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Dr Mick Strack

Mick Strack image

NZCLS BA (Geog) BSurv MSurv PGCertTertTeach PhD (Otago) MNZIS

Email: mick.strack@otago.ac.nz
 Phone: +64 3 479 7603
Room: Surveying building, 1st floor, Room 114

Profile

Senior Lecturer and Kaiawhina

My practical surveying experience includes work in Australia, the UK, Egypt, and Nelson as a survey technician with a NZ Certificate of Land Surveying. In 1993 I arrived in Dunedin to complete a BSurv, and I got hooked on Dunedin and on the academic life. I obtained my MSurv in 1996 and came on board at the School teaching Land Law, Land Administration and Land Tenure. My teaching and research also includes a focus on Māori land issues, sustainable land use, and water, river and sea rights and boundary issues. My PhD thesis was completed in 2008 looking at Indigenous people’s rights in rivers – a Ngai Tahu and Siksika (Canadian First Nation Band) comparison study. My interests include rowing, cycling, travelling, sailing, gardening and reading.

Teaching

Research interests

Research group membership:

  • Research Cluster for Natural Resources Law
  • CSAFE associate
  • Centre for Research on Colonial Culture
  • Member of Steering Committee of Catchments Otago.

Mick is also a member of the Coastal People: Southern Skies collaboration that connects communities with world-leading, cross-discipline research to rebuild coastal ecosystems.
Coastal People: Southern Skies

Projects

  • Boundaries and Coastal erosion in the face of climate change - Sea level rise and storm events
  • Property and title to rivers and lakes
  • Property boundaries and Monumented cadastre.

Supervision

Recent Honours dissertation (SURV490/590) students

  • James Berghan – (co-supervisor with David Goodwin) – Striking a Balance: cultural and productive uses of Māori land
  • Julian Thom - Subsurface rights in tunnels
  • Michael Lister - Property rights in informal occupation sites
  • Mitchell Holyoak - Protecting Outstanding Landscape  

 Professional Project (SURV470)

  • Julian Thom - Subsurface Rights in Tunnels.

Responsibilities

School

Professional activities

Awards and achievements

  • Awarded the Fulton Medallion A-2 by the NZIS in recognition of a published paper of interest to the profession.

Memberships

  • Member of NZIS
  • Member of NZ Coastal Society - Organising Committee for 2016 NZCS Conference
  • NZIS Research Committee
  • NZIS Publications/ Editorial Board

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Publications

Strack, M. (2020). The order is rapidly fadin': Responding to the impact of climate change on property with reference to the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Journal of Property, Planning & Environmental Law, 12(1), 19-34. doi: 10.1108/JPPEL-03-2019-0007

Strack, M. (2017). Land and rivers can own themselves. International Journal of Law in the Built Environment, 9(1), 4-17. doi: 10.1108/IJLBE-10-2016-0016

Strack, M., & Goodwin, D. (2018). More than a mere shadow? The colonial agenda of recent treaty settlements. Waikato Law Review, 25, 41-58.

Strack, M. (2017). Draw conclusions on the wall: Defence of the monumented cadastre. Australian Property Law Journal, 26(1), 1-23.

Strack, M. (2019). Reconfiguring land and property: What is a subdivision? New Zealand Surveyor, 305(August), 1-29.

Edited Book - Research

Strack, M., Wheen, N., Lovelock, B., & Carr, A. (Eds.). (2018). Riverscapes: Research essays on the social context of southern catchments of Aotearoa New Zealand. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago, 102p.

Strack, M. (Ed.). (2013). Survey marks. Dunedin, New Zealand: School of Surveying, University of Otago & the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, 206p.

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Chapter in Book - Research

Strack, M. (2018). Introduction. In M. Strack, N. Wheen, B. Lovelock & A. Carr (Eds.), Riverscapes: Research essays on the social context of southern catchments of Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 1-6). Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago.

Strack, M. (2018). Natural boundaries, legal definitions: Making room for rivers. In M. Strack, N. Wheen, B. Lovelock & A. Carr (Eds.), Riverscapes: Research essays on the social context of southern catchments of Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 65-80). Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago.

Strack, M. (2013). Our relationship with the land. In M. Strack (Ed.), Survey marks. (pp. 111-116). Dunedin, New Zealand: School of Surveying, University of Otago & the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors.

Strack, M. (2013). Surveyors, Māori land and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. In M. Strack (Ed.), Survey marks. (pp. 95-99). Dunedin, New Zealand: School of Surveying, University of Otago & the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors.

Shephard, K., Harraway, J., Lovelock, B., Skeaff, S., Slooten, L., Strack, M., & Jowett, T. (2012). Monitoring changes in the sustainability attributes of higher education students in a New Zealand university. In W. L. Filho (Ed.), Sustainable development at universities: New horizons. (pp. 117-126). Frankfurt, Germany: Peter Lang.

Strack, M. (2011). Bounding the land: Cadastral framework on the Taieri. In J. Ruru, J. Stephenson & M. Abbott (Eds.), Making our place: Exploring land-use tensions in Aotearoa New Zealand. (pp. 101-114). Dunedin, New Zealand: Otago University Press.

Strack, M. (2010). Coastal erosion and property rights in New Zealand [Case study]. In I. Boateng (Ed.), Spatial planning in coastal regions: Facing the impacts of climate change. (pp. 43-44). Copenhagen, Denmark: International Federation of Surveyors.

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Journal - Research Article

Strack, M. (2020). The order is rapidly fadin': Responding to the impact of climate change on property with reference to the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Journal of Property, Planning & Environmental Law, 12(1), 19-34. doi: 10.1108/JPPEL-03-2019-0007

Coutts, B. J., & Strack, M. S. (2019). Is there still a (land) surveying profession? Survey Review, 51(366), 244-249. doi: 10.1080/00396265.2017.1416730

Strack, M., Shephard, K., Jowett, T., Mogford, S., Skeaff, S., & Mirosa, M. (2019). Monitoring surveying students' environmental attitudes as they experience higher education in New Zealand. Survey Review, 51(366), 257-264. doi: 10.1080/00396265.2017.1399526

Strack, M. (2019). Reconfiguring land and property: What is a subdivision? New Zealand Surveyor, 305(August), 1-29.

Strack, M. (2019). First contacts in the South Pacific: Cook and Tupaia. New Zealand Surveyor, 305(December), 17-42.

Strack, M., & Goodwin, D. (2018). More than a mere shadow? The colonial agenda of recent treaty settlements. Waikato Law Review, 25, 41-58.

Innes, S., Shephard, K., Furnari, M., Harraway, J., Jowett, T., Lovelock, B., Strack, M., & Skeaff, S. (2018). Greening the curriculum to foster environmental literacy in tertiary students studying human nutrition. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 13(2), 192-204. doi: 10.1080/19320248.2016.1255693

Strack, M. (2017). “Teachers teach that knowledge waits”: But what knowledge? Connecting technical training and professional education. New Zealand Surveyor, 304, 2-25.

Strack, M. (2017). Land and rivers can own themselves. International Journal of Law in the Built Environment, 9(1), 4-17. doi: 10.1108/IJLBE-10-2016-0016

Strack, M. (2017). Sustainable coastal development: Protect or retreat? WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, 170, 63-72. doi: 10.2495/CC170071

Goodwin, D., & Strack, M. (2017). Tenuous foundations: Historical lessons for modern land agreements. New Zealand Surveyor, 304, 2-28.

Strack, M. (2017). Draw conclusions on the wall: Defence of the monumented cadastre. Australian Property Law Journal, 26(1), 1-23.

Shephard, K., Harraway, J., Lovelock, B., Mirosa, M., Skeaff, S., Slooten, L., Strack, M., Furnari, M., Jowett, T., & Deaker, L. (2015). Seeking learning outcomes appropriate for 'education for sustainable development' and for higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 40(6), 855-866. doi: 10.1080/02602938.2015.1009871

Shephard, K., Harraway, J., Jowett, T., Lovelock, B., Skeaff, S., Slooten, L., Strack, M., & Furnari, M. (2015). Longitudinal analysis of the environmental attitudes of university students. Environmental Education Research, 21(6), 805-820. doi: 10.1080/13504622.2014.913126

Jowett, T., Harraway, J., Lovelock, B., Skeaff, S., Slooten, L., Strack, M., & Shephard, K. (2014). Multinomial-regression modeling of the environmental attitudes of higher education students based on the Revised New Ecological Paradigm Scale. Journal of Environmental Education, 45(1), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/00958964.2013.783777

Strack, M. (2014). 'They'll be drownded in the tide': Reconsidering coastal boundaries in the face of sea-level rise. Geography Research Forum, 34, 23-39.

Shephard, K., Harraway, J., Lovelock, B., Skeaff, S., Slooten, L., Strack, M., Furnari, M., & Jowett, T. (2014). Is the environmental literacy of university students measurable? Environmental Education Research, 20(4), 476-495. doi: 10.1080/13504622.2013.816268

Strack, M., Jowett, T., Shephard, K., & Harraway, J. (2013). What impact do higher-education experiences have on the environmental attitudes of surveying students? New Zealand Surveyor, 302, 36-42.

Berghan, J., Goodwin, D., & Strack, M. (2013). Striking a balance: Balancing cultural and productive uses of Māori freehold land. New Zealand Surveyor, 302, 4-12.

Strack, M. (2013). Watching the river flow: The law, rights and ownership of rivers in New Zealand. New Zealand Surveyor, 302, 28-35.

Coutts, B. J., & Strack, M. S. (2012). Surveying education at the New Zealand National School of Surveying. Survey Review, 44(324), 53-58. doi: 10.1179/1752270611y.0000000002

Strack, M. (2011). Using and stopping unformed legal roads. New Zealand Surveyor, 301, 11-14.

Strack, M., & Jeffery, E. (2009). Access to landlocked Maori land. New Zealand Surveyor, 299, 31-35.

Strack, M. (2009). Lines on the land. New Zealand Surveyor, 299, 14-23.

Strack, M. (2006). Maori land loss: A study of the process of alientation - The Taieri Native Reserve. New Zealand Surveyor, 296, 13-19.

Strack, M. (2005). Back to the land: Walking access to the outdoors. New Zealand Surveyor, 295, 18-25.

Strack, M. (2004). Customary title over the foreshore and seabed of Aotearoa: A property rights perspective. Trans Tasman Surveyor, (6), 44-51.

Bedford, L., & Strack, M. (2004). The legal and administrative frameworks for offshore windfarms in New Zealand. New Zealand Surveyor, (294), 31-36.

Strack, M. S., & Chisholm, C. E. (2001). Ownership or control of our rivers. Butterworths Resource Management Bulletin, 4(5), 52-56.

Strack, M. S., & Rosie, D. P. (2001). Maori land: Kicking around the football. New Zealand Surveyor, 291, 15-19.

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Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Strack, M., & Davies, N. (2017). A fee stratum title to a lake: Does it make sense? Surveying+Spatial, (91), 19-21.

Strack, M. (2016). Before it is washed to the sea? Coastal development and erosion. Civil Engineering Surveyor, July/August, 34-39.

Strack, M. (2004). Access, navigation and property rights in the foreshore and seabed. Survey Quarterly, (39), 37-39.

Bedford, L., & Strack, M. (2004). Catching the sea breeze: Offshore wind farms. Survey Quarterly, (37), 6-7.

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Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Strack, M. (2016). Before it is washed to the sea? Coastal development and erosion. Proceedings of the FIG Working Week: Recovery from Disaster. Retrieved from https://www.fig.net/fig2016/proceedings.htm

Strack, M. (2011). Preparing for the invasion: Retreat from the coast. Proceedings of the Surveying & Spatial Sciences Biennial Conference. (pp. 385-393). Rotorua, New Zealand: Scion. [Full Paper]

Coutts, B. J., & Strack, M. S. (2010). Surveying by degrees: Educating New Zealand surveyors. Proceedings of the FIG Commission 2 Symposium: Workshop on trends in surveying education and training. [CD-ROM] International Federation of Surveyors. [Full Paper]

Strack, M. (2010). Property rights for a new world: Adapting to an ethic of sustainability. Proceedings of the XXIV FIG International Congress: Facing the challenges: Building the capacity. (pp. 1-18). Retrieved from http://www.fig.net/pub/fig2010/techprog.htm

Strack, M. (2010). Property loss due to coastal erosion: Judicial, legislative and policy interventions. Proceedings of the Construction, Building and Real Estate Research Conference (COBRA) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. [USB Memory Stick] London: RICS. [Full Paper]

Strack, M. S. (2004). Rethinking property rights in New Zealand. Proceedings of the FIG Working Week 2004: The Olympic Spirit in Surveying. [CD-ROM] [Full Paper]

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Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Strack, M. S. (2013). Conflicts on the coast. Proceedings of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) Conference: Management of Land and Sea Resources: What's New? [USB Memory Stick] [Abstract]

More publications...