Staff excellence and manaakitanga shine at annual Vice-Chancellor's awards

From enhancing the exam experience for thousands of students to creating ReoSpace, where staff and students gather to practise te reo Māori, our people brought the University's values and te ao Māori principles to life in ways that demonstrate both innovation and deep care for our communities.

Forty-one such contributions were celebrated on 20 February at the University's Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Values and Te Ao Māori Principles ceremony, held in the Sir Owen G Glenn Building, where seven awards were presented across three categories.

These awards, now in their second year, are designed to support the aspirations of Taumata Teitei and the vision of a values-led culture. With 373 staff members nominated, many in cross-faculty and functional teams, the nominations celebrate not just what our people achieve, but how they achieve it through our shared values.

Staff initiatives ranged from the Asian Staff Network's growth to over 170 members promoting inclusivity, to the Faculty of Engineering's QR code system enhancing laboratory safety, to pioneering sustainability practices in university labs. Our focus on enhancing the tauira student experience shone through innovations like Grafton Hall's Kaupapa Māori floors and the STAR outreach campaign.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater says she was inspired by the breadth and depth of this year's nominations.

"Across every area of our University, staff are working together in innovative ways on projects that will have lasting impact. These nominations show us what's possible when excellence and manaakitanga go hand in hand - creating positive change for our students, staff and the wider community.”

Gemma Skipper

Gemma builds strong relationships and is both a kaitiaki of the Māori and Pacific student journeys and an advocate for all students. Kia whakamana i te tangata is at the heart of how she operates.

Kāhui Repatriation Care Collective

Caitlin Smith, David Seldon, Greg Holwell, Hone Thorpe, Judith Littleton, Leanne Tamaki, Michael Steedman, Te Kapua O'Connor and Teariki Tuiono.

This cross-faculty team took exemplary care during the cultural repatriation of tūpuna (ancestors) from the McGregor Museum collections housed in the School of Biological Sciences. Their efforts ensured the return of tūpuna to the Aboriginal Dambeemangaddee community, the Hokotehi Moriori Trust, and the custodianship of Indian tūpuna at Waipapa Taumata Rau.

Biological Containment Team

Erica Zarate and Francesca Casu

When faced with a challenging audit, Francesca and Erica protected the laboratory teams from undue criticism and workload by securing lasting changes in regulatory approach, whilst demonstrating excellent risk management practices. Their leadership secured the continuation of biological research at the University.

Waipapa Raukura Rau - Kaihōpara Raukura & Programme Delivery Team

Amy Fishlock, Cath Dunphy, Dale Harding-Thomas, Faith Pallant, Kiharoa Iversen, Kyle Murray, Nopera Rangiuia Lindup, Rangimaarie Painting, Sarah Jayne Dipert, Sheye Semple, Shivani Parboo, Te Hira Mayall-Nahi and Trent Dallas.

Waipapa Raukura Rau, our Māori Graduate Programme, combines best practices in graduate development with te ao Māori. This programme develops and nurtures a pipeline of tauira Māori into professional careers across the organisation while valuing and strengthening their taha Māori (Māori side).

ReoSpace

Abigail McClutchie, Darlene Cameron, Denise Montgomery, Frances Hodgson, Kaaka Te Pou Kohere, Kohu Hakaraia, Liz Halverson, Manuhiri Huatahi, Maringi James, Mia-Mae Taitimu-Stevens, Robine Harris, Te Rina Triponel and Trent Dallas.

ReoSpace is a welcoming, inclusive space to practise te reo Māori. Led by Abigail McClutchie and a dedicated team, ReoSpace fosters manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, supporting language revitalisation and cultural connection. ReoSpace creates a lasting impact in a shared commitment to te reo rangatira.

Paul Caiger

Paul has completely redeveloped the University’s diving program and provided a clear pathway for staff and student researchers alike to become occupational scientific divers. Through his excellence and leadership, marine research under the sea can carry on at pace within the University, while upholding stringent health and safety requirements.

Kāhui Tikanga Rōpu

Anne Cowsil, Antonia Tangatakino-McIntyre, Arekatera Maihi, Aroha Harris, Aroha Knight, Bevan Iles, Bruce Taplin, Claire Philipson, Esther Fitzpatrick, Hare Paniora, Hemi Dale, Jacqui and John Matthews, Jan Gaffney, Jim Stretton, John Tapene, Karena Wilson, Kariska Du Preez, Keith and freight team, Mals Araullo, Melinda Webber, Michael Steedman, Mike Renwick, Nathan Tohovaka, Nerina Howe, Ngāti Whātua mātanga, Patsy and Moutini Bryers, Piata Allen, Priscilla Godinet, Rau Hoskins, Rebecca Bain, Ricky Timms, Roger Herangi, Rose Yukich, Sheryl Harris, Tiere Moate, Tony Trinick and Ursula McIntyre.

Kāhui Tikanga rōpu worked consistently to acknowledge, honour and uphold the mana and importance of Tūtahi Tonu for all of the communities it sheltered in the 40 years it stood on the Epsom campus and in the transition to City Campus. A culturally safe transition of the wharenui to its new home was ensured in accordance with Tikanga Māori, advancing the aspirations and values of Taumata Teitei, deepening our relationship with tangata whenua, and giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Read about the 2024 nominees for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Values and Te Ao Māori Principles (Staff only).