Vice-Chancellor's comment

As we have navigated the changes that 2021 has brought, I have been privileged to witness, and be supported by, the amazing expertise, innovation and kindness of our people, whether they be staff, students or alumni.

For the University, one of the biggest changes was saying farewell to Professor Harlene Hayne, who was our Vice-Chancellor for nearly 10 years. We wish Harlene well in her new position at Curtin University. We are now looking forward to the arrival of our new Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Murdoch, early next year. With Professor Murdoch and the University Council, we are developing the University's future strategic direction document Vision 2040. This considers our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the University's position in the Pacific.

New Zealand has been fortunate to have escaped many of the ravages of COVID-19 over the past 18 months. We recognise that this has not been the case for those of you who live in other parts of the world and have lost loved ones and livelihoods as a result of the pandemic. Our thoughts are with you. However, after several months of relative freedom, the delta variant of COVID-19 has entered our New Zealand community and we are back coping with restrictions of our day-to-day activities. Our people have continued to provide assistance and advice to the Government. Some of our people feature regularly in the media and have become household names, while many other colleagues have been working hard behind the scenes undertaking important research. As a University community we are proud to able to help the Government and the team of five million New Zealanders in this way.

The appearance of COVID-19 has meant returning to online learning for many of our students. This brings challenges for the students and also the teaching and professional staff as they endeavour to support learning and stay connected. It has also brought financial hardship to students and I would like to thank all of you who have donated to Pūtea Tautoko, the student hardship fund. Your gifts have made a real difference to our students.

With Professor Murdoch and the University Council, we are developing the University's future strategic direction document Vision 2040. This considers our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the University's position in the Pacific.

Speaking of our teachers, this year all four of our nominees were awarded National Tertiary Teaching Awards by Ako Aotearoa, including one in the Kaupapa Māori category and another endorsed in supporting Pacific learners. Furthermore, Dr Latika Samalia, from the Department of Anatomy, was awarded the Prime Minister's Supreme Teaching Award. This means we have won this top award seven times in the past 10 years, showing that we have excellent teachers as well as world-class researchers!

I would like to end by thanking another special person, Karen Hogg, as this is the last Otago Magazine that she will be involved in editing. After 18 years producing this and the University's other high profile publications, Karen is retiring. Karen has an amazing knowledge of the University and particularly its people and has used this to produce award-winning publications. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen for her dedication and expertise and wish her a long and happy retirement.

Kia kaha

Vice-Chancellor (Acting)
Professor Helen Nicholson