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

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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
Editor: Stacey Doonerbal
364 2984
Staff Writers: Jeanette Colman
Maria De Cort
Jane Lucas
John MacDonald
Sub-editor: Col Pearson
Photos: Duncan Shaw-Brown
Eve Welch
Artwork: Michele Leeming
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E-mail: comms@canterbury.ac.nz
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Address: Communications and
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University of Canterbury,
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).