ALUMNI PROFILE THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE | Spring 2014 SPARKING CREATIVITY IN NEW YORK NANO GIRL Making science fun CHARTER SCHOOLS Are they working? Ingenio / Spring 2014 / 1 ALUMNI PROFILE 1/3 DEPOSIT 1/3 12 MONTHS 1/3 24 MONTHS^ WHAT’S STOPPING YOU? 2.9% INTEREST + 3 YEARS FREE SERVICING.* If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to buy a brand new Volvo, the wait is over. With payments spread over two years at just 2.9% p.a. and three years free servicing, there’s nothing stopping you. BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE TODAY. 0800 4 VOLVO OR VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.NZ *Non-transferable Service Plan covers all factory scheduled maintenance for the fi rst 3 years or 60,000km, whichever occurs fi rst. ^Offer based on recommended retail purchase price plus on road costs fees and charges including a documentation fee of $375. This offer is not available in conjunction with any other offers and is valid until 31st December 2014 or while stock lasts. 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BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE TODAY. 0800 4 VOLVO OR VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.NZ *Non-transferable Service Plan covers all factory scheduled maintenance for the fi rst 3 years or 60,000km, whichever occurs fi rst. ^Offer based on recommended retail purchase price plus on road costs fees and charges including a documentation fee of $375. This offer is not available in conjunction with any other offers and is valid until 31st December 2014 or while stock lasts. Offer valid for new cars only. 43682 payable by 1/3 deposit, 1/3 in 12 months and the fi nal 1/3 in 24 months with interest calculated at 2.9% p.a. Finance provided by Heartland Bank Limited and subject to normal leading criteria, conditions, For further details please contact your nearest Volvo Dealer. This promotional offer is not available on XC60 D5 AWD Limited Edition. XC70 D5 Kinetic is only eligible for the Service Plan offer at $69,900. # 43682 Volvo Q4 Print Campaign-Ingenio DPS.indd 1 22/10/14 3:12 PM LETTERS ALUMNI PROFILE Contents Ingenio – The University of Auckland Letters 6 alumni magazine 12 News 6 Spring 2014 Features ISSN 1176-211X Creative thinking 8 Editor: Judy Wilford Contributing editors: Helen Borne, Tess Redgrave Making serious science fun 10 Art Direction: Justin Marshall Lest we forget 22 Advertising manager: Don Wilson Proofreading: Treena Brown, Samantha Perry Foreign charters investigated 24 14 Editorial contact details Sir John Hood 26 Ingenio Communications and Marketing A place of safety 28 The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Let’s dance 36 Auckland 1142, New Zealand Level 10, Fisher Building 18 Waterloo Quadrant, Auckland Regular sections Telephone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 83257 Facsimile: +64 9 373 7047 Poem by alumnus 7 26 Email: [email protected] www.auckland.ac.nz/ingenio Opinion: Riley Elliot 12 Audited by www.abc.org.nz Letter from New York 14 How alumni keep in touch To ensure that you continue to receive Ingenio, Academic insights 15 and to subscribe to @auckland, the University’s email newsletter for alumni and Taking issue 16 friends, please update your details at: www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/update Short story competition 18 Alumni Relations Office The University of Auckland Photo gallery 20 28 19A Princes Street, Private Bag 92019 Auckland 1142, New Zealand Alumni calendar 30 Telephone: +64 9 923 4653 Email: [email protected] Alumni achievers 32 www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz Development news 34 Copyright Articles reflect personal opinions and are not Art 37 those of the University of Auckland. No parts of this publication may be reproduced without prior Books, films, recordings 38 consent of the University of Auckland. All rights reserved. ©The University of Auckland 2014 Cover photo Kevin Roberts and Kate Newby at the launch of the University of Auckland's Creative Thinking Research Fund in New York. Ingenio website Photo by Zander Taketomo Check out our website www.ingenio-magazine.com If you’re as happy to read Ingenio online as in print, we’ll stop sending you the magazine and instead you’ll receive an email each time the website is refreshed with the latest Ingenio content. You can search articles, browse by topic, view videos and leave comments on the Ingenio website. Photos: Godfry Boehnke, John McDermott, Sam Hartnett, Zander Taketomo, Sara Aprea EDITORIAL “Among New Zealand tertiary institutions, the University of Auckland is the most highly-ranked international EQual to THE Best research university” I was recently at Melbourne University, one of the top universities in Australia. It has a slightly larger number of students than the University of Auckland, a budget nearly twice ours, and a ranking consistently in the top 50 in the world. Melbourne has, as part of its philanthropic campaign, expressed the belief that “Australia deserves a university equal to the best in the world”. Most people would agree that New Zealand also deserves a world-leading university, but many would do so without asking themselves exactly why. The need to out-do the Aussies doesn’t seem quite enough, though it is a good start! The real reason for being ambitious about the state of our universities is that the growth of any society requires the creation of knowledge, a process we call research; and of course most new ideas into being and creating great top academics and to which the University itself research is conducted by universities or by opportunities for our country. Since that is just contributes significantly. people who come from universities. Research the kind of environment that will keep these • The strongest alumni and philanthropic base universities are therefore unique institutions that people in the University, the ideas they create in New Zealand, and a willingness to defend our need to be valued accordingly. are more likely to remain connected to our autonomy. So, we might ask ourselves, what does it take country, creating long-term benefits for social All these things mean that we have a strong to ensure that New Zealand has and continues and economic development and employment. base on which to stand, and, though it is clear to have a university that is genuinely world Among New Zealand tertiary institutions, the to all of us that much more needs to be done, class? University of Auckland is the most highly-ranked we can be very proud of what the University of The recipe, not surprisingly, is quite simple. international research university, as shown Auckland has achieved in its 130 years. The first essential is top academics. These are once again in the latest QS World University I would like to thank you all for the support the people who create the bold new ideas to Rankings, released in September. you are giving in so many ways to help us change society for the better. Many are home- We are also in the best position to provide maintain and advance our standing as a leading grown but others are attracted from overseas, for New Zealand a top research university. This research university, and to contribute to the contributing to New Zealand’s brain gain. is because we have a number of advantages, welfare of our country. The next imperative is a large number of including: very able students. Research universities should • One-third of the top academic researchers in be constantly challenging the status quo, and the entire country. this is a particular characteristic of the vibrant • The highest student entry standards in the and innovative thinking associated with young country and some of the highest in Australasia. people. • The largest graduate school in New Zealand. Next come the resources that enable these • The most successful research people to do what they do best — to develop commercialisation company (Auckland Professor Stuart McCutcheon and exchange new ideas, to run their research UniServices Ltd) in Australasia. University Vice-Chancellor programmes, and to travel so that they may • The highest degree of connectivity through engage with colleagues in similar leading our international students, collaborators and institutions overseas. networks. The final requirement is a campus • The advantage of being in New Zealand’s environment that encourages these highly- largest, most international and most business- accomplished academics and researchers oriented city, one that has the kind of cultural to communicate and collaborate, bringing environment that is so important for attracting Ingenio / Spring 2014 / 5 Government and institutions show to its citizens enjoyed, and was encouraged by, the interviews LETTERS every day. The University of Auckland amongst with Professor Mänuka Hēnare [and plans to other bodies deserves great credit for developing increase native-forest cover in Te Tai Tokerau] this culture.