Council Honours

Council Honours are special awards that have been presented to people who have made an outstanding contribution to Otago Polytechnic.

Council Honours

Council Honours are special awards that have been presented to people who have made an outstanding contribution to Otago Polytechnic.

Emeritus Professor

Professor Khyla Russell (2016)

Professor Khyla Russell is an exemplar of a highly successful adult learner. During her forties she completed a Bachelor of Arts from Massey University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts from the University of Otago.

Professor Khyla Russell (2016)

Khyla Russell is an exemplar of a highly successful adult learner. During her forties she completed a Bachelor of Arts from Massey University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts from the University of Otago and not long after her fiftieth birthday she was conferred with the higher degree, Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Otago.

Khyla was the first senior Māori manager appointed to Otago Polytechnic, using the title of Kaitohutohu, late in 2004, following the signing of our memorandum of Understanding with Papitipu Runaka earlier in that year. Seven years later, in December 2011 she was appointed as Otago Polytechnic’s second full professor.

Khyla was instrumental along with the Komiti Kawanataka in changing the way the Polytechnic engaged with Kai Tahu/Māori through the development and enactment of the Māori Strategic Framework. Alongside this she continued her own research which resulted in outputs that have contributed to the growing body of Māori research knowledge whilst also supporting and supervising Māori researchers. As a consequence she has been invited to be the keynote speaker at conferences in NZ and overseas. She has been a member of the Māori Knowledge PBRF assessment panel, as well as a research reviewer for the Health Research Council.

Khyla retired from Otago Polytechnic in December 2015. Conferring Khyla with the title of Emeritus Professor is an appropriate recognition of her contribution to Otago Polytechnic, Kai Tahu and the wider research community, and enhances the continuation of this long and valued relationship.

Emeritus Member

Rosemary Caulton (2008)

Rosemary Caulton graduated as an occupational therapist in Auckland in 1961. Over the next 20 years she worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa before moving to Wales.

Emeritus Member

Rosemary Caulton (2008)

Rosemary Caulton graduated as an occupational therapist in Auckland in 1961. Over the next 20 years she worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa before moving to Wales.

Rosemary Caulton (2008)

Rosemary Caulton graduated as an occupational therapist in Auckland in 1961. Over the next 20 years she worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa before moving to Wales. There she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Education and moved into teaching.

In 1991, Rosemary came back to New Zealand taking up a Senior Lecturer position in the newly established School of Occupational Therapy. As well as teaching, she wrote much of the curriculum content and assessment processes, helped organise work placements for students and edited the School’s journal for 10 years.

Emeritus Member

Dr Robin Day (2011)

Robin commenced at Otago Polytechnic as a Tutor in the School of Nursing in November 1986. He is a registered nurse and along with his nursing experience in New Zealand and Australia he has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Dr Robin Day (2011)

Robin commenced at Otago Polytechnic as a Tutor in the School of Nursing in November 1986. He is a registered nurse and along with his nursing experience in New Zealand and Australia he has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In 1988 he was appointed as a Course Supervisor in School of Nursing.

Robin was instrumental in developing the new Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery qualifications in 1992 when the change of legislation allowed Polytechnics to offer degree programmes. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer and Acting Deputy Head Nursing and Midwifery at this time as well as commencing a master’s degree. He later upgraded his significant research via recognition of prior learning to meet the requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy degree which was awarded by Flinders University, South Australia. In 1997 he was appointed Head of Department Nursing and Midwifery.

Robin ended his career at Otago Polytechnic as the Deputy Chief Executive and his Leadership Team colleagues nominated him to council for an honorary award in recognition of his particular outstanding contribution.

Emeritus Member

Dr Maxine Alterio (2014)

Maxine joined the staff at Otago Polytechnic in May 1990, initially as a lecturer and trainer for our first Student Management System, Promis.

Emeritus Member

Dr Maxine Alterio (2014)

Maxine joined the staff at Otago Polytechnic in May 1990, initially as a lecturer and trainer for our first Student Management System, Promis.

Dr Maxine Alterio (2014)

Maxine joined the staff at Otago Polytechnic in May 1990, initally as a lecturer and trainer for our first Student Management System, Promis. Following the introduction of Promis she was appointed as a full-time tenured academic staff developer, a position she held until 2014 when she became an academic mentor.

During her thirty-year career she gained a BA in Education and a MA in Education with Distinction (University of Otago), a Diploma in Teaching Tertiary (Dunedin and Christchurch Colleges of Education), and a PhD (Victoria University of Wellington).

In 2010 her expertise as an innovative tertiary educator was recognised nationally when she received an Ako Aotearoa National Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching Award. Maxine continues to mentor Otago Polytechnic nominees for these awards with outstanding success.

She is co-author of Learning through Storytelling in Higher Education: Using Reflection and Experience to Improve Learning (RoutledgeFalmer, UK and USA, 2003), recognised internationally as the first academic text to link reflective storytelling processes with learning and teaching practices.

Maxine is also a novelist and short story writer. Penguin (NZ) published her best-selling novels Ribbons of Grace (2007), and Lives We Leave Behind (2012). Steele Roberts (NZ) released Maxine’s well-received collection Live News and Other Stories in 2005. Several of her short stories have won, or been placed in, national and international competitions. Others have been broadcast on national radio or appeared in anthologies.

In 2013 she won the Seresin Landfall/Otago University Press Residency. She has held national posts, including Vice-president, National Council, New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA), Chair of selection panels for the NZSA Mentor and Manuscript Assessment Programmes. She is also a member of the Academy of New Zealand (NZ) Literature.

A notable tertiary educator, Maxine has made significant contributions to narrative-based learning, teaching and writing practices in NZ and overseas.

Honorary Degree

Margarita Robertson (2012)

Margarita Robertson, creative director at NOM*d has demonstrated her services to the development of the New Zealand fashion industry, specifically in Dunedin.

Margarita Robertson (2012)

Margarita Robertson, creative director at NOM*d demonstrated through her services to the development of the New Zealand fashion industry, specifically in Dunedin, that she well and truly met the criteria for this academic award.

During the late 1980’s the Dunedin fashion industry fell into decline and in 1986, despite this economic situation, Margi and her husband Chris boldly launched their design label NOMd. During 1999, NOMd was selected by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise as one of the ‘New Zealand Four’, predominant labels chosen to represent New Zealand at London Fashion Week. Since then Margi and her team have gone on to show at New York fashion week, Tranoi at Paris Fashion Week, and consistently show at Australian Fashion Week.

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa holds key pieces from NOMd as part of their permanent fashion and textiles collection. Australia’s National Gallery of Victoria has also purchased NOMd pieces for their permanent collection, and these were exhibited as part of Together Alone: Australian and New Zealand Fashion (October 2009 –April 2010.

Margi has taken on work placement students and hired a number of Otago Polytechnic fashion graduates to work in her workroom and retail business. The experience of working with her and the Nom*d team has contributed to these graduates going on to develop their own businesses and direction in the fashion industry.

Margi has been credited with being instrumental in the resurgence of the local Dunedin fashion industry, she chooses to show at the iD Dunedin railway show annually and is often called on to act as a selector and juror at the iD International Emerging Designer Awards. Nom*d is also the first contemporary fashion designer to be featured at Toitu, Otago Settlers Museum.

Honorary Degree

Huata Holmes (2013)

Huata Holmes’ relationship with the Polytechnic began in the 1970s at the dedication and whakawātea prior to the building of the Geoff Mason building.

Huata Holmes (2013)

Huata Holmes’ relationship with the Polytechnic began in the 1970s at the dedication and whakawātea prior to the building of the Jeff Mason building.

Huata has shown outstanding commitment by and through his participation to furthering education in the Otago region and across New Zealand. He has consistently championed the profile of Otago Polytechnic to ensure it will become the Institute of choice for both Māori and non-Māori. Huata has also been a member of Komiti Kāwanataka, a subcommittee of the Otago Polytechnic Council, since 2006.

Huata’s community service covers a wide spectrum of knowledge and learning and includes service to te Ao Māori, kaumatua to Te Kohanga Reo, and as mentor of new teachers in bi-lingual and immersion teaching and learning. Huata has also been a major supporter with local Papatipu Rūnaka and Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu of the Mana Pounamu Awards since their inception. These awards recognise Māori student leadership in Otago secondary schools encouraging them on to tertiary education. Huata has seamlessly linked tikaka and kawa into our learning environment including whakawātea (openings) of numerous education buildings such as the Robertson Library and Manaaki (Student Centre).

In addition, Huata has also provided invaluable advice and knowledge to the Arts Endowment Board, and the Centre for Sustainability based at Wanaka Campus.

Honorary Degree

Michel Tuffery (2014)

Michel Tuffery M.N.Z.M. was born in 1966 in Wellington and is of Samoan, Cook Island and Tahitian descent. Tuffery studied at the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic from 1986 to 1989.

Michel Tuffery (2014)

Michel Tuffery M.N.Z.M. was born in 1966 in Wellington and is of Samoan, Cook Island and Tahitian descent.Tuffery studied at the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic from 1986 to 1989 where he graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts (Honours). He was awarded a Member of the NZ Merit of Order in the Queen's Honours List for Services to the Arts in 2008.

Amongst many sites, Michel has recently exhibited work at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Campbell Arts Centre in Sydney; at Pataka Art Museum in Wellington; and at the Joest Museum of Art in Cologne, Germany. His work features in many recent publications, for example in the Thames and Hudson publication entitled Oceania; in the Cambridge Scholars Publishing book entitled The Atlantic World of the Antipodes; and in Pacific Art in Detail published by the British Museum Press.

Emeritus Member

Ron McLeod (2005)

Ron studied motor mechanics at King Edward Technical College and upon leaving school took up an apprenticeship with Otago Motors, eventually working his way up to Service Manager.

Ron McLeod (2005)

Ron studied motor mechanics at King Edward Technical College and upon leaving school took up an apprenticeship with Otago Motors, eventually working his way up to Service Manager. Ron started teaching night classes in automotive electrics at Otago Polytechnic before taking on a full-time teaching position. After fifteen years he was made Senior Lecturer, a post he held for a further nineteen years.

Honorary Degree

Graham Crombie (2010)

Graham Crombie demonstrated design-driven strategy expertise within an organisation or enterprise befitting of a Master of Design Enterprise graduate through his contribution to the Otago Business Community.

Honorary Degree

Graham Crombie (2010)

Graham Crombie demonstrated design-driven strategy expertise within an organisation or enterprise befitting of a Master of Design Enterprise graduate through his contribution to the Otago Business Community in executive roles in both strategic management and governance.

Graham has been the Chief Executive and a partner of Polson Higgs and has provided Audit services for a range of clients including recently being Auditor on behalf of the Auditor General to Dunedin International Airport Ltd.

Additionally, Graham has undertaken leadership and governance roles as Chair of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants Board, Chair of Shirlaws NZ Ltd, an international business coaching organisation, and past Chairman of South Link Health, New Zealand’s largest independent Practitioners Association. Graham also served as the Chair of the Otago Polytechnic Council from 2002 to April 2010 during a period of the most significant change in the Polytechnic’s history.

Emeritus Member

Bridie Lonie (2014)

Bridie officially joined Otago Polytechnic in February 1997 as a Lecturer in Art History & Theory after completing an MA in Art History and Theory at the University of Otago. Her study had centred on the relationship between the role of art works in the therapeutic relationship.

Bridie Lonie (2014)

Bridie officially joined Otago Polytechnic in February 1997 as a Lecturer in Art History & Theory after completing an MA in Art History and Theory at the University of Otago. Her study had centred on the relationship between the role of art works in the therapeutic relationship between patient and therapist.

After supporting successive Heads of School since 2001 in either an informal role as Deputy or in a more formal role as Acting Head, Bridie was appointed as the Head of School of Art in 2006. Bridie was also the main programme developer for the Bachelor of Visual Arts accredited in 2008 and a new suite of postgraduate programmes accredited in 2009.

Bridie also undertook wider Polytechnic duties, along with her contribution to the Ethics Committee (2010-2014) she was a member of the Otago Polytechnic Academic Board (2002-2013); a member of the Staff Sub-committee to Council, Otago Polytechnic (2012-2013); a member of the Master of Professional Practices Committee (2012-2013); a member of the Work Based Learning Agreement Committee (2012-2013); and a member of an external Advisory Group for the Targeted Review of Art and Design Qualifications (2013-2014).

With an acute awareness that Otago Polytechnic has a responsibility towards our communities and our city, Bridie served on many external bodies important to the arts and culture of Dunedin. She has been the Chair of the Acquisitions Committee of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery from 2012; is still a member of the Council of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society; and is an invited member of the Your City our Future Arts and Culture Leadership Group of the Dunedin City Council since 2010.

Emeritus Member

Tasi Lemalu (2017)

Tasi’s first formal contact with Otago Polytechnic was the result of a community conference in 1982 organised by Pacific Island Matriarch, Agnes (Eti) Ivala Laufiso on behalf of the Department of Education and Otago Polytechnic to address the education needs of Pacific Island people.

Emeritus Member

Tasi Lemalu (2017)

Tasi’s first formal contact with Otago Polytechnic was the result of a community conference in 1982 organised by Pacific Island Matriarch, Agnes (Eti) Ivala Laufiso on behalf of the Department of Education and Otago Polytechnic to address the education needs of Pacific Island people. An outcome of this conference was Tasi’s election as Chairperson of a large Pacific Island Education Committee which later became the Dunedin Pacific Island Advisory Council. This Council was representative of the range of Pacific island groups, churches, sports, cultural and performing Arts. Tasi, along with other leaders of the group, managed to secure some financial assistance from the Department of Internal Affairs to run courses for Pasifika people with Otago Polytechnic providing the venue. These courses were well supported much to the delight of many Pasifika people who left their homeland without formal education. The Council under Tasi’s leadership also set up an Early Childhood Centre to care for the children while parents and caregivers attended the training courses at Otago Polytechnic.

This resulted in Otago Polytechnic formalising a Pacific role and Tasi was appointed to the staff on 11 March 1985 as Pacific Island Liaison tutor. During the same year, Tasi took pride in being part of setting up the Maori and Pacific Island Centres of Otago Polytechnic, two community entities housed at the same building under the leadership of Otago Polytechnic and its Maori Liaison Officer Mr Dave Miller. Apart from the fantastic support from Agnes Laufiso and the Pasifika community throughout Otago, Tasi received significant input from her husband, Samoan High Chief Lamalu Nanai Foalima, and their children Selena and Jonathan.

Tasi’s main role was to encourage Pacific Island students to enrol and be successful in their study. She has worked tirelessly since to recruit, retain and ensure the successful education achievement of students with much of her work aimed at retaining those who encounter challenges with tertiary education.

Alongside her work with Pacific students, their families and communities, Tasi has also contributed significantly to her Otago Polytechnic staff colleagues and to organisational processes to build capability to meet Pacific aspirations. Tasi is a long standing member of the Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Education (APSTE) and at its 2016 conference held at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) she was honoured as their longest serving foundation member. Tasi also participated in various fono arranged by the Ministry of Education. She was a member of the National Pacific Island Advisory Group of the Ministry of Education (MoE) for 15 years which was acknowledges by her appointment as its Elder. Tasi was also the Dunedin representative on the Pasifika Education Advisory Committee of the MoE Southern Region and Dunedin MoE Reference Group. She is also past Chair of the Dunedin Pasifika Education Reference Group. Past Chair of SPIFS (Strengthen Pasifika Island Family Support), Pacific Island member on the Presbyterian Support Council and a member of the First Church of Otago congregation. Tasi enjoys a valued relationship with the University of Otago’s Pacific Island Centre.

Tasi also served as member of the MoE first National Association of Maori and Pacific Island Polytechnic Liaison Officers. She has been the Otago Representative on the Advisory/Support committee to the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and State Services Commission Course for Pacific Island Senior Managers, the Maori and Pacific Island Arts Council, and many more organisations.

Tasi has been a Justice of the Peace since 1996. Her skills and expertise are sought for consultation and advice in all manner of Pasifika community affairs. She is a known and highly regarded translator and interpreter at the Department for Courts, Medical and Education systems. Tasi hosted the MoE Pasifika Education Radio Programme on Hills AM, for many years. Her contribution to Pacific community activities was recognised by the crown in the 2007 New Year Honours when she was awarded the Membership of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). In 2014 Tasi was presented with the MoE award for distinguished service to Pasifika Education.