Chancellor's Welcome
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Chancellor’s Welcome Recovery, the Honorable Gerry Brownlee, The building once known as Registry, and now and Ministers Amy Adams and Nicky Wagner repurposed, was renamed Matariki, and the in September. The second milestone was the James Hight building is now known as Puaka- settlement, for $550 million, of the University’s James Hight. earthquake-related insurance claims. The name Matariki is a taonga, a treasure Individually, these two achievements were gifted to UC by our partners Ngāi Tahu. both sizeable and significant. Taken together Matariki is one of seven brilliant stars in the they are game-changing. The combined constellation known as Pleiades. The name extraordinary capital will be invested in signifies a new beginning for us all. the provision of world-class facilities for The Puaka-James Hight Central Library students. Resolution of the insurance claim, continues to commemorate Sir James Hight, in particular, allows the University’s extensive one of the greatest contributors to UC’s campus transformation capital works academic and institutional development. In programme to proceed with greater clarity and addition, it is named after the brightest star in autonomy than before. the constellation Orion, which rises at about UC Futures represents the Government’s the same time as Matariki. investment in the redevelopment of our These new names reflect the growing College of Engineering, in a project known strength of UC’s relationship with Ngāi Tahu as Canterbury Engineering the Future (CETF), Dr John Wood and the mana of Te Ao Māori at the heart of and building of the Rutherford Science and UC’s campus. Innovation Centre (RSIC). 2014 marked the close of one of the most In recognition of the long-standing and significant chapters in the history of the The main contract for the $143 million CETF rewarding partnership between UC and Tait University. At year’s end, UC had put behind project was let to Hawkins Construction Communications, the Butterfly building was it the post-earthquake period of uncertainty, in late 2014. The project, scheduled to be renamed after Tait founder, UC alumnus and stabilisation and planning, and was looking completed by the start of the 2017 academic electronics pioneer Sir Angus Tait. The building forward to a period of heightened activity, year, requires the substantial redevelopment was formally re-opened by Communications consolidation of progress so far, and delivery of more than 40,000sqm of space making and Information Technology Minister Amy on the opportunities for the future. up the Engineering Precinct. It will ensure Adams, in the presence of members of Sir the University remains at the forefront of Our most important achievement was, Angus’s family. engineering research and teaching well into through a series of negotiated outcomes, to The University’s History building was renamed the 21st century. It will create new laboratories regain control of our destiny. The impact on in recognition of one of UC’s most influential for chemical and process engineering and the state of our people and institution has academics, Sir Karl Popper (1902–1994). structural engineering, along with modernised been universally positive. The challenges, Sir Karl taught at UC from 1937 to 1944 and laboratories for civil, mechanical and electrical which up to now have seemed daunting, is regarded as one of the 20th century’s engineering, and a new social learning space offer tantalising glimpses of the new leading philosophers. for 1500 students. University of Canterbury we have worked Of course, a university is not just about The $213 million RSIC project — named for so hard to conceive. buildings which, after all, are simply a means the University’s most distinguished alumnus Since the events of 2010–2011, the imperatives to the ends they serve. At UC, the overriding — will be a new building, creating state-of- for the University have been the rebuilding concern has always been and remains people the-art teaching and research laboratories for of student numbers and a return to financial — our staff and, above all, our students. physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology and viability, and to plan for and implement geology. The University Council expects to In 2014, UC staff continued to gain the transformational opportunities the progress a contract for this project early international and national acclaim for the earthquakes created. in 2015. quality of their research and teaching. 2014 saw the achievement of two key UC’s largely insurance-funded capital works The status and title of Distinguished milestones along that path. Receipt of the first programme continued to progress rapidly Professor is reserved for UC staff who $100 million of the Government’s UC Futures during 2014. The UC Council marked the have demonstrated world-class academic funding of up to $260 million new investment completion of significant remediation works leadership and achievements of the highest in the University was acknowledged through through the renaming of several UC buildings, international standing. In 2014, Professors the visit of the Prime Minister, the acknowledging the University’s historical and Mike Steel (Mathematics and Statistics), Niki Rt. Honourable John Key, the Minister for cultural connections with key partners and Davis (Educational Studies and Leadership) Tertiary Education, the Honourable Steven distinguished alumni. and Jack Copeland (Humanities and Creative Joyce, the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake 4 University of Canterbury Arts) were promoted to join Distinguished Christchurch retailer and UC graduate Richard 11 workshops. I would like to thank Council Professor Geoff Chase (Mechanical Ballantyne received an Honorary Doctor of members for their hard work during a year Engineering) to bring to four the total number Commerce degree before Christmas. He was which has seen larger, more complex and recognised at this highest professorial rank. invested as a Companion of the New Zealand more difficult challenges, and therefore Every year, the UC Council highlights the Order of Merit for services to business and the decisions to take, than at any time in the quality of staff at the University through community in March 2014. University’s history. Our two main committee the awarding of its annual teaching, UC students continued to excel. Among many chairs, in particular — of Finance, Planning research and innovation medals, the highest highlights, UC student — and product of my and Resources, and Audit and Risk — have honours it can bestow. In 2014, Professor C. own former high school at Lincoln — Hadleigh achieved a phenomenal amount of work Michael Hall (Management, Marketing and Frost, was the fifth UC student in a row to earn throughout 2014, assessing advice to Council, Entrepreneurship), a leading international a Rhodes Scholarship. UC students won 10 of holding workshops and special meetings, and sustainability and tourism researcher, the 26 Fulbright scholarships in 2014, more finally joining me as UC members of the TEC and Professor Mike Steel (Mathematics than any other New Zealand university. Minister’s Governance Oversight Group for the UC Futures programme. and Statistics), an expert in the science During the year I had the honour of being re- of reconstructing evolutionary trees and elected Chancellor of the University Council, a It is noteworthy that Council has, throughout networks from genetic data, each received position I have held since 2011. Sue McCormack 2014, sought and achieved consensus on all a UC Research Medal. Leading New Zealand was re-elected Pro-Chancellor. the big issues before it. That united voice communication disorders researcher has been particularly helpful to the University I also had the privilege of leading a UC Associate Professor Maggie-Lee Huckabee was in dealing with our stakeholders and delegation to the United States on a awarded the UC Innovation Medal. Associate interested parties, and is a tribute to the successful appeal to US-based alumni and Professor Paul Ballantine (Management, entire Council membership. supporters. The interest and support of the Marketing and Entrepreneurship) received welfare of the University from so far away was A challenge for 2015 will be the gazetting the Teaching Medal in recognition of his humbling and inspiring. In 2014, we achieved and implementation of the Council’s new outstanding achievements in marketing and a record level of philanthropic support. The constitution. his contribution to UC as a lecturer, supervisor University of Canterbury New Zealand Trust I began by saying that, to my mind, the most and head of department. and University of Canterbury Foundation significant achievement in 2014 was squarely In 2014, the University Council awarded four funds rose to record levels in excess of $120 to put the destiny of the University back in honorary doctorates. Academy award-winning million as at 31 December 2014. The income its own hands. The efforts of the Council filmmaker Vincent Ward (Doctor of Fine from these funds has supported thousands of have been no small part of that outcome, Arts), corporate magnate Alan Gibbs (Doctor students through scholarships, and hundreds alongside the work of so many others — staff, of Engineering) and Christchurch property of staff through research and travel grants. students, alumni, other stakeholders and investor and entrepreneur Antony Gough the community. (Doctor of Commerce) received their honorary The generosity of our alumni and other Buoyed by the success of 2014 and sustained doctorates in April. supporters reflects the valued contribution UC has made in Christchurch, in Canterbury, by the collegiality which has underpinned it, Mr Gough has made a significant contribution nationally and internationally throughout its we look forward to writing the 2015 chapter, to the development of Christchurch’s central history. It is also a clear acknowledgement and future chapters, with excitement and in city. He graduated from UC in 1970 with a of the vital role UC has in the future success anticipation of what this fine University BSc(Hons) in nuclear physics.