Diversity & Inclusion Matters
Newletter - Issue 5, November 2015
Diversity and Inclusion - Update
The revised EEO Programme will go to Council for
approval on 9th December. Thank you for your comments.
The Programme was informed by the EEO Assessment
report which is a snapshot (as at December 2014) of the
EEO situation at the University of Waikato. The revised
Programme supports the Māori Advancement Plan 20152017 and the Pacific Plan which is currently being updated.
What are you doing for your
leadership development in 2016?
PG Cert Leadership in Higher Education – for
academic and general staff. Consider enrolling in the
Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership in Higher
Education which was developed specifically as a
professional learning qualification for staff (and partner
institutions). This course is now in its sixth year and
proving to be a great success. See www.waikato.ac.nz/
pod/postgradcert/index.shtml and register as soon as
possible. You will need to fill out a staff fees concession
form www.waikato.ac.nz/pod/wil/vccwil.shtml for
further information.
Kaitiaki Programme is for new and emerging leaders
who have leadership aspirations and the potential to
develop as leaders. Participants of this programme
may be eligible to continue their leadership learning by
enrolling in the PG Cert Leadership in Higher Education.
Email [email protected] for further information.
Leadership Learning Programme (LLP) is a new
leadership programme for academic staff. Expressions of
interest are sought for the 2016 LLP. Email
[email protected] for further information.
Profiling Dr Naomi Simmonds Raukawa,
Ngāti Huri
Dr Naomi Simmonds completed a PhD in the Geography
Programme in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in
2014. Her thesis entitled ‘Tū te turuturu nō Hine-te-iwaiwa:
Mana Wahine Geographies of Birth in Aotearoa’ has recently
been awarded the New Zealand Geographical Society
President’s award for Best Doctoral Thesis in Geography.
Naomi has since joined the Geography and Environmental
Programme as a lecturer with a focus on Māori and
Indigenous Geographies and Māori Resource Management.
Her research interests are broad and include kaupapa
Māori and mana wahine theories and methodologies; Māori
maternities; community engaged research methodologies;
and whānau, hapū and iwi environmental management and
sustainability practices.
Naomi is passionately committed to her whānau and
loves that the University of Waikato is only a short drive
to home, Pikitū Marae and Putaruru, alongside the Waikato
River leading to a place where she, and her daughter, can
recharge, laugh and remain grounded. She says that some of
the most profound teachings she has received come from
within her own whānau, hapū and, in fact, have come from
the land itself. This has helped her to shape one of her current
research projects which looks at the mutually constituted
relationship between ‘ancestral places’ and the wellbeing of
whānau and hapū.
Women in Leadership Day 2015
WiL Day 2015 was a huge success with around 400
registrations from across the University and 25 external
organisations. Once again a strong contingent from Te
whare wananga Awanuiarangi travelled from Whakatane to
participate in the day. Thanks for your contribution to the day
and the evaluation. Hook up on Google+ to access Diversity
and Inclusion community for comments and photos.
‘I loved it – NZSL is one of New Zealand’s official languages
and I’ve always wanted to learn. When I was at high school we
learnt the NZ Sign Language alphabet. My friends and I would
fingerspell secret messages to each other during assembly! Now
I can hold a conversation in sign and will carry on learning if they
keep running courses. The course is great and Rose, the tutor,
makes learning sign easy and a heap of fun!’
If you are interested in learning sign language - contact
[email protected]. The eight week courses run for two
hours one evening a week and is held locally at Fraser High
School. Fees will be paid by the University for the first four
people who register interest where the course has relevance to
their job.
Well-being: Tai Chi practitioners growing:
Opportunities for peaceful practice
After the Women In Leadership Day where Te Oranga staff
presented a workshop on Mindfulness, Yoga and Tai Chi there
was much interest in continuing Tai Chi. Twenty staff, such as
Allison Henry and Trisha Kruyff (pictured), signed on for the
six-week course with lisahunter, some near to completing
Level 1. These new practitioners meet weekly for Tai Chi as
well as receiving instruction into introductory Shibashi,
Qigong and Shiatsu-do with interest to continue practice
beyond the course. Tai Chi will be offered again in 2016.
Opportunity to learn sign language
Learning sign language as a way of
engaging with deaf people on campus and
in your communities. In the past two years
University supported six staff members to
learn NZ Sign Language through evening
courses at Fraser High School. Teresa
Gibbison (WCEL team) completed the
first and second stage courses. Teresa says
Great opportunity to learn te reo and tikanga
Have you considered learning te reo and tikanga as part of
your professional learning and development next year? If
so below are the intro papers for Semester A 2016 – BUT
FIRST check with your line manager and the Staff Fees
Concession policy. Te Reo Māori: Introductory 1 - REOM111. This is
an introductory paper for students with little or no
knowledge of the Māori language which provides basic
everyday language such as: greetings, farewells, focusing
on family relationships, numbers, time, shopping, talking
about a trip and commands.
He Hīnātore ki te Ao Māori: Introducing the Māori World
- TIKA163. This is an introduction to the Māori world view,
language, social organisation including the analysis of the
Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti of Waitangi and its relevance.