SEPTEMBER 2016

The University of News for Staff Vol 45/ Issue 07 /September 2016

ITALIAN IMMERSION ■PAGE■PAGE 5 5

INSIDE MENTOR RECOGNISED CARING FOR TREASURES VALUE OF REBELLION A one-man social network and a tireless Stephen Innes is the Special Collections Rebellion is a way of thinking that challenges champion for entrepreneurism, highly Manager in the University’s Libraries and the status quo, pushes boundaries and respected by the students he helped and Learning Services. Stephen joined the staff generates new ideas. It is one of the key encouraged, Geoff Whitcher has been awarded in 1989 as the New Zealand and Pacific elements for a successful entrepreneurial a Rhodes Trust Inspirational Educator Award. Collections Librarian, after having gained system and is also a key concept in creative Geoff is one of only 18 people globally to have considerable experience in other university arts education. Professor Diane Brand, Dean won this award, launched this year to highlight libraries in New Zealand. His change of role to of Creative Arts and Industries emphasises incredible teaching around the world. Geoff his present position in 2002 reflected a new the importance of encouraging students founded Velocity, originally called Spark focus on rare books and archives within the to be creatively rebellious and to practise and also backed the launch of student-led University Library. Read more about Stephen’s synthesising or combining various areas of initiative, Chiasma. life and work in “My story”. knowledge to solve problems.

PAGE 3 PAGE 6 PAGE 12 SNAPSHOT CONTENTS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH INGENIO WHAT’S NEW ...... 3

As a result of a story in the Autumn 2016 issue of IN BRIEF ...... 4 the alumni magazine, Ingenio, the three schools COVER STORY ...... 5 on Waiheke Island extended a joint invitation to Karen Willcox, Distinguished Alumna of the DID YOU KNOW? ...... 7 University and visiting professor in Engineering Science, to visit the island and meet their WHAT’S ON CAMPUS ...... 7 students. Karen gave a rocket-building workshop WHAT AM I DISCOVERING? ...... 8 for a group of students and spoke to the pupils from all three schools about her training and her RESEARCH IN FOCUS ...... 8 work in engineering. Her visit was the focus of a feature in the Gulf News. (Photo by Mark Peters.) IN THE SPOTLIGHT ...... 9 FROM THE COLLECTION ...... 10 WELCOME BACK THE BUDGIE MEAL WHAT’S COMING OUT ...... 11 Nutritious and good value meals on campus MARAMATANGA ...... 12 are very important when you’re working and studying. Staff from Campus Life have brought back the “Budgie Meal”, a concept used at the University in the early 1990s, giving students and staff a chance to buy a substantial meal from an array of cuisines. And now, the Budgie Meal is back! The majority of retailers will offer a nice lunch for $6.50 or less, consisting of protein, vegetables and carbohydrate. Look for the little image of a budgie, and for more information, email [email protected]

FOND FAREWELL TO TESS

The University’s Communications and Marketing COVER PHOTO: Students from the course Italy on team last month bid a fond farewell to Tess Screen, taught for the first time in Italy this year Redgrave, who has at various times during by Professor Bernadette Luciano, enjoy a lunch in her 11 years at the University edited its key Chioggia. publications such as Uninews, Ingenio, Auckland Now and the University’s annual reports and profiles, as well as guiding the growth and development of the Staff Intranet from its early beginnings to its present success and high readership. Tess is now devoting time to her own writing projects.

OPERA SCENES

Travel back in time to the 1950s as young singers EDITOR: Judy Wilford from the School of Music voice class present a PHOTOGRAPHY: Godfrey Boehnke series of opera scenes set in a classic American DESIGN: Student Information and Marketing Services diner. Come and hear operatic favourites by PRODUCTION: The composers ranging from Mozart to Prokofiev, appreciated anew in this fun and unusual setting. Published by: 7.30pm, 16-17 September at the Music Theatre, The University of Auckland School of Music, 6 Symonds Street. Communications, Book tickets at www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/ Fisher Building, 18 Waterloo Quadrant, opera-scenes-tickets-20741923652. Queries to Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 [email protected]. Generously supported by the Wallace Opera Training Programme. www.auckland.ac.nz/universitynews

2 THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEWS FOR STAFF WHAT’S NEW MENTOR HONOURED

Geoff Whitcher is one of only 18 people magazine last year named him as one of Auckland’s globally to have won an inaugural Rhodes Trust most influential business figures. Inspirational Educator Award. Rhodes Scholar Alice Wang, who gained a This award from the Rhodes Trust (which also Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford, awards the annual Rhodes Scholarships to Oxford) nominated Geoff for the award. aims to highlight “the ncredible teaching which “Geoff had a vision of building a better New occurs throughout the world” and to celebrate Zealand through developing the potential of young “educators who have demonstrated an exceptional people, and has touched the lives of many young aptitude for helping young students realise their entrepreneurs and students through his energy and potential”.. dedication to student organisations like Spark and A one-man social network and tireless champion Chiasma,” she wrote in her letter of nomination. for entrepreneurism, Geoff founded Velocity “It’s difficult to describe ... the way that he has (originally called Spark); and the Centre for inspired and encouraged me in my studies, but to Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Business name a few - he gave me opportunities (and the School. He also backed the launch of Chiasma, a occasional nudge) to extend myself intellectually student-led organisation creating links between and personally through Spark, he took a genuine academia and thee science and technology interest in what I wanted to achieve and supported industries. He’s mentored dozens of students over me in reaching those dreams (including aspirations the years, among them five whom he helped gain for the Rhodes Scholarship), and he showed me Fulbright Scholarships for MBA studies. He’s known what a single person can do to build a whole affectionately as the “grey ghost”, quietly nurturing, community of thinkers, doers and learners, all extending and connecting behind the scenes. Metro striving to make New Zealand a better place.”

DISTINGUISHED of a suite of postgraduate masters programmes; OUR OLYMPIANS promoting advances in teaching and learning, Physiology student Eliza McCartney pole vaulted CONTRIBUTION including the appointment of a Director of her way into the hearts and minds of many Warm congratulations from staff of the Teaching and Learning; fostering research of high New Zealanders after winning Bronze at the Business School and from the University as a relevance by allocating significant amounts of Rio Olympics. She was one of seven University whole to Professor Greg Whittred, who has strategic funding to the School’s four strategic of Auckland students who represented New received an award which recognises the great research themes; fostering a Māori development Zealand at the Olympics, combining their value of his services to the school. agenda; driving the school’s innovation and rigorous training schedules with their studies. Greg has been awarded the Business School’s entrepreneurship goals; and raising significant Also giving an outstanding performance, Distinguished Contribution Award for 2016 external funding - for example, for completion Commerce student (19) came in for his years of outstanding and distinguished of the matching funding for the $20 million seventh in the trampoline, achieving his goal of leadership. endowment fund and for endowed chairs. coming in the top eight at the games and edging Hs contribution started nearly 14 years closer to his dream to “aim for the podium” at ago when the school made its case for a $25 his next Olympics. (Medicine) million matching grant from the Clark Labour took time off from medical studies to compete Government under what became known as in the as a member of the women’s the Partnerships for Excellence programme. team that won silver and (Science), Greg, then Dean of the Faculty of Business and who is finishing an applied maths degree, was Economics at the University of NSW, was asked part of the men’s sevens that came in fifth. to serve as an external academic reviewer for the Black Sticks team members required business plan. (Law/Arts) and (Law/Business) In the middle of 2008, Greg became Dean achieved fourth place in women’s hockey of the Business School and has, since then, and Football Fern vice-captain provided continuing support and encouragement (Education and Social Work), was exited at to the academic and professional staff of the the preliminaries as a member of the national school, as well leading the ongoing refreshing of women’s team. the school’s purpose and strategies, expressed In addition we had nine Olympian alumni in the document Shaping the Future 2014- who competed in hockey, the rugby sevens, 2020, which he wrote. Greg has contributed in golf, canoe and rowing, including medallist a multitude of ways, including setting up the Mahe Drysdale (Business) and Graduate School of Management as a separate (Education and Social Work) who won silver for academic department; leading the development her part in the rugby sevens.

UNINEWS 3 WHAT’S NEW IN BRIEF

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP UNIQUE DISCOVERY This programme provides opportunities for Visiting Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai women to develop their leadership skills. discovered a unique piece of his country’s Its aims are to increase the numbers history on a visit to the University. of women in senior positions; to enhance Mr Salwai and his delegation visited the recruitment and retention of women in Western Pacific Archives, held in the University non-traditional areas and to foster training, library’s Special Collections, as part of a general mentoring and career development for visit to the University, where they took the academic and professional staff women. opportunity to meet students from Vanuatu and It consists of an off-campus overnight strengthen educational ties between the two retreat in February, mentoring by a senior countries. academic or professional staff person, and a The archive is a record of colonial variety of workshops offered throughout the administration in the Western Pacific from 1877 year. to 1978 and includes the records of the Western All interested women are invited to apply Pacific High Commission, the British Consul in but priority is likely to be given to professional Tongaand the New Hebrides British Service. see places and names they recognised, including staff women at Level 4-6 and mid-career Among its 2,800 boxes of material are highly an original map of the island of Pentecost, Mr academic women below the senior lecturer bar valuable letters, maps, civil and criminal legal Salwai’s home island. or equivalent. records, black and white photos and other The official visit is the first since Mr Salwai For the application form see the POD documents recording a colonial life long past. became prime minister in February this year, and website Career Development or contact Mary Those relating to Vanuatu – the New Hebrides involved talks with Prime Minister John Key and Ann Crick, ext 86379 or ma.crick@auckland. British Service – date back to 1902, shortly before a series of events in Auckland, Wellington and ac.nz it became an Anglo-French Condominium. Tauranga. An information session will be held 4 The Prime Minister’s party were fascinated to October 12-1pm. Please enrol using Career Tools on the front page of the intranet. TOP ACCOLADES FOR TEACHING Applications close 21 October.

Sustained excellence in tertiary teaching has category, Tracey has a particular interest in the CHECKLIST FOR HOSTING earned national Tertiary Teaching Excellence inter-generational transfer of social inequalities. The Equity Office has developed a checklist Awards for Associate Professor Dr Tracey She has held senior positions including Associate to help ensure University of Auckland events McIntosh from the Faculty of Arts and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Deputy Pro-Vice are accessible and inclusive. Professor Martin East from the Faculty of Chancellor (Equity) and joint director of Ngā Pae The checklist encourages event planners to Education and Social Work. o te Māramatanga: Māori Centre for Research consider in advance such issues as physical They received their awards for dedication to Excellence. accessibility (for wheelchair users, or for student-centred and innovative teaching at an Winning in the general category, Martin is an people who are Deaf or vision-impaired), event hosted by the Prime Minister in Wellington Associate Dean (Research Development) at the cultural protocols (Māori tikanga, Pacific on 17 August. Faculty of Education and Social Work and an greetings, expectations around catering) and A total of 12 national awards across the tertiary Associate Professor in the School of Curriculum diversity. It provides useful links and resources sector were presented at the dinner, with all and Pedagogy. at and beyond the University, including contact winners receiving $20,000 each. Martin is an experienced teacher at secondary information for key people to assist your event The University of Auckland has now won 25 and tertiary level whose research and teaching planning. Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards since they interests focus on second language acquisition. As The Equity Office staff will welcome your were introduced by the Government in 2001 to well as being widely published and in demand at feedback on [email protected]. celebrate and encourage outstanding tertiary international conferences, he has had significant teachers. input into a new form of NCEA assessment at Winning the award in the Kaupapa Māori national level. STRATEGIC RESEARCH CALL The Research Office has announced the call for the Strategic Research Initiative Fund (SRIF). The fund provides time-limited support for strategic research initiatives and research centres that are classified as University or faculty centres. The fund has $2 million available in 2016. Applicants may apply for up to $200,000 per annum for three years (with possible renewal for a further two years). See the Staff Intranet for more information. Applications are due in the University’s Research Funding Module by 7 October.

4 THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEWS FOR STAFF COVER STORY SPRINGBOARD FOR REFLECTION

The experience of studying in Italy for the What were the highlights for you and for month of July in a level-two course entitled them? “Italy on Screen” left the students feeling One highlight for the students was that Alina enriched and inspired, with one describing it as Marazzi, an award-winning young director of “the best university experience I’ve had since three films they studied, came down from Milan enrolling at the University of Auckland” and to deliver a master class to them. I had prepared another saying it had changed her life and she them for the visit but was very impressed (as was would remember it forever. she) by the level of questions and the range: the This was the first time the course had been held questions were as varied as their interests – from in Italy and Professor Bernadette Luciano, Deputy very technical questions about film techniques to Dean of the Faculty of Arts, was delighted at the questions about gender, aesthetics, etc. students’ response and the huge progress they The other highlight for them was the final made. group trip at the end of the course to Chioggia, the Bernadette agreed to answer some questions location and “protagonist” of one of the films that for Uninews. we studied, Io sono Li’/Shun Li and the Poet. The visit was coordinated by the town’s ex-mayor, who What was the focus of the course? revelled in showing off his city and its colourful Italy on Screen is a course that satisfies maritime history, introducing us to local legends, requirements for both the Italian and the Film opening the doors to some of the city’s most Studies major. It aims to lead students to an precious monuments such as the clock tower understanding of Italian culture through film and with the oldest clock-tower clock in the world, to enable an understanding of Italy’s cinematic and escorting us out to the famous fish-hut on traditions. the water, which has a powerful role in the film. The films serve as springboards for the study We also explored other film locations and spoke of a range of topics including Fascism, the to locals about the contentious issues raised in post-war years and the economic boom, gender the film. and sexuality, identity and migration and the contemporary economic crisis and its impact. How did your students respond? Photo: Bernadette Luciano (fourth from left) with the The students were able to have first-hand The students were ecstatic about the students on the course. experiences of Italian cinematic spaces (from experience. They felt so privileged to be studying studios to locations to film professionals) and of Italian cinema in Italy. the cultural phenomena and tensions of everyday The intensity of the course did not put them Italian life that were at the core of the films they off; actually the opposite occurred. They never Did you learn new things studied. complained about having to spend so many long as well? afternoons in class watching films or working I learned a lot about Chioggia, a gem of a city I What did you and your students do in Italy? together after hours on oral presentations or the had never visited before! But, seriously, and most The course was held in Prato, a short fact that the test came the day after the end of importantly, it taught me something about the train ride from Florence, at the Monash class – though of course there was no need for unmeasurable value of these experiences. Prato Campus, which is housed in a majestic concern, because they lived and breathed the Throughout my academic career I have been eighteenth-century palace in the centre of course so everything was fresh in their minds. involved in promoting Study Abroad programmes, the old town. We had two hours of lectures informing students of the transformational and discussions every afternoon followed by What were the most important things your nature of this experience. I have lived in a a film screening. Students were fully immersed students learned? number of different cultures and I have watched in the material and formed a very tight cohort. The students absorbed a lot about Italy, past students return grown up and enriched by these The Monash Centre also provided them with and present, and about Italian cinema, of course. experiences. But it has been a long time since opportunities to attend Monash cultural events But in doing so they also experienced what it I have taken a group of students to Italy and and to have weekly language exchange with locals really means to come in contact with a culture witnessed this first-hand. So, I was reminded of as well as a dinner with a local family. Many took that is different from, but yet at times similar to the value of this kind of experiential learning: advantage of the weekends to explore film-related their own. living and breathing what you study allows sites: Cinecittà’s studios in Rome and the Museum In any case, I think this was an incredible students to pose important questions, to think of Cinema in Torino, the film archives in Bologna, experience for students: to live in the culture that about themselves and their world through a and the locations of the films they were studying: they were studying, to come face to face with the completely different lens. Watching the students Rome, Arezzo and Chioggia. culture’s history and its challenges, to use that as do that, helping them come to terms with some a springboard to reflect on their own lives: these of those challenges, being confronted by their are all things that we all have to come to terms obstacles was a learning experinece for me as with in an increasingly globalised world. well as them.

5 MY STORY STAFF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

In Oamaru everybody knew everybody: I can’t IN JUST ONE SENTENCE DESCRIBE THE understand why people think New Zealand in PURPOSE OF YOUR PRESENT POSITION the 1960s was boring – it wasn’t but rather was Leading a team who preserve and make available full of opportunity. My favourite things at that all the riches of the special collections in time were conducting science experiments, Libraries and Learning Services. astronomy, and playing war games and fishing with my mates. We also played cricket in WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE summer but I was too small for rugby so that JOB? never grabbed me. At secondary school we were Solving the challenges of access to complex amongst the last pupils to undergo preliminary archival collections is a passion of mine. Special military training which involved live firing of collections everywhere are in the throes of great weapons – very politically incorrect but great fun changes brought about by the digital revolution all the same. and new learning strategies. However, not everything can be easily digitised and we will WHAT DID YOU ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT? always need to preserve some original materials. The natural world, its origins and development At the same time, researchers need to engage and the concept of the universe really grabbed with these materials in a meaningful way and to me. I was given a microscope as a birthday some extent this process has been ignored in the present and later a small telescope and I made drive to digitise everything. great use of these tools. I even joined the local astronomical society which in retrospect was DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU DO full of ordinary people who had a thirst for CHANGES LIVES? knowledge and not just the dark side of small- Absolutely. Knowledge is definitely power, and a town New Zealand. My grandfather and my lot of knowledge in library collections, especially mother were keen gardeners and by the time I archives, is difficult to extract. Helping our STEPHEN INNES was 12 I had developed an obsession with cacti researchers uncover new knowledge is very Stephen is the Special Collections Manager in and succulents which has continued to this day. rewarding, no matter whether the subject is Libraries and Learning Services. academic research or family history. He went to Waitaki Boys’ High School before TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB EVER completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in I helped out at the local chemist shop after WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED THAT YOU History and Political Studies, and a Postgraduate school, washing bottles and cleaning up. My ARE VERY PLEASED ABOUT? Diploma in History, at the University of Otago. father was a pharmacist at the local hospital so Implementing a new archival management After university, he joined the archives and this was probably part of his network. The job did system, ArchivesSpace, across Libraries and manuscripts section of the Hocken Library before not lead to a career in chemistry but it did teach Learning Services. The backend is up and running completing a Diploma in Librarianship from me the value of earning money. and we hope to launch the public interface next Victoria University of Wellington in 1981. year, which will make a big difference to the Stephen was the McNab-New Zealand Librarian WHO WAS YOUR BEST TEACHER? discovery of our collections and the associated at Dunedin Public Library, and the New Zealand Derek Bolt of Mastermind fame was an absolutely digital content which will undoubtedly grow in Collection Librarian at the University of Waikato inspiring English teacher who brought to life the future. Library during the 1980s, before joining the the world of Shakespeare and Dickens to University of Auckland Library in 1989 as the typical school boys. He was a Cockney who WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING WHEN New Zealand & Pacific Collection Librarian. His made it to Cambridge and had a healthy view YOU’RE NOT WORKING? role changed to Special Collections Librarian in of egalitarianism as a result. He also had an Spending time with my partner Elizabeth and my 2002 to reflect a new focus on rare books and explosive temper if you slipped up in the school daughter Paula, who has come from Canada to archives within the General Library. play – but he apologised to us at the outset of live with us. That and developing a bush garden Stephen was awarded the Associateship of the rehearsals so you didn’t feel too bad when it at Piha and maintaining our garden in Epsom. I Library and Information Association of New happened, as it always did. also read a huge amount, mostly non-fiction. Zealand in 2003. HMAS Sydney and Adelaide in Tulagi Harbour, ca 1922. Photograph album: WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WHAT scenes from British Solomon Islands DID YOU LOVE DOING AS A CHILD? Protectorate, pre-1941. WPHC 10/ I grew up in Oamaru in North Otago, before it XV/326. Western Pacific archives. MSS & Archives 2003/1. Special Collections, became a beacon for arts and culture and the University of Auckland Libraries and home of Janet Frame. It was great place to grow Learning Services. up in with lots of possibilities for exploring the Says Stephen: “I like this because the town and countryside and I think we made good album reflects the twilight of empire use of this freedom. I was the youngest of four period before the Second World War, boys so learnt the lessons of power and hierarchy and the images of the two Australian navy ships at Tulagi provide a nostalgic early – these are still in play as in most families. glimpse of the colonial past.

6 THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEWS FOR STAFF DID YOU KNOW

... that the University of Auckland has an Architecture Archive?

Well, we do! The Archive is located at 22 Symonds Street, within the Architecture and Planning Library, and is open to researchers by appointment The majority of collections within the Archive have a strong Auckland regional emphasis; many have a broader New Zealand focus and some include international projects. Collections cover materials relating to more than 250 architectural practices and individual architects, including in excess of 60,000 sheets of drawings. A number of Auckland’s more prominent architects from the latter part of the 19th and 20th century are represented, including H. L. Massey, Gummer & Ford, E. A. Bartley, R. A. Lippincott, Holman & Moses, Arnold & Abbott, M.K. & R.F. Draffin, Vernon Brown, Group Architects, T. K. Donner and R. H. Toy. The accumulation of original architectural It is regularly used by University of Auckland Above: Arnold, C., Cottage on One Tree Hill for Sir John Logan Campbell [Huia Lodge] (1903), drawings and other archival materials began academics and students, along with a wide Arnold Abbott Collection (AA7). in the late 1960s. Over the ensuing years a range of external researchers including heritage considerable collection has been assembled, planners, conservation architects, structural with the earliest drawings dating from the engineers and other researchers from around 1870s. A wide range of original and reprographic New Zealand and overseas. architectural drawings are collected, such as To continue to develop the Archive collections sketches, presentation, contract and working donations relating to the built environment and drawings. Associated project documentation those responsible for it are welcome. So if you including specifications, correspondence, and know of any materials which you think may be photographs accompany drawings in some relevant please get in touch. collections, along with other professional papers To find out more about the collections or to such as transcripts of lectures and personal arrange a visit contact Sarah Cox Architecture papers (e.g. diaries and travel sketchbooks). Archivist: [email protected]. This amounts to a rich and diverse collection Reconstruction of theatre Devonport for NZ Picture which includes items of national significance. Supplies Ltd.

WHAT’SWHAT’S ON ON CAMPUS CAMPUS

CRITIC AND CONSCIENCE MAYORAL DEBATE GRADUATION CLOUDBURST 5 August, 2-4pm 7 September, 6.30-7.30pm 28 September, 8pm Venue: Room 730 266, School of Population Venue: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Auditorium, Venue: Auckland Town Hall Health. Tamaki Innovation Campus. Level 0, Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Rd Host: School of Music, free admission Convened by Dr Matheson Russell and Hear leading Mayoral candidates discuss their Presented in partnership with Auckland Professor Peter Adams, this workshop will vision for Auckland’s future ahead of ocal body Philharmonia Orchestra, Cloudburst is a provide an opportunity to discuss the critic and elections. Chaired by well-known journalist public concert coinciding with the University’s conscience role of university academics and and political commentator Rod Oram, mayoral Spring Graduation celebrations. Together, the what this means when working with media or hopefuls will be questioned about their policies University of Auckland’s Big Band, Massed community groups or on campaigns. Thoughts on issues like affordable housing, the best ways Choir, Chamber Choir and Symphony Orchestra on how we might overcome psychological to intensify, how growth will be paid for and present an evening of varied musical styles barriers to public engagement will be explored. the future of the Port. Part of the Fast Forward recognising the breadth and depth of talent For more information contact Denise on Lecture series, the Mayoral Debate is presented within the School of Music. All music lovers [email protected] by the School of Architecture & Planning and are invited to celebrate our graduands and the University of Auckland Society. welcome in the spring.

MARCH 2014 | UNINEWS 7 RESEARCH WHAT AM I DISCOVERING?

Stronger monitoring needed Matters arm of the Department of Internal and need I suggest this argument is flawed. for bonus floor scheme Affairs. Their findings indicated the scheme Take our example of the hidden garden in urgently needs improvement. Wakefield Street. There are no visible signs at Dory Reeves is Professor of Planning in the Their recent report “An Assessment of Bonus ground level to indicate that there is a public School of Architecture and Planning in the Floor Spaces in Auckland”, reviewed dozens space on the rooftop and even if you knew it Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries. of central Auckland public spaces provided was there it is accessible only during weekdays under the scheme – including Wakefield Street’s between certain hours. There is limited disabled Raise your hand if you knew there was rooftop garden. access, as well as inadequate seating, shade a central city public rooftop garden with Through site visits, using both the Safety Audit or shelter. So while the space has enormous 360-degree views of Auckland freely available for Toolkit, commonly used by Auckland Council potential, it needs to be better maintained, have your use. and the Project for Public Spaces’ “What makes its facilities upgraded and importantly, the public If your hand is up, you are probably one of the a successful place” checklist, the students need to know it exists. This is just one example few people who know this space exists. Yet it provided an independent study of 30 spaces. out of many assessed in the report. does and has been there for some time. Most of the spaces assessed were found to be As we plan Auckland’s intensification This rooftop garden at 56 Wakefield Street, exclusive and often unusable due to restricted and increase apartment-style living one complete with urban beehives, was created entry hours, with cold and unwelcoming crucial aspect must be the provision of high- for public use as part of the Bonus Floor Area furnishings, heavy surveillance, and inadequate quality public spaces for all communities. As scheme. signage to indicate they were public spaces. Aucklanders, we should question how our local For those who don’t know, this scheme International research of similar schemes mirrors body will oversee their provision? essentially allows developers to exceed the groups’ findings. This is vital as research strongly suggests that permitted floor areas if they provide a public While the future of Auckland continues to be increasing density can negatively impact on space such as a thoroughfare or a plaza. hotly debated, with concerns over how to best mental, social and physical wellbeing, unless we This provision exists in many international increase urban density, it is vital that initiatives ensure quality public spaces are provided. cities and was first adopted by Auckland in that encourage developers to include public The Bonus Floor Area scheme should be the 1970s. Council authorities hoped that the areas in their projects are actually achieving their audited to ensure proper compliance: essentially provision would encourage developers to deliver objectives. that the areas created under the scheme are safe, equitable, attractive, diverse, healthy and According to the assessment of the Bonus well-designed and accessible to all, at all times, sociable inner city environments. Floor Area scheme by the postgraduate students and, most importantly, the public should know But researchers, journalists and Auckland city at the University of Auckland, they are not. A where they are. After all, we have a right to use centre community-neighbourhood group Splice, major problem is the lack of a comprehensive them. We should ensure that future bonus floor have expressed concerns about whether these and ongoing review of these spaces by local spaces meet the needs of the growing number of spaces are actually achieving these goals? authorities. inner city residents. Recently a group of postgraduate urban Yet we constantly hear that private business Picnic on the roof anyone? planning students from the School of will deliver what we want and need, guided Architecture and Planning undertook an by the Auckland Unitary Plan. If the Bonus assessment of bonus floor spaces in Auckland, Floor Area scheme is an example of allowing in collaboration with Splice and the Community developers to decide what the public most want

Photo: The hidden garden in Wakefield Street

8 THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEWS FOR STAFF RESEARCH IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN FOCUS

UNINEWS highlights some of the University NEWS ON EQUATORIAL DIVERSITY research milestones that have hit the headlines in the past couple of months.

STAFF SPEAK OUT Over 15 opinion pieces by University academics were published in a recent four-week period. The Arts and Education faculties were well-represented in the media, with five opinion pieces on a range of issues from the Rio Olympics to the disappearance of truth in New Zealand politics.

ADOLESCENT HEALTH The Adolescent Health Research Group’s report into unwanted sexual contact for secondary school students gained nationwide coverage in print, radio and online, with comment from lead author, Senior Lecturer Dr Terryann Clark. The research showed that teenagers are experiencing less sexual abuse, but large numbers of victims are still not letting people know about it. More than one in ten high school students say they have been the victim of unwanted sexual activity from their boyfriend or girlfriend, according to a nationwide survey involving the University of Auckland.

ARE WE TOO COMPLACENT? Dr Gavin Ellis, senior lecturer in Media, Recent research indicates that zones closest tropics; that is, peaks at -20° to -30° and +10° to Film and Television, received strong media to the equator have less species diversity than +35° degrees latitude. attention around the time his new book, previously thought. Further research by the team aims to see if Complacent Nation, was published (see page the peaks have been moving further apart due to 10). Gavin wrote an opinion piece saying A research team from the University of climate change. that the “right to know” in New Zealand has Auckland has reviewed 27 previously published “The findings are significant because they become deeply politicised, with the release studies and used the Ocean Biogeographic indicate that our previous view that the tropics of official information assessed on the basis Information System (OBIS) to mine data on may have been a “Goldilocks” zone for evolution of political risk. This piece was published in 65,000 marine species. due to having the most sunlight and warmth may the NZ Herald, Christchurch Press and the The team, including doctoral candidate not be entirely true,” says University of Auckland Otago Daily Times. Gavin also appeared on Chhaya Chaudhary, researcher Dr Hanieh Saeedi Associate Professor of Marine Science, Mark radio, both on Nine to Noon and on Newstalk and Associate Professor Mark Costello from the Costello. ZB, where he discussed the NZ Bill of Rights, University’s Institute of Marine Science, also He says further research will investigate if saying he believes the way for the New analysed fossil records of 50,000 species from peaks in marine diversity near the equator are Zealand public to guarantee their inalienable the Paleobiology database. moving further apart and further away from the rights are protected is for the country to have Species included within the study ranged equator as a result of climate change. a written constitution as well as checks and from marine mammals, microscopic plankton “Equatorial conditions may already be balances within the system. and algae, to seabed-living invertebrates. limiting, or perhaps too hot, for many marine Despite their contrasting ecology, all showed an species and this may be what we are seeing in FISH OIL DANGER unexpected decrease just south of the equator recent coral bleaching due to prolonged high sea A Listener cover story featured a new (-5° to –15° latitude). temperatures.” Liggins Institute study on rats - which Analysis of the fossil marine species showed Other questions raised by the latest study are showed highly oxidised, rancid fish oil caused that the number of species has shifted as the need to revisit assumptions about patterns of almost 30 percent of their newborns to die, continents drifted, but has never peaked at species diversity on land and in fresh water. and concluded that it could therefore be wise the equator. Present peaks are in the northern for women not to take fish oil supplements in tropics (Caribbean and Philippine-Indonesian Photo above: A cushio starfish near a spiny sea pregnancy. regions) with a smaller peak in the southern urchin.

UNINEWS 9 FROM THE COLLECTION ART COLLECTION

are traditionally woven by women from the long leaves of pandanus plants and are often decorated with coloured feathers. The highest quality mats are supple and have a high-sheen when finished. It takes a particularly experienced weaver to produce mats of this kind and as such the quality contributes to the workers’ identity and place within the Samoan community. Timoteo recalls her grandmother’s mats being folded and kept in cupboards and chests, treated with the utmost honour and only brought out on special occasions. ‘Ie toga like these are exchanged at weddings and funerals and passed down through generations of families. Unlike her grandmother’s ‘ie toga, Timoteo’s Auckland mats hang in public galleries and windows and she sees this as a reclaiming of a part of her culture that is hidden. At a distance from the traditional weaving circles Timoteo found substitute fine mats at Look Sharp, a shopping mecca amidst Auckland’s numerous emporia. Their generic tan colour mimics that of dried pandanus leaves and some have floral motifs woven into the webbing. Simone Timotea’s “When you’ve grown up in existing at the intersection of two diferent cultures. Timoteo stitches straight onto the plastic using Auckland your fine mats look like this” is a She and her peers cannot speak gagana fa’a Sāmoa brightly coloured satin ribbon, the gaudy colours of playful yet touching response to being a “plastic and their natural taonga has been substituted the materials recalling her grandparents’ penchant Samoan”. by mass-produced, synthetic ephemera like the for decorating with fake flowers and coloured Having been raised at her grandparents’ home polyester mat which forms the basis of Timoteo’s plastic. In some instances the ribbon highlights the in West Auckland, Timoteo is part of a generation practice. pattern inherent in the mat’s construction and in which sees themselves as displaced. They are apart The ‘ie toga or “fine mats” to which the title refers others Timoteo uses it to create her own borders. from their social and geographical heritage, instead are prized cultural objects in Samoan culture. They These borders are decorative as well as didactic

WHAT’S COMING OUT the first Māori to win an Olympic gold medal. with 30 investigative reporters who regularly Olympic Islands celebrates the history and put their lives at risk in pursuit of a story. achievements of Olympians of Pacific Island Among those profiled are award-winning New descent. It includes chapters on American Zealand journalist Jon Stephenson, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Hawaii, Nauru, Pulitzer prize winner Roy Gutman and top BBC Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. Athletes foreign correspondent Allan Little. Danger featured include multiple gold medal winners Zone looks at how, when, and why journalists Greg Louganis (Samoan-American), Duke risk everything to get at the facts. Kahanamoku (Hawaiian) and TIMELY RELEASE (Tongan). Two new books celebrating New Zealand and Pasifika Olympic achievement, written by an REPORTING FROM COMPLACENT NATION University of Auckland alumnus, have had a THE The public’s right to know is timely release. The aim of the books, written DANGER ZONE the focus of this book, written by award-winning children’s author and teacher This book written by by Dr Gavin Ellis, senior David Riley and published by Reading Warrior, Dr Maria Armoudian lecturer in Film, Television is to inspire young people with positive stories from Politics and and Media Studies in the of achievement and to improve literacy by International Faculty of Arts. and published providing them with reading material they can Relations and as one of the BWB tTexts, relate to. Golden Kiwis tells the inspirational published by “Short books on big subjects stories behind every Olympic gold medal won Routledge, from great New Zealand by a New Zealander – from Malcolm Champion (Routledge, 2016) writers”. New Zealanders are our first Olympic champion, to , features interviews

10 THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND NEWS FOR STAFF CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS by incorporating slang language used by Timoteo ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE MISCELLANEOUS and her peers. For instance the repeating “BFN”, like APARTMENTS FOR RENT. Call us for your rental a scrolling digital sign, is pronounced ‘beef’n’ and PROOFREADING AND COPY EDITING Do you requirements; we offer city apartments stands for “big for nothing”. The contraction refers to want your words to work for you or be riddled furnished/unfurnished, all sizes and prices; great with “speling mitsakes” and gramatical erorrs? I someone who has great physical size but does not rental deals for long-term leases; call rentals (09) have almost 40 years’ experience in enact much damage on (or off) the field and is used 303 0601 or (021) 246 6710 at City Sales or proofreading, copy editing and writing for colloquially when someone is all talk. Below this text [email protected] or log on to www.citysales. various publications. I offer swift, accurate a second row of letters in a similar block style reads co.nz/rentals “blues”. This refers to a person who contributes their clean-up services for manuscripts, theses, HERITAGE APARTMENT IN QUIET ART DECO unsolicited opinion to other people’s conversation – it essays and papers. For a schedule of fees email BUILDING CAMPUS. Two minutes walk to Words Work: [email protected] or phone is unexpected, out of the blue. University. One bedroom, sunny and newly 021 251 7299. Concurrent with her fine arts degree Timoteo furnished. Suit single or couple. Long term studied English poetry, Shakespeare and Pacific preferable. Available now. $450 a week. Ph CITY LEGAL SERVICES. Rainey Collins Wright is a studies, and language continues to play a significant Shirley +6421674946. small law firm centrally located at L1 Princes role in her practice. In more recent work shown at QUIET, COMFORTABLE FLAT ON TOP FLOOR OF Court, 2 Princes Street. We are near the Window in the entrance to the general library the text HOUSE IN ST MARY’S BAY. Close to Three Lamps University, with good parking. We can assist with has been promoted to the middle of the mat. The and key bus routes. Two large bedrooms, fully property transactions, trusts, wills, administration words appear even more puffy and cartoonish on this furnished, all whiteware, large sun-drenched of estates, enduring powers of attorney and grand scale, and standing in front of it, you cannot balcony with harbour glimpses. Available short relationship property matters. Please phone our help but feel like the message is directed solely at you, term from mid October to January. Would suit senior solicitor Nichola Christie on 600 0256 to even if its meaning is indeterminable. visiting scholars. $550pw. Phone Deborah 0274 discuss your needs, or email: “When you’ve grown up in Auckland your fine mats 780 750. [email protected] Visit www.rainey.co.nz look like this” was produced during Timoteo’s final year of her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Elam and was HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION NOTARIAL SERVICES: I am a Notary Public with purchased by the Univeristy fr many years experience and can notarise ART HOUSE. Studio, apartment and homestay at documents to be sent overseas and provide my Mangawhai Heads. Extremely private, idyllic Alice Tyler Notarial Certificate. I am situated on the Ground weekend retreat one hour and 20 minutes from Floor, Princes Court, 2 Princes Street, Auckland, Image, above la eft: Simone Timotea When you grow up in CBD. Kick back and listen to the tui. Estuary next to the Pullman Hotel. Phone Stewart Auckland your fine mat looks like this. access over earth-bridge to perfect spot for a Germann on (09) 308 9925 to make an sunset wine and swim. Contemporary and appointment or email elegant. Contact Mandy on [email protected] [email protected] or (021) 843 590, https://www.airbnb.co.nz/ ACCOMMODATION WANTED: Visiting scholar rooms/9313298. from the USA seeking family accommodations PROPERTY FOR SALE from September 2016 to June/July 2017. Priorities are access to good schools (our AT OCKHAM RESIDENTIAL we believe Auckland is daughters are 15 and 9), public transportation too complacent about the continuing erosion one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a and the University. We prefer a single location of their right to know what government wonderful place to live. Founded by alumni of the but are open to combining shorter term stays. is doing on their behalf. Political risk has University of Auckland, Ockham is committed to Please contact Matt, [email protected] become a primary consideration in whether ensuring urban regeneration in this beautiful city official in formation requests will be met, is world class. See our stunning new project in and successive governments have allowed Grafton, Hypatia, at www.ockham.co.nz free speech rights to be overridden. Drawing on decades of experience as a journalist and newspaper editor, Gavin chronicles these patterns of erosion. It is time, he argues, for New Zealanders to reaffirm their democratic rights or risk further deterioration of freedom of speech and our civic knowledge.

UNINEWS 11 MARAMATANGA

FOSTERING REBELLION

With so much talk about the changing face of Students should also be taught to understand the then required to iterate several solutions based on employment and robots taking our jobs, how do we end user or audience, to think laterally and consider prioritising different criteria which are central to the equip future generations with the relevant skills to multiple solutions, and to prototype or practise a problem. Proposals are modelled and then remodelled ensure they have rich, meaningful lives? range of outcomes. Flipped learning models (where or refined in response to criticism from peers, teachers The answer can be found in fostering creative classrooms are for experimentation and homework is and stakeholders over the semester to reach a thinking, an essential skill for all students, as both for learning facts) achieve a similar result by using the solution. There are typically as many different solutions future employees and entrepreneurs. classroom to practise and explore while unsupervised as there are students in the class and more besides The arts and creative industries provide an essential time is used to digest disciplinary knowledge. All our graduates need to be technologically savvy, platform for supporting a vibrant entrepreneurial Tertiary institutions already operate a range creatively agile and possess a range of soft skills such culture. Research and experience suggests that a of creative or “studio” teaching methods across as good communication, perseverance, sociability successful entrepreneurial ecosystem is made up the disciplines of architecture, design, dance, fine and curiosity to be fit for the career disruptions of the of three key elements: capital; know-how (ideas, arts, music and planning. These can be combined fourth industrial revolution and the dominance of commercialisation expertise, talent); and rebellion (a with technologically-focused STEM disciplines Artificial Intelligence (AI). People with these attributes way of thinking that challenges the status quo, pushes to deliver learning outcomes in creative thinking, are less able to be replaced entirely by machines. boundaries and generates new ideas). interdisciplinary practice, and team problem-solving. Nations that have a higher proportion of their Rebellion is a core characteristic of a creative arts These teaching approaches are related to the workforce doing routine jobs will be more impacted and industries education, where new concepts and d-thinking strategies which have been introduced by future AI developments (for example it is predicted processes drive artistic originality and innovative to many top international universities like Stanford that 35 percent of jobs in Britain could be automated thinking. Nordic countries are well ahead of us here, and MIT, corporate organisations like Apple, Pepsi, compared to 49 percent in Japan where there is having discovered that investing heavily in education, Umpqua (finance), Innova (Peru’s private primary more routine employment – although the technology the arts, music and culture over an extended period school system), and the Khan Academy (open-access itself can create more jobs that have not yet been stimulates entrepreneurial and technological online education). predicted). revolution, and contributes to long-term economic Many of these applications of creative-design- The future must see greater collaborations between progress. From meat producers teaming up with top thinking target executive business programmes or higher education and industry: more “live” or real chefs to create “the Golden Room”, a line of high- postgraduate students. However, for the best results projects in the curriculum, with industry partnerships end products, to advanced digital media platforms this form of education needs a much earlier integration in real-situation learning as well as more adaptive allowing musicians to sell music directly to their fans, into any curriculum, ideally as early as primary school. and continuous learning in small units called micro Nordic countries have successfully embraced creative Universities also face challenges in implementing or nanodegrees (such as those available via Udacity thinking to add value to products and services. these changes on a large scale as they are resource- or Linda.com) which help people up-skill or move New Zealand should be following this example by intensive, and current ranking systems reward between careers. actively promoting creative thinking, but this requires standard education models where the categorisation A person entering the workforce of the future with demonstrating thought processes and engaging of disciplines occurs in well-defined silos. Change will both creative and technological capabilities will be in teaching methods which differ from historical probably be the result of employer dissatisfaction with more resilient to change, and will probably enjoy a mainstream educational practice. “business as usual”. more varied and challenging career than his or her Students should be encouraged to be creatively In our creative disciplines students are required parents. Creativity not only supports diverse career “rebellious”, and to practise synthesising or combining to approach a problem using an innovative or options but adds a profound dimension of delight to diverse areas of knowledge to address a problem with unconventional theme or idea which becomes a our journey into the future. multiple possible outcomes rather than breaking down vehicle for integrating many different strands of Professor Diane Brand or analysing information to reach a precise solution. related research that have been undertaken to Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries This kind of pedagogy is usually workshop or studio- fully understand the problem in context and the The University of Auckland based and often practical and collaborative in nature. need of the audience or end user. The students are