THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE

auckland.ac.nz/ingenio SPRING 2019

THE FUTURE OF FOOD EATING SMART FOR THE PLANET

Phenomenal result Fine tuning Rocketing along Campaign exceeds all Composing a curriculum Auckland space projects our expectations for a modern musician taking off BIG PICTURE

SPRING ON CAMPUS The University of Auckland City Campus grounds are a picture in spring. Photographer Elise Manahan captured this tui among dozens flocking to the Taiwan Cherry prunus( campanulata superba) tree. Later the birds will seek the nectar from the kowhai as they come into flower. this 19 20 issue Sarah Hillary: saving art Future-proofing music education

REGULARS 7 26 6 Beyond Dawn of Editorial expectations a new era The University’s For All Our Futures campaign Professor Dawn Freshwater will take up her 11 has been a resounding success – funding role as the University’s Vice-Chancellor in Guest columnist: research, innovation and student support. 2020. She talks about her past and her vision. Dita De Boni 24 12 36 News The future of food: eating The 2019 31 7 tips to … rethink smart for the planet 40 Under 40 your strategy There are many forces shaping the future of Meet some of our youngest alumni achievers. our food. So what is our role in creating a We profile a selection of 40 Under 40s who are sustainable food future for the planet? making their mark on the world. 32 Research 34 28 23 37 Taking Issue: cannabis referendum Space cadets Organ donation of Golden the keyboard kind grads Jim Hefkey and the Auckland Programme for 38 Space Systems: why students are flocking to Organist and philanthropist It was a special day for a special group Around the Globe explore the final frontier Graeme Edwards tells why a new of alumni who graduated 50+ years ago, high-tech organ hits the right note. including a 93-year-old still winning awards. 40 Connection Points

42Books

4 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 5 Ingenio Editorial Campaign The University of Auckland Alumni and Friends magazine Spring 2019 he University’s Campaign For ISSN 1176-211X All Our Futures has been an unprecedented success – raising an Editor Denise Montgomery extraordinary $380,271,165 to fund Executive editor INVESTMENT Tresearch, fuel innovation and support students. Helen Borne The campaign was publicly launched in Art design IN OUR FUTURE September 2016, to raise $300 million to answer Mike Crozier, Ashley Marshall important questions for the future of New Zealand Feature photos and to actively engage with at least 50 percent Elise Manahan, Billy Wong n many universities around the world, the us. This has been the basis of the For All Our of the University’s alumni. By the end of the Ingenio editorial contacts Communications ‘impact agenda’ is becoming an important Futures campaign, which has sought to increase campaign on 31 October 2019, the fundraising and Marketing, issue, reflecting the desire of those who alumni engagement and generate financial total had exceeded its goal by $80 million and The University of Auckland invest in the universities – particularly support for our students, teaching and research. 60 percent of alumni were actively engaged. Private Bag 92019, Igovernments and their funding bodies – to It has been stunningly successful, not only in “The campaign has highlighted the power Auckland 1142, be assured that their investment is having a meeting its direct objectives, but also in further of partnerships and philanthropy as we address New Zealand. Level 3, Alfred Nathan House positive impact. enhancing the impact the University has on the challenges and opportunities of the modern 24 Princes Street, Auckland. While the desire to see a ‘return on investment’ society. One hundred stories of that impact were world,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Telephone: +64 9 923 6061 is understandable, it can be problematic for the highlighted to our community over the final McCutcheon. “I sincerely thank the thousands of Email: universities. This is so for several reasons. First, weeks of the campaign. There could have been people who have contributed to this outstanding [email protected] the impact we have on our graduates is not many hundreds more and each would illustrate success, our staff for conducting and supporting Web: auckland.ac.nz/ingenio immediate, but lasts through their lifetime and very well how this University makes a difference. wonderful teaching and research, our alumni How alumni keep in touch is often intergenerational. Second, even a major What the campaign has shown incontrovertibly for demonstrating the lifelong benefits of a To continue to receive Ingenio and subscribe to @auckland, new research finding will often take many years is that philanthropy has become a powerful University of Auckland degree, and our many the University’s email newsletter before it has an impact on society. For example, vehicle for the University to achieve many things friends and donors for making the work of this for alumni and friends, enter a new therapy will have to go through exhaustive that would otherwise not be possible. extraordinary institution possible.” your details at: alumni. testing before it can be made available for clinical Because of the investment of our donors, At a “thank you” event for key supporters on auckland.ac.nz/update use. And third, each new finding depends on the University is a different and more capable 21 November, Health Sciences student Tahirah Alumni Relations Office the knowledge creation that has gone before it, organisation. That investment in the creation and BEYOND Moton spoke about rising from a background The University of Auckland often over a long period of time, but without dissemination of knowledge, and in the support EXPECTATIONS of family breakdown and foster homes to 19A Princes Street, Private Bag 92019 which that finding would not have been possible. of our students, will produce dividends for many Three years ago, the University of Auckland successfully undertaking university study, thanks Auckland 1142, New Zealand In short, attaching a particular impact to a years to come. And for the hundreds of stories to a scholarship from the Ralph and Eve Seelye Telephone: +64 9 923 4653 particular investment is extraordinarily difficult. of impact there are hundreds of donors who publicly launched its ambitious For All Our Futures Charitable Trust. She has now been awarded a Email: An alternative approach is to look more contributed to them and to whom we owe a great fundraising campaign. The focus was to ask some prestigious Kupe Leadership Scholarship. [email protected] Web: alumni.auckland.ac.nz holistically at the impact of a whole institution. debt of gratitude. of the biggest questions facing society today and to Alumna Dr Emma Scotter, head of the Motor That was the approach taken by the 2019 At the founding of the Auckland University Neuron Disease Lab at the University’s Centre Disclaimer answer them, in partnership with our supporters. Articles may reflect personal inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) College in 1883, the Governor, Sir William for Brain Research, talked about the Aotearoa opinion that is not that of the University Impact Rankings to assess the Jervois, noted the importance of “placing the Fellowship that funded her return to Auckland University of Auckland. performance of each university against some of advantages of a university education within the from a research role at King’s College London. Audited by abc.org.nz the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development reach of every man and woman of Auckland”. She now receives support from the Motor Neurone Copyright Goals. The University of Auckland was ranked Today he would have said, “of New Zealand and Disease Association of NZ, Marcus Gerbich and No parts of this publication No 1 internationally, reflecting the strong desire the world” and he would surely have referenced Dr Amelia Pais-Rodriguez, and the Freemasons. may be reproduced without of our people to make a positive difference to our research as well as our education. The The fundraising total was made up of 23,592 prior consent of the University of Auckland. All rights the lives of others in New Zealand and around work of our staff and students has, over many gifts, large and small, from 7,236 donors. Almost reserved. © The University the world. generations, had a huge impact. all were given for a specific purpose, nominated of Auckland 2019 Increasingly, our ability to make a difference Thank you for helping us make a difference. by the donor. Many of the major gifts were for depends not only on the investment by medical research, including the largest-ever gift to government and students, but also on the Read about the 100 impacts at the University, from the Hugh Green Foundation willingness of our alumni and friends to support tinyurl.com/CampaignImpacts (see story on page 10). Numerous gifts supported donor-funded student scholarships, which trebled in number over the course of the Campaign. The very last gift was an online donation of $220 STUART McCUTCHEON towards the Student Emergency and Wellbeing Vice-Chancellor Fund, from an Australia-based alumnus. The campaign began by asking multiple questions, reflecting important needs across society. By its close, many of these “Can We” questions had been turned into “Together, we have…” statements and history had been made, as For All Our Futures became New Zealand’s Photo: Elise Manahan largest-ever fundraising campaign.

auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 7 Campaign son Aaron, is a good example of linking modern technology with traditional infrastructure.” John and Leonie met at Manurewa High School. Its students and staff visit Unleash Space and the University offers advice on how to run the Maker Space at Manurewa. “Our Maker Space at Manurewa High School has inspired the students to develop their Powerful creative minds and understand entrepreneurial activities,” says John, who is also chair of the Manurewa High School Business Academy. partnerships He says there are important reasons for providing philanthropic support. “New Zealand can’t rely on being a commodity provider. Our future depends on our ability to innovate and be creative, to think laterally about solutions the There have been more than 23,000 gifts to the For All Our Futures campaign and thousands world needs. Philanthropy not only provides money or resources, but it also gives us the John Hynds, left, and the Hynds Entrepreneurial Fellow, of people have benefited, from students and faculties to the community, the country and Peter Rachor. Opposite page: Wendy Kerr with student chance to spend personal time with people to creative technologists in the Unleash Space. ultimately the world. Ingenio talks to three pairs of donors and recipients. guide and influence the best result.” Photos: Elise Manahan

DONORS feeling that it’s everyone’s space,” says Wendy. DONORS antibiotics from getting to it. The antibiotics were JOHN AND LEONIE HYNDS “Leading universities overseas have innovation ERIC AND PATRICIA TRACEY stopping it spreading, but unable to kill the bug.” hubs and we’ve been able to replicate that here, While in Auckland, Eric told John about Recipients: Unleash Space at the Business School; Peter thanks to philanthropy. In the Maker Space, Recipient: FMHS Patricia’s situation. “I referred him to some Rachor, Hynds Entrepreneurial Fellow anyone from any faculty can join, do a training excellent infectious disease specialists in Auckland session and then use the machines.” n London, at the Cricket World Cup final who advised what could be done,” says John. f you’re the type who walks with your eyes There’s everything from sewing machines to in July 2019, Eric Tracey’s pride in being a The situation also got them talking about fixed on the pavement, the name ‘Hynds’ 3D printers and a laser cutter. Student ‘creative New Zealander pumped through his veins. the need for more research on such infections. may be familiar. It’s all over our streets, technologists’ are employed to assist. Alumnus Eric, a business graduate who John presented Eric with a project in 2018 that embossed on many metal drain covers. The “When you have an idea in your head, it’s Ilectured at Auckland in 1972-73, has had a was particularly relevant to Patricia’s condition. IHynds family, through the Hynds Foundation led intangible,” says Wendy. “But when you make successful career with Deloitte and he and wife “The Traceys immediately and enthusiastically by John and Leonie Hynds, are major donors to it, it becomes tangible. That’s a really important Patricia have lived in London for many years. He supported it because they could see the direct the University, but their money most certainly part of the innovation and start-up process.” is chair of the NZ UK Link Foundation. relevance,” says John. “Their generous donation isn’t going down the drain. In the semester breaks, CIE runs experiential “I’m very proud of being a New Zealander provides long-term support for a research fellow.” John Hynds’ company, Hynds Pipe Systems, programmes such as Get Good Done (a social and constantly want to live up to what being Eric says when the For All Our Futures was formed in 1973 and specialises in waste entrepreneurship programme), Summer Lab a good Kiwi requires. We were at the Cricket campaign began, it was a “bit of a no-brainer” management. In 2017, the Hynds Foundation (for budding entrepreneurs) or Solve It, the World Cup final. The Black Caps were to want to support it. “Patricia and I knew first- was one of six founding partners to provide large corporate innovation challenge. Hynds was a magnificent in the way they played and in how hand there’s a need for research in the area of philanthropic gifts to set up the Unleash Space sponsor in the 2018 Solve It challenge, in which they handled two ties being a defeat!” infectious diseases.” for five years, in the Centre for Innovation and companies gave students a tricky problem. Over Eric was the New Zealand Society UK’s The Traceys’ funding means Dr Ries Langley Entrepreneurship (CIE). The Hynds family gift the two-week break, students worked on how to New Zealander of the Year in 2014 for his is now working on developing a new type of was also used to fund the Hynds Entrepreneurial get the public to learn about wastewater. contributions to New Zealand trade and business, prophylactic vaccine that will reduce a patient’s Fellow, leading to the appointment of Peter “The winning team came up with an sporting and fundraising causes. One of those risk of staphylococcal infection following surgery. Rachor, who was director for entrepreneurship interactive manhole cover they made on the causes is the University of Auckland. “Staphylococcus aureus is by far the most common and innovation at the University of Portland in laser cutter. It’s on display in the Maker Space.” “It’s good to do something that could make the bug in post-surgical infection,” says John. “It’s Oregon for 11 years. Wendy says CIE also runs workshops for the world a better place,” says Eric. “I’m grateful to one of the best at developing resistance to Patricia and Eric Tracey “We’re so grateful to John and Leonie,” Hynds Company. “Our collaborators designed New Zealand for my education. Kiwi values are antibiotics, so if you’re unlucky enough to get donated to fund research for says Wendy Kerr, director of CIE. “Being a drainage pipe and made the prototype on the at the heart of my life, so I enjoy giving back a infected with a resistant strain, such as MRSA, a cause close to their hearts. able to employ someone like Peter Rachor 3D printer in an afternoon. Hynds’ innovation little through philanthropy and charitable work.” antibiotics just don’t work as well.” allows us to teach concepts of innovation and manager said normally they’d have to cast it in In another role, as chair of the UK Friends John says the Traceys are now family friends. entrepreneurship to students and staff.” three and a half tonnes of concrete! of the University of Auckland, he met Professor “One of the pleasures of being a Dean is Peter, whose remit is to work with every “The physical space and programmes around John Fraser, Dean of the Faculty of Medical getting to know people like Eric and Patricia. faculty, is based in the Unleash Space on the it allow us to have a much deeper partnership and Health Sciences (FMHS). Around that time, They provide tireless ambassadorial support corner of Grafton Road and Symonds Street. with Hynds. We help them solve problems, too.” Patricia was facing a serious health battle, with a for the University and have a real love of New Within that area is the lively Maker Space, John Hynds says even though he left school at ‘superbug’ in her leg following surgery. Zealand. They are lovely positive people – so filled with useful tools and gadgetry, and there’s 17, he always had an innovative streak. “I wasn’t “Patricia was on antibiotics for nearly six years down to earth – and Eric is an avid supporter of also the Collide Space. Everything is funded so good with schoolwork, but I have a capacity fighting this superbug, which had attached itself the Black Caps. He delights in telling the story by donors. to dream. Hynds is a creative and innovative to the prosthetic in her leg,” says Eric. “The of how he became 12th man for the Black Caps “At the heart of the Unleash Space is that company. Our Smarter Water project, led by my bug developed a film over it, which prevents in 2004!”

8 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 9 Campaign Guest columnist: Dita De Boni real-life massacre of 51 Muslim New Zealanders – and be part of an instantly connected movement spreading hate and racial vilification $16.5m brain boost across the world. nyone who met Hugh Green will In late October, the Foundation signed a gift MORAL The problem goes far beyond Zuckerberg. remember his big personality. For agreement for $16.5 million to fund the Hugh Take, for example, the way the extremely a modest man he lived on a large Green Biobank in perpetuity, and for a new OBLIGATIONS valuable personal data collected by many of scale, coming from an Irish family of Hugh Green Foundation Chair in Translational these sites is being made available to all sorts Aeight children, farming large cattle, making his Neuroscience. The significant donation will ilicon Valley is a place of enormous of bad actors. fortune from big property development projects allow the CBR to develop a brain-drug discovery innovation, free-thinking and wealth. There’s also the issue of where much of the after settling in New Zealand. facility, using human brain-cell cultures to Living there, one imagines, is a bit like seed and expansion funding in Silicon Valley So it’s appropriate that the Hugh Green identify and develop effective medications for paradise on earth: low taxes, exciting comes from. According to a recent New York Foundation has now made the biggest-ever brain disorders. Swork with lots of free pizza and unlimited sick Times article, there’s plenty of it coming from single donation, of $16.5 million, to the The University sincerely thanks the Hugh leave, and hobnobbing with some of the most the likes of Saudi Arabia, which only recently University of Auckland. Green Foundation for its partnership and exceptional brains in the world. and brazenly assassinated a journalist it did Before Hugh’s death in 2012, he came to generosity. Researchers look forward to Hedonistic, cerebral wonderland it may be, not like. greatly admire the work of Distinguished developing new treatments to help the millions but it seems that living in Silicon Valley is not Increasingly, Silicon Valley bigwigs are being Professor Sir Richard Faull and his team at of people living with brain diseases. enough for some of its more restless residents. forced to wake up to the ethical dimensions of the Centre for Brain Research (CBR). The Hugh’s largesse continues with his family and If the stories are to be believed, many of their enormous omnipresence. At a recent San Foundation’s first donation helped start the the Foundation’s commitment to philanthropy. Life-changing generosity: them spend years plotting and planning to live Francisco conference on the future of artificial Hugh Green Biobank in 2011. One of a He once said: “My real happiness is family, the The late Hugh Green was completely free of government oversight in intelligence, for example, Microsoft openly handful of institutions worldwide that’s able to farms, the cows and people. a huge admirer of the work more remote corners of the world. debated the idea of not selling facial recognition being done at the Centre grow human brain cells, the Biobank uses “You come in with nothing and you go for Brain Research. The Seasteading was until recently a very real technology to some clients, and Google these cell-culture methods to develop new out with nothing and you just need the bare Hugh Green Foundation fascination with those from the Valley of Silicon: discounted selling a face ID service at all, for drugs to treat brain disorders, such as essentials while you’re here. And that’s how has now donated $16.5m to an extreme libertarian fantasy of island states supposedly ethical reasons. Huntington’s disease. I’ve lived my life.” the Centre. where those with enough money lived out of It’s not too cynical to surmise they are reach of authorities. We’ve all heard about Elon jumping before they are pushed. They are Musk’s fantasy of establishing a colony on Mars. appointing ‘chief ethics officers’, they are The latest would-be colonisers from Silicon meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Valley belong to the Open Lunar Foundation, a and promising to take down their most DONORS group of tech mavens and engineers who want egregious content more quickly; they may even live there, you have won the lottery of life and to establish a “harmonious human settlement” be half-heartedly agreeing to pay some sort of CHARLOTTE LOCKHART AND those who have the capacity should give back, on the moon. The single-digit billions price tag tax in the countries in which they make their ANDREW BARNES whether it’s financially or through your time.” seems to be no matter at all. highest profits. This may be more a result of Patricia was happy to learn Andrew has a deep It is little wonder that students and being smart and future-focused than out of a Recipient: Patricia Pillay, Kupe Leadership Scholar interest in archaeology. “He and Charlotte really postgraduates from New Zealand flock to put genuine sense of moral obligation. Nevertheless, wanted to support an anthropology student themselves in the middle of Silicon Valley, it addresses a growing stain on the amazing About the writer: tudent Patricia Pillay is doing her because their insights into human behaviour where they can observe not just brilliance, but reputation of Silicon Valley, which has given so Alumna Dita De Boni (BA, masters in anthropology and is one translate to the workforce.” the application of that brilliance to the market. much that is positive to humanity. Italian/Russian) is a senior of 14 Kupe Leadership Scholars who Charlotte says insight can help build a When students are also placed within spaces It is now time for all of us, from the tech journalist with The National Business Review and has receives financial support from donors leader. “A good leader is prepared to stand out where genuine innovation and entrepreneurship mavens to the tech users and the fledgling worked in print, television Sfor one academic year. The scholarship also and try new things, be different and care for occur, it shows them what can be achieved entrepreneurs, to look more closely at the and radio journalism for provides leadership development and mentoring, others. Andrew and I value leadership in New with the right machinery in place – where human legacy of what is created in that more than 20 years. in Patricia’s case from acclaimed anthropologist Zealand and being part of something like this ideas really are valuable, and nurturing them a amazing place. ■ Professor Dame Anne Salmond. programme is important to us.” genuine and tangible business goal. Patricia’s scholarship has been funded by Patricia, who went to Avondale College, is the I believe, though, that the students need to Charlotte Lockhart and husband Andrew first in her family to go to university and says the understand that with enormous freedom and Barnes, founders of New Zealand trusts business scholarship meant she could continue her study. influence comes enormous responsibility. It is Perpetual Guardian, who are also supporting an She also feels privileged to have a mentor like not clear that the pioneers of Silicon Valley architecture student with a Kupe scholarship. As Dame Anne. “She’s very supportive and has Top: Charlotte Lockhart always understood that – and some perhaps employers, they recently shifted their staff to a given me valuable advice about keeping my and Andrew Barnes. still don’t. four-day working week. doors open and expanding my connections on Above: Anthropology There’s probably been little reason for some Charlotte says they like their staff to help out a global platform. She’s also offered words of student Patricia Pillay to imagine they need to think too deeply about in the community. wisdom about studying overseas and the value of with one of her mentors, the ramifications of the technological advances “Silicon Valley bigwigs are Dave Veart. “We encourage them to use one day every bringing that knowledge back to Aotearoa.” they unleash on the world. quarter for a charity or community programme. Patricia is also learning from archaeologist Mark Zuckerberg did not realise, when he being forced to wake up to Being engaged with the community gives us a Dave Veart, who has a masters in anthropology set about connecting college students over the ethical dimensions of their great basis for life and sets a good example for and law from Auckland and is a former staff ‘TheFacebook’ in 2004, that one day his our children.” member. “Dave was involved with the Ihumātao platform would be used to help manipulate enormous omnipresence.” That’s one of the drivers for the couple’s situation and explained why it’s significant. He’s the public into voting for Brexit or a Trump giving. Says Charlotte: “Andrew is an immigrant been teaching me about legislation and applying presidency. He did not realise that one day to New Zealand and firmly believes that if you what you learn in uni to real-life issues.” ■ people would be able to download and watch the

10 | Ingenio magazine Cover story onsider the following. One in ten New contributor to our diseases and premature Zealanders is going (mostly) meat death and they are our biggest source of Joanne Todd (opposite free. By some estimates, 70 percent of environmental damage. page), the director of High- millennials are cutting back on meat in “At the same time they contribute enormously Value Nutrition, says as part of the criteria for funding, Ctheir diet. Millennials, those born between 1981 to our national wealth and diverse cultures. New a business must provide and 1996, make up an increasingly dominant Zealand can and, I think, should, become a evidence of how it responds percentage of the global population, and more world leader in developing healthy, sustainable, to the UN’s Sustainable than half the populations in Asia. equitable and prosperous food systems.” Development Goals. But in 2018, New Zealand’s beef exports Global food giants are hedging their bets. Photo: Elise Manahan earned more than $3 billion. About 47 percent Tyson, the biggest meat producer in the US, of New Zealand’s beef goes to the United has created an alternative protein nugget and States where most of it gets turned into meat a blended patty that combines beef with pea patties. In the US, 100 million hamburgers are protein. At a branch in Atlanta, the fast-food consumed each day. giant KFC recently decided to trial a new line of The often contradictory messages from nuggets and wings made from plant protein. Cars demographics, consumer behaviour, export and queues blocked streets. The meatless nuggets dollars and influencer comment tell different and wings sold out in less than a day. stories, but they are all about the future of food. French dairy and drinks giant Danone has Dr Rosie Bosworth, a University of Auckland made a decisive shift towards plant-based alumna who featured in the 40 Under 40 in products. Chief executive Emmanuel Faber told 2017, is a future of foods strategist. Rosie is the Globe and Mail this year, “There is a huge adamant that it is time for New Zealand to “stop trend of people moving to less animal protein polishing the wrong paradigm”. The future and more vegetable protein. We believe this of food comes down to what people choose to flexibility in diets is fundamental for the future, eat and she says global population shifts mean for the health of the people and also for the the immediate future will be dominated by health of the planet.” millennials, estimated by Ernst Young to make up 75 percent of the global workforce by 2025. She says the relationship that millennials have with their food has three big drivers: health, “We’re seeing the rise of ethics and environment. “When it comes to animal agriculture, New Zealand has a better system than most of the conscious consumers who are developed world but, even so, agriculture has a huge impact on our environment. Millennials after ethical, sustainable and THE and, to a lesser degree, baby boomers, are very conscious of the role of animal protein in our healthy options for protein.” health. “At the same time we’re seeing the rise of – Dr Rosie Bosworth, future of foods strategist conscious consumers who are after ethical, sustainable and healthy options for protein, often he Intergovernmental Panel on FUTURE with impactful meaning. This is what millennials Climate Change recently released want and they’ve moved beyond the commodity its Climate Change and Land report play of just buying food, they want their food to that covers food production and be a values-driven experience,” says Rosie. Tsecurity. The report is decidedly big picture, Hot on the heels of the millennials are with mind-boggling estimates of environmental FOOD Generation Z, those born since 1997. They are loss. Agriculture utilises about 70 percent of the of estimated to surpass millennials as the dominant world’s fresh water. Soil on tilled fields is being societal cohort by 2030. lost at 100 times the rate it is being formed. “Gen Z are saying there are new ways to About 25 to 30 percent of food production is Our relationship with food, the why, produce food that don’t have the environmental, lost or wasted. Meanwhile, two billion adults what and how is a buffet of conundrums, ethical and sustainability baggage,” says Rosie. are overweight or obese and 821 million are contradictions, consumer anxiety, “Why would you choose animals when there is undernourished. a yummy, nutritious alternative that has the same The report’s big takeaway is that the window cultural mores and demographic sensory experience, that’s produced in your own is open to reduce climate change by diversifying change. Gilbert Wong looks at the forces country and exacts no cost to a living animal?” food production systems and what we eat. It says: The University of Auckland’s Professor Boyd “Balanced diets featuring plant-based foods … shaping the future of food and how the Swinburn, co-chair of the Lancet Commission and animal-sourced food produced in resilient, University’s research is contributing to on Obesity, says New Zealand can help lead the sustainable and low greenhouse gas emission what’s likely to be on our plates in 2030. change in diet and environmental sustainability. systems present major opportunities … while “Food systems are central to our wellbeing generating significant co-benefits in terms of as New Zealanders. They are by far the biggest human health.”

12 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 13 The EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, If the future of food is more accurately good people of Shanghai breathe a little easier in Planet and Health was published in January. framed as the clash of proteins, alt protein pollution-shrouded winters. Food in the Anthropocene: The EAT-Lancet Commission versus meat, a glimpse of the future for New A second major programme, Digestive on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems is Zealand comes with the lesson that not all of Health, is led by Dr Nicole Roy at Massey the work of 37 world-leading scientists from our beef is created equal and it doesn’t have to University. Her team is looking at the links 16 countries. It distils a large body of research on be consigned to the fast-food hamburger chains between diet, metabolism and the microbiome the environmental impact of various diets and of the US. Firstlight Foods has pioneered the to understand irritable bowel syndrome which outlines a preferred future of food as one with development of a Wagyu-cross beef with a affects around one in three people worldwide. far less meat. It says: “Most studies conclude that network of Kiwi farmers. The cattle are raised Another strand is Metabolic Health. Professor a diet rich in plant-based foods and with fewer on pasture to create quality beef cuts that have Sally Poppitt, director of the Human Nutrition animal- source foods confers both improved collected international awards. Unit at the University of Auckland, leads a health and environmental benefits.” The twist is that grass-fed Wagyu cuts also team looking for early predictive markers of The report comes up with a “planetary deliver a bounty of complex lipids and healthy Type 2 diabetes in a common Chinese body health plate”, the best diet for human health omega-3 fatty acids, the so-called ‘good fats’ shape, known as ToFi, ‘Thin on the outside, and environmental sustainability. Half the plate that help prevent heart disease. Fat on the inside’. Despite a low body mass would be vegetables and fruits, the other half Another company looking at the future of index, many people of Chinese heritage store would be food made from whole grains, plant the influence of millennials and those who food is a2 Milk™ which, on the basis of a unhealthy fat and face a high risk of diabetes. Dr Rosie Bosworth says the protein and unsaturated plant oils. Completely influence them directly via social media feeds. relationship millennials have different protein in its milk, has grown into The estimate is that more than 300 million optional are modest amounts of animal protein. For example, the tennis powerhouse Williams with their food has three our biggest listed company. A clinical trial at people in Asia have Type 2 diabetes. Early The EAT-Lancet report concludes that sisters, Serena and Venus, promote a vegan big drivers: health, ethics the University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute China’s predictive markers for diabetes would be business as usual for food production and diet is diet in training to boost performance. The alt- and the environment. in 2018 found that a2 Milk™ was at least as valuable intellectual property for future foods not an option. “Without action, the world risks meat supporters include billionaire influencer Photo: Billy Wong effective as lactose-free milk at preventing or diet now from New Zealand. failing to meet the UN Sustainable Development Bill Gates, who has said: “The future of meat easing some symptoms of lactose intolerance. The fourth main strand of research, Infant Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, and is vegan.” Firstlight Foods and a2 Milk™ are examples resembles Health, led by Associate Professor Clare today’s children will inherit a planet that has of New Zealand businesses to benefit from Wall of the Faculty of Medicine and Health been severely degraded and where much of he report does find a silver lining research funding from High-Value Nutrition what has Sciences, is looking at ways to determine the population will increasingly suffer from in the otherwise gloomy scenario (HVN), one of two National Science Challenges how complementary foods could boost the malnutrition and preventable disease.” it paints for the meat industry. (NSCs) hosted by the University of Auckland. become microbiome of infants to improve immunity New Zealand’s red-meat interests have The authors argue: “The same In 2014, 11 National Science Challenges, each and reduce infection. not been sitting on their hands. Beef and Tconsiderations that are leading consumers a nationwide research collaboration, were the bane Lamb NZ commissioned Antedote, a San to consider alternative proteins are the ones established to tackle the biggest science-based hina has 17 cities with a GDP higher Francisco innovation consultancy, to look at that give us confidence that there is a strong issues and opportunities facing this country. of Western than $US140 billion, while New how our red meat sector should respond to opportunity for New Zealand red meat. There HVN’s job is to deliver the research required to Zealand’s national GDP is about the rise of alternative proteins. The Future of is a desire for better food at all levels, which switch us from being a largely commodity food countries. $US205 billion. Meat is an engaging overview of the threats supports a strong future for ‘real’ red meat.” producer to one that exports high-value premium CChina’s big problem is that it needs to feed and opportunities. Take this counterfactual: in our biggest beef foods for health and wellbeing. a fifth of the world’s population and has only The report acknowledges how consumers market, the US, and second-biggest market, The University also hosts A Better Start, the one tenth of its farmland. About 57 percent increasingly want food that is healthy, sustainable China, consumers are happily chomping down NSC seeking to lift the health and life outcomes of its population now live in cities and their and ethical, a trend driven by the backlash quality red meat, with sales of grass-fed beef from for children. affluence is rising. As it rises, their diet now against “broken food systems, e.g. factory farming New Zealand doubling every year since 2012 to The idea to “let food be thy medicine”, resembles what has become the bane of and big food”. There is the common echo about the US, with China on a similar trajectory. attributed to Hippocrates, has been updated for Western countries, much more processed food, the 21st century as the prime research driver for a dramatic rise in consumption of pork, red HVN and over ten years it will have invested meat and dairy and, with that, an epidemic of ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS: WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY? $69m in top food and nutrition scientists. HVN’s obesity and diabetes. focus is on foods for affluent consumers in China, Little of this looks sustainable, which is why Beyond Burger Impossible Memphis Meat Insect flour New Wave where eating specific foods for health reasons is High-Value Nutrition supports food businesses Burger (seafood) commonplace. So it has invested in research at that tread more lightly on the environment. the Malaghan Institute in Wellington, led by Dr “Sustainability is very much part of the mix What Plant-based burger Plant-based burger Focus on chicken Ingredient added to Plant-based shrimp Olivier Gasser, to look at the impact of we want in every business we work with,” says bars, cakes diet on lung health. The aim is to Joanne Todd, director of HVN. As part of the Technology Mixing known Extracting protein Cellular based Raising, roasting Protein from create foods to help the criteria for funding, a business must provide plant-based molecules from (stemcells harvested and grinding insects seaweed and soy evidence of how it responds to the UN’s SDGs. ingredients together plants and building from animal tissue such as crickets into turned into a shrimp This includes working with innovative Māori to create a beef a product from the are multiplied in flour alternative businesses to ensure that Vision Mātauranga, patty form protein molecules the lab. Sometimes or unleashing the science and innovation up called ‘clean meat’) of Māori knowledge and resources, is part of the future of food. A recent investment What experts Good source of Not as good as Not as good as Good source of Not launched yet is in karengo (seaweed) with Ngāi Tahu say about protein, although not real meat as a result real meat as a result protein to add to the and Wakatū Incorporation, the the nutrition a direct substitute of processing of processing mix in diet Cawthron Institute, AgResearch, the Malaghan Institute Source: The Future of Meat (report by Antedote) and Hokkaido University.

14 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 15 Traditional sources of nori (Pyropia spp) are in are definitely driving changes regarding short supply because of reduced harvests in the sustainability and animal rights issues,” Northern Hemisphere through climate change. says Jenny. One day the partners want to harvest, process “They are the ‘loud voices’, linked by their and export karengo, an indigenous seaweed, as experience of technology, but they are also a premium and sustainable food with evidence- diverse groups who are fluid, hard to define based health benefits. and fragmented to reach. Within these cohorts, HVN has adopted a wait-and-see approach there are the socially aspirational, but many also to alternative plant proteins that mimic animal simultaneously hold personal aspirations, seek meat. “We’re not going down that road, because convenience and are open to temptations.” we need to look at what New Zealand can do at They are embracing vegetarianism, veganism scale and efficiently.” or ‘vegan-ish’ diets, and see lab-grown meats Joanne agrees that the trend towards as appropriate for fast-food industries and to alternative proteins in the US is driven by feed those who don’t think about where meats millennial behaviour, but also by factors New come from. At the same time, Jenny says, Jenny Young, left, and Zealand lacks. deciding what to eat is complex, so it’s difficult Joya Kemper urge New “They can do it because they have the money to generalise. Zealand to be a global to do it and the land to grow it.” “Let’s not forget the older generations with leader for sustainability Even if the Canterbury Plains could grow buying power who are now living longer and and ethical farming. peas to turn into Beyond Burger patties, any will continue to have a strong influence on the Photo: Elise Manahan harvest would be dwarfed by production from market well into the 2030s,” she says. the American Midwest. It is not in HVN’s brief “Among the baby boomers there have always to invest in commodity foods either. As well as been ethical and pro-sustainability consumers. the karengo, HVN has looked at hemp seed, a Many mature consumers are following healthier rich source of protein when made into flour. eating patterns as they age, embracing plant- information campaigns to change social norms, “We’re definitely open to looking at emerging based diets or cutting back on red meat.” to a regulatory framework. Germany, Brazil protein sources, but they have to be ones that But she says our attachment to meat remains and Sweden have established guidelines for New Zealand can grow sustainably.” strong because of taste, tradition and nutritional sustainable food consumption to give legitimacy Speaking as a nutritionist, Joanne urges benefits. For some, there might be conflict to those wanting to change behaviour. consumers to think hard about their food between their desire for meat and concern over Alongside this, policymakers can consider “People might have great intentions but choices. Plant-based “meat” is derived largely animal rights. Other consumers are divorced limits on marketing and advertising, to taxes on from imported pea protein and so comes with from this and believe they are entitled to unhealthy foods as part of national strategies to convenience beckons and those intentions food miles. The Impossible Burger, showcased eat meat because we’re omnivores and that it reduce obesity. by Air New Zealand, comes with a long is irreplaceable. However, she says, New Zealanders value don’t translate to behaviour.” ingredient list of additives. She says the need to In the face of bombardment from the media personal responsibility highly and any such – Dr Jenny Young, Marketing, University of Auckland Business School know where our food comes from works both and social networks with often contradictory strategy risks being dubbed an initiative of ways. “On one hand you have a beautiful, tasty information about the latest trending diet, the nanny state.The push and pull between beef burger you know is grown on grass and on dilemmas on what to eat will continue. consumers and markets, the battle between the other hand you have … what exactly?” “We also need to consider how changes filter good intention and habit, the ethical and really show the value and necessity of investing down to consumers who may not be as involved. sustainability struggle between alt protein and in research and development,” she says. Food decision-making is often done in a low- animal meat will all shape the future of food. Rosie Bosworth sees alternative protein as a involvement state, but it has an immediacy day How should New Zealand react to this menu of disrupter as potent as the internet. She says New “We need to look at what New Zealand to day,” says Jenny. possibles and probables? Zealand needs to get behind more research and Unfortunately, unhealthy packaged foods The Future of Meat report’s advice: “This is development, foster more start-ups and generate can do at scale and efficiently.” still proliferate, with nearly 70 percent of a wake-up call to ensure we understand what support for those who want change. supermarket foods classified as ultra-processed is important to premium consumers, that we “We have five to ten years in this market, so – Joanne Todd, director of High-Value Nutrition, Liggins Institute by the University of Auckland’s inaugural protect our natural food production systems let’s use the cash cow to fund the new paradigm. “State of the Food Supply”. and products, and do more to ensure that our Your first reaction is to defend, but we need to Jenny has interviewed people before they customers and consumers recognise that New be more far-sighted than that. We need to find he question of how millennial and enter a supermarket about their beliefs and Zealand’s red-meat farmers are in the natural a new identity. Holding on to the old one means Gen Z behaviour will shape the views on the environment and desire for foods business.” economic suicide.” future of food is not clearcut, say sustainability. When they leave, the contents HVN’s Joanne Todd says for New Zealand Jenny Young sees the continuing researchers from the Department of their trolley clearly contrast with what they farmers to forget about animal protein would fragmentation of food markets with tradition Tof Marketing at the Faculty of Business and have said. Consumer behaviourists call this the take a generational shift. For her, the future is and innovation both driving the way we will eat. Economics at the University. “attitude behaviour gap”. for New Zealand to be a country that produces “There are vastly different segments – Dr Jenny Young researches consumer “People might have great intentions a wide range of premium foods in a pristine and polarised values – so consumer-centric insights behaviour, including decision-making for food, but convenience beckons and those intentions, sustainable environment for affluent consumers. are crucial. Being a leader on sustainability, and works with Dr Joya Kemper, who has a don’t translate to behaviour,” she says. In the meantime, innovation is needed and respectful marketing and ethical farming is special interest in the marketing of social and Joya suggests that widespread changes in that’s where work being done at the Liggins the best position for New Zealand for the environmental issues and the rise of ethical diet, such as reducing red meat consumption Institute comes in. wild ride ahead.” ■ consumption. as advocated by the EAT-Lancet report, would “At High-Value Nutrition, we hope to change “Millennial and Gen Z generations require a complex mix of initiatives, from the culture of the food and beverage industry to Turn to page 18 for The Next Generation.

auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 17 Future of food of age, and more than 80 percent of infant meals Alumni Profile had no added sugar and salt. The bad news is that almost half of the nine-month-olds had tried sweets, chocolate, hot chips and potato crisps and only about a third were eating vegetables or fruit twice or more daily as recommended. The contemporary young Auckland family lives life in a blur of working parents, day care, commutes from hell, drop-offs and pick-ups. Convenience, in all spheres of life, including All this has taken years of training. Excelling cooking, becomes highly desirable. academically at high school, Sarah enrolled at But convenience can have unwanted university directly from sixth form. She began consequences. Clare and Professor Bryony James, her medical intermediate year at Otago in 1974, from the Faculty of Engineering, are investigating but her study was interrupted by the death of THE potential effects on a rising trend in convenience her mother, Louise, and sister Belinda in a plane food for infants: puree foods in plastic pouches. crash in Nepal in 1975. They’d been on the “The idea is that the product is only to be Saving art way to meet up with Sarah’s father, Sir Edmund NEXT used by squeezing it into a bowl and eating it By Linda Tyler Hillary. Later, Sarah studied psychology and with a spoon, but people give it to infants to feed chemistry for an undergraduate degree, but themselves,” says Clare. switched to the University of Auckland to get GENERATION But slurping your food means not developing uckland Art Gallery’s Principal married and be closer to family. It was there the dexterity to manage a spoon. As well, puree Conservator Sarah Hillary is a she graduated in art history. Volunteering at f today’s children are tomorrow’s food is more energy dense and processed than a heroine of art. She’s been hard at the Auckland Art Gallery, she applied for the shoppers, what do we know about their whole food, such as a slice of apple. Clare and work in the conservation laboratory Conservation of Cultural Materials course at the diet and the foods they might favour? Bryony have designed a trial to test whether Aat the Gallery, saving neglected works of art Canberra College of Advanced Education where Associate Professor Clare Wall of the infants feeding from pouches can change the for 36 years. Some of her high-profile rescues she completed a Masters of Applied Science. IFaculty of Medical and Health Sciences leads the development of a child’s bite. A good bite is include repairing canvases damaged during thefts “That gave me a grounding in the three areas nutrition department. essential for the development of jaw muscles and – works by James Tissot and Colin McCahon – of object, paper and painting conservation, “The infant diet has changed in a similar way teeth, which in turn are important for language “It’s really while her research into painting techniques has which was vital before I could do what I do.” to the adult diet,” she says. “More processed development. Delayed language development identified several fakes, some in public collections. She then specialised in painting conservation. food, more salt, more sugar, more fat.” and motor skills have big implications for brain important International journals have featured her in- “I decided to return to New Zealand in 1983 Parents do their best, but as the infant grows development and learning. depth research in technical art history, which to take up an internship, working with the up, it naturally becomes more and more part of “So, the question is, are we breeding a to bear in involves the scientific analysis of artworks to incumbent conservator at the Auckland Art the family and its food environment. “There’s generation who are used to consuming only establish how and when they were made. Her Gallery, and was later given a permanent role.” less time and so it becomes harder to prepare soft foods … who are missing development mind the meticulous work contributed to a re-evaluation After working on numerous paintings from separate meals for infants. windows?” asks Clare. intentions of of the painting of Saint Sebastian by Italian provincial and regional galleries as part of “Your food preferences and behaviour start From Clare’s perspective, the food business pull 17th-century master Guido Reni that’s held in the gallery’s Northern Regional Conservation “Are we in early childhood. Often if a child has done is often much stronger than consumer push. The the artist.” the Auckland Art Gallery. That painting is now service, Sarah won a Getty Advanced Internship well, they get a sweet, so we associate lollies with time-poor family faces a barrage of marketing, considered to be the original work while others at the Williamstown Regional Art Conservation breeding a being good. The foods we crave are the ones that and what’s best for baby is not always the same that exist in galleries around the world are copies. Laboratory in Massachusetts in 1986. Returning influence our pleasure,” says Clare. thing. The marketers are already looking closely As well as being an exhibiting artist at the to work at the gallery, she now manages a staff generation If you happen to be raised in a family with at the next generation of consumers. Babies born Anna Miles Gallery in Auckland, Sarah regularly of six and knowledge of her skills has spread limited access to healthy foods, it is harder to since 2010 have earned themselves a cohort- contributes to the exhibition programme at through the conservation service the gallery who are change your eating habits as an adult. defining descriptor, ‘Generation Alpha’. the Auckland Art Gallery. Her displays provide provides for artworks owned by other institutions, used to “We have overweight children who will grow Although they are true digital natives, growing Top: Sarah Hillary with Colin insights into how paintings are made, showing corporations and members of the public. up to be obese adults.” up with iPad, Siri and Alexa, they are inheriting McCahon’s Upland Road how microscopic analysis of minute cross- “It’s important to keep learning,” she says. Clare is one of the authors of Infant Feeding in a troubling epidemic: obesity. New Zealand Chapel windows – a huge sections can reveal the number of layers of paint “I update my knowledge by going to conferences consuming conservation job to reattach New Zealand, commissioned by the Ministry of has the third-largest percentage of overweight paint to the glass surface. on the surface of a painting. and scientific meetings. There are always new only soft Social Development. Prior to the report there or obese children in the OECD, after Greece Below: Sarah meticulously “I showed visitors to the Frances Hodgkins techniques or improvements.” was no national data collected on what the and Italy. About a third of our children are restoring artworks. exhibition how techniques of analysis revealed Her working methods must also adhere to foods?” country’s infants are eating. The data comes overweight, with about one in ten classified a figure painting beneath a still life, and how the international standards: each examination of a – Associate Professor from the Growing Up in New Zealand study, as obese. The World Health Organisation is artist built up her surfaces with up to 40 layers painting’s surface under raking light reveals every Clare Wall, Faculty hosted by the University of Auckland, which concerned that by 2025, there will be 70 million of oil paint,” says Sarah. “Similar techniques scrape and accretion recorded in a condition has followed a cohort of 6,432 children since overweight or obese infants and young children. also revealed the use of photography to produce report. “It’s also really important to give careful of Medical and birth. Those children are now ten and the study As they age, they face higher rates of heart Gottfried Lindauer’s startlingly accurate portraits consideration to the treatment approach ... to Health Sciences has produced a wealth of data and insight into disease, diabetes, degenerative disease of the … we examined them under infrared light.” bear in mind the intentions of the artist and the their lives. The report looks at what families joints and some cancers. For Generation Alpha, Sarah’s collaborations with researchers at originality of the artwork.” actually do when compared with a set of ideal faced with climate change, global obesity and the Tate Gallery in London and the Getty Reversibility is also important. “In the future, infant feeding guidelines from the Ministry of malnourishment, the future of food looks to Conservation Institute in Los Angeles have our understanding of an artwork might surpass Health. The good news is that, on average, these become more complicated than ever. Siri is contributed significantly to the understanding current knowledge,” she says. “We need to make infants are okay. About 94 percent are eating unlikely to have the answers on what to do of how artists based in Aotearoa used modern sure the treatments we use today don’t hinder the three or more solid meals a day at nine months about it. ■ materials to produce their work. work of conservators in the future.” ■

18 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 19 Feature a higher-quality degree that prepares graduates of music technology. Like David, he began in for today’s music world. Associate Professor January 2019 and has been researching and James Tibbles has been appointed to take over teaching courses, such as sound synthesis and as Head of School when Martin leaves. generative art, and preparing new courses for “Our entire education system was based on 2020. His areas of expertise include music and the conservatory model, developed in the 19th artificial intelligence, digital musical instrument century,” says Martin. “The model definitely design and human-computer interaction. He works for a certain type of musician, but wants to take students beyond the traditional that’s maybe about 5 percent of all the people means of music making. working in the industry. We therefore left “Computers are used for composing, 95 percent behind. And we constantly added performing and also analysing music,” content without taking anything out, but the says Fabio. “They can be used to analyse degree duration hadn’t got longer.” quantitatively and are especially useful for pieces that don’t have a typical Western notation that he redesigned curriculum began in relies on scales. We have a very good musicology Semester One 2019 and Martin says department here. the programme aims to give students “Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help trace the skills in all areas of music from evolution of a genre to help you understand the Tcomposition and production to performance, practices of performers and composers. and proficiency with the relevant technology. “People don’t need to learn to play every single Beethoven violin sonata just because they play the violin,” he says. “For example, as well as playing in a symphony orchestra, a freelance musician might be gigging in a film orchestra, “The big task for the teaching or performing with electronics.” MAKING Martin says it’s also important to bring down next generation of ritualised barriers to performance so that the musicians is to finally audience don’t worry about not knowing when to clap or what to wear, for example. throw out the tuxedo.” “If, after a performance, musicians sit with the audience and interact socially, the performance – Martin Rummel, Head of the School of Music MODERN becomes a part of our communication from one human to another. The big task for the next generation of musicians is to finally throw out the tuxedo.” “While that’s great, we are also making A number of new appointments have students aware of the pros and cons of using MUSIC been made, some from overseas, including AI. For instance, some videos on YouTube have internationally recognised composer David AI-generated soundtracks so people don’t have The School of Music revamped its programme this year Chisholm, a specialist in 21st-century to pay royalties on real music. They’re not well aiming to turn out Auckland music graduates with different composition training, who is a senior lecturer composed or produced but we’re so used to and composition convenor. He hearing them. strings to their bows. Denise Montgomery finds out why. has created long-form works “Our students need to learn what is good ranging from orchestral production because we are submerged by very to chamber, choral, badly produced music all around us.” ssociate Professor Martin were essential to devise a music degree electronics, film, theatre, Fabio is creating new courses in music Rummel hopes that in that creates a versatile music graduate. dance and installation computing and musical interface design. a decade there will be “The school was frozen in a time Tech pick: Dr Fabio and web projects as well “For example, students will make a physical recognition that recent changes warp,” he says. “The University has now Morreale with an as curating festivals in instrument by themselves through coding and Aat the University of Auckland School of set up a curriculum that is structurally augmented pick he Australia. physically crafting. We also have critique of Music will go down as a turning point in flexible enough to not have to fiddle with made for the electric Another is Dr music technology at honours and masters. It’s guitar, called a music education in New Zealand. it. You can fiddle with the content. You Magpick. Fabio Morreale, important students develop an understanding of The school, in Creative Arts and don’t have to touch the structure.” a lecturer and when music technology is to be used and when Industries (CAI), underwent a redesign of Martin, an internationally acclaimed co-ordinator we should resist some innovations.” its Bachelor and Honours degrees and a cellist who has been Head of School since But when would we resist innovation? well-publicised staff restructure. Martin, 2016, is leaving the University in February Fabio points to the likes of apps sold on the Head of School, acknowledges the 2020 and believes the school is now well- the internet that claim to be able to teach changes were challenging, but says they positioned to attract more students to music. He’s undertaking research on some of those apps to understand whether they are effective ways of learning music. Fabio came to New Zealand from Queen Above: Head of the School of Music, Associate Professor Martin Rummel sitting at the virtual organ. Mary University of London, and previously Photos: Elise Manahan

20 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 21 “There’s going to be teaching, admin, music That memory informed Graeme’s thinking technology … so much more in your portfolio. when he decided to fund the purchase of a “This new degree is a modern degree. You virtual organ for the University’s School of can still do pure performance or composition Music this year. “We give a couple of dollars to but you can dabble a bit more. You don’t have quite a few different things and the School of to stick to classical … if you want to take a jazz Music seemed to be a very worthy one. paper or something, that’s there too. “I was talking to James Tibbles [Head of the “It’s really exciting to see the opportunities Early Music Department] about this idea. I students are getting and how that’s going to know there are quite a number of technically knock on to postgraduate study as well.” very competent pianists qualifying, which means Martin also sees great benefits in students it’s not that easy to make a living. One or two going away on overseas scholarships and float to the top ... Stephen De Pledge [now a bringing back valuable knowledge. lecturer at the University] is starting to gain “We are blessed with a relatively high number some ground now, but in general, it’s hard. of scholarships that support our students to “I thought maybe the organ could give them go abroad for short or long-term postgraduate another income stream … that they could do studies, master classes or whatever. They come what I did. I also thought it’s very helpful for the back and add their new knowledge to the local school to be able to offer that facility. Quite a few Homegrown: Soprano the Interaction Lab of the University of music scene.” people have taken to it … they want to play it.” Dr Morag Atchison did Trento in Italy, his homeland. But he says he’d like to see more scholarships The organ Graeme purchased isn’t just any her music degree at the He says composers will never be replaced available for overseas students to come here to organ. It’s a virtual organ made by innovative University. She’s now by AI, but do need to learn what they’re up study, for good reason. ORGAN Dutch company Noorlander Orgels, and lecturing in classical voice after years studying and against. “So, a simple production of a song can “It would be great to see more recognition of although it has draw stops like a traditional working overseas. be done very well by an AI system. You just what overseas students bring in. If you have a DONATION pipe organ it doesn’t have pipes. Its computer is Photo: Elise Manahan drag and drop your raw track on a website, and cohort of 120 first-year students, some will be loaded with the sampled sounds of the pipes of then after a few minutes you pay a few dollars from South Auckland, some from Northland, European organs from across the ages. and download the produced one.” some from Christchurch, so the socialisation is OF THE Music School Head Martin Rummel says But Fabio says the difference in quality is different but still all Kiwi. the purchase has delighted everyone, especially dramatic and one of the reasons students need “But if you add a couple of North KEYBOARD Associate Professor James Tibbles, a pre- to learn about the capabilities of AI. Americans, a couple of Asian kids or students eminent organist and historic keyboard expert. “If a student is going to be a music producer, from anywhere else in the world, you get a KIND “Now we effectively have 17 organs in our at some point they’re going to have to justify completely different cohort. theatre,” says Martin. “So, if a lecturer is talking to their clients why they should go with a “It leads to different conversations in lectures, about French Baroque music, they can switch human producer rather than an algorithmically different experiences when they make or on the Couperin original organ from Rozay-en- created production.” compose music together and when they talk lthough at 85 Graeme Edwards Brie and say, ‘this is what it sounded like’.” about how they create music.” listens to music at home with the Martin says previously students had to go He says despite what some may think, a volume up a few notches, his love of off-campus or to the MacLaurin Chapel. “To scholarship for an international student doesn’t live performance has never left him. integrate proper organ teaching, you need an just benefit that student. It benefits their AGraeme’s passion is chamber music, which organ on site. And this is a very special one.” “For most people, solely performing domestic peers and the school as a whole. his dad introduced to him when he was 14, and The organ also captures the acoustics of the “It means lecturers need to think about how his favourite instrument is the organ. With a church in which each organ is found – creating is not going to be your entire life.” to deal with students from diverse cultural and mother who was a pianist and father who played further realism to the soundscape in which the – Dr Morag Atchison, lecturer in voice, School of Music social backgrounds, so it’s a win all round to the cello, he grew up with music. music is conceived. have different cultures learning here. We end “I learned piano then moved on to the organ. “It’s funny seeing an organ that brings out the up being more informed and it’s richer and I was nuts on it. I’d drive around the country, same kind of sounds, but doesn’t have pipes,” ecturer Dr Morag Atchison knows more inspiring for everyone. going to churches to try different organs.” says Graeme. “The sound is very true, too.” all too well the benefits of working “And there are more connections to be The family bought a small pedal organ and, His late brother, Emeritus Professor John overseas and then bringing your made in the world. People of different cultural in years to come, Graeme became deputy Edwards, who lived in the US, also bequeathed knowledge back home. backgrounds work together to create music, organist at St Andrew’s Church in Epsom. a harpsichord to the School. LThe leading soprano, who this year appeared musical theatre and other musical genres.” “That gave me access to a very good organ,” The fact that Graeme’s father used to play to much acclaim in New Zealand Opera’s The Martin says it’s knowledge like this that Graeme remembers fondly. in the orchestra as accompaniment to the Barber of Seville, spent seven years in the UK, is needed in a modern music degree, with Even as a young man, Graeme had an astute silent movies is a sign of how far things have doing postgraduate study at the Royal Academy musicians needing to become skilled at more business mind. Money was tight until he realised come in music technology, yet Graeme says his of Music then working in London. Now she’s than one thing. playing the organ could change that. passion for music is primal. His favourites are teaching classical vocal performance at the “That’s the fundamental change to what was “I started to play elsewhere, such as St John’s still the Romantics – although it’s the Baroque University and is also a vocal tutor for the New done for the past 100 years, where people were in Ponsonby. I did weddings and funerals when of Bach that tops his list. But he listens to Zealand Youth Choir and the University of forced into one choice and told this is who you the chief organist wasn’t available. music in digital format through speakers Auckland Chamber Choir. are for the rest of your life,” he says. “I got paid 10 bob for playing at a funeral embedded in the walls of his home. Couldn’t Top: Graeme Edwards at “It’s very hard to just do the pure classical “You would get a job as an academic or a home and (inset) with James and 10 shillings and sixpence for a wedding. be more modern. ■ performance degree because, for most people, music teacher or an orchestral musician, or in a Tibbles and the virtual organ That doubled or tripled my income. The figure solely performing is not going to be your entire jazz ensemble or, if you’re lucky, a solo career. Graeme bought for the sounds silly now, but that was enough to fill the Graeme also established the Graeme Edwards Award in life,” says Morag. But that’s not how it works any more.” ■ School of Music. car with petrol and go to the movies!” Organ Studies. The inaugural recipient is Rebecca Soojung Lee.

22 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 23 News Sciences (FMHS), commencing January 2020. Michael joined the ACSRC as a Research INTELLIGENCE Fellow in 1991. With 30 years’ experience in medicinal chemistry and cancer drug OF ALL SORTS development, he was an obvious choice for the role. New Dean of Law Penelope At the announcement of his appointment, Mathew is up for any challenge. the Dean of FMHS, Professor John Fraser, said he was delighted he’d been able to appoint someone from within the Centre. rofessor Penelope Mathew, an “Michael is an outstanding medicinal chemist internationally renowned expert in and a respected senior member of ACSRC. human rights and refugee law, took Most importantly, he convinced the selection up her role as Dean of the Law School panel that he understood what would be Pearlier in the year. Pene moved to New Zealand CANCER CENTRE needed for future success following on from the from Griffith University in Queensland. impressive legacy of Distinguished Professor Bill She says the legal profession faces a number APPOINTMENT Denny’s leadership as Director.” of challenges in the future, including the impact Bill Denny will stay at the University part- of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Law firms around time to continue his cancer research work. the world are already using AI to undertake Associate Professor Auckland Cancer Society Research “While change can be confronting, it also time-consuming research and conduct due Michael Hay. Centre has a new director. offers us an opportunity to renew and refocus diligence. “We need to ask how will AI affect the our relationships with key stakeholders,” legal profession and what the curriculum should he changing of the guard is under says Michael. look like in order to help students deal with the way at the Auckland Cancer Society “Our primary focus, as a pre-eminent cancer changing nature of the legal profession,” Pene Research Centre (ACSRC), but the drug discovery centre, remains to bring new says. “I don’t have answers to that yet, but it’s a goals remain the same. cancer therapies to the clinic and to develop challenge I look forward to grappling with.” TAssociate Professor Michael Hay has been drugs that will benefit cancer patients.” New Dean of the Law appointed the new Director of the ACSRC The ACSRC is a renowned research lab and Read more about Pene at tinyurl.com/PeneMathew School, Professor within the Faculty of Medical and Health has developed 15 drugs to clinical trial. Penelope Mathew.

importance of including the Māori way of causes and consequences of the conflict, meet SUSTAINABILITY understanding the natural world. COLOMBIAN with people involved in various peace-building Event organiser Lesley Stone was thrilled so initiatives and may even get to interview former SUMMIT many young people attended. “When I asked CONNECTION combatants. We have also organised an exciting Educators say knowledge of Sophie Handford, from Student Climate Action, PM’s scholarship builds Latin cultural programme for them, including a trip to about how universities could show leadership, the historic town of Cartagena and a game of sustainability is key to achieving it. she used the University Foundation’s divestment American links for Auckland. Tejo with students from Los Andes University – commitment as an example.” it’s like ten pin bowling, but rather than hitting Dr Chris Wilson, left, he second national multi-sector In 2019, the University of Auckland was No 1 wenty students and two academics pins, the targets contain gunpowder!” and Dr Thomas Gregory summit on the UN Sustainable in the world in the inaugural University Impact left for South America on The relationship between New Zealand and have taken a group of Development Goals (SDGs) was Rankings by Times Higher Education, which 3 November for an opportunity Colombia is gaining importance, indicated students doing Conflict and Terrorism Studies to co-hosted by the University of rates universities on how well they are delivering of a lifetime. They’re undertaking by the opening in 2018 of the New Zealand Bogotá. To find out about TAuckland with AUT in September. The theme on the UN’s 17 SDGs established in 2016. Ta programme delivered by University of Embassy in Bogotá. The agreement with the PM scholarships to Latin was ‘Accelerated Action, Together’ and featured Auckland partner the Universidad de Los Los Andes is the University’s first exchange America, see tinyurl.com/ a day of panel discussions and addresses from Event highlights and videos are at sdgsummit2019.org Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. It’s a four-week agreement with a Colombian university. PMtoLatinAmerica the likes of Russell Norman, Kevin Hague and intensive course on peace-building efforts Jeffrey Sachs. across Colombia. The trip was enabled by the In the welcome address, Pro Vice-Chancellor University receiving a Prime Minister’s Group Pacific, Associate Professor Damon Salesa, said Scholarship for Latin America that allowed the University recognises its main mission is the academics to select students to take on the to provide knowledge of sustainability and the trip. Most are working towards their Master of 17 goals agreed to by people from 194 countries. Conflict and Terrorism Studies (MCTS). “We need to educate the leaders of our future Dr Chris Wilson and Dr Thomas Gregory, and also model sustainable practices.” senior lecturers in Politics and International Rt Hon Helen Clark and Dr Dan Hikuroa Relations are leading the group. Chris is the (Faculty of Arts) gave the keynote addresses. coordinator of the MCTS programme. Dan is an earth systems scientist who integrates Thomas says the trip is a fantastic opportunity mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) in for everyone to learn about the conflict and science. He impressed upon the audience the Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific, peace process in Colombia. “They’ll study the Damon Salesa. Top right: Sophie Handford at the SDG Summit. 24 | Ingenio magazine News changed my life – and it also changed my family’s undertaking a project or they’re engaged in some life as a result of changing mine. small way and we’re also working way beyond “I was the first in my family to go to university. the postgraduate sector in terms of continuing RESEARCHERS RECOGNISED It led not only to improved opportunities for professional development. We have to recognise Researchers from the University were prominent at the Royal my family, but ultimately for my daughter and that it’s much more than providing bachelor Society Te Apārangi Honours event. Distinguished Professor Jane grandchildren and the people we connect to. In programmes … we support people who want to Harding earned the highest honour, the Rutherford Medal, for her fact, my brother ended up going to university very study right into their old age.” pre-eminent work determining the causes of newborn conditions. late in life, so I think we set off a chain of events.” She is proud that UWA implemented a Other winners included Associate Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, She says mentors’ encouragement can be far- strategy that addressed real-world issues while still Humanities (Aronui Medal) and Professor Cather Simpson, Science reaching, and an important way of supporting being a research-intensive university. (Pickering Medal). Full list at tinyurl.com/RoyalSocietyHonours Māori and Pacific students in post-secondary “UWA students were involved in developing its education. “Leaders and educators have strategy as well as staff, the community, industry such an opportunity. Sometimes it’s difficult and alumni. We had a distinct focus on our place HOADLEY HONOUR for an individual to carry their own sense of in the world and people in this region. That’s an Stephen Hoadley, Associate Professor of confidence or their own awareness of their important thing to think about for Auckland too. Politics and International Relations, has capability and the opportunities before them. “At UWA, we positioned ourselves as a received an unusual award: a classroom in his “Often as educators we’re in a privileged knowledge hub on the Indian Ocean rim name, the Hoadley Room. It was bestowed by position, such as working with a PhD or “It’s much because that was our position. Just as Auckland is the Command and Staff College of the NZ DAWN OF undergraduate student or one of our children, strategically positioned in the Pacific to be able to Defence Force. Stephen is the only academic to be able to encourage them in a way that can more than do something really distinct.” and non-career military figure to have a multi- A NEW ERA change outcomes.” On the issue of free speech in universities all purpose classroom named after him. Since the After several decades working in mental providing over the world, she has said university is all about 1970s he has given lectures on international affairs, organised courses health research, and contributing to hundreds bachelor seeking out people to have difficult conversations and offered academic advice to the Command and Staff College. of publications, she’s no stranger to hard work with, not people who confirm your world view. In March 2020, Professor and challenges. programmes “We’ve done a huge amount of work on this Dawn Freshwater will take “My backstory tells you that. I really like to for the Group of Eight in Australia. My view TEACHING EXCELLENCE roll up my sleeves, as you would expect from … we support is that you have to be exposed to ideas that Four Auckland academics were among ten tertiary teachers recognised over from Vice-Chancellor somebody who’s also worked in health.” challenge your own views and thinking. If you in the New Zealand Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards. They were That could include more research, and you people who don’t, then you can never really fully articulate Dr Ngarino Ellis (Arts); Associate Professor Andrew Luxton-Reilly Stuart McCutcheon. She talks about her past and her vision. may also find her at the lectern as she did while the architecture of your thinking and you’re also (Science); Peter Bier (Engineering), and Andrew Eberhard, Business at the University of Western Australia (UWA) want to never subjected to scrutiny or interrogation. School (Information Systems). Andrew also won the Prime Minister’s where she worked for the past five years, the last “Universities support critical thinking. We Supreme Award. See tinyurl.com/TeachersExcellenceAwards rofessor Dawn Freshwater has been two as Vice-Chancellor. study right subject our own ideas and those of others to asked a few times about the significance “It’s important because getting myself on the into their scrutiny and interrogation. We may end up CHANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS of becoming the University of ground brings credibility to what I do and helps thinking the same way as we did in the beginning, Entrepreneur Tony Falkenstein has donated $600,000 to the University’s Auckland’s first female Vice-Chancellor. me ascertain where the tensions are.” old age.” but we’re much better at articulating why we’ve Business School to fund up to 14 top students to spend time in Silicon PWhile it’s a milestone, she says the appointment Understanding the impact of education come to that point.” Valley. The gift, through the For All Our Futures campaign, consists of of a woman is not entirely unexpected. on her own life, she looks at education’s Dawn is excited about heading up the $120,000 a year for five years. Seetinyurl.com/TonyFalkenstein “I wouldn’t make a particular deal out of it,” opportunities in a wider sense, especially for University of Auckland and says it’s a great time she says. “New Zealand has a fantastic record the disadvantaged. “I see what education can to be living in New Zealand. of firsts where women are concerned. There is do, not just personally but globally in terms of “There are many people looking to New already significant progress addressing gender supporting the Sustainable Development Goals Zealand with envy in terms of what it’s achieving, issues. It was bound to happen at some point. (SDGs). I see the big picture.” both in innovation and punching above its weight “The bigger picture is inclusive leadership, She says tertiary educators need to consider the for what people view as a small nation.” DOCTOR, DOCTOR not just gender. But I do address the gender role of their institution. “We have a global civic She will visit Auckland several times before she Nearly 40 years after graduating as a medical doctor from the issue in my work, for example on the [Australian responsibility and it’s really important to strike takes over from Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart University, Dr Louise Webster has become a doctor again – this National Health and Medical Research a balance between serving our communities, McCutcheon in March and hopes to meet a few time in music. Louise is head of several paediatric teams at Starship Council] Women in Science committee I make serving the region and the nation, but also serving people and learn a bit more about her new role. Children’s Hospital, including the palliative care and sure we try to address any imbalance.” the globe in terms of the SDGs.” The seven-time London marathoner is also pain teams and one that provides emotional and She is also a member of ‘CEOs for Gender She says global rankings of universities, looking forward to trying out new walks in psychological support to seriously ill children Equity’ in Western Australia, and the first such as Times Higher Education and QS, Auckland, but another marathon isn’t an option. and families. Louise received the only Doctor female chair of the Australian ‘Group of are important. “A marathon takes about 18 weeks’ training of Music awarded at the University’s Spring Eight’ universities. “Because we’re in a global landscape, we and a lot of effort. Since I’ve been in this role, Graduation, for an advanced composition and Dawn Freshwater (pictured) grew up in have to make sure we have an internationally I’m reduced to a few kilometres now and then.” research programme equivalent to four years’ Nottingham, England, and the ill-health of her renowned reputation. But we need to be But when it comes to achieving goals as the full-time study. She completed it over five parents meant she had to look after her siblings strategic about what we want to be known for.” Vice-Chancellor, she says it’s very much a team years, fulfilling a lifelong desire to master from a young age. She dropped out of school at Dawn says there have been accusations of marathon, not a solo sprint. composition as well as medicine. 15 to support the family. She was encouraged universities being “graduate factories” because “It’s the journey, not always the destination. The “Writing music was always something to return to education several years later – to a of the way in which the sector has grown in journey on the way, the process on the way, is just as I did on the side. I was a doctor first nursing diploma, degree and PhD. terms of volume. important. That means bringing people with you, and a composer second, but now I “I have very ambitious ideas about what “But the pipeline is actually cradle to grave. We being clear about your purpose and helping people can say I am both.” universities can achieve, because education have high-school students coming onto campuses understand why we’re on this path.” ■

26 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 27 Feature

HAMMOND PEARCE Auckland engineering PhD student Hammond SPACE Pearce says it’s always been his “ultimate dream” Aiming high: A student to work at NASA. “They’re CADETS works on a CubeSat not just cutting edge in the Auckland because of the science, Programme for Space but also because of the Systems (APSS) lab. cultural aspects.” There’s no shortage of enthusiasts – students and teachers alike – keen to be NASA, alongside the NZ Space Agency, involved in space research at the University of Auckland. Owen Poland meets you don’t get along with everyone on your team. That opportunity isn’t lost on Anastasiya has co-funded a “You still have to work with them and that’s a Kiddle from Team Kessler, who sees space as some of those launching themselves into the final frontier. New Zealand Space really important skill in life.” “literally the next frontier”, providing “all these Scholarship for high- What sets Auckland’s CubeSat challenge apart chances for us”. Likewise, Team Koios leader performing tertiary from similar events overseas is the degree of testing Matthew White believes New Zealand’s space students to conduct involved before a satellite is launched. Around half ecosystem is just ramping up and in a few years research at NASA’s the CubeSats sent into space are never heard from “it’s going to be just crazy exciting because we’re AMES Research Centre in again and become “expensive rocks”, according to going to have so many people involved”. Silicon Valley. Hammond APSS co-founder Professor Richard Easther. “One Although the APSS is primarily designed to was one of the first New of the things we’ve worked hard on is making increase student engagement, it has also boosted Zealand interns and lived sure that the payload has been tested and we collaboration at an academic level and Richard on site for ten weeks understand how it’s going to behave.” Easther says the CubeSat challenges have grown this year. He worked Expected to be launched in early January, the expertise and driven organic change among staff. alongside a mentor in APSS-1 Waka Amorangi o Aotearoa, designed “It’s got people talking to each other in ways the Intelligent Robotics by Team QuakeTec , is the first mission-ready that might not have been the case.” Group and looked at here’s something about firing a to create an electrodynamic tether CubeSat. It will test whether ionospheric The extracurricular teaching programme has different ways to control miniature satellite the size of a that captures and removes space junk, disturbances can predict earthquakes. As the also been the basis for the fledgling Te Pūnaha NASA’s SuperBall cube tissue box into space that engineering student Jonathon Mace is rapt launch provider, Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck Ātea – the Auckland Space Institute at the tensegrity robot, which captures the imagination, but to be part of a programme that incubates (see page 30) says it’s great to see students doing University – which is developing space satellite could eventually be used few would have imagined that a satellite start-ups and “throws people out into the really good spacecraft work. “We’ll be supporting missions to service New Zealand’s strategic, T to explore dangerous design competition would help propel the space ecosystem”. the University, making sure we can get students’ scientific and economic goals. Likened by planetary environments. University of Auckland to the forefront of APSS Director Jim Hefkey says because spacecraft up in orbit and I think it’s going to be Dean of Engineering Professor Nic Smith to He says the experience space research in New Zealand. we don’t know what the future holds, the really exciting to see what comes out.” “a lightning rod” for the capability that exists was invaluable. Launched in 2016, the extracurricular competition is designed to expose them The APSS has also inspired alumni to get across the University, the Institute has been “It was a fantastic Mission Proposal Competition organised to new and complex problems. “Space is involved. Having graduated with a masters in turbo-charged with the appointment of Professor place to work. Any kind by the Auckland Programme for Space an excellent analogue for that.” mechanical engineering in 1962, Dr Neil Paton Guglielmo Aglietti as its inaugural Director. of experience you get Systems (APSS) has attracted more than The event requires multidisciplinary left for the United States to pursue a career in Guglielmo is internationally recognised as working on robotics 400 enthusiastic undergraduates despite teams to identify a societal need and the space programme and has now resolved to a pioneering space engineer and principal is very useful to apply the absence of any course credits. design a solution using a 10 x 10 x 10cm do whatever he can to support what he says are investigator behind the RemoveDEBRIS mission to companies and “I just love space, who doesn’t?” says satellite called a CubeSat. The resulting “truly innovative” experiments here. that deploys state-of-the-art technologies to clear organisations back in science student Julianne McCoun, a collaboration encourages the development “Now students in Auckland can aspire to space junk. New Zealand.” member of the winning 2019 Team Koios, of transferable skills Jonathon is grateful dreams and goals in space research that are As well as offering dedicated student whose aim is to create an open-source for. “I’m picking up so much that I just almost without limit and never have to leave New programmes and providing a much-needed platform for future competitors. “It really don’t have the opportunity to learn Zealand,” says Neil. pipeline of graduates, Te Pūnaha Ātea will Watch Online got me excited about being able to inspire through my normal degree pathway.” In 2018, Team Koios were the inaugural serve as a hub to manage connections with Hammond Pearce talks about and influence the next generation.” As well as breaking down barriers, winners of the Neil and Louise Paton Family local and international partners – and nurture the value of his internship at As a member of Team Kessler, which Julianne says the multi-faculty approach Award after the APSS received a major gift from collaborative links with key commercial partners, auckland.ac.nz/ingenio won the 2018 competition for its mission encourages diversity of thinking – even if the Patons. including Rocket Lab.

28 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 29 BECK HONOURED TIPS ... TO Deliberately do nothing “Think really big” about the issues and We tend to have a preoccupation theories facing science and engineering 5 for action. The world is not ready and “go after them”. RETHINK YOUR yet … let’s do something! Any action is better That was the advice from Rocket Lab than standing still! However, as a savvy strategist founder Peter Beck in September, you understand that movement is not always following his appointment by the Faculty By Suvi Nenonen progress. In fact, tremendous amounts of of Engineering as an adjunct professor in Strategy time, money and energy are wasted every year aerospace engineering. The appointment is when organisations implement ‘improvements’ recognition of his outstanding contributions that do not improve anything other than the to aerospace, entrepreneurship and Fight your biases project owner’s personal key performance technical innovation. We are all prone to cognitive biases. indicators. Sometimes doing nothing can be the Described by Dean of Engineering 1 As a strategist, you need to be keenly best strategy. Professor Nic Smith as a “unique talent” with aware of your biases and fight them at every “an ability to do the extraordinary”, Peter turn. Was that a genuinely reliable fact or Change the rules of the game has an association with the University that did you just fall victim to a confirmation bias, Most strategy textbooks follow the dates back to the early part of his career embracing information that corroborates your 6 same basic formula: (1) analyse your working for Industrial Research Limited and existing beliefs while shunning facts that would environment and (2) create a strategy where then more recently working on structures for require you to rethink your world view? Is it you take advantage of the current lay of the “We’re eager to build New Zealand’s Rocket Lab. Having left school at 17 to take really a good idea to continue with that project land. But what to do if the current lay of the Space awareness: capabilities and we want to be the flagship that up an apprenticeship rather than study, Peter or are you a walking example of ‘sunk cost land is clearly out of whack – killing our planet Catherine Qualtrough, John Cater, Richard Easther brings that expertise together,” says Catherine says it was “truly a great honour” to become fallacy’, not wanting to accept that historical or leaving millions impoverished? As George and Tristan O’Hanlon, the Qualtrough, Research Operations Co-ordinator. an adjunct professor. investments are not necessarily any indication of Bernard Shaw quipped: “The reasonable man undergraduate co-ordinator Work is also well under way on projects “The University is always a go-to place if future success? adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable for APSS. In front: Nick funded primarily by MBIE and the Science we have particular questions,” he says. The one persists in trying to adapt the world to Rattenbury and Jim Hefkey. for Technological Innovation National Science next challenge is to recover the company’s Don’t use the same approach himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the

Challenge (SfTI) that target leading-edge Stage One Electron rockets for reuse through unreasonable man.” Sometimes it is possible Below: The CubeSat 2 every time challenges have opened technology developments, in collaboration with a narrow re-entry corridor. “We’ll enjoy Professor In strategy, it is horses for courses. to craft truly genius strategies by being such an up new channels of research partners in Australia, Germany and working with the University on this problem.” Suvi Nenonen The right strategic approach is largely unreasonable (wo)man. communication. the US. Led by aerospace engineer Dr John Peter says space has never been has seven tips determined by your wider context. If your Cater from the Faculty of Engineering and more accessible and he encourages environment is relatively predictable, then go Don’t go it alone astrophysicist Dr Nick Rattenbury from the everyone to “take the currency that New for devising ahead and use your analytical skills to figure out 7 The popular press loves stories of Faculty of Science, investigators are looking Zealand has with launch” and leverage better strategies the best course of action. But if your context heroic leaders who single-handedly into the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar to those opportunities into some of the big in business that is highly unpredictable, action trumps analysis. save the day, the organisation or even the potentially monitor New Zealand’s Exclusive international programmes. Uncertain situations, peppered with unknowns, world. However, it is much more likely that you Economic Zone from space. They’re also working “Crazy ideas are really only crazy ideas can translate call for constant experimentation and the ability will come up with a winning strategy if you on developing electric propulsion systems for until you pull them off.” well into to learn from these experiments. collaborate with others. It is also quite likely miniature satellites and the use of light-metals that you will need the help of others – your Below: Peter Beck, left, and Dean of Engineering everyday life. technology to cost-effectively recover samples Professor Nic Smith. Separate actions from objectives colleagues, customers, suppliers, friends and/or from satellites to enable more space science. The most common way to go family – to turn your strategy into reality. The Two longer-term goals involve looking for life 3 astray in strategy work is to mistake ideal is to trust them to be part of the strategy in the clouds of Venus and pointing telescopes objectives for strategies. Strategy is not an process in the first place rather than ask them to into outer space. John doesn’t see New Zealand 7objective. Strategy is a set of cohesive actions implement a strategy they were not allowed to be launching a rocket to Mars in the next five years. to achieve that objective. So, the next time part of creating and therefore don’t believe in. “But we might be able to make an instrument someone presents an objective masquerading as that somebody pays us hundreds of millions of a strategy such as ‘our strategy is to grow’, feel dollars for that makes it to Mars.” free to speak out. Life is too short for ‘strategies’ For Nick, the ultimate goal is New Zealand’s that don’t even have the basics right! first space telescope. “That’s what I want to do, to do astronomy. But to get there, I have to go Question your objectives through a whole bunch of engineering first. I Even though objectives are not hope I get it done before my career ends.” ■ 4 strategies, you should pay special attention to your objectives and constructively question them from time to time. So, for example, you might want to consider if the best Auckland Space Institute: space.auckland.ac.nz objective for your company is to aim for more Professor Suvi Nenonen is Auckland Programme for Space Systems: Director of the Graduate revenue or whether a better objective might be apss.space.auckland.ac.nz School of Management at to improve customer satisfaction. Or should you the Business School. finally launch that new product or service?

30 | Ingenio magazine ingenio.auckland.ac.nz | 31 Research Human Lab at Auckland Bioengineering (33.7 per 100,000) and the rate among Māori is Feeling the groove Institute. He is now working on an improved AIMING TO KILL worse (95.2 per 100,000). version. The MuSS-Bits gadget is worn like a About a quarter of patients develop a Device for hearing impaired watch and has been trialled by Hamilton woman THE PAIN severe form that can cause organ failure, and recognised at Design Awards. Suranga Nanayakkara and Marama Bowler, who lost her hearing three Treatment for excruciating affliction the risk of death in these patients is as high (below) the revolutionary years ago. It vibrates the beat of the music. as 50 percent. “In the past few years, I have wearable device called wearable device developed by “It is honestly life changing,” says Marama. of the pancreas one step closer. been investigating the reasons some patients MuSS-Bits. researchers at the University, which “Suranga asked me to choose a song on develop organ failure,” says Jiwon. “New drug allows the hearing-impaired to feel YouTube. The first song that came into my head r Jiwon Hong, a Hugo Charitable treatments are desperately needed.” music, won gold in the Student was ‘Uptown Funk’ by Bruno Mars. The minute Trust Research Fellow in the Her study will show whether one or more APublic Good category at the recent Best Design it started its first beat, I started crying. It was like Department of Surgery and the of the three drugs she has identified, which Awards. Juan Pablo Forero Cortés, a former I was fully listening to the song.” School of Biological Sciences, each target a different aspect of inflammation, Silicon Valley engineer doing his masters here, Marama, who has been wearing the device Dhas received funding to test new drugs for a reduces tissue damage and failure in vital has been working on MuSS-Bits (musical for six months, has provided suggestions for the potentially lethal, abdominal disease – acute organs. Jiwon is based in the University’s sensory substitution bits) under the supervision next iteration of MuSS-Bits, including having it pancreatitis. She received a grant from the Surgical and Translational Research of principal investigator Associate Professor accurately inform her of the direction a voice is US-based National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) (STaR) Centre, a multidisciplinary Suranga Nanayakkara in the Augmented coming from or the sound of her dog barking. and that, along with ongoing support from the network of researchers and Suranga, who was the University’s Hugo Charitable Trust, allows her to carry out surgeons focused on the first appointee under the Government’s world-first, lab-based testing of three new drugs development of new Entrepreneurial Universities programme, says she has already identified in promising pilot treatments. It’s a time when the team hopes to have another prototype studies. If results are positive, the next step will diseases requiring surgical ready early next year that includes Marama’s be clinical trials in patients. treatment, which include suggested features. He has been working on Acute pancreatitis is a very painful many cancers, account improvements to the device since he first inflammation of the pancreas for which no for almost a third of came up with the idea while at the Singapore specific treatment exists. It comes on suddenly the global disease University of Technology and Design. His and affects about 2,800 New Zealand adults and burden. Results Right: Dr Jiwon Hong, a Auckland Human Lab has a team of 25 from Hugo Charitable Trust is more common in the middle-aged and elderly. from the drug study nine countries working on assistive technology Research Fellow trying to The incidence rate (58.4 per 100,000 people are expected in projects that make an impact in the community. ease people’s pain. each year) is higher than the global incidence late 2020.

in landfill won the social entrepreneurship Health Board held seven hui with kaumātua MAGGOT FARM category of the University’s Velocity challenge STUDY INTO around the country and interviewed 250 people, in 2016. Since then, Hexacycle has received eight of them living with dementia, to find out CLEANING UP support from Velocity to up-scale, taking it from MĀORI DEMENTIA what they knew about the disease and what a prototype fly hatchery in Neil’s backyard to particular challenges they faced. Student’s pilot plant in India India’s first black soldier fly treatment plant. Cultural identity is key to helping Lead author Dr Margaret Dudley, from the reduces food waste in landfills. The treatment plant is in the south-western Māori with dementia. University of Auckland’s School of Psychology, coastal state of Kerala, with plans to introduce says the research was designed to understand treatment plant in India is the first the system to other waste-processing plants in he largest-ever study of Māori dementia (mate wareware) from a Māori place to use a Kiwi innovation that developing countries. The plant processes 200kg affected by dementia has found the perspective, including how whānau were coping uses maggots to process waste into of food waste a day, from local restaurants. disease is poorly understood and with loved ones affected by the disease. fertiliser and chicken feed. “Our pilot plant is entirely sustainable and that whānau do not know how to She says the study found the caregiver Technician B. H. Srikanth Dr Margaret Dudley says Hexacycle is the brainchild of PhD student zero-waste,” says Neil. “The larvae are ground access information that might help. burden can be greater in Māori communities and Neil Birrell inspect A the study found wairua is T larvae at the plant in Kerala, Neil Birrell, an entomologist in the Faculty into a high-protein poultry feed for the chickens important in helping people Researchers from the universities of Auckland, and knowledge of the disease is poor, with a India. The larvae process of Science. His idea to use the larvae from on-site, and the excrement processed into frass, cope with dementia. Waikato and AUT and the Auckland District widespread belief that everyone gets dementia 200kg of food waste a day. the black soldier fly to reduce organic waste a type of organic fertiliser.” eventually. The study also found that wairua, or Neil set up the plant in India after chatting spiritual wellbeing, was a key factor in helping to a taxi driver on Waiheke Island. “It turned those affected by dementia – and their whānau out he owned an import/export business and and communities – cope. a plantation in Kerala and had a cousin who “Participation in cultural activities, especially owned a large poultry farm,” says Neil. “Six on the marae, seemed to really help people with months later, I was on my way to India.” mate wareware and lifted what they called the The taxi driver helped Hexacycle navigate the ‘cloudiness’ associated with it,” says Margaret. language barriers. The initiative now has two Care services therefore needed to be co-founders in New Zealand, who mostly work culturally appropriate, with cultural identity a on the venture in the evenings. Three employees key component of management and treatment. in Kerala have been trained on rearing the The researchers are developing a tool that will black soldier fly larvae and processing the waste. more accurately diagnose dementia for Māori. Read the full story: tinyurl.com/MaggotFarm Full story tinyurl.com/MargaretDudleyDementiaStudy

32 | Ingenio magazine ingenio.auckland.ac.nz | 33 Taking Issue UNRELIABLE MECHANISM CHANCE TO PARTNER BETTER SAFEGUARDING THE FOR POLICY ISSUES WITH MĀORI YOUNG AND VULNERABLE Dr Matheson Russell Dr Lara Greaves Professor Benedikt Fischer

eceived wisdom treats referenda as the he process may not be perfect, but bout a quarter of our population is under gold standard in democratic decision- this may be our only chance for a 18, so parents need to be well informed making. But this piece of received generation to change a discriminatory about the implications for and against wisdom is dubious. Referenda are not law. While we don’t know the exact cannabis legalisation. Ra reliable mechanism for resolving complex and Twording of the legislation we will vote on, we AMost cannabis use occurs in those aged 15-29. contentious policy questions (witness Brexit) and, know that the current prohibition arrangement More than half have tried it and as many as a despite what is often claimed, they don’t tell us disproportionately impacts Māori. Māori are third may be active users. People don’t want to see much about ‘the will of the people’. only slightly more likely to use cannabis than youngsters experience cannabis-related harm, so For example, many people won’t have strong others – but are considerably more likely to parents may be hesitant to support policy changes views about the pros and cons of legalising face prosecution. that – even subjectively – suggest any increase in personal cannabis use. Yet the 2020 referendum Given efforts in the eradication of cannabis risk. But it is erroneous to think that the referendum will elicit from us a preference, tentative though crops, particularly in the economically deprived is a vote for, or against, the availability and use of it may be, and will weigh our preference the regional expanses of Northland and the East cannabis. Cannabis is already widely available and same as everyone else’s. Even if we do have Coast, it is Māori who appear to be taking the risk used, albeit illegally. Rather, the referendum is about firm views about the issue, chances are these growing the cannabis that students pass around whether to bring illegal cannabis use and supply into views will not have been formed on the basis their Grey Lynn flat with little fear. a realm of legality, with overarching public health of an independent assessment of the relevant Legalisation of cannabis goals to regulate key details, to keep those who use it evidence and arguments, but by relying on presents an opportunity to safer and so to protect young people’s wellbeing. shortcuts. We will have followed the lead of partner with Māori and While cannabis use results in less severe health trusted voices in our social networks or made those with, shall we say, the harm overall than alcohol or tobacco, it comes judgments based on fragmentary information or necessary horticultural skills. with risks such as cognitive or mental impairment, misinformation picked up through the media. “Resist the These people also have injury or death from cannabis-impaired driving, For the few who do the hard work to develop existing networks and a educational attainment problems and dependence. an informed view on the issue, the referendum temptation to customer base, and despite But science has demonstrated consistently that these will misrepresent our views by forcing us to cannabis being illegal, are are largely limited to those who begin cannabis use express a yes/no response to a predetermined treat the cannabis earning an income. early in life, use intensively (daily) as well as consume proposal. A moment’s scrutiny and the aura referendum as a It is those same people high-potency (high-THC) cannabis products. of unquestionable democratic authority and their families who stand Today’s cannabis products are unregulated and of surrounding referenda vanishes. divine oracle.” to lose out if cannabis is uncertain properties. Most procurement involves an There are more promising democratic legalised. Part of building illegal transaction from questionable sources and no processes that can be used if legislators require equity into cannabis law teacher or health professional can legally give advice a more solid democratic mandate. In 2016, the reform will involve bringing on how to use cannabis more safely. Furthermore, Irish government commissioned 99 ordinary in those operating outside prohibition’s consequences mean any young person – citizens, broadly representative of the diverse the current law, to a place but especially the socio-economically marginalised – What do we need Irish population, to consider the contentious issue where they are able to operate effectively within it. may become entangled in the criminal justice system of abortion law reform. This Citizens’ Assembly The Helen Clark Foundation proposed expunging as a result of cannabis use, bringing potentially more interviewed experts, heard first-hand testimony, cannabis convictions so people can work in the harm to their life than having a joint. to think about as weighed medical, moral and legal considerations, legal market. But how will they access the resources Extensive work is required to appropriately deliberated together and finally drafted a set of necessary for licensing and compete with well- communicate the rationale and reasons of any recommendations. Irish citizens were able to see funded start-ups? If commercial licences are cannabis legalisation plan. While legalisation we approach the people like themselves conscientiously working restricted in number, then one way to partner with continues to be an informed ‘social experiment’, through a matter of complexity and gravity. Māori would be reserved licences. The flow-on we can reasonably expect improved safeguarding Politicians were impressed by the rigour of the effects could allow for kaupapa Māori education of vulnerable young people through a legal, process and the quality of the recommendations. around cannabis use. limited cannabis supply regulated for availability Ultimately, the Citizens’ Assembly was Ultimately, the process has not been perfect, but and potency, fact-based cannabis education instrumental in moving Ireland forward on if cannabis isn’t legalised in 2020, it is likely that including safer use advice, and removal of arbitrary a deadlocked issue, and abortion laws were these inequalities will continue. We are now stuck criminalisation practices. Legalisation mutes the successfully liberalised through a constitutional in cycles of successive Labour or National-led powers of law enforcement on what is really a 2020 amendment in 2018. governments. Labour will not have the mandate to health and education issue, however the proposed CANNABIS As we head to the polls, we should resist the legalise cannabis if the referendum fails this cycle, age limit of 20 for use means many young users will temptation to treat the cannabis referendum as and it’s unlikely that the next National government be excluded from its prospective benefits. ‘Home- a divine oracle. Take a moment to imagine how would take the lead on legalising recreational cultivation’ of cannabis is a misguided concept in a REFERENDUM? new modes of democratic participation could cannabis. In the meantime, there’s likely to be ‘public health’ framework. Cannabis production does both improve the quality of political decision- a trickle of liberalisation until we eventually get not belong in people’s – and especially non-users’ – making and deepen our democracy. there, all while thousands face prosecution. living environments. The writers’ views reflect personal opinions and Dr Matheson Russell is a senior lecturer in Philosophy who Dr Lara Greaves (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kuri) is a lecturer in Politics and Professor Benedikt Fischer is the Hugh Green Foundation may not be those of the University of Auckland. specialises in social and political philosophy, Faculty of Arts. International Relations, specialising in NZ Politics, Faculty of Arts. Chair in Addiction Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

34 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 35 40 under 40 Golden Grads Once a year we meet a new batch of 40 alumni under the age of 40 who are making Pania their mark on the world. Here are just three of those who’ve impressed. BEST OF TIMES Newton n 24 October, about 360 special alumni – the Golden Grads – Soon he was working on complex projects attended a special lunch in which Sjoerd van Ballegooy such as bridge and tunnel design and slope Photo: NZ Herald/ they reminisced and kept up their stability, all of which involved an element Michael Craig Onetworking. Each year, the University recognises hen Sjoerd van Ballegooy was a of earthquake engineering. He became an this group of alumni who either graduated second-year engineering student, expert in liquefaction when the Canterbury 50 years ago or have turned 70. he was offered a summer holiday earthquakes struck in 2010-11 and 900,000 nyone following the recent occupation of Ihumātao will know One such guest was Dr Gordon Nicholls, research project. It involved tonnes of liquefaction – 45,000 truckloads – the name Pania Newton (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Waikato, (BSc, 1946; PhD in Chemistry 1949; Doctor of Wlooking into improving the measurement of water devastated the region. Sjoerd was one of the Ngāti Mahuta). She was the voice of calm interviewed by Science, 1985). Gordon, 93, was the oldest in outflow from WaterCare’s Cosseys Creek dam first geotechnical specialists there and later media as the spokesperson for the SOUL (Save Our Unique the room, but wasn’t letting that hold him back. spillway. Sjoerd became fascinated by the water advised government agencies on how to rebuild. ALandscape) campaign. “But I did have a bit of trouble finding a car resources aspect of civil engineering and in his He also oversaw the development of the Pania, with her cousins, created SOUL four years ago, to protect and park,” the active alumnus said. final undergrad year, he decided to concentrate Canterbury Geotechnical Database system – an preserve the land at Ihumātao. Her quest began after the discovery of Asked what he does in his retirement, he on water resources engineering. He graduated online portal that geotechnical engineers use to survey pegs on the historic ancestral land on the shores of the Manukau laughed. “I still work! I’m writing.” with first-class honours, which led to his PhD. share information. The database is now used by Harbour, where Pania had grown up. She was thrust into the national Gordon was recently inducted into the Paper He joined environmental and engineering engineers and geologists countrywide. Sjoerd spotlight when thousands of protectors occupied the land, wanting the Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, consultants Tonkin + Taylor, and fate intervened. used what he learned in the Canterbury and Government to buy it back from developers. The battle has seen her plans Wisconsin, the first New Zealander to be “I was supposed to go into their water resources/ 2016 Kaikoura quakes to help improve resilience to join a law practice put on hold but Pania’s actions have been consistent recognised. He had worked at the Institute of dams group, but on the day I started I was in other earthquake-prone areas around the with her belief in the importance of being a good kaitiaki (guardian). Paper Chemistry in Appleton in the 1960s and ‘temporarily’ placed in the geotechnical group. world. In 2013, he was awarded the Queen’s “Given the cultural significance of this land and its unique history, it was 70s. A former student picked up his plaque for Initially, it was tough being in an area I’d not Service Order, Honorary Companion for his my responsibility to fight for its preservation.” him and sent it to New Zealand. studied, but after a while I learnt the ropes.” services to geotechnical science. From an early age, Pania was interested in the idea of justice. She The Golden Grads lunch, held in the Great wrote a letter to herself when she was nine, declaring she would become Room at the Cordis hotel, featured speeches a lawyer. Hard work saw her gain a Vice-Chancellor’s scholarship in her from former Vice-Chancellor Sir Colin Maiden final year of high school at Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae in Mangere. and current Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon eina Va’ai’s family moved here them they probably wouldn’t hire me, given the She enrolled in a conjoint Bachelor of Law and Health Sciences degree as well as a keynote speech by Dean of from Samoa in 1993, when she was calibre of applicants they had. and graduated in 2015. At the same time, she was completing a bachelors Engineering Professor Nic Smith. Reina three, after a cyclone wiped out “I told them my weaknesses and pointed out degree in Tikanga Māori and Social Sciences for Public Health. Pania also An after-lunch performance by soprano their home. The family of six slept I wasn’t a top student. I don’t think they knew gained several other qualifications during her time at the University, from Dr Morag Atchison delighted the crowd. Va’ai Ron the floor of one room in the early days when what to make of me.” Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in the money was tight. But Reina worked hard and She was hired. It was while working for Judge fields of Maori Food Sovereignty Practices and Performing Arts. See photo gallery at tinyurl.com/GoldenGradsLunch won a scholarship and was accepted into first- Moala she started blogging about successful Pania says her time at the University came with challenges as well as year law. “I knew how lucky I was to have this Pacific women. That led to a call from the opportunities. opportunity. My goal was to help others and producer of Tagata Pasifika, Ngaire Fuata, who “Coming from a small school, I initially found university quite isolating. going into law felt like my calling after an offered her a role as a reporter. But I soon developed a good group of supportive friends and began to get experience in my final year at school. But her days as a lawyer weren’t over. “I never involved in various sporting groups and clubs as well as student politics. “We had visited the Otara Community considered it was possible to have two careers Those political groups changed my view of the world and opened my Law Centre and a cleaner came in. Her simultaneously. But my boss, Lynn Hughes, the mind to many of the injustices faced in Aotearoa, which greatly influenced job had just been terminated at short Public Defender for South Auckland, taught me my future pathway.” notice simply because she’d brought you don’t have to fit in a box … she believed in Pania, who says she is committed to her advocacy and her role as her daughter to work as she’d been my ability to work in two very different careers.” kaitiaki, holds a number of board and trustee positions on groups unable to find a babysitter. The Reina has worked on Tagata Pasifikaat the that empower communities to lead healthy lifestyles and contribute to experience made me realise how same time as being a lawyer for two years. She wellbeing. vulnerable many people are when has also written a children’s book, The Inventor, As well as being involved in the campaign to protect Ihumātao, Pania is they are unaware of their rights.” and directed her first documentary as part an active member of the youth arm of Matike Mai Aotearoa Rangatahi, A chance to work for Judge of the Daughters of the Migration series on the Independent Working Group on Constitutional Transformation led by Soana Moala proved a turning Black Ferns captain and police detective Moana Jackson and Professor Margaret Mutu. point. “Before my interview, I Fiao’o Fa’amausili. She has also enrolled in a wasn’t even looking to practise two-year programme at Cambridge, researching law. My interests had switched to the impact of the criminal justice system on journalism, but I applied anyway Pacific people. All this has happened before because it was a chance to work Reina has turned 30. Read the full 40 Under 40 stories online for an incredible Pacific woman “I think my superpower is my ability to deal These are excerpts of stories about these three alumni. The full stories for all 40 Under Dr Gordon Nicholls: At 93, he was oldest to attend the whom I greatly admired. with rejection,” she says. “I just don’t allow it to 40 achievers can be read at tinyurl.com/Auckland40Under40 Golden Grads annual lunch. “During the interview I told upset or deter me.” Alumni wishing to submit nominations for next year’s list can do so there.

36 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 37 JANE MCGUIRE KETCHUM HONG KONG

A Bachelor of Arts can take you many maybe those business papers – landed her a places – just ask Jane McGuire Ketchum. job as a financial editor in the equity research Jane is a Hong Kong-based director and department of an investment company. That regional editor for one of Japan’s biggest led to her current job delivering analysis and financial companies, Daiwa Capital Markets. She content for fund managers. It’s a demanding admits it’s one of the most unlikely careers for an field, but one in which she thrives. arts major, but it’s thanks to the grounding she “The rise of digital technology has led got at the University of Auckland. to clients expecting to receive tailor-made, “I credit my arts degree with giving me the commercially viable research instantly and often AROUND THE GLOBE confidence and skills to take on a number of on different platforms.” different and interesting jobs. That’s the beauty She lives with her husband, whom she met of a BA, it prepares you for anything!” in Hong Kong, children and two dogs, on the Ingenio catches up with three alumni living overseas and finds out “Few people Jane majored in Japanese in the early 1980s, outskirts of Hong Kong. and even then it was an unusual choice. There “Our house is surrounded by country parks, what they are up to and where. By Wendy Colville. realise were just eight in her final year Japanese class. rolling hills and beaches – not a picture many that about “At the time, Japan was New Zealand’s largest would conjure up when thinking of Hong trading partner and my parents encouraged me Kong! Actually, few people realise that about 75 percent of to pick up the language because they thought it 75 percent of Hong Kong comprises country Hong Kong offered a promising career path.” parks and rural areas.” Hedging her bets, she added some business Looking back, she says she could never have JENNY HARLEN SWEDEN AND MYANMAR is parks and and economics papers to her degree. imagined where that arts degree would take her. rural areas.” After teaching English in Japan, and doing a “I feel fortunate to have a job I enjoy and still “Learning not to let fear get in the way Jenny says she fell into a business degree at the variety of jobs around the world, Jane returned find challenging, and that allows me to live in of anything. Always choosing what feels University of Auckland. “Straight from school, to Japan in 1992. Her fluent Japanese – and one of the most dynamic cities in the world.” right, rather than what other people think and without any clear career goals, I just saw it is right. Never choosing the path of most as a way of being able to support myself in the money, but always the path of the most future – somehow.” interesting challenge.” But the future had to wait. For five years after These are Jenny Harlen’s life lessons. The girl graduation she backpacked around the world. ‘Myanmar from Raumati Beach today runs sustainability There were a few odd jobs and when she met her businesses in both Sweden and, lately, Scandinavian partner, they moved to Sweden. is one of the Myanmar. It’s a place with challenges in spades. She found her passion 11 years ago in creating countries “Myanmar’s a country where more or less Bokashi Sweden. Getting the business to the PETER MATTHEWS JAPAN nothing works, a political disaster, but the point where it’s turning over a million euros that will bear people are the nicest you could meet anywhere.” annually has been a hard slog, but Jenny runs it Tracing the path of taro around the world so to speak. Not any predefined ‘career path’. the brunt Jenny’s businesses focus on making a now as an online business. That freed her up to has taken Peter Matthews on his own epic The concept of planning a career in advance difference with Bokashi – a composting method focus on “saving soils” in a new place. journey. Peter is a professor, researcher always seemed very strange to me.” of climate that uses a fermenting agent to speed the “Myanmar is one of the countries that will and curator at the National Museum He’s never become fluent in Japanese, but his change.’ process and can be done anywhere, in a bucket. bear the brunt of climate change,” she says. “It of Ethnology, Japan (Minpaku) and his work is published in English, his wife is Japanese, is very real here, made all the more tragic by the work on taro is a way to examine the and his colleagues are multilingual. lack of basically any infrastructure.” human journey. He and his wife and son live in an apartment She says everything is a challenge. “Language, “The essential question that guides me is ‘how on the boundary of Kyoto City that borders culture, educational backgrounds, the works. I can we see the past?’” he says. some farmland and they enjoy growing live in hostel dorms, sleep on bamboo mats in Taro is an ancient crop not just used by vegetables in a community garden. He our staff houses, and sometimes end up house- Polynesians. It has also been a staple in Asia and continues to examine the complex cultural and sitting in fancy lakeside houses and apartments Africa for thousands of years. evolutionary history of taro, and his work throws with pools. A lot of contrasts!” Peter’s first degree was a BSc at the University up the big questions. It’s been a 30 year-plus learning curve, but “Fortunately, of Auckland. But an archaeology field trip “Seeing the past can be fun, scary and useful. a rewarding one. Her advice is to learn the forests can sparked his interest in social sciences. He began The past is also unfathomable, but I am glad elements of business early on, and set your an MSc on the study of plants and animals that the metaphorical ocean is deep. Forests goals. “Having done that, let it all go and do regenerate. as tracers of human migration. With a PhD can also be deep, but they are too easily cut and what you think makes sense. Because then, one The living scholarship in Australia, he focused on taro. burned. Fortunately, they can also regenerate. day, you can look back and see that it really does Looking back, he is a great believer in keeping “The living world is powerful. I am make sense and that you have lived your life in world is your options open. a pessimistic optimist in the face of the way you were always meant to.” powerful.” “I was cutting my own path through the forest, climate change.”

38 | Ingenio magazine auckland.ac.nz/ingenio | 39 Connection Points Connection Points

Facebook: UoAAlumni Linkedin: Auckland University Alumni and Friends Twitter: @AucklandAlumni Instagram: @AucklandAlumni

from New Zealand, Australia and the US have Book bonanza helped with logistics and transport. “Tongans know that enhancing their English he University’s inaugural Volunteer skills can bring better futures, but for many, Sam Lucas on the ground helping educate Malagasay Impact Week (VIW) in June saw books are unaffordable,” says Cynthia. “Working students in Mahanoro. about 500 people participate in many together we are all changing this.” voluntary events. One of those was Alumni Relations Manager Joel Terwilliger Tdonating to the Books4Tonga charity, and the says he was blown away by the book drive, books are now sitting on library shelves in Tonga and the whole VIW initiative. “It’s amazing being explored by readers of all ages. how when people collectively take action on “Having spent a lot of time in the developing Stacks: Children in Tonga RINON’S Thanks to the generous donation of about issues they care about, the impact we can have. world over the past five years, I have been have plenty of books to 7,000 books from the University of Auckland Books4Tonga is a good example of how we can choose from after Good inspired by the incredible commitment displayed STORY community, Books4Tonga has now established its change a corner of the world pretty easily. It gives Volunteer Impact Week. by the students I work with,” he says. “It really first libraries in a number of villages. Volunteers us real impetus to try more events next year.” concerned me that few, if any, would ever be were involved in donating, collecting, packing Onja, Sam able to attend higher education or find well-paid My parents are farmers and and shipping off the boxes. Sam Lucas featured in the University’s 40 employment. Knowing that such brilliant minds I’m one of four children. I Teaching Fellow and Books4Tonga board Under 40 in 2018. Alumnus and journalist would easily find work in developed countries, I would help my mother every member Sione Taufa and Group Services team spotted an opportunity to connect the two.” weekend to take goods to leader Herena Newall at the Business School Andrew Patterson was inspired by Sam’s In exchange for receiving a two-year education, the market to earn money managed the collection site there as part of the project in Madagascar, so paid him a visit. the students agree to work for an outsourcing to pay our school fees. In University-wide book drive. “It was just informal venture after they graduate. Profits generated by Madagascar, parents are networking initially, asking a few people on our ow does a 29-year-old engineering this venture are fed back into funding the school expected to contribute floor and around the building if they had books graduate with a major in to educate more students. towards their children’s to spare, but we were amazed at the response,” mechatronics end up in a remote Establishing Onja hasn’t been easy. There’s education. While I was at Herena says. part of Madagascar, teaching fundraising, the isolated location, being high school, our principal When other sites popped up at other faculties, HEnglish and computer coding? responsible for 26 young boarders, and ensuring asked us to set a goal. Mine the donations grew dramatically. While Sam Lucas was in Ghana in 2009, the ongoing sustainability of the project. was to become a computer Founder of Books4Tonga Cynthia Wallis teaching English and maths as a volunteer, “It takes unrelenting commitment and belief engineer even though I Barnicoat says some of the planned 20 village he was struck by the wasted talent among his and a hardworking, trusting team,” Sam says. knew my family didn’t have libraries are now up and running, including one students. He returned to New Zealand in 2015 “But I know I’m helping these students develop the money. I received my in an old store in Nukunuku, on the main island and, despite never having visited Madagascar, skills that will significantly impact their futures.” Baccalaureate qualification, Tongatapu, and one in the storeroom of a hall he founded Onja (a Malagasy word meaning After a month living in Mahanoro, I grew but university was out of in Ahau. Local schoolchildren helped stack the ‘waves’) using his savings and money raised by to love the laidback lifestyle, listening to waves the question, so I started shelves and a number of businesses and agencies friends and family. crashing on the beach, and the simplicity of a working as a teacher to earn I wanted to experience the project first-hand, diet of rice, beans and tropical fresh fruit. I also a small amount of money. so in May I headed to Madagascar. After 36 had perfect mobile connectivity, for far less than One day I was invited to hours’ flying, I touched down in Antananarivo, we pay in New Zealand. It’s an example of how sit an exam to be part of Madagascar’s bustling, chaotic capital, and technology can drive change in even the world’s Onja. I was so happy when I UPDATE YOUR DETAILS then endured a bone-shaking seven-hour car poorest countries. received the call to say I had trip, before arriving in the small coastal town of Sam’s commitment to Onja is the same as that been accepted. I am now TO BE IN TO WIN! Mahanoro where Onja is based. required of a start-up entrepreneur. studying hard to become the Sam introduced me to his 26 students and “We have developed a proven model that computer engineer I always We’d love to keep you informed about all the alumni news and small team of volunteer teachers and staff. will be able to expand to other countries in the dreamed about. activities in your area. But to do that we need your up-to-date contact The students, aged 17 to 22, had been selected future,” he says. “While there are an endless details. Then you’ll be the first to receive invitations to official from thousands who applied, so represent some number of challenges, including being separated receptions, exclusive networking events and opportunities to connect, of Madagascar’s best and brightest. Despite from friends and family, right now I couldn’t no matter where you are in the world. learning English for less than six months, their imagine doing anything else.” basic fluency was already apparent. Many rose Update your details at alumni.auckland.ac.nz/update and if you do at 4am to put in extra study ahead of their Onja’s work helps those like Rinon (right). Sam needs it by 31 December 2019, you’ll go into the draw to win one of three 7am classes. It’s that kind of determination that volunteers to teach coding at Onja in 2020. pairs of Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones! motivated Sam to establish Onja. Contact him at onja.org.

40 | Ingenio magazine Books Females in the Frame: Women, Art, and Crime An earlier work by Colin McCahon alumna Penelope Jackson There Is Only One (Art History), Art Thieves, CITY OF Direction 1919-1959 Fakers & Fraudsters: The New Dr Peter Simpson is Zealand Story entered the a former associate world of art crime in New professor of English Zealand. Most of the people at the University and in it were men, so in Females VOLCANOES a Colin McCahon in the Frame: Women, Art, and Crime, Penelope tells Here’s a perfect guide to take with you if you’re exploring Auckland’s volcanoes. expert. This is the fascinating stories of women involved in art volume one of a crimes all over the world. two-volume work Penelope Jackson, Palgrave Macmillan, RRP $45 chronicling 45 years of McCahon painting. It WIN: COLIN MCCAHON t’s been eight years since Bruce Hayward’s squeezed out of the vent by the last build-up of has about 300 illustrations and reproductions of Dragonflies & last handy field guide to Auckland’s gas pressure beneath it – this forms the small hill Email your details to Ingenio@ McCahon’s work. Damselflies of NZ auckland.ac.nz by 27 January volcanoes. Since then, science has made in the middle of the crater. Peter Simpson, AUP, RRP $75 New Zealand has 14 species with Colin McCahon in the subject exploring volcanoes even more exciting. “It’s also the best volcano for seeing volcanic of dragonflies and line. (One to give away.) IBruce is an honorary research associate in the bombs inside the crater. The bombs were globs Mophead damselflies and this book is School of Environment, but is semi-retired. of molten lava thrown out by the force of the This self-illustrated a guide. Photos by wildlife WIN: MOPHEAD His new book, Volcanoes of Auckland: A Field gas that escaped from around the base of the memoir by Dr Selina photographer Mike Ashbee. Email your details to Ingenio@ Guide, is a revamp of the earlier Essential Guide. plug as it was squeezed out of the volcano’s Tusitala Marsh, associate Milen Marinov and Mike auckland.ac.nz by 27 January About three quarters of the more than 400 throat in the last phase of eruption.” professor in Arts, tells Ashbee, AUP, RRP $49.99 with Mophead in the subject line. photos, maps and diagrams are new. There’s a Bruce hopes his book will be very useful for the story of a 10-year- (Two to give away.) set of maps for each volcano, showing where all teachers and schoolchildren. “It will help them old teased for her frizzy #NoFly: Walking the Talk on things of geological, historic, archaeological and better understand how volcanoes were formed, hair that led to her Climate Change recreational interest can be seen during a visit. how they’ve been modified and damaged, where playground nickname of Award-winning University “It includes pages on the three additional they all are, what they look like now and what ‘mophead’. of Auckland Professor volcanoes recognised by me since the last book they can see if they go out to explore them.” Selina Tusitala Marsh, AUP, RRP $24.99 of Physics Shaun Hendy was published – Boggust Crater, Cemetery The book has aerial photos of each volcano avoided flying for a year. Crater and Puhinui Craters,” says Bruce. or its site by nature photographer Alastair The Chinese Dream: Educating the Future The frequent traveller The area of greatest advance is new Jamieson – who has a Masters in Geography WIN: A copy of Volcanoes This collection is based on a series of articles took trains and buses in his information on the ages of each volcano from from Auckland. It also features old black and of Auckland: A Field Guide. written by Dr Michael Peters, former head of the #NoFly year and reduced studies by the Devora project. Devora stands for white photos and illustrations that show how the Email your details to Faculty of Education and an honorary research his carbon footprint by DEtermining VOlcanic Risk in Auckland and land around Auckland’s volcanoes has changed. [email protected] by 27 January with Volcanoes fellow at Auckland, to explore the concept of the 95 percent. is a multi-agency, transdisciplinary collaborative in subject line. (Two copies to Volcanoes of Auckland: A Field Guide Chinese Dream popularised by President Xi. Shaun Hendy, BWB, $14.99 research programme led by volcanologists at give away.) Aerial photography by Alastair Jamieson Michael A Peters, Routledge Press, $US47 the University of Auckland and GNS Science. Bruce W Hayward, AUP, $49.99 Although Bruce is a geologist, marine ecologist From the Archives and geoheritage conservationist rather than a volcanologist, he records his observations of the volcanoes of northern New Zealand in his own time and is a friend of Devora. A book of hidden depths “Most advances in our understanding of how Auckland’s volcanoes erupt and their ages are At just 26 pages, this slim book Published in 1917 during the First World War derived from the Devora programme. There doesn’t look like a weighty tome, but by British manufacturers Vickers Ltd, handbook are now only about six volcanoes that haven’t it is. It was the ‘Secret & Confidential’ 268 is an instruction manual for an ‘Otter’, a been dated. All erupted between 190,000 years warning on the cover that grabbed device designed to protect merchant ships against ago and 600 years ago. The three oldest are my attention, but the real surprise moored mines. The torpedo-shaped Otters the explosion craters at Northcote-Takapuna came when I picked it up in the were attached to long towing wires which pulled Pupuke, Onepoto and Tank Farm/Tuff Crater. University of Auckland Special Collections. outwards underwater from the sides of a ship, “The youngest is Rangitoto, which erupted The Protection of Merchant Ships Against Moored snagging, deflecting and severing the cables of in two phases only a decade or two apart, Mines weighs 400 grams, making it about four moored mines, safely sending them to the surface. 600 years ago. Suggestions Rangitoto may have times heavier than other books its size. Closer Thousands of Otters were produced during erupted on and off for thousands of years are inspection reveals what feels like lead weighting the war, so there is still a lot more research to do not supported by more recent Devora research.” under its cloth-covered rear board. Its purpose to unravel the full story of this weighted copy of Bruce’s favourite Auckland volcano is became clear when I read the order to ships’ the handbook and how it came to be acquired in Mangere Mountain. captains printed inside: “In the event of probable the mid-1960s. “It is one of the best-preserved and has so capture by the enemy, this book must be thrown many facets to look at and try to understand Enthusiasm eruption: Bruce Hayward talks to school science teachers from New Zealand, Australia and the United States on Rangitoto Island. Top: Mangere Mountain. overboard.” The extra weight would have how the volcano was formed.” It is the only ensured it quickly sunk to the depths. By Jo Birks, Special Collections one with an extruded lava plug that has been

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