So far in NZ

Well, it's been a flurry of a week. We have just arrived in Christchurch on the south island, after several glorious days in Whakatane (north island), where I was fortunate to meet and talk with Graham Smith, CEO of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi - a tertiary or post-secondary school with several campuses. When I explained my project to him, he was eager to fill me in on what goes on at the Wānanga and how successful they have been with producing excellent students -- 98 percent or so of whom are Māori. With master's and PhD programmes, along with certificates and diplomas, the Wānanga graduates students who are all over the world. Graham spent 5 years in Vancouver at UBC, and still has students he helps supervise in the EdD programme there. He is familiar with UVic's SAGE programme for Indigenous graduate students and encouraged me to be involved with this group. After the WIPCE conference, it was clear that we (the library) had to be involved with SAGE -- a support group for graduate Indigenous students -- that encourages them to talk about their research with colleagues and peers. This programme is based on something that the Wānanga has been doing for a while with their graduate students and it's helped to shape student learning, scholarship and confidence.



















The best part of my visit to the Wānanga though was finally meeting Mereana Coleman, the library manager. Mereana and I had been chatting by email since August/08 and even though we were both at the WIPCE conference, we never did meet up (it was a huge conference!). So, meeting her was wonderful. We're standing outside her library.

Mereana gave me things to read about Māori librarianship, the state of libraries, archives and records in Aotearoa New Zealand and lots of support, encouragement and help. We were put up at the Wānanga while there -- many thanks to everyone for this hospitality. Mereana and her family fed us, drove us around and took good care of us while in Whakatane. We are grateful and we miss you all already.