MICHELE LEGGOTT Moons and milestones - MARCH 2020 - The University of Auckland
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auckland.ac.nz/UniNews
MARCH 2020
MICHELE
LEGGOTT
Moons and
milestones
Page 6
PETER O’CONNOR FRESH START MATHESON RUSSELL
Taking our expertise to Australian teachers in Dean of Engineering Nic Smith moves on but Why creating policy based on the result of a
their hour of need leaves an invigorated team behind referendum isn’t a smart idea
Page 3 Page 4 Page 9
SNAPSHOTS
THIS ISSUE
Peter O’Connor 3
DOCTOR LOVE
Starring in The Bachelorette this season is Good to Know 4, 8
University of Auckland alumna Dr Lesina Nakhid-
Schuster. Thirty-two-year-old Lesina graduated Nic Smith 4
from Auckland Medical School in 2012 and was
working full-time as a doctor in Auckland before
Michele Leggott 6
becoming a locum in Australia in February 2019.
The former St Dominic’s College, Henderson,
Obituary 8
student returned to New Zealand in October
and is now one of two bachelorettes starring in My Story:
the TV2 show. As well as her medical training, 9
Matheson Russell
she took an acting course at one point and has
appeared as an extra in a few shows and ads. Art and Culture 10
Classifieds 11
LAW TEAM IS TOP OF THE WORLD
For the second year in a row, Auckland Law Māramatanga 12
School has triumphed at the world’s largest
mediation competition. The International
Mediation Competition of the International
Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was held in Paris
last month, with teams from 66 universities CORONAVIRUS
competing in mock mediation sessions over This year Semester One began with the additional
six days. Our team of Susie McCluskey, Keeha challenges posed by coronavirus (COVID-19).
Oh, Jacob Siermans and Madeleine Tilley, Despite the low risk in New Zealand, there are still
coached by Tunisia Napia and Rima Shenoy,
complexities for staff as the campuses become
beat Bucerius Law School from Germany in
busy again. The importance of health and hygiene
the final. Read more: tinyurl.com/ICCwinners
is paramount and messages about handwashing
and cleanliness are applicable to any flu or virus
situation, as well as the common cold.
COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW
There have been some reported instances
Staff and students created a vibrant and
outside the campus of discrimination, such as
welcoming space at Big Gay Out in February. For
towards people choosing to wear face masks.
the first time, the University’s stall included an
interactive element, with volunteers glittering and Any such behaviour goes against the University’s
painting stall visitors. The time allowed for stall principles of equity, care, compassion and
volunteers to better explain how the University hospitality to all, which are part of the Code of
supports Rainbow communities and also saw a Conduct (auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/life-
record number of visitors at the tent. Join the on-campus/code-of-conduct.html). Advice for
LGBTQITakatāpui (Rainbow) Student and Staff all staff on how to deal with conversations around
Network on Yammer and visit equity.auckland. COVID-19 can be found on the intranet at staff.
ac.nz/rainbow to connect with our Rainbow auckland.ac.nz/coronavirus. Other information
community. There is also a Rainbow Network that can be found at auckland.ac.nz/coronavirus.
meets regularly. Email: t.oneill@auckland.ac.nz. There’s also an excellent chat-bot that answers
questions in English and Mandarin through
questions at facebook.com/arkhealthdiscovery.
HONOURS FOR TOP KIWIS
The Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year
Awards in February featured many semi-
finalists and finalists with links to the
EDITOR: Denise Montgomery
University, including Professor Jane Harding,
denise.montgomery@auckland.ac.nz
former Professor Bob Elliott, Lexie Matheson
and Fady Mishriki. Jane and adjunct professor PHOTOGRAPHY: Elise Manahan, Billy Wong
Peter Beck were finalists in the New Zealander DESIGN: Mike Crozier
of the Year, but missed out to actor Jennifer PRODUCTION: The University of Auckland
Ward-Lealand. The University also sponsored Volume 50/Issue 1/March 2020
the Young New Zealander of the Year Award, PUBLISHED BY: The University of Auckland
won by Georgia Hale (pictured with VC Stuart Communications Office
McCutcheon) for bringing the sport of rugby Alfred Nathan House, 24 Princes Street
league to communities. Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142
auckland.ac.nz/UniNews
2 UNINEWS
FEATURE
to make sense of the events. Speakers at the
seminar gave ideas for using the arts, literature
and drama as vehicles for emotional processing.”
Peter says anger and fear were dominant
emotions shown by the teachers attending
the workshop. “I started the first workshop by
just providing a space for people to talk about
what’s been happening. There’s a real anger that
this has happened. There’s this whole climate
change issue that their government refuses to
Professor Peter O’Connor. Photo: Elise Manahan acknowledge as well as anger over the way their
government handled the crisis. So there was this
huge outpouring of emotion.
COLLABORATION of children at all levels. “We named the initiative
after the banksia flower that can regenerate
“The teachers also talked about how scared
they are ... this whole fire business and, you know,
IN A CRISIS after a crisis. It’s a metaphor for our work: arts
strengthening communities in the midst of
black sky, and choking on dust and smoke. And
we talked about how important it is for teachers
disaster. It reminds us that natural regeneration is to talk about it as staff back at school too.”
Our experts created tools for possible,” says Peter. “It’s important to look after yourself and
Australian teachers following “Schools have a role in helping children those around you,” Carol adds. “Teachers and
the bushfires. understand the world in which they live,” he says. principals tend to put their students, families and
“Often in disasters, schools become the hubs by communities before their own needs and can
When Australian school teachers stepped which everything operates so it’s really important become exhausted very quickly.”
into the classroom on the first day of the that you structure what you do on the first days Peter says tertiary institutions training teachers
school year, they knew it needed to be a safe back. For example, how you memorialise is a need to think about how to ensure their graduates
haven from the horror of the bushfires that big question. If you lose a couple of kids in your are equipped to deal with such crises. “There
had devastated so many communities in school to a disaster, how do you manage that? were lots of teacher educators who, after those
New South Wales and Victoria. Not talking about it is about the worst thing you two days in Sydney, said, ‘I need to go back to my
Before the school term started, many teachers can do ... it makes schools less than human.” university and say ‘when these events happen, we
had gathered in Sydney to hear the expertise of He says first-year teachers may not have had need the opportunity for staff to think about what
University of Auckland arts educator Professor any training in this area. “They end up with 30 it means for us, but also what it means for our
Peter O’Connor and Professor Carol Mutch. five-year-olds thinking ‘what the hell do I do’? If students and our classes in the coming days’.”
Peter was approached by Australian academic you’re the adult with these children, they’ll have a Carol says there are common messages for
colleagues to lead a project to help teachers huge range of questions.” teachers and principals and a summary of these
when students returned to school during the The Banksia Initiative met in Sydney, with a is on the Banksia Initiative website. She says since
ongoing bushfire crisis. He has previously practical arts-based workshop on the second day the seminar she has been contacted personally
worked with children in Christchurch following for around 50 teachers. A webinar was held for by teachers, to share stories or ask questions.
the earthquakes and terror attacks, and in those who couldn’t attend the event. “I did the “This has highlighted the need for teachers,
Mexico City following earthquakes there. What work I’ve done both in Christchurch and Mexico especially beginning teachers or teachers in
resulted was a one-day gathering in January of City after earthquakes and showed how you can remote locations, to be able to talk to someone,
30 academic experts from arts, health, education do that with little ones. [Professor] Helen Cahill in person, about their concerns.”
and disaster recovery, from universities all over from the University of Melbourne covered how She says the advice sheets she prepared
Australia and the University of Auckland. you could work with secondary school students. for Australian teachers have attracted global
“I talked to Carol, then to colleagues at the “In Australia, after the Black Saturday bushfires interest. “A teacher in Puerto Rico asked if she
universities of Melbourne and Sydney, along with in 2009, their Ministry of Education, and a range can translate them into Spanish and share
my friend who’s the president of the National of other organisations, have been really proactive with schools in her country after their recent
Alliance of Arts Educators in Australia,” says Peter. in developing tools for schools.” earthquakes. This experience has highlighted
“Within 24 hours we had half a dozen professors He says that’s not the case in New Zealand. that what we do is important and can make a
and artists, another colleague who runs the Arts “Even though we’ve had the Christchurch difference to people’s lives.”
Health Network in NSW. Within two days we had earthquakes and a terror attack, in New Zealand See: artshealthnetwork.com.au/resources/
the best people in this area, in this part of the we don’t have anything like this in place for Full story: auckland.ac.nz/BanksiaInitiative
world, on the team.” schools. There’s the usual excellent advice about
The experts produced a set of resources and returning to normal. But how do you deal with
advice for teachers and posted it on the NSW Arts the stories coming in? How do you acknowledge
Health Network site. Teachers were directed to it what’s been happening in young people’s lives?”
for support as they returned to school. Carol has worked in five countries in post-
“Universities are slow beasts, but for this to be disaster situations and agrees that students need
at all meaningful, it had to be up and out for the school to be a place of safety and calm after
first day back at school. And we did it,” he says. the chaos in their lives. “They need familiarity
Professor Carol Mutch, left.
It features classroom activities for teachers and routine. They also need safe ways to begin
UNINEWS 3
GOOD TO KNOW
ASPIRATIONS FOR
THE FUTURE AS
CLOUD LIFTS
WHALES MAKE
A COMEBACK The dawn blessing to open
the new Engineering Building
was a special moment on
The critically endangered blue whale Surveying humpback, blue and southern
many levels.
is increasingly looking like one of right whales, the researchers report humpbacks
conservation’s biggest success stories. are now a common sight in coastal waters at When Dean of Engineering Nic Smith ends
In the first multi-year survey at South South Georgia with 790 reported over 21 days his six-year stint at the University this
Georgia Island in the southwest Atlantic where of surveying this season. A preliminary estimate month, he will look back on many faculty
hunting drove whales almost to extinction, an suggests more than 20,000 humpbacks are achievements, but one has made him
international team of scientists reports some feeding there in summer before migrating to prouder than most. It came at the December
whale populations may be close to full recovery colder waters in the sub-Antarctic to breed. opening of the new $280m Engineering
while others show promising signs of a comeback. The rare and critically endangered blue whale Building with a dawn blessing, the unveiling
University of Auckland whale researcher was sighted just once during the first year of of a pou whenua (carved wooden post) and,
Dr Emma Carroll, who has co-led the survey with the survey, in 2018. This year, blue whales were significantly, a new haka.
Dr Jen Jackson from the British Antarctic Survey sighted or acoustically recorded 55 times. “The opportunity to stand shoulder-to-
(BAS), says the latest data from South Georgia “Continued protection and monitoring is shoulder with my colleagues, to perform our haka
shows protection of whales has worked. required to see if this unprecedented number of and signal a new beginning for Engineering was
“South Georgia has a similar latitude to New blue whale sightings is a long-term trend, as we special,” says Nic. “It was a unique chance for us
Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands and, as with see in humpbacks,” says Jen. to articulate and celebrate the values and culture
our own populations of southern right whale The southern right whale, or Tohorā, was of our faculty community.”
near the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, we regularly seen in 2018 but only rarely seen in 2019 The haka – Me Hoki Whakamuri Kia Anga
knew populations were increasing but these and this season. Jen says that may be because Whakamua – goes a long way towards healing
latest results are fantastic,” she says. “It’s also they prefer to feed elsewhere but the data will be the hurt inflicted more than 40 years ago, in an
particularly significant because whales were further analysed. era when engineering students would perform
slaughtered in their tens of thousands at South “What is clear is that protection from whaling a mock haka annually as part of their capping
Georgia so to see them return in such numbers is has worked with densities of humpbacks, in pranks, despite protests at the time.
just an absolute thrill.” particular, similar to those of a century ago.” Nic will take up a new role as Provost at
Queensland University of Technology this month
and says performing the new haka was a highlight
VAPE STUDY DISPROVES MEDIA HYPE of his time at Auckland.
“We were not only opening a new building, but
also signalling what that building offers … and the
A major study of youth smoking by ASH NZ Despite increases in experimentation, daily use direction in which we want to go as a faculty.”
and the University of Auckland shows that remains low, especially for non-smokers. The haka was created by staff with Tāpeta
while some young people are experimenting Lead author, Associate Professor Dr Natalie Wehi, co-founder of Te Wehi Haka and leader of
with vaping, daily use of an e-cigarette Walker from the University, says: “Our findings the Haka Experience.
occurs overwhelmingly in existing smokers. are consistent with other national surveys and do Nic says the issue of the mock haka has
The annual survey of almost 30,000 Year 10 not support the idea of a so-called youth vaping concerned him since he became Dean in 2013.
students (aged 14-15) is one of the largest epidemic in Aotearoa New Zealand. “One of the frustrating things is that while
dedicated youth tobacco surveys in the world. “Most importantly, our survey looks at daily the haka story has been forgotten by many
Since 2014 the survey has asked about the use of use which is a far more reliable indicator of likely New Zealanders, it remains an important and
e-cigarettes or vapes. The new study found that dependence on vaping, than weekly or monthly challenging reminder for the Māori community of
in 2019, only 3.1 percent of Year 10 students vaped use. Despite increases in experimentation ... daily a time when the haka’s unique ability to draw us
daily, while 37.3 percent have tried an e-cigarette, use remains low, especially for non-smokers. together and collectively issue our clarion call was
even just a puff, up from 20.8 percent in 2014. “E-cigarettes might be displacing smoking not always understood or respected.
More than 95 percent of students who smoked for young people. Concerns about youth vaping “I sat next to a person on a plane back in
daily had tried vaping, compared to 25 percent of should be weighed against the possibility that Wellington fairly early on in my time as Dean.
those who had never smoked tobacco. Although e-cigarettes could decrease the risk of smoking After I told him my job he said ‘oh, yeah, yeah.
a quarter of those who have never smoked had initiation and support smoking youth to quit.” You’re the fellows who used to do that haka’.
tried at least a single puff of an e-cigarette, less “It is important that we acknowledge all our
than 1 percent (0.8 percent) were daily users. Full story: tinyurl.com/YouthVape history. However, our haka legacy was stymying
4 UNINEWS
FEATURE
Dean of Engineering Nic Smith, second from right,
performing the new haka. Below: The Engineering team.
our efforts to move forward. So in the faculty we engineering women students has risen from just and who understand how and why ideas and
had a conversation about what was important for over 20 percent to 30 percent now, a trend the technologies are going to be adopted by society.”
us. What did we want to represent? What was the faculty is determined to continue. Our biomedical He says by being able to bring disparate
common thing about us as a group we wanted to programme has 60 percent female students. communities of different skills together you can
hold up and say, this is what we’re about?” “For staff it takes time. You have a staff group start to address some of the challenges. “A single
Catherine Dunphy, Kaiārahi for the faculty, who span everything from people who were here engineer or even a huge group of engineers isn’t
said the historic incident reflected what was as students during the haka era to people who are going to solve climate change alone.”
happening in society at the time but the new haka very new. Look at our younger staff. We are much Nic says all universities need to work on their
represents the faculty’s aspirations for the future. more diverse in the faculty as a whole and we’re relevance to the local community.
“The only way to move ahead is to understand better for it.” “If you look at the changing demographics of
and acknowledge our history,” she says. He acknowledges that engineering may still Auckland, and New Zealand, if we are not relevant
Nic says the new haka is a rallying call for have an image problem. for our young people, if we’re not relevant
engineering to define its purpose. “The reality is, engineering today is an for Māori, if we are not relevant for our wider
“We are uniquely positioned as the Faculty enormously diverse discipline, meaning that while community, there is a huge risk that we’re not
of Engineering in the South Pacific, of relevance today’s engineers have important technical skills, going to be relevant as an institution.”
for our iwi community and all the people of they’re also creative people who can navigate Another goal is to engage more with a wide
Aotearoa New Zealand. There’s still a lot of uncertainty and rationalise complexity. For spectrum of industry.
work to do but we have a number of absolutely students today, as they consider a new problem, “When I arrived, we had one of the poorest
fantastic young Māori staff who have joined the being able to ask the relevant new questions engagements with industry. But now I can point to
faculty over the past three years and are helping is increasingly just as important as answering many major corporate partners and relationships
us move forward.” existing questions. for supplying students, research, support, and
These include lecturer Dr Tumanako Fa’aui, “What gives me confidence is that it’s exciting equity programmes.”
Professional Teaching Fellow Aimee Matiu and how quickly our students are developing these Nic looks back with pride on many of these
doctoral student Nona Taute who, with current skills,” says Nic. “They’re diverse, talented and things but his proudest moment came at the
students, led the haka at the blessing. highly motivated to contribute to a better world in opening ceremony of the new building.
The haka’s development is part of a greater many new and emerging areas. “I got an email afterwards from one of our staff
strategic priority for the faculty. In 2018, “They look at how we as a society respond to who said ‘I was there doing the haka in the 1970s
Engineering began to look at ways to identify challenges. For example, consider autonomous when I was a student and I can’t tell you how good
students who may not otherwise have chosen vehicles. The question is not how to do it. The it made me feel to now be part of a faculty that
engineering as a subject. It ran a four-week question is how do you introduce them and has given that story some closure’.”
camp called Genesis, taking in 20 Māori and what are the ethics of a driverless vehicle having
Pacific students. “None had qualifications to to decide between running someone over at a ■ Denise Montgomery
get into engineering,” says Nic. “Some didn’t crossing or crashing and killing the occupants?
even have qualifications to get into university. At “Or 3D printing. The question is not the Professor Gerard Rowe will be acting dean of
the beginning, we tested them and the average technology. It’s about what happens to the the Faculty of Engineering.
scores went from less than 30 percent to over intellectual property. And what does it mean for
80 percent. the manufacturing sector? What can we now
“Of the 20, we offered 15 places in engineering design that we couldn’t make before?”
although five went to science. These are students He says engineers have to play a leadership
who otherwise would never have come to role and become more engaged with their wider
university. Most of them are first in their family. It’s community and other disciplines and types of
a small number, but it’s a significant number and expertise.
one that we must continue to build on.” “Yes, we need people to deal with engineering
Nic says diversity among students and staff is challenges around climate change. But actually,
improving. “Over the past six years the number of we need people who have a wider perspective
UNINEWS 5
FEATURE
SNAPSHOTS “Worse than that, cutting them up and filleting
them,” she laughs.
led to his decision to go to classes and began
painting, first in oils then watercolours.
IN TIME Michele laughs a lot. She attributes her
positivity to her mother.
“Thank God she encouraged him,” says
Michele. “He was talented and it was a great
“My mother was famously happy. You know, experience for him.”
there’d be three kids fighting in the back seat of He died aged just 55, in 1981. “But some of
After more than three the car and my mother would turn around and the best photos we have of my mum and dad
decades of having her poetry roar, BE HAPPY! It would work because we’d all fall were taken in the very last year of his life, up the
apart laughing. She was determined to be happy.” mountain in Taranaki. It’s summertime, there’s a
published, Michele Leggott Michele also credits her mother with imbuing pohutukawa in the background and Dad has his
has selected some of her best. her with resilience, a characteristic she was sketchbook. They’ve taken a day off.”
required to draw on heavily as she started losing After her father died, her mother followed
Professor Michele Leggott sits at her dining her sight. Around the time her son James was within 18 months. “It was just awful.”
table in Devonport with her nine poetry born, in 1985, she was diagnosed with a mild form The years have softened the pain of their
books displayed in front of her. of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or night blindness. premature passing.
“I love each of my nine books, they’re like But in 1994, by which time she’d had another son, “And I am glad that my parents didn’t have to
children. Any poet, any novelist, will tell you that Robin, she was diagnosed with a more severe know about me becoming blind. They died before
each book is such a project. And at the end of it, form of RP, which gradually destroys cells in the either of them had to know that.”
you feel as if you’ve just given birth.” retina that are responsible for colour vision and In Michele’s book of poems As Far as I Can See
Nine collections of poetry, beginning with fine focus. (1999) she conveyed her sorrow at losing her sight
Like This? in 1988 through to 2017’s Vanishing “If I’m a strong person, mum is the reason. and was still hopeful for a cure.
Points. Now there’s Mezzaluna, selected poems It’s not that dad wasn’t, but when we are talking “My ophthalmologist is a world specialist in
covering 30 years of her work. about core resilience, my mother had it in retinitis pigmentosa. I trust that if something
The book was first published earlier this year by buckets. If something was bad, she’d say ‘Well, comes along that looks fantastic, she would get
Wesleyan University Press in Connecticut. dear, lie down, have a little cry and then get up hold of me. There might be a magic moment and
“They invited me to do a selected poems. It and make a cup of tea and keep going’.” I might get my eyesight back. But if you’ve lost a
was a big deal. I said, ‘That’s great. I’d love to do it Her mother was also hugely supportive of her faculty in the way I have, you’ve got to learn how
but talk to Auckland University Press (AUP) first’.” father, a builder and fledgeling artist. to live with it because if the magic bullet doesn’t
AUP wasn’t a hurdle but then came the real “Dad drew as a kid, but grew up during arrive until I’m 95, wouldn’t that be annoying?
challenge. “Each book reflects a certain part of the Depression and left school at 15. His “It’s much better to deal with each stage of
my life, not always autobiographical, but it does apprenticeship was as a joiner and cabinet maker the decline as it happens and to figure out ways
reflect what I was doing and what I was interested so I know where I get my perfectionism from.” around it. That’s why I’m happy to talk about it
in. I’ve got a big thing for chronology, so I did When her father was about 40, Michele’s but I’ve never wanted to be pigeonholed as a
wonder how I’d go about selecting the poems.” mother encouraged him to explore his creative ‘blind writer’ or a ‘blind lecturer’. It’s part of who I
Our first New Zealand Poet Laureate (she streak. “She bought him some little oil paints for am. It’s part of what I do.”
hastens to add there were five Te Mata Poet Christmas when I was about 10 and said, ‘You’re She and husband Mark have lived in their
Laureates before that) was then tasked with an artist. You know this. You need to give yourself Devonport home since 1986. It’s a little big now
“choosing parts of her children”. some time to draw and paint. That gift in 1966 that their sons are adults, one living overseas, but
6 UNINEWS
FEATURE
it’s familiar for Michele. She can remember the there’s less punctuation and more and more of that corner the screen reader had put me into.
house layout from before she lost her sight. spacing. What it gives me is uncertainty … the But in the end it gave me a new way of writing –
“Fortunately, I also married an exceptionally ability to stretch the language. I can decide prose poetry.”
tidy person. That’s really good because if you’re whether or not to join fragment one with fragment Michele has a 0.5 workload and this year she
living with someone who can’t see, things need to two. And I can do it differently every time.” is teaching a stage-three poetry-writing course
be in one place, you need to know where they are She acknowledges poetry can be difficult for and a postgraduate course called Opening
and that they haven’t shifted. some when there’s no ‘traditional’ punctuation. the Archive. She’s also researching the art and
“He’s also a brilliant cook. As are my sons; But she hopes there’s something in the words writing of Emily Cumming Harris. (See https://
Robin is a chef. Why would you not let the brilliant that hook a person in. “I don’t care whether a emilycummingharris.blogs.auckland.ac.nz/)
cooks cook? I’ve got such amazing support person understands intellectually what’s going on But you won’t catch her ‘dissecting’ poetry
from family and people who can help me with the first time they read it. That kind of absolute with the class. “People like to say dissect and
the housework, cooking, whatever. I do take understanding comes after two or three readings. I say, ‘dissection is usually dead bodies’. The
advantage of that because it means I’ll have more For me, a poem that’s really working reaches metaphor is not a good one for poems. I call it
energy and mental capacity for the things I like out and grabs you because of something that’s close reading.”
to do.” right there on the surface. It might be an amazing Even though recent poems are prose-like,
Which is to write, of course. Her creative output image or something in the rhythm, or something rhythm is hugely important to her. Her poetry is
has earned her many awards and accolades in the subject, something outrageous. renowned for its musicality.
including the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary “It’s the X-factor. The hook. And once the “There’s something very good about
Achievement in Poetry, the New Zealand Order reader is giving you that kind of attention, they composing sentences by listening to them. I had
of Merit, the inaugural New Zealand Poet may look at what else there is in the poem that to start doing it in 2012 when I finally had to stop
Laureateship in 2007, and being a Fellow of the you want people to take notice of. That’s when a magnifying the screen because it wasn’t working
Royal Society Te Apārangi – only the second poet poem starts to work in terms of the layers. any more. That switch into audio was one of the
to receive the honour. hardest things because I had to go right back to
For people who don’t know her work, the beginning. I couldn’t even open a Word file.
Mezzaluna is the perfect introduction. As poets It was devastating – I was teaching English and
are wont, the title has several layers of meaning. ‘A poem that’s really I couldn’t edit. But you do it over and over and
On the one level, a mezzaluna is a crescent- working reaches out and eventually, it starts to come.
shaped kitchen implement for chopping herbs. “Then you realise how close writing poetry is
“Everything can be one thing, but it can be grabs you because of to composing, where you’re always listening for
another. So the actual word mezzaluna is Italian something that’s right the music and putting words together because of
meaning half moon. My son gave us a mezzaluna the sound, not just the sense. In any culture in the
and the moment I heard that word I thought it there on the surface.’ world, if you go far enough back it’s always been
was beautiful … it’s cool because it looks like a about a song. Think of nursery rhymes. There are
half-moon and poets are very keen on moons. the vestiges of it right there.”
Moons are all the way through my poetry.” It was actually the loss of her eyesight that Is that why many poets adopt a sing-song voice
While the lunar title came fairly easily, choosing precipitated the need to change the “shape” in when reading out loud?
the stars to make up the selected poems was which she wrote. “From 2012 I learned, painfully, “That happens. My voice will change when I
more challenging. When she first sent her how to work with audio software. But I couldn’t start reading in public. I do hear it shift and I’m
selection to Wesleyan, it was 500 pages and make the screen reader read the lines that didn’t one of those poets who’s quite happy for that to
she was firmly directed to get it down to the have punctuation because screen readers are set happen. I like that shift into the register that says,
200 pages it is today. “I knew I wanted it to be up for normative punctuation. okay, ‘this is poetry and you should listen up’.”
chronological. I thought, okay, what do I want that “It was driving me mad because I could write
person to feel coming to my work? I want them the poems, leaving the gaps in my mind’s eye. ■ On Spotify: Listen to Michele read poems written
to feel the things I have been excited about … the But when I came to read them back, the screen in her 2009 Laureate year.
things that still jump out.” reader wouldn’t give me the pauses that were the
The task was made harder by not being able to white spaces. I couldn’t remember what I’d done
see the shape of her poems on the page. In her at line one or see whether it was the same length.
earlier books, she’s an exponent of the modernist If I had been a software engineer, I would have Mezzaluna:
Selected Poems
tradition … poems with long lines, long gaps and tweaked that programme. (Auckland University
no punctuation. “Then I thought, okay, I’ll write prose poetry. Press) RRP $35
“When I was a starting out, I liked to create It will still have the rhythms that I want, and the
really complex poems, because that’s what screen reader will be able to read it.”
modernist poets do. I think poets change over the She says that kind of issue is what she finds
years and you write differently at different times.
“I’ve had to write and read essays, punctuate
most frustrating about not being able to see.
“What I dislike about being blind is the
WIN!
and know how things are spelled correctly, tendency it has to put you in a situation of deficit. We have
especially as an editor. But with poetry, I’m not If you load yourself up with too much deficit, one copy of
bound by those conventions. you’re not going to be very functional and you’re Mezzaluna to give away.
“That was a decision I took a long time ago and probably not going to be a pleasant person. Email: uninews@auckland.ac.nz
you can see it happening through the collections, “I was appalled that I couldn’t find a way out by 15 March.
UNINEWS 7
GOOD TO KNOW
CBD OIL MAY legalised for prescription by doctors in New
Zealand in 2017. CBD is FDA-approved for the
HAVE WIDER treatment of two childhood seizure disorders,
but early evidence suggests it could also help
BENEFITS treat anxiety and chronic pain, and may reduce
psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia. Due
to a lack of large-scale, controlled studies in
A study of the first 400 local patients humans, there are no prescribing guidelines.
using medical cannabis suggests potential The study found that CBD oil taken for four
benefits beyond currently recognised uses. weeks significantly improved the self-reported due to dropout and subjectivity, the findings
The study, a collaboration between the quality of life most for patients living with underline a need for more research to
University and GP Dr Graham Gulbransen, who non-cancer chronic pain and anxiety-related “fully realise the therapeutic potential of
opened the first medical cannabis clinic in New mental health conditions. Patients with cancer medical cannabis”.
Zealand, examined the records of 400 patients or neurological symptoms also experienced “CBD is well-tolerated in most patients and
assessed for treatment at Graham’s West improvements, but to a lesser degree. can markedly ease symptoms in a range of hard-
Auckland clinic Cannabis Care. Professor Bruce Arroll, senior author of to-treat conditions … there are people keen to
Products containing cannabidiol (CBD oil), the study and head of the Department of access this and self-fund the medication.”
an active compound derived from the cannabis General Practice and Primary Healthcare at the Read the full story: tinyurl.com/
plant which does not give people a ‘high’, were University, says while the study had limitations UoAMedicalCannabisStudy
OBITUARY fabric. The intellectual discourse of the “critic
and conscience of society” was not restricted to
went into private practice, his competence and
skill were immediately evident. He became
the army sheds of the old School of Architecture. an Associate of the Royal Institute of British
There was Harry’s office, over the road in St Paul’s Architecture in 1959.
Street and university staff Pud Middleton and His Newcomb House in Parnell won a bronze
John Goldwater were living on the other side of medal in 1968 as well as an enduring architecture
Blanford Park. Symonds Street was both a social award. In 1975, Peter and Ian George were
occasion and a hotbed of gossip. In 1963, Bill set awarded a NZIA National Award for the Auckland
up the Auckland Architectural Association in the Grammar Centennial Hall. In 1977 Peter became
Wynyard Building, so debate could carry on after Professor of Architectural Design and the new
the Kiwi Hotel closed at 6pm. School of Architecture opened in 1978.
A new Master of Architecture degree was Over the years there were factions, frictions
introduced in 1962 and, in 1964, Peter was and fierce competition. Architects tend to have
appointed to teach architectural history and strong personalities. It has been said that “Peter
theory. He completed a PhD at the School in was the glue. If he had not been there the place
1979, focusing on the psychology of perception. would probably have pulled itself apart”.
Along the way, modernism had morphed into One highlight of Peter’s career was leading
post-modernism and then swung back to neo- a team that won the Venice Prize for the best
modernism. Peter preferred to talk about ‘regional School of Architecture in the world, at the 1991
modernism’ by which he meant ‘the quest for a Venice Biennale.
New Zealand vernacular’. Peter’s human-centred architecture reflected
PETER JOHN Peter had already been exploring these ideas
when he was a student. He had helped James
his profound love of humankind, generosity of
spirit and wild sense of humour. He retired and
BARTLETT
Garrett with the 1954 exhibition in the Auckland became emeritus professor in 1993 but kept
Art Gallery, mostly remembered now for a lively debate going for another 25 years. He
popularising the Man Alone image, which hung in also designed and built a holiday home at Lake
7 JAN 1929 – 21 DEC 2019 the Architecture Library for all of Peter’s career, Tarawera, with a studio for his artist wife Margaret
but disappeared when the library closed. Lawlor-Bartlett and room for the grandchildren.
Peter had completed his BArch degree from the There, as at Auckland Grammar and in the School
Peter Bartlett, Harry Turbott and Bill Wilson University of New Zealand in 1953 and then spent of Architecture and Planning building on campus,
were appointed as sessional staff to the four years in Paris after being awarded a New his ideas brought delight to younger generations.
School of Architecture in 1961, the year that Zealand Government Cultural Fund Bursary to Peter was a steady hand, always open to new
the University of Auckland was established study there. He designed Corbusier housing and ideas. He is survived by Margaret, sons Louis
by the Universities Act. community projects among Algerian and Tunisian Pierre, Jeremy, Brendan and the late Nicky,
Peter had been a brilliant student during immigrants in the north-east of Paris. Paddy daughters Alice and Kate, nine grandchildren and
Vernon Brown’s era and won several awards Costello, first secretary at the Embassy, also three great-grandchildren.
for his architectural designs. The city was very arranged an introduction to Le Corbusier. ■ Tony Watkins, architect and retired senior lecturer,
different then, with the University woven into its When Peter returned to New Zealand and School of Architecture
8 UNINEWS
MY STORY
FEATURE
MATHESON
RUSSELL
Associate Professor Matheson ‘We’re all
Russell lectures in philosophy. philosophers
in some sense
Do people understand what philosophers do?
I don’t think so. I didn’t until I came to university
already.’
and started taking philosophy courses. Some
countries teach philosophy at high school but
there’s not much taught here in New Zealand.
How do you introduce philosophy to
students?
I explain that it’s not some abstract ivory-tower
thing. We’re already immersed in philosophical
questions which means we’re all philosophers contributing and criticising one another’s work. upheaval at the moment where we are
in some sense already. It’s about thinking really Collectively we work out what’s robust. collectively trying to overcome some of these
well about the deepest questions we face. problematic biases. Some of the most creative
What is it to be a human being? What makes You’re interested in how we come to good and able contemporary philosophers are women
a life worth living? Are we in a post-truth age? policies. What do you think of referenda? and people of colour and they’re really reshaping
Philosophy is not the only discipline that tries to I don’t know that referenda have much of a all fields of philosophy through their work.
address these questions but to come and study place. Do we expect that everyone just casts a
philosophy is to pick up some tools for thinking vote in a referendum and the result of that is a Does New Zealand have good philosophers?
about those questions in a concerted way. good policy? There’s a common perception that Yes! Just as an example, in this department
a referendum is the most democratic way to alone there is distinguished professor Stephen
You’re a big fan of German philosopher resolve controversial things because everyone Davies, one of probably four or five leading
Jürgen Habermas. Why is he important? gets a say. But developing good policy requires philosophers in the philosophy of art. Professor
Habermas is one of the main figures in the a carefully organised process of input from John Bishop works in the philosophy of religion,
20th-century German tradition. When I started the right people. It requires critical reflection and he’s an internationally renowned thinker in
reading his work, I felt like it brought together a and discussion among people who represent that area. Professor Gillian Brock is a political
lot of themes I’m interested in and sympathetic different perspectives and bring different critical philosopher whose work on global justice is at
to. Democracy for him is healthiest when it’s capacities to the question. Referenda give us the top of her field. That’s just a few.
surrounded by a dynamic public sphere where a voice, yes, but I’d feel more confident in the
citizens air ideas, evaluate arguments and decision if there was a more robust process. What brought you to New Zealand after you
circulate information. He believes a healthy, studied in Sydney?
functioning democracy is one where we have Or should we just let politicians decide? After my PhD I initially came here for six months
democratic institutions embedded within a Making important decisions relies on well- to teach a couple of courses. At the end of
broader engaged citizenry. organised forums where the participants get a the six months, the University advertised a
chance to go in deep on issues and get the right permanent position, which I got. I was a little
Where does that happen? kind of input from experts, then come out with a bit lucky because I was here and they saw that I
Well it’s sort of a tragic story for Habermas set of robust recommendations. That’s the kind wasn’t crazy. That’s a good threshold to clear.
because we don’t see very much of it. Just as of process that we’d hope our politicians would
journals and coffee houses were picking up pace engage in, but they don’t because they’re doing You’ve recently become an associate
in the 18th century and people were engaging ten other things at the same time. They’re trying professor – what does that mean for you?
in this sort of argumentation, those spaces to campaign and appear in the news media and It’s satisfying to be promoted but it doesn’t
became colonised or inundated by advertising, stay in touch with their constituents. change much of what I do here. Like a lot of
messaging from corporations and propaganda. Complex policy questions, such as the academics, I have a bit of imposter syndrome.
That undermines the public sphere. A public cannabis and end-of-life laws, require dedicated But now that I’m an associate professor, I feel
sphere of communication and argumentation concentration and we can do that with a citizens’ like maybe I do know something about this. It
does still exist in some forms. The gold standard assembly. If we were to redesign our system, brings a bit of confidence with it.
is in science when research papers are peer- maybe we could expect to be drafted into things
reviewed. You present your reasoning and your like citizens’ assemblies every so often to play What do you do in your spare time?
evidence to a scientific community and they’ll our part, sort of like we do in juries. I have a two-year-old and a five-year-old so they
pick holes in it. It’s actually a social process. keep me busy. I’m involved in climate activism
For the most part, science doesn’t progress Does philosophy have an image issue? as well; climate change is something I’m really
because of geniuses. It progresses because it’s Certainly, it has some baggage. It has a gender concerned about and I’m on the board of
an organised collective activity where everyone’s and Eurocentric bias. Philosophy is undergoing 350 Aotearoa. I also play music – cello and guitar.
UNINEWS 9
ART & CULTURE
BOOKS
Today in New
Zealand History
(updated edition)
David Green, Gareth
Phipps, Steve Watters
and alumnus Neill
Atkinson, now chief
historian at the
Ministry for Culture
and Heritage, have compiled an updated
version of their large-format local history book.
Every date has an associated story and photo,
taking in everything from a poll tax imposed
on Chinese in New Zealand on 5 July, 1881, to
EYES ON WHAT
the Greymouth beer boycott of 29 September,
1947. Includes photos from the archives and
LIES BENEATH
Alexander Turnbull Library.
Neill Atkinson, David Green, Gareth Phipps,
Steve Watters, Exisle Publishing, RRP $40
WIN: We have one copy of Today in
Chirag Jindal, artist and graduate of the he used a LiDAR (light detection and ranging)
New Zealand History to give away. Email:
University’s School of Architecture and scanner to survey an ancient lava cave under
uninews@auckland.ac.nz by 17 March.
Planning, has been recognised with another Three Kings.
award for his startling images that reveal “The thesis gave me an opportunity to
the hidden lava caves beneath Auckland. understand the technology and landscape, and AUP New Poets 6
As well as being artistic, Chirag’s work is part- this project that followed was about bringing it An Auckland University
documentary journalism and part-cartography. into the public forum,” he says. Press collection of three
In January he won one of two prestigious awards LiDAR is a surveying method used in new poets: Ben Kemp,
in the 162nd edition of the Royal Photographic archaeological research and criminal forensics. Vanessa Crofskey and
Society’s International Photography Exhibition It uses light to collect millions of precisely Chris Stewart. Kemp
– the Under 30s award. This was for his debut measured points to translate the physical world offers attentive readings
series of works, titled Into the Underworld / Ngā into a 3D digital facsimile. LiDAR technology has of place and people;
Mahi Rarowhenua, one of which was Ambury become central to Chirag’s art and research Crofskey’s political
Road, Mangere (above). practice and he’s working on a number of new poetry takes the form of things like Post-It notes
The images capture the unseen world projects in New Zealand, as well as Poland where and shopping lists; and Chris Stewart has a
– the caves beneath our feet, sometimes he was awarded the 2019 Bialystok Interphoto “visceral take on the domestic”.
beneath schools, our petrol stations and many Grand Prix. Edited Anna Jackson, AUP, RRP $30
backyards. The existence of these caves is not Selected from more than 1,370 entries
commonly known and often only discovered from 62 countries, the exhibition at the Royal The One That
ABOUT THE BOOK
“ Who tried to poison
THE L
CRIME
auren fraser is easing into a
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Got Away
comfortable retirement when her
Lauren Fraser is easing into a David Lange? Can they
when someone wants to build over them. They Photographic Society features the work“ of ONE
comfortable retirement when her historian friend Ro reveals a shocking
historian friend Ro reveals a shocking be brought to justice secret. Ro’s research has uncovered the
Whowasthewould-be
secret. Ro’s research has uncovered after thirty years? ” attempted poisoning of a New Zealand
the attempted poisoning of a New
murdererandcanthey
THAT
prime minister.
Zealand prime minister.
bebroughttojustice Despite herself, Lauren is drawn into
might then fill them with construction rubble 43 international photographers. Spirituality, ”
Despite herself, afterthirtyyears?
Lauren is drawn into
Lois Cox and Hilary Lapsley
the mystery. Who was the would-be
murderer and can they be brought to
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
GOT
the mystery. Who was the would-be
murderer and can they be brought to
justice after thirty years? Who has J justice after thirty years? Who has been
involved in covering up the plot and why?
ennifer palgrave is the pen
name of writing partnership Lois Cox
or concrete. identity, inclusion and the environment are some have formed a new writing
been involved in covering up the plot As they get closer to the truth, Lauren and Hilary Lapsley.
AWAY
and why? As they get closer to the
and Ro find themselves in danger. One
truth, Lauren and Ro find themselves
in danger. One death follows another, death follows another, and it is no longer Title: The One That Got Away
and it is no longer a cold case they a cold case they have on their hands. Author: Jennifer Palgrave
“Often, the growing infrastructure of the city of the themes explored this year. partnership under the pen
have on their hands. This gripping novel is set in Publisher: Town Belt Press, Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand’s capital Publication Date: 5 December 2019
This gripping novel is set in Wellington, city, where Lauren and her friends are Format: Paperback
JENNIFER PALGRAVE
New Zealand’s capital city, where
celebrating Jacinda Ardern’s fresh new ISBN: 978-0-473-50007-8
Lauren and her friends are celebrating
coalition government. Will Lauren Extent: 232pp
has been prioritised over the caves,” says Chirag. Chirag says of his award: “As any other debut name Jennifer Palgrave.
Jacinda Ardern’s fresh new coalition
government. Will Lauren and Ro and Ro succeed in exposing malign Dimensions: 6˝x 9˝
succeed in exposing malign global global forces that destroyed a former NZ RRP $30
forces that destroyed a former government, and still operate today?
government and still operate today?
If there is a surreal quality to the photographs, project, the work follows many long periods of Town
ISBN 9780473500078
JENNIFER Hilary works part time as SALES & DISTRIBUTION
Bookseller terms: 40% of RRP; sale or return
PALGRAVE
Belt Town
Orders to: townbeltpress@xtra.co.nz
the world they capture is very real. experimenting, indecision and risk. But it’s a a senior research fellow at
Press
Belt 157 Washington Ave, Brooklyn
9 780473 500078 Press
WELLINGTON, NZ
Wellington 6021, New Zealand
WELLINGTON, NZ telephone: 021 177 6884
“They are not manipulated or doctored. It’s privilege for it to be given this level of recognition the James Henare Māori
a real landscape, one which was sometimes and platform for outreach and exposure.” Research Centre. The One
used as a burial site or hideaways by Māori, Chirag will be publishing a book about his That Got Away, a political crime novel, is her first
as mushroom farms by Pākehā or even as project by 2021, and will be exhibiting the project foray into fiction. The story centres on a foiled
war shelters. There’s a layered history to this at Berlin Art Week in September. The work will plot to assassinate David Lange. The protaganist
landscape which has been left out of the also exhibit at the Arsenale of Venice this month Lauren Fraser is a former public servant easing
narrative, because we couldn’t see it, but a as part of the 2020 Arte Laguna Exhibition. into retirement. When her historian friend Ro
history we need to take care of.” Read more: rps.org/opportunities/ipe-162/ stumbles across evidence of the plot, Lauren is
Into the Underworld initially emerged out of under-30s-award-winner/ drawn into the Beehive mystery.
Chirag’s Masters of Architecture thesis, in which Chirag on YouTube: youtu.be/laK5Buk_KYM Jennifer Palgrave, Town Belt Press, RRP $30
10 UNINEWSCLASSIFIEDS
LET THERE such cultural concepts and how they might be
applied architecturally.
ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE
MOUNT EDEN ROOM TO LET, WEEKDAYS:
BE LIGHT “The actual process of creating the drawing
involved an abstract exercise, where we jumped
Seeking a mature, clean, tidy person to rent
unfurnished double bedroom, Monday to Fridays.
between hand drawings, collages, models and You’ll share a three-bedroom house with a couple
Master of Architecture student Youngi photographs. Then, using this collection of and a small dog (Jack Russell/mini poodle cross).
Shared bathroom, two toilets. Spacious courtyard
Kim has won third place and 1,000 euros elements, we created a hybrid analogue/digital in a quiet cul-de-sac street. Short walk to bus
($1,700) in the 2019 Drawing of the Year work. This was a new way of working for me and stops, supermarket, cafes/bars. Train stations
competition for his drawing (below), The it felt very freeing in a way, as the work came nearby. No other pets allowed or smokers. Good
Void Between Light and Shadow. about organically.” off-street parking (will need a permit for all-day
parking during week). $275 a week available now.
Drawing of the Year is an international The judges said: “The artwork draws our Email: pamela.rlobo@gmail.com
student competition run by Aarhus School of attention because of its pure composition,
Architecture in Denmark. The theme this year its mastering of light and shadow, and its PRINTING: Auckland University Bindery is your
was ‘Post Human Metamorphosis’ and the way of addressing the theme in a poetic and one-stop print shop. We have the latest digital
winners were selected from 124 entries from authentic way.” printing technology for leaflets, booklets, cards and
45 countries. Youngi says it was a spur of the moment invitations produced to a very high standard. We
Youngi’s drawing was created as part of a decision to enter. can do it all – print, bind and deliver. Print and
collect on the same day.
taught studio course in the first year of his “So it came as a huge surprise when a couple Email: unibindery@auckland.ac.nz or
Master of Architecture. of months later I received an email to say I’d won call 278 2456.
“Working with others, I had the chance to third place and then saw photos of my drawing
explore ideas for a temporary structure for the exhibited on the other side of the world – in a Classified ads will be moving online to the staff
New Zealand Festival of Arts in Wellington.” place I’d never even set foot in before!” Yammer platform in the future. In the interim,
The artwork incorporates concepts of Māori please keep emailing uninews@auckland.ac.nz if
cosmogony such as “the void, the darkness and To see the winners: https://aarch.dk/en/the- you have an ad you wish to run.
the light,” says Youngi. “This project dealt with winners-of-drawing-of-the-year-2019/
EVENTS
WHAT Nin Thomas Memorial Lecture:
Professor Robert A Williams discusses:
‘Why Do We Even Need a United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples?’
WHEN Thursday 12 March, 6-7pm
WHERE Building 801, 9 Eden Crescent,
Stone Lecture Theatre, Level 3
WHAT All staff reception. Meet Vice-
Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater.
WHEN Wednesday 18 March, 4.30pm
WHERE Pavilion, OGH.
WHAT Lecture: Professor Tracey McIntosh
discusses Te Pūtake o Wheako
Rau – Lived experience, incarceration
and a politic of emancipation. See
AUP TITLES IN OCKHAMS TOP 40 nvite.com/universityofauckland/f5dc9
WHEN Thursday 19 March, 6-8pm
WHERE Waipapa Marae
Seven Auckland University Press titles have at the Bottom of the Ocean (all poetry). In
made the long list for the Ockham New the illustrated non-fiction section: Frances WHAT Lecture: Justice Edwin Cameron
Zealand Book Awards. The list was due to Hodgkins: European Journeys by alumnae discusses ‘Constitutional Justice and
be whittled down from 40 to 16 on 4 March. Mary Kisler and Catherine Hammond; Funny the Rule of Law – South Africa’s
The books are Under Glass by Gregory As: The Story of New Zealand Comedy by Paul Quarter-Century of Democracy’
Kan, Moth Hour by Anne Kennedy, How to Horan and Philip Matthews; and Colin McCahon: WHEN Wednesday 25 March, 6-7pm
Live by Helen Rickerby and Sugar Magnolia There Is Only One Direction, Vol. 1 1919-1950, by WHERE Building 801, 9 Eden Crescent,
Wilson’s Because a Woman’s Heart Is a Needle Peter Simpson. Stone Lecture Theatre, Level 3
UNINEWS 11You can also read
