a sign of the times

Sign of the times

Crowdsourcing is one of the innovative ways the Deaf Studies Research Unit ensures its New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Dictionary keeps up to date with new words.
Portrait of Vice Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford
Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Welcome to our 2021 issue of Victorious, in another year that has brought challenge and change for Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and the world.

Farah Lamiable-Oulaidi holding a red umbrella in front a large totara hedge
Research

Search for the perfect ‘chaperone’

Ferrier Research Institute scientists are tackling a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that causes death within the first two years of life.

Image of pixelated person to hide identity
Research

Picture this

Associate Professor Nessa Lynch and co-researchers are exploring the implications of facial-recognition technology.

Image of Leki Jackson-Bourke wearing a pink shirt with a Polynesian pattern next to a desk with a Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Short courses booklet on it.
News

Making way for new voices

Te Herenga Waka’s creative writing programme and publisher are helping put Pasifika writers ‘in the main arena’.

An image of Oumuamua a large asteroid floating in space.
Research

Alien artefact or rolling stone Debunking 'Oumuamua

Disagreeing with one astronomer’s theory has led to a Te Herenga Waka academic studying a surprise visitor to our solar system.

Julia Talbot-Jones
Research

A constant source of research

A love for the environment and a desire to do something practical to protect it led Dr Julia Talbot-Jones into the world of economics.

Image of Professor Markus Melloh in front a window.
News

Returning to Aotearoa for good

Professor Markus Melloh, an internationally respected academic with a track record of delivering contemporary and innovative programmes, has taken up his new role as dean of Health.

Wellington coastal sea

A day in the life ... of a climate researcher

We gave cameras to four climate experts from Te Herenga Waka and asked them to document a day in their life and talk about those small moments that make for big change.

Research

Associate Professor Franck Natali,Professor Joe Trodahl and Associate Professor Ben Ruck standing in front of the Tuatara environment
Research

Cleaner greener ammonia production

Associate Professor Franck Natali and a team are revolutionising the way ammonia is produced.

Image of students in front a computer
Research

Cyber—and job—security

The first graduates of a pioneering new major can expect to be in demand.

Green apartments on the side of a building.
Research

Living cities take root

Researchers from Wellington School of Architecture are looking at ways the natural world can provide solutions for the built world to combat climate change.

Dr Christopher Cornwall at a marine lab
Research

Diving for dear life

Award-winner Dr Christopher Cornwall is focused on the plight of the world’s reefs.

Graphic inspired by a whakairo face sporting a yellow to red gradient and colour wheel eyes above a background of ribbons in purples, reds, and teals.
Research

Curriculum curator

Refreshing Māori-medium education to make it stronger is the latest high-profile project for Rāwiri Toia.

Graphic inspired by a whakairo patterns in purples, reds, and teals.
Research

Dedication to te reo Māori 

Kelly Keane-Tuala’s passion for her language has seen her begin two organisations and is behind her pursuit of a PhD.

Image of an abandoned desk.
Research

Performance appraisal, or appraising performance?

Dr Ben Walker is rethinking our understanding of what—and how—we do in the workplace.

Black and white image of a skier jumping.
Research

Avoiding an education whiteout

How Associate Professor Zach Dodson’s online teaching allowed Olympic skier Finn Bilous to pursue his passions online and abroad.

Self testing champions image of a teal coloured ribbon
Research

Self-testing champions

Advocacy by Professor Bev Lawton and Te Herenga Waka’s Centre for Women’s Health Research has paid dividends in the fight against cervical cancer.

News

Woman sitting at a desk taking notes while working on a laptop.
News

The COVID-19 effect

COVID-19 has required students and University staff to be nimble and resourceful in continuing to deliver education internationally.

One man leaning another sitting against a ledge against a wall with a strip of grass in the foreground.
News

Diversifying STEM

Te Herenga Waka is supporting a new generation of Māori and Pasifika scientists.

Watercolour image of an iceberg above and below water.
News

Accounting for it all

Finance is just the tip of the iceberg in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law.

Image of the faculty from the left during the day
News

A quarter-century celebration

The Faculty of Law moved into Government Buildings 25 years ago and has been calling it home ever since.

Pasific Youth in Business event attendees
News

Boosting Pacific business voices

One student is passing on an opportunity she was given at secondary school in the hope of helping other Pasifika youth realise their passions.

Image of Thom holding liquid nitrogen in a canister and a bottle of water in the other.
News

Bringing Science to Wellington

Thom Adams, engagement coordinator in the Wellington Faculty of Science, shares his experience of getting youth excited about science as a career, as well as boosting science achievement.

Nick Bollinger thumbnail in front of plants
News

Counter productive

J.D. Stout Fellow Nick Bollinger explains how he came to host the first campus ‘teach-in’ in 50 years.

Mary Wareham standing next to a robot.
News; Alumni

The human stopping killer robots

After 20 years working in Washington DC, a university alumna has returned to New Zealand to continue her global advocacy work for the arms division of Human Rights Watch, including its fight against killer robots.

Blond person wearing pink suite.
News; Alumni

The fast and furious rise of SYSCA

An idea developed in a Kelburn campus lecture theatre has resulted in three alumnae building an Instagram account with more than three million followers.

L-R: Russell Campbell, Sarah Thomasson, Nicola Hyland, Sam Tippet, James Wenley, Phil Mann, Megan Evans, Sean Coyle, Liz Thompson, David O'Donnell, David Carnegie
News

Cultural capital, creative arts

It is now 50 years since Theatre was introduced as a subject at the University—and while the digital age has brought many changes, the holistic view of theatre remains the same.
the distinguished alumni awards

Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Awards 2021

The achievements of six of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s most distinguished alumni will be presented and celebrated at a special event in 2022.

Supporting the University

Interested in partnering with the University to help us address the major issues facing our nation and world?
Find out more about our What if... philanthropic campaign.

Image of a desk with keys, stationary and an apple.
Research

First principals

Gifts from the Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust are enabling South Auckland teachers to study for Te Herenga Waka’s Master of Secondary School Leadership.

Group of 11 women standing in Tim Beaglehole Courtyard in front of Rangi Kipa’s sculpture ‘Pikimairawea’ known as the fish hook.
News

Opening doors

The new Ngā Hoe a Kupe Pathfinder Scholarships have given a group of students from across the Wellington region freedom and independence.

Concept image of the Living Pa
News

Nurturing knowledge and building connection

People from throughout the University community are finding inspiration and opportunities for creativity in the visionary Living Pā project