Today’s post is truly enormous – happy reading!

Policy, Management & People

1. Enrolment Issues Computer glitches and a new customer service team have delayed processing of some Otago Poly enrolments.
2. Bike Theft… charges against Waiariki deputy CE Keith Ikin have been dropped. (I had expected this last week, as it looked like the Police didn’t have much of a case, Dave)
3. Acting CE The TEC has appointed Deputy CE Colin Webb as Acting CE from today.
4. Unitec… Early Learning Centre is under police investigation after failing to tell parents their child had fallen and hit his head while at the Centre.
5. Gardies Infamous Otago Uni student bar The Gardens Tavern has been replaced by a state of the art study centre (ODT).
6. Wanganui Mayor… Annette Main will chair a joint taskforce of the District Council and UCOL on local tertiary education.
7. Ngapuhi Hapu Leader… David Rankin has criticised TWOA and other public sector institutions for inflated CE pay packages.
8. Course Merger Beef + Lamb chairman Mike Petersen calls for Lincoln and Massey to merge their agriculture courses.
9. Alumni Appeal Otago Uni has announced that its 11^th Annual Appeal will support undergrad scholarships, a new Chair in Earthquake Science and the MRI scanner fund.
10. Aoraki… acting CE Alex Cabrera is excited about the prospects for increasing student numbers.
11. Extras: the history of Otago Uni’s Christchurch medical school; Otago Uni’s Hellen Chuma and her family immigrated to NZ 10 years ago; editorial praises Lincoln for course reform; Canterbury’s Eric Crampton in ‘sexiest economist’ poll; Lincoln VC Andrew West taking a proactive and open approach; Peter Dunne’s opening address at the Auckland Health Symposium.

Research & Innovation

1. Workplace Discrimination Canterbury’s Annick Masselot says women continue to be discriminated against by employers despite human rights legislation (Fairfax, NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB).
2. Antarctic Wildlife Canterbury’s Regina Eisert will lead a new project to help seals and penguins in the Antarctic.
3. Post-Quake Canterbury Auckland’s Chris Sibley, Victoria’s Joseph Bulbulia, and Canterbury’s Sarah Yanicki, Ellen Sole, and Mohamud Osman have all been studying the psychological and sociological effects of the earthquakes.
4. Obesity Auckland’s John Thompson says if a 4-year-old is obese, they are more likely to remain that way (NZ Herald).
5. Govt Regulation Massey’s Sally Casswell says governments should regulate MNCs that push tobacco, alcohol and highly processed food.
6. Energy Policy Waikato’s Prof Barry Barton has headed a report on household energy behaviour around space and water heating (Fairfax).
7. NCD Interventions Auckland’s Ruth Bonita says 3 cost-effective interventions to counter non-communicable diseases are essential.
8. Sex Partners Otago Uni’s Sandhya Ramrakha says the more sex partners young adults have the more likely they are to go on to develop alcohol or cannabis dependence disorders.
9. Golden Yarn Victoria’s Prof Jim Johnston and Kerstin Lucas have developed a new luxury woollen product containing pure gold.
10. PREDICT Auckland’s Prof Rod Jackson on updating the general practice cardiovascular disease risk assessment tool PREDICT.
11. Extras: Otago Uni’s Peter Holland has authored a new book on settlers in southern NZ; Massey’s Glenn Banks researching Thai wine industry; Canterbury students testing bridge strength solutions; Otago Uni’s Ben Healey says more than 100,000 NZ children are exposed to smoking in car every week (Fairfax); Massey’s Michael Naylor says NZers are under-insured by $650b; Canterbury’s Paul Gardner and Auckland’s Siouxsie Wiles on what NZers die of.

Public Issues

1. Housing Auckland’s Michael O’Sullivan on the size of NZ houses, and Auckland’s Prof Tim Hazledine says incomes, not housing affordability, is the key issue.
2. Artistic Interests Auckland’s Prof John Fraser and Otago Uni’s John Adams say artistic interests make for more well-rounded doctors.
3. Cricket Series Massey’s Prof Gary Hermansson on the psychological see-saw of international sport.
4. Coffee Prices Massey’s Andrew Murphy on coffee chains and their marketing tactics.
5. Seven Sharp Auckland’s Joe Atkinson says Seven Sharp is losing the ratings battle to Campbell Live.
6. Greenwashing AUT’s John Robertson and Victoria’s Prof Kate McGrath on eco-friendly branding.
7. Conflict of Interest Victoria’s Prof Jonathan Boston on Maurice Williamson’s alleged conflict of interest.
8. Pacific Environment Auckland’s Steven Ratuva is calling for a stronger cross-disciplinary advocacy for a safe and sustainable Pacific environment.
9. Building Codes Lincoln’s Ann Brower argues for stronger building codes after the Christchurch earthquakes.
10. Census Auckland’s Prof Thomas Lumley on the pros and cons of our 5-year census.
11. Prescription Drugs Auckland’s Prof Rod Jackson on prescription use in middle age.
12. GST Victoria’s Prof Norman Gemmel says GST exemptions for fruit and vegetables is an inefficient way to redistribute wealth.
13. Extras: Massey’s Stuart McLaren on new traffic light sound control system for schools; Massey’s Steve Stannard on sports doping; Victoria’s Robert Ayson on unpredictable war situations (NZ Herald); Auckland’s Ian Lambie on why young people are more likely to take action in emergencies; Massey’s Prof Mark Brown on digital devices in schools; Canterbury’s Bronwyn Hayward organised a petition opposing charter schools; Victoria’s Prof Charles Daugherty supports Gareth Morgan on cat database; Otago Uni’s Louise Signal on sports sponsorships; AUT’s Matt Barker on outdoor education;  Lincoln’s Jacky Bowring on architectural sites of significance; Massey’s Prof Bob Hargreaves on house prices; Massey’s Mike Joy on waterway pollution; Auckland’s Prof Max Abbott and Peter Adams on the appeal of pokies.

Students

1. Mouldy Burger A Massey student was served a mouldy burger at a Burger King in central Wellington (3 News, Newstalk ZB).
2. Work Experience A Canterbury forestry engineering student has completed his second summer working with Nelson Forests.
3. OUSA… have got permission to spray safety signs on footpaths around North Dunedin.
4. Scholarships A Palmerston North school leaver will begin studying biomedical science at Auckland with $90,000 worth of scholarships.
5. O-Week… ticket sales in Otago have been strong, says OUSA president Francisco Hernandez, who is ready for a hectic week. Police have warned students not to “overdo it”.
6. WITT’s… kapa haka team has had its final dress rehearsal before heading to the Te Matatini national comp.

Stakeholders

1. Plant Collection BOPP is collaborating with BOP Regional Council on a new pest plant collection which will help identify plants and educate the public.
2. Contemporary Jazz The Chris Mason-Battley Group will play NZ composer John Psathas’ works at Auckland for the Fringe Festival.
3. Shakespeare The AUSA Outdoor Shakespeare Trust is presenting King Lear at Auckland in March.
4. Cross-Party Policies… will be discussed by MPs at the Appeal to Parliament debate at Otago Uni.
5. Palmerston North… businesses are preparing for the  influx of students at the beginning of the tertiary year.
6. Te Matatini Waikato’s Prof Pou Temara (NBR) and Matiu Dickson to judge the upcoming Te Matatini kapa haka comp.
7. Immersion Schools About 20 Year 12 students from two Kura Maori schools visited Waikato to use its chemistry lab.
8. The Hobbit Former Hobbiton Movie Set  comms manager Ian Brodie to give free lecture at Waikato.
9. Japanese Cooking… demonstration to be hosted at Waikato during orientation week.
10. Richard Dawkins Foundation… director Sean Faircloth will speak at Auckland Uni.
11. Extras: Otago Uni’s Prof Harlene Hayne appointed to Treasury’s advisory board; Otago Uni’s Keri Lawson-Te Aho presented the first  of MHF Maori Suicide Prevention webinars; Otago Uni’s Francis Hodgkins Fellow Nick Austin’s exhibition ‘The Liquid Dossier’ opens tomorrow; Orientation 2013 and Summer Fete hosted at Canterbury; Katherine Mansfield conference held at Victoria; IBM funding new Delivery Centre at Unitec; photography collective that began at UCOL; Canterbury has made a submission on the proposed Waimakariri Basin irrigation scheme; SIT to continue as naming rights sponsor for the Stags rugby team; Nobel laureates Profs Roald Hoffman and Bill Phillips to speak at Otago Uni.

Teaching & Learning

1. Shanghai… University models will feature in the iD International Emerging Designer Awards next month.
2. SIT… is increasing classes in trade courses to keep up with strong enrolments.
3. Extras: Waikato’s new postgrad governance course launched by John Key.