat and cold, texts. Published in hardback in 2016 which can be spatial, geographical or by Oxford University Press, this book metaphorical. At times they involve is an essential resource for students and juxtapositions of time; sometimes heat teachers, and is of high general interest appears where only ice is expected. A as well. woman is caught between traditional Fijian ways and the brutality of the military dictatorship; a glaciology researcher falls into a crevasse and confronts the unexpected; a young child in a Barbie Doll sweatshop dreams of a different life; secondary school girls CONTEMPORARY struggle with secrets about an addicted janitor; and two women take a deathly ART trip through a glacier melt stream. These are some of the unpredictable stories A finalist in this year’s Ockham New in this collection that follow themes of Zealand Book Awards, This Model World: ice and glaciers in the heat of the South Travels to the edge of contemporary art Pacific. (AUP, 2016) is a portrait of what alumnus Antony Byrd found when he came back to New Zealand unexpectedly after living in Berlin, where he was establishing a fine career as an art critic. Built around hundreds of hours spent in galleries, artists’ studios and on the road MILK AND from Brisbane to Detroit to Venice, it’s a deeply personal journey into the New HONEY Zealand contemporary art world and the global world it inhabits. It features major There’s a myth of New Zealand as a "land figures like Yvonne Todd, Shane Cotton, of milk and honey" – a promised land of Billy Apple, Peter Robinson, Julie Miller abundance and opportunity. and Simon Denny and emerging artists In this century the country has become like Luke Willis Thompson, Shannon Te literally a land of milk and honey as these Ao and Ruth Buchanan. It’s about severed exports dominate the economy. But does heads and failed cities; about looking for New Zealand live up to its promise? In God and finding Edward Snowden; and this book, A Land of Milk and Honey: about what it means to investigate the Making Sense of Aotearoa New Zealand, boundaries between our bodies and the SHAKESPEARE’S some of New Zealand’s leading social world. scientists examine our political identity; TRAGEDIES our Māori, Pākehā, Pacific and Asian peoples; problems of class, poverty and Edited by Emeritus Professor (and inequality; gender and sexualities; and alumnus) Michael Neill with David debates around ageing, incarceration and Schallwyk, director of research at the environment. the Folger Shakespearean Library in The authors find that 30 years of Washington DC, The Oxford Handbook neoliberal economics and globalising of Shakespearean Tragedy is a collection of politics have exacerbated inequalities that 54 essays by a range of scholars from all are experienced differently according to over the world. class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and age. It brings together some of the best- These social divides are at the heart of the known writers in the field and not only text, published by AUP and edited by Dr covers textual issues, critical readings Avril Bell, Associate Professor Vivienne

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