No 1 - 30 January 2009 - Communications - University of Canterbury

Chronicle
Volume 44, No. 1 Friday, January 30, 2009
Scientist and entrepreneur awarded honorary doctorates
Two University of Canterbury alumni — one
an internationally renowned radiation
scientist and the other a leading investor and
contributor to technological and scientific
endeavour — will receive honorary doctorates
from their alma mater this year.
Dr Andrew McEwan, former director of the
National Radiation Laboratory (NRL), will
receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree
while an honorary Doctor of Engineering
degree will be conferred on Neville Jordan,
President of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
The doctorates will be conferred during the
University’s April graduation ceremonies.
Dr McEwan, who graduated from Canterbury
University with a BSc (Hons) in 1963 and has
a PhD in medical physics from Cambridge
University (1969) and a Diploma in Health
Administration from Massey University
(1982), has made significant contributions to
radiation physics and radiation safety over the
past 40 years.
After completing his degree at Canterbury
University he took up a position as a scientist
with the NRL, an association that spanned
almost 40 years until his retirement in 2002.
During his time at the NRL, Dr McEwan
served as its director for 13 years from 1984,
was a member of the Radiation Protection
Advisory Council (1984–2002), served on a
sub-committee of the New Zealand Atomic
Committee (1980-86) which reviewed berthing
criteria for nuclear-powered ships, was team
leader of a NRL radiation survey of Christmas
Island in 1981 and was a member of the South
Pacific Scientific Mission to Mururoa Atoll
in 1983.
From 1989 to 1994 he was chairman of an
international scientific advisory panel that
advised the Marshall Islands government on
a nationwide radiological study. From 1996 to
1998 he served as chairman of a task group for
a study of the radiological status of Mururoa
Former director of the National Radiation Laboratory, Dr Andrew McEwan (left) and President of the Royal Society of New Zealand,
Neville Jordan, will receive honorary doctorates from the University of Canterbury in April.
and Fangataufa atolls co-ordinated by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
and in 1999 he was a consultant for the IAEA in
an evaluation of the radiological status of the
former French nuclear test sites in Algeria. He
has also been a member of many IAEA peer
review missions to Asian countries evaluating
radiation protection infrastructures.
From 1997 to 2004 Dr McEwan was a member
of a standing committee of the International
Commission on Radiological Protection and
is a Fellow of the Australasian Radiation
Protection Society (serving as president
2000-2002), and a Fellow of the Royal Society
of New Zealand. He has also helped teach
postgraduate courses in medial physics at
UC and recently wrote a book, Nuclear New
Zealand: Sorting fact from fiction, looking
at the scientific facts about radiation and
its safety.
Mr Jordan graduated from UC with a BE in
electrical engineering in 1967.
After graduating he worked as an air traffic
control engineer for the Department of Civil
Aviation then took up a position with IBM. In
1976 he set up his own telecommunications
company, MAS Technology Ltd, which by 1996
employed 240 staff in 15 offices worldwide. In
1997 MAS Technology became the first, and
remains the only New Zealand private
company to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
Inside your Chronicle
Continued on page 2.
3. UC honours its outstanding teachers.
5. International accolade for UC geologist.
8. Honours for UC academics and alumni.
10. Looking back on 2008.
1

2
Cherry Heremahoe (Here) Wilson (Ngai Tuhoe,
Ngati Porou, Ngati Awa) died in Christchurch
on 14 December, aged 64.
Here had performed as a kaikaranga for
the University of Canterbury for more than
20 years, most recently at the graduation
ceremonies in April 2008. Throughout her long
association with the University Here had been
a mentor and great supporter of many staff
and students.
Here (DipMaorLang, New Zealand Diploma in
Specialist Subjects) was a native speaker of
Chronicle
Next Issue: 20 February 2009
Deadline: 13 February 2009
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Private Bag 4800,
Christchurch.
Cherry Heremahoe (Here) Wilson 1944-2008
Mäori, born among the Ngati Tawhaki hapu
of Ngai Tuhoe at Ruatoki in the Bay of Plenty.
Brought up in the Ringatu faith of her elders,
Here was well versed in tikanga Mäori and
culturally literate in all aspects of her own
world, as well as the wider society in which
she found her home. She provided invaluable
linguistic and cultural support to staff and
students of the University of Canterbury and,
in particular, the Mäori Students Association,
Te Akatoki.
Here was also a member of Te Hepara Pai, the
Anglican Mäori Mission, and had recently been
installed as a lay canon. She was a prominent
figure when the 1998 Hikoi of Hope, a march
for social justice, reached Cathedral Square
in Christchurch, responding to the karanga
from the Cathedral steps. Here had a strong
commitment to issues of equality and was a
truly bicultural citizen.
She was active in sports in her youth and as
a young mother, especially netball. She was
an ardent supporter, and at times a fierce
UC leads the way in teaching supercomputing
The University of Canterbury, the first
institution in the southern hemisphere to
have an IBM Blue Gene supercomputer, is
to become the first tertiary institution
in Australasia to teach high-performance
computing.
Four new courses this year will teach students
how to use the latest technology in parallel
computing and state-of-the-art computing
architectures. Ten scholarships (eight domestic,
two international) funded by the University
and IBM will be available for students taking
the courses.
“This development shows UC to be at the
forefront of high-performance computing in
New Zealand and reflects our recognition that
21st century students need 21st century skills,”
said Professor Tim David, Director of the Centre
In 1999 Mr Jordan founded private equity
company Endeavour Capital Ltd which
provides investment capital to science and
technology companies, and has since gone on
to establish numerous science, engineering
and technology-based companies.
Mr Jordan has served on several ministerial
science and technology committees and
has been on the board of AgResearch (1993-
1998), the Foundation for Research, Science
and Technology (1999-2001) and the Prime
Minister’s Growth and Innovation Advisory
Board (2002-2005). Currently President of the
Royal Society of New Zealand, he was recently
appointed Chair of the National Information
critic of the Silver Ferns, the All Blacks and the
Auckland Warriors.
Whaea Here was a familiar sight at campus
functions and was well known for her stylish
dress sense, and her forthright and honest
relationships. Whether it was correcting a
student’s poor pronunciation, use of the
wrong personal pronoun, or supporting
doctoral students as whanau in the midst of
a viva, for such a tiny figure, Here Wilson had
a larger-than-life presence in the University
culture.
Three University staff — Dr Jeanette King,
Nichole Gully and Dr Jeffrey Paparoa Holman —
were among the funeral party which travelled
north to return Here to her marae, Ngahina, at
Ruatoki.
Haere atu e whae ki te okiokinga o o tupuna, ki
te taha o to ariki, Ihu Karaiti.
Dr Jeanette King
School of Languages Cultures and Linguistics
for Bioengineering, in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering.
“Canterbury will be the only university in the
country to have high-performance computing
in its curriculum.”
The courses will be taught by Paul Walmsley,
an acknowledged expert in the field, and an
adjunct senior fellow at UC.
They will provide students with an
understanding of the different types of
parallel computer architectures that are used
in computational science and engineering
disciplines to solve complex problems.
They will also introduce students to grid
computing, a phenomenon becoming more
widely used in scientific computing.
Scientist and entrepreneur awarded honorary doctorates continued from page 1.
and Communications Technology Australia
(NICTA) Review Panel by the Australian
Government.
He is also a laureate of both the New Zealand
Business Hall of Fame and the Hi-Tech Hall
of Fame.
A Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of
Professional Engineers NZ, in 1997 Mr Jordan
received the Governor General’s Supreme
Award for Exporting. In 1998 he was awarded
the United Kingdom Institution of Electrical
Engineers (IEE) Kirby Medal and the following
year became a Companion of the New Zealand
Order of Merit (CNZM).

UC honours its outstanding teachers
Dr Alex James.
Professor Bill Davison. Professor Eric Pawson.
Dr Gareth Pritchard. Gina Haines.
Associate Professor Lucy Johnston.
Teaching excellence at the University of
Canterbury has been recognised with the
announcement of the 2008 University
Teaching Awards.
Seven awards will be presented to staff at
this April’s graduation in recognition of their
outstanding teaching achievements. The
recipients are: Professor Bill Davison (Biological
Sciences); Richard Fisher (Accounting and
Information Systems); Gina Haines (Literacies
and Arts in Education); Dr Alex James
(Mathematics and Statistics); Associate
Professor Lucy Johnston (Psychology);
Professor Eric Pawson (Geography); and Dr
Gareth Pritchard (History).
Richard Fisher.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Dr Jan
Cameron said the University Teaching Awards
were awarded annually to staff rated as
outstanding teachers.
“The awards recognise excellence in various
aspects of teaching, including innovative
practice, application of research-informed
pedagogy, curriculum development,
outstanding thesis supervision and overall
contributions to teaching in the discipline.
“The winners of these awards are recognised
by both their colleagues and their students
as consistently providing ‘something extra’ in
their teaching. They are educational leaders
within the University.”
New look for College of Arts
The College of Arts has taken on a new look
for the New Year.
The programmes within its schools have been
reorganised into six rather than 11 schools.
The new schools are: the School of Languages,
Cultures and Linguistics; the School of
Humanities; the Centre for Fine Arts, Music
and Theatre; and the School of Social and
Political Sciences.
The School of Languages, Cultures and
Linguistics now comprises the Arabic, Chinese,
French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish,
European Languages and Cultures, and
Linguistics programmes.
The School of Humanities consists of American
Studies, Art History and Theory, Classics,
Cultural Studies, English, History, Philosophy,
and Film Studies, while the School of Social
and Political Sciences contains Anthropology,
Gender Studies, Mass Communication and
Journalism, Political Science, Religious Studies,
and Sociology.
The Centre for Fine Arts, Music and Theatre,
which has a newly appointed Director, Amanda
Morris, encompasses the disciplines of fine
arts, music and theatre and film studies.
The School of Social Work and Human
Services and Aotahi: The School of Mäori and
Indigenous Studies remain unchanged. The
College also embraces the Macmillan Brown
Centre for Pacific Studies.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Arts) Professor Ken
Strongman said the reorganisation was the
culmination of the Arts Future Project which
included a full review of the BA degree and
analysis of the academic, managerial and
financial aspects of the College.
He said the aim of the new structure was to
streamline management through a smaller
advisory committee consisting of the Pro-Vice-
Chancellor, Deans and Heads of School.
“Another important aspect of this is that no
programme or discipline has been lost in this
reorganisation. They have been rearranged and
moved but no programme has been dropped.”
3

4
Emeritus Professor Walt Jones died on
8 December.
He arrived at the University of Canterbury in
1972 to take up his appointment as Chair in
Atmospheric Physics, as the third professor in
the Department of Physics and Astronomy. He
retired in June 1992.
Walt was born in Chicago and went to high
school there and in Massachusetts. He
completed a BE in electrical engineering
at Cornell University and began work as a
research engineer with DuPont. After five years
at DuPont he enrolled for a PhD in physics at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
During a seminar given by a professor of
meteorology he discovered that “there was
some good old-fashioned classical physics in
the atmosphere”.
He finished his PhD in upper atmosphere
physics in 1963 and went to work for the
National Center for Atmospheric Research in
Boulder, Colorado (NCAR), concentrating on
wave motions in the atmosphere, particularly
the tides, and acoustic and internal gravity
waves in the upper atmosphere. He became
internationally known for the high quality of
his research, exemplified by his contribution
on “Linear Internal Gravity Waves in the
Atmosphere” to Handbuch der Physik in 1976.
He had been working for NCAR for nine years
when a colleague pointed out a University
of Canterbury advertisement for a Chair in
A University of Canterbury course examining
the representation of animals and humananimal
relations in American popular culture
has received a distinguished award from the
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
From Bambi to Kong (CULT206/AMST236/
Emeritus Professor Walt Jones 1932-2008
Atmospheric Physics. Walt applied and was
appointed. In 1972 he began his teaching
and research at Canterbury, continuing his
investigations into upper atmospheric waves,
and examining non-linear wave phenomena
and their conservation properties. He also
supervised research into aspects of nonlinear
flows in water, in association with
the Department of Civil Engineering, and
of various problems in planetary and stellar
formation in association with astronomers.
He showed his enthusiasm for the subjects
on which he lectured and was constantly
looking for novel and more effective ways of
presenting the material. He introduced a trial
of a module style course at 200-level which
proved to be very work intensive for both
students and lecturer.
US honour for Canterbury human-animal relationship course
GEND213), taught by Dr Annie Potts (Culture,
Literature and Society), received the 2008
Distinguished Established Course Award.
The awards, now in their 10th year, recognise
academic excellence in college and university
courses that explore the relationships between
animals and people.
HSUS said the Canterbury course was
well-conceptualised in how it explored the
representations of animals in popular culture.
“In just a few years, the course has helped to
establish the field of human-animal studies at
the University, facilitated the formation of an
animal studies network in New Zealand and
produced a high number of students interested
in pursuing further research in this area.”
Dr Potts, who has been teaching the course
for five years, said she was delighted with the
award and US$1500 prize money.
“This course is a team effort. It also involves
lectures from Philip Armstrong in English, and
tutor Kate Yeoman has been the backbone of
the course since its inception. From Bambi to
Kong motivates students to be more aware of
critical issues relating to nonhuman animals
and society. And we’ve found that students are
more receptive to considering, discussing and
One of his former students, now a staff
member, recollects from his undergraduate
years: “My enduring recollection of Walt is
of one of those rare people who freely gave
his full attention. On entering his office you
were greeted with that warm smile, and that
towering frame, and you knew that for the
next few minutes you were the centre of his
attention”.
In later years he became more involved with
the administration of the University. He
was Dean of the Science Faculty and then
served two terms on the Academic Staffing
Committee in the 1980s. In 1987 he was
appointed Deputy Chairman of the Academic
Administration Committee and became
chairman of that committee in 1989, an
appointment which he held until the day he
retired.
He represented the University on the Committee
for University Academic Programmes and on
sub-committees for University Entrance
standards and for consultation with NZQA.
Walt is survived by his wife, Carlie, and their
children, Connie, Scott and Shannon, and
six grandchildren.
Dr Grahame Fraser
Physics and Astronomy
debating the more controversial or provocative
relationships humans have with animals if they
are first exposed to representations of these
within film or fiction.
“Also, because this is an interdisciplinary course,
it attracts students from Arts, Law, Science and
Commerce faculties. Everyone’s life involves
relationships with animals in one form or
another.”
From Bambi to Kong covers a range of topics
including the representation of human-animal
relationships in cinema and television; images
of whales in literature, the environmental
movement and eco-tourism; dinosaur
iconography; and cultural practices such as
hunting, pet-keeping, factory farming and zoos.
Adjunct appointments
Dr Jamie Pearce has been appointed adjunct
associate professor in the Department of
Geography and Graeme Dunstall has been
appointed adjunct senior fellow in the
Department of History.
The appointments are for a three-year term.

International accolade for UC geologist
UC geologist Professor Jim Cole has received
an international honour for his work in the
area of emergency management.
The International Association of Emergency
Managers (IAEM) has awarded Professor Cole
with the 2008 Academic Recognition Award
for his “significant contributions to the formal
education of students pursuing careers in
emergency management”.
The association also recognised Professor Cole
for his outstanding research career, which
includes programmes that discovered new
volcanic centres. In the citation, the IAEM said
Professor Cole had “significantly increased
our understanding of what triggers supereruptions
from highly active volcanic centres
in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, and
around the world”.
Professor Cole, who is Director of the
University of Canterbury’s Natural Hazards
Research Centre (NHRC), said he was “taken by
surprise” by the award. A new student chapter
of the IAEM was set up at the University
in April, with Civil and Natural Resources
Segway rides for charity
UC staff and students zipped around the
science lecture block quad on Segways last
Friday in the name of charity.
The fundraiser, organised by UC Facilities
Management staff and supported by Graeme
Gordon from Urban Wheels, was held to raise
money for the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life,
a 24-hour overnight team relay which will be
held at the Christchurch showgrounds on 28
February -1 March.
Engineering PhD student Amy Stephenson
as president.
“Totally unbeknown to me, Amy, together
with a group of PhD students from the NHRC,
in particular Tom Wilson, Ali Bazgard, Scott
Barnard and Dean Podolsky, put my name
forward for nomination for the award in the
middle of the year. They were assisted by
the Vice President of the Oceania Council
of IAEM, Kristin Hoskin, who is based in
Christchurch and is an associate of NHRC, and
supported by Professor Jarg Pettinga, Head of
the Department of Geological Sciences, and
Associate Professor Tim Davies, Co-ordinator
of the Hazard and Disaster Management
programmes at the University of Canterbury.”
Professor Cole said he “felt very honoured” by
the award.
“The award equally recognises the University
of Canterbury, its Natural Hazard Research
Centre and the courses run in Hazard and
Disaster Management. Interestingly since
the award was announced there has been
a significant increase in the number of
Mail services supervisor Peter Nicolson said
that as people were always asking mailroom
and security staff if they could have a ride
on the University’s Segways charging a gold
coin for a ride seemed like a great idea for a
fundraiser. The lunchtime event, which was
the second held in recent months, was well
supported by staff and postgraduate students
from throughout campus.
(From left) Arthur Dredge (Security) Steve Harrison and Paul Chapman (Planning, Information and Reporting Unit) and John Botha
(Security) putting the fun into fundraising.
Professor Jim Cole.
international students asking for information
about postgraduate courses here in hazard and
disaster management.”
UC welcomes new staff
Dr Catherine Bishop
has been appointed
Senior Lecturer in
Computational
Materials Science in the
Mechanical Engineering
Department. Dr Bishop
has a BS (Hons) from
Carnegie Mellon
University in Pittsburgh, USA, and a PhD in
material sciences from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Cambridge, USA.
Prior to joining UC, Dr Bishop was a career
development fellow in the Department of
Materials, University of Oxford, UK. While at
Oxford, Dr Bishop was developing general
diffuse-interface theory for grain boundaries
in multi-component materials and to explore
interfacial transitions in ceramics.
Susan Wild has been
appointed Lecturer
in Accounting in
the Department
of Accounting and
Information Systems.
Ms Wild has a BA
(Hons) from Victoria
University of Wellington
(VUW) and is currently
studying part-time towards a PhD at VUW.
Prior to taking up her position at UC, Ms Wild
was a lecturer in accounting in the Faculty of
Business and Informatics, Central Queensland
University/NZIC (New Zealand International
Campus), Heretaunga.
5

6
VC designate addresses UC’s December graduation ceremonies
Canterbury University’s Vice-Chancellor
designate, Dr Rod Carr, and former vicechancellor
Dr Roy Sharp, addressed
graduates during the University’s graduation
ceremonies in December.
In three ceremonies held at the Christchurch
Town Hall on 17 and 19 December, 1106
students received their degrees, diplomas
and certificates in person while a further 432
graduated in absentia.
The ceremonies followed a graduation
ceremony held in Rotorua on 10 December
for Education students at which 72 graduates
received their degrees and diplomas.
Highlights of the week included the
presentation of the University of Canterbury
Research Medal to Professor Peter Steel
(Chemistry) and the Canterbury University
Teaching Medal to Associate Professor
Roger Nokes (Civil and Natural Resources
Engineering).
Graduates were congratulated on their
achievement by Chancellor Dr Robin
Mann, who presided over his last capping
ceremonies in the role. Wednesday afternoon’s
graduates were addressed by Dr Sharp, now
Chief Executive of the Tertiary Education
Commission, with Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Education) Professor Gail Gillon delivering the
morning’s address. Dr Carr, who takes up his
position as Vice-Chancellor at UC in February,
spoke at the Friday morning ceremony.
Dr Carr reflected on the age-old question,
“what do you want to do when you grow up?”
before posing the question, “what do you want
to be as you grow up?” to graduates.
Dr Carr said we all possessed the power to
choose and it was a never-ending process.
Professor Peter Steel (right) receives the University of Canterbury
Research Medal from Chancellor Dr Robin Mann.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Gail Gillon addresses graduates.
“As you grow up, make choices, for you have
the power to choose. Choose what you want
to do, what you want to be known for, the
people you want to associate with, and the
mentors you want to hold in your life — these
are all your choices,” he said.
He spoke about the important connection
all those graduating shared — a common
moment in their community, and noted
that it was a moment over time they shared
with “a rather notorious graduate, Lord
Ernest Rutherford”.
Dr Carr said the portrait of Rutherford which
graced the New Zealand $100 note was
recognition the UC alumnus was a man
“renowned for a curious mind, the discipline,
the courage and the pursuit of
new knowledge”.
“If there was one thing that I would hope
that you take from our moment shared
it is that simple test as you grow up: Am I
exercising my curious mind? Am I applying the
disciplines I have been taught, and do I have
the courage to stand up for what I believe I
know I have found? And if you take from this
community those traits then you will truly
be a contributing member of your society
and a proud graduate of the University of
Canterbury.”
As was fitting for the 100th anniversary of
Rutherford receiving the Nobel Prize for
Chemistry, Dr Sharp also drew on the example
of the famous scientist. He referred to
Rutherford’s quote, “We don’t have the money,
so we have to think”, telling graduates how
relevant that statement was nowadays with
financial, economic and environmental crises
facing the globe.
He echoed the comments of another famous
New Zealand scientist, Sir Ernest Marsden,
from 70 years ago, that “the greatest need of
our age is the production of inspired leaders”
saying the statement was just as true today.
“Your education at Canterbury has marked you
out as a leader,” Dr Sharp told the new graduates.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor
Gail Gillon told education graduates at the
Wednesday morning ceremony that they were
in a powerful position to make a difference.
“As our future educators and educational
leaders, I call upon you today to embrace every
teaching interaction, to actively engage and
excite young children in learning, to support
and encourage our youth and adult learners
towards successful learning outcomes,”
she said.
Professor Gillon said that while graduation
marked the end of one part of a journey in
each student’s educational pursuits, it was
also a time to celebrate each graduate’s
potential to make a difference.
“We celebrate your potential to demonstrate
excellence as educators and we celebrate the
strengths and talents each of you now brings
to advancing our global literate society.”
Associate Professor Roger Nokes (right) receives the UC
Teaching Medal.

Mexican journalism graduate bids UC farewell
Tequila and guacamole were on the menu
to give graduation celebrations a taste of
home for journalism graduate Laura Müller
Rodriguez last month.
Laura, from Chihuahua, Mexico, completed
the Graduate Diploma in Journalism at the
University of Canterbury in 2008 thanks to a
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship.
Laura secured one of the 30 worldwide
scholarships the foundation awards annually
to students from developing countries and
said she felt very fortunate and grateful to
Rotary for an “amazing life opportunity”.
The one year UC Graduate Diploma in
Journalism course is limited to 20 students
who must be New Zealand citizens or
permanent residents with provision for one
additional student from a developing country.
Laura was the first international student since
1996 to complete the course.
“Being in New Zealand and surviving the
journalism programme has been the challenge
of my life until now,” she said.
Proudly watching on as Laura crossed the Town
Hall stage to be capped on her graduation day
were her host family, three local Rotarians
she had grown close to during the year and,
making it extra special, her two best friends
from Mexico, who travelled to be at her
graduation before whisking her away on a road
trip to celebrate.
“My friend Karen from Mexico brought me a
huge bottle of tequila as a gift so my friends
from the journalism class and my Mexican
friends who came over met at my place to
have some tequila shots and eat some real
guacamole. It was amazing fun.”
Laura, who has a Bachelor in Mass
Communication from the Universidad
Regional del Norte in Chihuahua, Mexico, and
a Diploma in Travel and Tourism from the City
University of New York (CUNY), said the biggest
challenge of studying journalism in New
Zealand was the language.
“It was very hard for people to understand me
when I arrived as people are not used to the
Latin American accent here, so I lost a lot of
confidence at the beginning because I could
not get people to understand me.”
She also struggled at first to come to grips
with the New Zealand accent and having
studied in America was used to American
grammar and had to “relearn” things “the Kiwi
way”.
Laura was able to share her experience with
her compatriots back home through her
syndicated Sunday column Ruleta Urbana
(Urban Roulette), which is published by the
Organizacion Editorial Mexicana (OEM), the
largest print media organisation in Mexico, in
seven newspapers in northern Mexico as well
as online.
Laura Müller Rodriguez tipping her trencher to her friends in the Town Hall on graduation day.
“In Ruleta Urbana I write about everything
that comes to my mind — in the same way as
a roulette wheel can stop at any number or
colour, my column can talk about any topic
that comes to mind,” Laura said.
“During my studies in New Zealand, I have
written about your culture and the amazing
places you have. The opportunity and
experience of living in New Zealand has not
UC celebrates graduation in Rotorua
For the first of its four December graduation
ceremonies, UC took to the road —
destination scenic Rotorua — for the annual
celebration of the College of Education’s
distance students.
Seventy-two graduands enrolled in the
College’s Flexible Learning Option (FLO)
programmes flocked with friends and whanau
from around Rotorua, New Plymouth and
Tauranga to be capped by Chancellor Dr Robin
Mann at the Rotorua Convention Centre on 10
December.
Graduands, staff and guests were welcomed
with a powhiri performed by Ken Keneti (Te
Arawa), the Kaumatua representing local host
Waiariki Institute of Technology — to which Te
Hurinui Clarke (Ngai Tahu) (Mäori, Social and
Cultural Studies) responded on behalf of the
University. The ceremony was also colourfully
enhanced with waiata performed by the
graduating cohorts.
Emphasising the importance of the
multicultural theme was Dr Angus Hikairo
Macfarlane, an associate professor at the
University of Waikato and 2008 Senior
only been for me, but also for all my readers.”
Although Laura said “adiós” to New Zealand
earlier this month she said “this country and
its people will stay in my heart forever”.
Head of the School of Social and Political
Sciences Associate Professor Jim Tully said a
reporter with an Ethiopian news agency was
expected to join the 2009 class.
Research Fellow at the UC College of Education,
returning to his Te Arawa roots to give the
graduation address.
Dr Macfarlane spoke of the importance
of “educultural” pathways to success. With
the significant recent changes both in New
Zealand and in the global context he said
there was increasing need for intercultural
knowledge and understanding.
Dr Macfarlane said the keys to educultural
success were the personal qualities of
boldness, curiosity, balance, scholarship,
vision and humility — qualities the graduates
had already begun to demonstrate through
the academic achievements they were
celebrating that day.
Paying tribute to the hard work and dedication
of their fellow students and the support
of staff, family and friends, three of the
graduating students also spoke: Joanna Young
(Diploma in Teaching and Learning – Early
Childhood), Nicolette Harrison (Bachelor of
Teaching and Learning – Primary) and Curtis
Hemana (Graduate Diploma in Teaching and
Learning – Secondary).
7

8
Former long-serving academic in Canterbury
University’s English Department, Emeritus
Professor Ray Copland, died on 8 January at
the age of 90.
Born in Feilding Ray, a Canterbury alumnus,
survived the 1931 Napier earthquake. He also
survived a wartime stint in the RNZAF as a
navigator, where he alternated patrols over the
North Atlantic with correspondence courses in
French and English.
Emeritus Professor Raymond Copland 1918-2009
Honours for UC academics and alumni
After the war, he joined Canterbury University
College’s English Department. In 1949, a year
after completing his BA (Hons), he joined
a tiny staff led by John Garrett. In 1960 he
produced the University’s first doctoral
dissertation in English, “The Literary Reactions
to Utilitarianism up to 1860” (to his deep
embarrassment his class gave him a standing
ovation when the degree was awarded). Later,
his three Macmillan Brown lectures were
published as God Above and God Within: the
Literature of Faith (1971). His Frank Sargeson
(1976) was followed by All Part of the Game: the
stories of A. P. Gaskell (1978).
In 1970 he was appointed Professor of English,
a position he held until his retirement in 1976.
Ten years later he was appointed Emeritus
Professor.
Ray was one of the great lecturers of his
day, someone who perfected the delivery in
beautifully built sentences of elegant, stately
arguments. These master-classes in British
fiction were regularly laced with satirical
asides, giving his lectures a background of
continuous student spluttering, like the hiss
on an old Bakelite record. As a colleague he
was more the diplomat, always able to soothe
UC academics Amosa Fa’afoi (left) and Professor David Thorns were recognised in the New Years Honours List.
Two University of Canterbury academics and
11 alumni have been recognised in the New
Year’s Honours List.
Professor David Thorns (Sociology) was made
an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit
(ONZM) for services to urban sociology, while
lecturer Amosa Fa’afoi (Mäori, Social and
Cultural Studies) was made a Member of
the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for
services to the Pacific Island community.
Four alumni were made Officers of the New
Zealand Order of Merit. They were: Associate
Professor William Halford (for services to
education); Diana, Lady Isaac (for services to
business, conservation and the community);
Dr John Langley (for services to education);
and Felicity Price (for services to the arts and
business).
vulnerable sensibilities, a master of litotic
placation who would soon stitch difference
into a fabric of warming words, not without, as
he might say, an ironic lining. As a commonroom
raconteur he was irresistible: there was
the story of the service car driver of his youth
who drove facing his passengers the better
to tell them his yarns; and there was the one
about the bloke at the local garage who used
a wind-up gramophone to give customers’
odometers a “trimback” during servicing; and
then there was the one about training his
pumpkin vine to grow in a clockwise spiral to
save space.
In his long retirement, much of it spent on
what he used to refer to as his “land” in North
Canterbury, Ray was able to add to the comic
writings he had produced over the years with
Augustus (c. 1978), as well as serving as chair
and member of the State Literary Fund from
1980-86.
He is survived by his two daughters, numerous
grandchildren, and the warm memories of his
friends and former colleagues.
Professor Patrick Evans
School of Humanities
Three alumni were made Members of the New
Zealand Order of Merit: Associate Professor
Michele Leggott (for services to poetry); Lois
Thompson (for services to education); and
Steve Wilson (for services to business).
Thomas (Ward) Clarke and Barbara Holland
were awarded the Queen’s Service Order (QSO),
while Judith Bruce and Mary Busch received
the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM).

Two UC teaching initiatives get backing in funding round
Two University of Canterbury projects have
been awarded funding in the 2008 round
of the Teaching and Learning Research
Initiative (TLRI).
The TLRI was set up by the Government in
2003 to build knowledge about teaching
and learning with the aim of significantly
improving outcomes for learners.
Thirteen projects have been funded nationally,
the largest sum going to a UC project led by Dr
Vanessa Andreotti (Mäori, Social and Cultural
Studies in Education). The project, which
receives $294,667, will examine shifts in the
conceptualisation of knowledge and learning
in learning outcomes and course design in
initial and in-service teacher education.
The second UC project, a partnership between
Canterbury and Waikato universities and
the Canterbury Playcentre Association, will
receive $188,733 to explore how young children
theorise and make sense of their world in
playcentre environments. The projects leaders
are Keryn Davis (UC Education Plus) and
Dr Sally Peters (Waikato University).
Dr Andreotti said global trends in society
called for an international agenda for teacher
education that was consistent with the
demands of complex and diverse school
environments.
“In particular, there is growing consensus
around an urgent need to reconceptualise
knowledge and learning in educational policies
and practices in the 21st century. The revised
New Zealand Curriculum, published in 2007,
offers the opportunity for educators to work
within this new conceptualisation,”
Dr Andreotti said.
“Therefore, one of the challenges of
implementing the new curriculum over the
next three years is to equip educators to
understand societal changes in order to be
able to respond to complex and diverse school
environments.
Performance surprises UC debaters at world contest
Two University of Canterbury law and arts
students began the new year competing in
the biggest debating tournament in
the world and surprising themselves with
their performance.
Sarah Keast and Julia Whitehead represented
UC in the 29th World University Debating
Championships held in Cork, Ireland. More
than 300 teams from 40 countries competed
over eight days vying for the title of 2009
World Champions.
The event, which is the largest academic
competition in the world, was held from 27
December 2008 to 4 January 2009 and was
jointly hosted by the Law and Philosophical
Societies of University College Cork.
Sarah and Julia finished the preliminary rounds
with 20 points out of a possible 27, breaking
through to the competition’s octo-finals
ranked 11th in the world, making them the
highest-breaking New Zealand team.
“Unfortunately after a very tricky debate about
arming militia in Afghanistan we got knocked
out, but we are really happy to have got as far
as we did at our first worlds,” Sarah said.
This year both young women are enrolled in
the law honours stream and are members
of Lawsoc, the University Law Society, and
Debsoc, the UC Debating Society. Sarah
is beginning her fourth year of studying
towards a BA/LLB, with arts majors in political
science and Spanish, and Julia is in her fifth
year, also doing a BA/LLB, majoring in theatre
and film studies.
“Given that this is the first time in about 10
years that Canterbury has made it to a worlds
competition, and the first time Julia and I had
Photo courtesy of the Christchurch Mail.
Julia Whitehead (left) and Sarah Keast represented UC at the
World University Debating Championships.
been to worlds, we were really happy with how
we went,” said Sarah.
“Because the worlds’ style is not practised in
any of the national or regional competitions
in New Zealand, chances of success are
dramatically increased if your society has
a strong history of attending worlds. So
considering this was the first time a team
from Canterbury has attended the world
championship in so long we were over the
moon about how well we did,” Julia said.
The worlds format is based on British
parliamentary (BP) debating, in which four
teams — the opening government, closing
government, opening opposition and closing
opposition — of two speakers debate. The four
teams have 15 minutes to prepare after the
“We intend to use data gathered in the
research to generate understandings that will
contribute to the development of an agenda
for teacher education based on a profile
of professionals who are critical, reflexive,
creative and independent thinkers, who can
raise the profile of the teaching profession and
who work towards equity and social justice in
their schools and communities.”
She said the team includes 13 members
involved with teacher education — six advisors
from UC Education Plus, four lecturers in
initial teacher education from the College of
Education and three experienced educational
researchers.
“We were extremely happy to receive the
funding. We are now getting ready for this
exciting collaboration over the next two years,
which will also involve a lot of hard work and
commitment.”
motion is announced and the speaking time
for each speaker is seven minutes. At the end
of each debate, the teams are ranked from first
to fourth place, with three points for a win,
two points for a second, one point for third
and none for fourth.
In the nine preliminary rounds the Canterbury
pair were faced with such topics as gambling,
the religious desegregation of Northern
Irish schools, the independence of Abkhazia,
lowering income tax for women and banning
the publication of political opinion polls.
“It was the toughest debating competition
we’ve ever been to, and it was an amazing
opportunity to debate against such talented
teams from all over the world,” Sarah said.
She said that to manage to go through to
such a high level was “surprising”, especially
considering they “went to the worlds just
aiming to do our best and learn lots”.
“I’d credit our performance to great teamwork
— Julia and I have debated together since 2007
— and lots of late nights reading The Economist.
The tournament definitely developed our
debating skills and expanded our general
knowledge.”
Sarah and Julia, who hope to make it to
the next worlds in Turkey, wish to thank the
Law School for its support in getting them to
the competition.
Scholarships
David Thompson has been awarded an NZi3
PhD Scholarship worth $30,000 a year for three
years; Daniel O’Donohue has been awarded an
NZi3 Masters Scholarship worth $30,000.
9

10
Looking back on 2008
New beginnings
Practice Manager Judith Kirk (left) and Health Centre Director
Dr Joan Allardyce in the new Health Centre’s reception area.
The University’s Health Centre opened the
doors to its spacious new premises in time for
the beginning of the first semester. The new
874sqm facility, at the eastern end of the UCSA
car park, replaced the original health centre
built in 1973.
The inaugural UC Alumni Association staff ball
was held mid-year. More than 170 staff turned
out for the Starry Nights-themed evening.
More than 400 alumni descended on
Canterbury University in early October for the
2008 Alumni Reunion Weekend. It was the
first alumni event to cover the whole campus
for graduates from 40 years ago. Previous
reunions had targeted specific departments
or colleges.
UC Art Collection Curator Terri Elder in front of The Family Group,
a Russell Clark sculpture outside the science lecture theatre block.
October also saw the launch of UC’s Sculpture
Trail. The trail, which features 20 works
from the University’s art collection, gives
staff, students and visitors a new way to
interact with the University’s art collection
while exploring and enjoying the campus
environment.
Research excellence
In February the Ashburton-based Mackenzie
Charitable Foundation granted the University
$1.3 million over five years to fund the work
of a new research chair to investigate the
response of stream ecosystems to urban and
rural land-use pressures.
Associate Professor Angus McIntosh (left) and Dr Jon Harding
lead the School of Biological Sciences’ Freshwater Ecology Group,
whose research is benefiting from the Mackenzie Charitable
Foundation’s grant.
In March the Southern Hub of Ako Aotearoa,
the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching
Excellence, was launched at the University
of Canterbury College of Education. The aim
of the regional hub is to help educators and
organisations deliver the best educational
outcomes for learners by supporting the
development of teaching expertise.
In June the Foundation for Research, Science
and Technology approved a $10 million
research programme based on pioneering
timber engineering research undertaken at UC.
The new funding established the Structural
Timber Innovation Company Ltd (STIC) which
will develop large-span timber buildings for a
wide range of uses in New Zealand, Australia
and further afield.
The University of Canterbury staged the
South Island’s first multi-disciplinary,
pantertiary institution, Mäori-focused research
symposium, Ngä Kete a Rähua Inaugural
Mäori Research Symposium Te Waipounamu,
in September.
(Front right) University of Canterbury Assistant Vice-Chancellor
(Mäori) Sir Tipene O’Regan addresses delegates at the Mäori
research symposium.
Environmental geochemist Dr Travis Horton (left front)
demonstrates the new isotope facility’s capabilities to Acting
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Town.
A $1 million stable isotope analytical facility
which will help UC researchers gain a better
understanding of the Earth’s geochemical
fingerprints opened in September. The facility,
housed in the Department of Geological
Sciences, represents a tremendous boost for
environmental science research at Canterbury.
The relationship New Zealand shares with its
neighbour across the Tasman is the focus of
the New Zealand Australia Research Centre
which was officially launched in October.
The centre aims to play an important role in
contributing to policy and public debate about
the relationship between the two countries.
Visitors
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, UC inaugural Hotung Fellow.
Staff and students in the University of
Canterbury’s School of Law were treated to a

are insight into the American legal system
when retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
visited the University in July. The first woman
justice of the United States Supreme Court
spent a week at the University as the inaugural
Hotung Fellow.
And the winners are …
University of Canterbury researchers were
awarded more than $6 million in the
inaugural round of the Encouraging and
Supporting Innovation Fund. The projects
included a collaboration with Lincoln and
Otago universities looking at developing
entrepreneurial skills in science students, and
a project to rejuvenate and economically
transform the seafood industry through
research and teaching collaborations. Four
other projects saw the establishment of the
National Energy Research Institute, the New
Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities, a new
National Mäori Language Institute called Te
Ipukarea, and a new National China Research
Centre.
(Left to right) Associate Professor Neville Watson, Professor
Phil Butler and Associate Professor Shusheng Pang collectively
received $10 million in funding from the Foundation for Research,
Science and Technology for projects they head.
Three projects led by UC researchers were
awarded more than $10 million in funding
in last year’s main Foundation for Research,
Science and Technology investment round. The
projects include the creation of a New Zealand
industry supplying spectral X-ray detector
systems to the international research and
medical imaging markets, the development of
technologies for production of hydrogen-rich
syngas and second generation bio-liquid fuel,
and research into the integration of renewable
energy sources and its impact on power quality.
University of Canterbury projects in a range
of areas, from carbon neutrality and aquatic
ecosystem dynamics, to sustainable peace in
the South Pacific, were awarded more than $7
million in the 2008 Marsden Fund round. In all,
UC received grants for 11 research projects.
In November a joint water management
initiative between Canterbury and Lincoln
universities and a UC project to develop
virtual training environments were awarded
about $3 million from the Tertiary Education
Commission’s Encouraging and Supporting
Innovation Fund.
FRST Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Hema Nair.
Canterbury University PhD student Gwenda
Willis won the Science and our Society
category award in the 2008 MacDiarmid Young
Scientists of the Year Awards for research into
sex offender recidivism.
Seven UC doctoral students were awarded
scholarships worth nearly $680,000 in the first
Top Achievers Doctoral Scholarships round
for 2008 and a further eight students netted
nearly $750,000 worth of scholarships in the
August round.
Dr Hema Nair (Forestry) was granted a
Foundation for Research, Science and
Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship,
worth $273,000 over three years. Dr Nair is
researching whether different chemicals used
in the forestry industry could be contributing
to the formation of spiral grain in radiata pine.
In November, UC engineering student
Jennifer Haskell was awarded a Woolf Fisher
Scholarship which, at a total value of $300,000,
is one of the most valuable scholarships
awarded in New Zealand. Jennifer, who will
graduate from UC in April with a Bachelor of
Engineering honours degree, plans to move to
the University of Cambridge, UK, to conduct
PhD research on seismic design of foundations.
Rutherford celebrations
2008 was the centenary year of Ernest, Lord
Rutherford, UC’s most distinguished graduate,
receiving his Nobel Prize for Chemistry. His
achievements were celebrated by his alma
mater throughout the year, with activities
including a national schools poster and essay
competition, the publication of a centennial
calendar, the digitisation of the University’s
Rutherford archival files, and public lectures by
Rutherford’s great-granddaughter, Professor
Mary Fowler, Professor of Geophysics at the
University of London, and Professor Robert
Grubbs from the California Institute of
Technology (Caltech), a Nobel laureate himself
and former Visiting Erskine Fellow at UC.
Rutherford’s great-great-grandson Felix Loten followed in his
forebear’s footsteps when he graduated from the University of
Canterbury in April.
Appointments
In October, Dr Rod Carr was appointed the next
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury.
Dr Carr replaces Dr Roy Sharp who left the
University in June following his appointment
as Chief Executive of the Tertiary Education
Commission. The Vice-Chancellor designate
will start work at UC in February.
Dr Rod Carr.
The University of Canterbury Council elected
a new Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor for 2009.
Mr Rex Williams succeeded retiring Chancellor
Dr Robin Mann who held the post since
2003. Dr John Wood, a retired New Zealand
diplomat, was elected Pro-Chancellor (Deputy
Chancellor).
Farewell to old friends
Sadly 2008 marked the passing of a number
of former and current staff members and
alumni including Richard King, Dr Doug
Lewis, Emeritus Professor George Knox, Ron
Battersby, Dr Walter Metcalf and Jeff Pepper.
11

12
UC celebrates December graduation
James Carr (centre), pictured here with his father Vice-Chancellor-elect Dr Rod Carr and mother Jenny, graduated with a BSc.
UC staff member Tracey Robinson’s (front row, second from right) family turned out in full force to support the College of Science
student adviser when she graduated with a BA.
College of Education Student Advisor Desley Tucker graduated
with a New Zealand Diploma in Business.
William Rea, from Information and Communication Technology
Services, graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics.
He is pictured here with his daughter and UC alumna Alethea.
UC Library Administrator Sharon King (left) receives her Graduate
Diploma in Management.
College of Education colleagues Dot Capon (Mäori, Social and
Cultural Studies) and Tammi Martin (School of Sciences and
Physical Education) celebrate their graduation day together. Mrs
Capon (left) graduated with a Masters of Teaching and Learning
and Mrs Martin with a Masters of Education with Distinction.
Les Brighton (International Office) and his wife Angela celebrated
their son Ross graduating with a BA.
Graduating on 19 December were UC staff members (from left)
Geospatial Research Centre Project Manager Sarah Douglas
(BCom), Financial Services System Administrator/Business
Analyst Richard Derham (BCom (Hons)), Liaison Officer Nichola
Blue (BCom) and College of Science Manager Kevin Barnes
(BCom (Hons)).