Morena koutou

This change is due to the significantly less student demand. It will be in place until further notice.

Security has advised that due to decreasing student demand as most exams are now completed. From tomorrow, Thursday 11 November, there will only be 1x Security Guard on the entry/exit at PJH and EPS libraries.

We are pleased to share that Zahra Emamzadeh has been appointed to the full time, fixed term role of Poutoko Ratonga Kiritaki | Team Leader Engagement and Learning Support (Engagement). Zahra brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the role. Aside from working in the ELS team, she has been a lead advisor with the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs where she led and organised events, consultation and engagement activities for the Ministry. She has a natural strength in empathetic leadership and inclusion. She is future focussed and brings theory and practice to the engagement portfolio of the role. Zahra is excited to work in another capacity with the library team and her first day will be Tuesday 16 November.

FYI

Te Pātaka is the name given to the new student hub that will be located in Puaka-James Hight Library.

Pātaka are storehouses for food, goods, and other valuable resources. Generally, pātaka were raised off the ground, especially those containing preserved meats or dried goods that needed constant air flow. Often intricately carved with symbols representing plenty and abundance, pātaka were often positioned within a village near the dwellings of rangatira within a pā. Pātaka were not only storehouses,  but a symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Sitting within Puaka-James Hight Library, and elevated to the third mezzanine level, Te Pātaka will act as a one-stop-shop of resources for our tauira that will be visible from the moment they enter the library. In alignment with narratives concerning Puaka, Te Pātaka will offer an abundance of resource and nourishment to our tauira throughout the year ensuring they are prepared to succeed and excel throughout their academic journey. 

Kaitoko is the term given to the form and function of student advisors within Te Pātaka.

Kaitoko is compound word, ‘kai’ a prefix denoting human agency over the verb that follows, and ‘toko’, meaning to support, prop up, erect, and uplift amongst other meanings. Kaitoko, can loosely be translated as supporter, proper-upper, uplifter etc. It is a term that represents the form and function of an advisory role, but holistically, the scope of kaitoko extends beyond advising.

Poutoko is the term given to the form and function of the operations manager within Te Pātaka

Poutoko is another compound word and can be translated as support post. It is term for the support post that elevates a pātaka.

Kia ora koutou

The development of the new Student Hub is moving quickly and is on track for opening at the beginning of 2022. Click on this link to view the final plan on SharePoint. The briefing document shows the redesign of the Level 3 mezzanine and the Level 2 reception. The new desk design will minimise disruption to the way ELS currently works.

Form and function for Library part of the reception desk:

• Library will move from a standing information desk to a sitting desk.
• Storage will be cupboards that stand flush under the stairs and near our corner.
• Library is positioned in the North West corner of the reception area, with 2x seats and possibility of 3 if needed.
• From the Library position at the desk there is line of sight to the ELS workroom, front entrance, makerspace and library self-service kiosks.
• There are 3x entry points to behind the desk, two are close to the Library desk.
• Staplers etc are on the extension part of the Library desk.
• There is ample room to move around behind the desk so it is comfortable, functional and supports any staff who might require wheelchair access.
• There are two wheelchair friendly spaces on the desk (one at the West and one on the East side) for students who are using wheelchairs and being sitting height, this improves the student experience.
• High demand will be reconfigured, likely in the shape of a letter ‘L’ and facing the desk.
• Casual seating will be dotted around the reception area.
• Bean bags will likely move to Level 3 as there are two student lounges.

Indicative timeline and mitigations:

• The redesign will likely start in mid November and be completed for a start in January 2022.
• The position of the new reception desk around the stairs removes the health and safety issue with hitting one’s head, and there is improved security at the desk.
• ELS will provide a temporary info desk by our workroom door when construction work starts and if we are not able to use the existing info desk. This is what we did in AL2 previously and this has worked well as a temporary measure.

Feel free to contact Sara or Te Paea if you have any questions or you would like us to come and talk with your teams.

Tēnā rā tatou

This is insideOUT #7 and the first day in October.

Today is Rā last day before she embarks on a new adventure with a key sector role for the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme. We wish you all the best Rā! He mihi mutunga kore from all of us in Engagement and Learning Support.

ITS Over the Phone Support

Over the last few weeks, there has been work around ITS services and it is great to see this mature to providing a 24/7 Over the Phone Support service (0508 UC IT HELP or 0508 824 843) that has New Zealand based staff. The support is available now and covers:

• Password resets
• Lost/stolen devices
• Zoom/technology support
• Major technology incidents/outages

Level 4 PJH Redesign

Just a wee mention to say this is coming together well and the preparation work across the library and FM is fantastic. Manufacturing of furniture is in progress and we are looking forward to a November start on installation.

Student Hub

As mentioned in the staff forum, the student hub is taking shape for installation into Level 3 of PJH. Both Sara and I are on various project streams to work with Kaylene Sampson and Julie Mackey and other hub team members and it seems that are they are getting close to finalising plans and a timeline which can be shared wider.  Of interest is the cultural narrative aspect which focusses on Puaka. Puaka is the Ngāi Tahu name for the star Rigel in the constellation Orion. For Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tuahuriri, the rise of  Puaka, along with Matariki, are an indication that the seasons are changing – tītī birders and eyelets have finished their annual mahika kai activities, store houses are overflowing, the months are to cool down, nights will be longer, and it is a time to prepare for the next year and spring seasons. In relation to the form and function of the student hub, parallels can be drawn from the cultural narrative – the need to pause for a moment and prepare, a change of seasons in terms of the life long journey of education transitioning from secondary school to tertiary studies, as well as ensuring the need for adequate resources and nourishment ensuring the success of our tauira whilst here at UC.

Snippets from Te Rua

We are so proud of our ELS team who have supported students in Te Rua. Our activities are gaining popularity and student and staff feedback shows we are hitting the mark! Here is a great example of our engagement and learning support efforts for building Connected Makers: Working in collaboration with The Student Volunteer Army, our team helped train, make and deliver face masks and shields in alert level 2 for those that needed them. 32 people attended the sessions in the week beginning 13 September. Approx. 130 + 7 Te Rua branded masks, and 41 face masks and face shields made for distribution throughout the wider University for students and staff. Wonky masks received student army logos and ones that showed student learning in sewing received Te Rua Makerspace logos.  George Haswell, Health and Wellbeing Promoter, Student Life, Services and Communications, joined in and advised on how best to get the masks to the UC people in need. Here’s a quick video of the process and of the students creating them in Te Rua.

Our Values at UC

You will have seen the new Values being rolled out around campus. Our Values will guide how we do things at UC, so its important that you, me and everyone is on board to incorporate the Values into how we work and relate to each other.

People and Culture have added a new resource to the Values kete, which are conversations that were captured on video between members of Te Waka Pākākano and other colleagues from around UC. Each video is a deep dive of some 7 – 10 minutes into each Value as well as the attributes (kia pono, Kia tika, kia aroha and utu) and an introduction. The videos were developed during a collaboration between Te Waka Pākākano, People and Culture, Communications and Learning Services.

The videos were featured in Tū ki te tahi last week, and they were so good, I felt the need to share them here on Counterculture. They are a useful resource to help your understanding and, more importantly, live the Values. Check them out!

All the videos are here: Organisational Development – UC Intranet (canterbury.ac.nz)

The individual videos are here:

Join Corban and Cheryl as they discuss UC’s newly defined values [3:19]

Join Darryn and Letitia as they explore Manaakitanga in their work and personal lives. [11:01]

Join Liz and Ekant as they take a deep dive into Whanaungatanga

Join Jeanine and Anne as they share insights about Tiakitanga [7:39]

Join Liz and Jeanine as they explain the attributes that underpin UC’s values (9:24)

Hei kona rā

Te Paea

Unfortunately, the selected candidate is unable to proceed with this appointment, so we are re-advertising the position. This fixed term, full time opportunity is now live and applications close 27 October 2021.  

Further information is available at Job ID 7142, https://jobs.canterbury.ac.nz/jobdetails/ajid/4mlL7/Poutoko-Ratonga-Kiritaki-Team-Leader-Engagement-and-Learning-Support,7142

A random query received from alumni, looking for a historian with a name that sounds like Anne Pattersen, Paterson, Pearson or Peterson. In Christchurch about 12 years ago.

Would anyone have any ideas on who that might be? Chocolate fish is also available to the person who solves this.

Tēnā koutou te hunga tirotiro mai nei i runga i te hanga hurihuri o tēnei ao. Ka mihi atu ki ō tātou kuia, koroua me te mōhio ki te aroha i tuku mai ai rātou hei whakaara ake i a tātou me ō tātou uri whakatupu. Kia tātou te whakamahuetanga, kia manawanui. Anei mātou o te puna mātauraka e toro atu i te ringa ki a koutou kia whakakī te tūranga e kōrerohia nei. Ka mutu, whakapiri mai, whakatata mai, haramai me ō koutou tini āhuatanga kia rongo i te aroha o tēnei mahi.

Engagement and Learning Support is recruiting for a Poutoko Ratonga Kiritaki | Team Leader, Engagement and Learning Support.

This fixed term, full time opportunity is now advertised on UC Jobs.  Applications close 19 September 2021.

Further information is available at Job ID 7142, Poutoko Ratonga Kiritaki | Team Leader, Engagement and Learning Support

Kia ora koutou

I am stoked to share that Rā will be taking up the fixed term role of Manager Strategic Partnerships, New Zealand Library Partnerships Programme (NZLPP) at the National Library. She starts Monday 4 October 2021 to June 2022. In this role Rā reports to the Programme Director, NZLPP.

The New Zealand Library Partnership Programme (NZLPP) is working to strengthen the vital role of New Zealand Libraries as community hubs that support life-long learning, reading, digital literacy and easy access to information and knowledge. As a part of the programme, we are considering the sustainability of libraries and library services in communities and Aotearoa so they can continue to support inclusive, resilient and thriving communities over the longer term. The Manager Strategic Partnerships is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the NZLPP sustainability work programme to deliver strategic initiatives that will support sector sustainability post COVID-19 recovery and relief funding. This includes responsibility for work programme development and implementation; direction setting and leadership of associated strategic initiatives including contract management; influencing policy and practice development; supporting sector strategic partners to deliver successful outcomes through NZLPP grant funded initiatives; and on-going monitoring and tracking of the work programme.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Rā, so please join me in wishing her all the best. As a result of this change, we will be advertising for a fixed term Team Leader, Engagement and Learning Support (Engagement) that will support our team through to June 2022. This could be a secondment or fixed term for the successful candidate.

Ngā mihi nui
Te Paea