Ceri Warnock wins The Law Foundation's 2013 International Research Fellowship
13 December 2013
The Law Foundation's 2013 International Research Fellowship, New Zealand's premier legal research award, has been won by Ceri Warnock, senior law lecturer at the University of Otago.
Valued at up to $125,000, the Fellowship is awarded annually to enable an individual of outstanding ability to undertake legal research that will make a significant contribution to New Zealand. The award was made at the Law Foundation's Annual Awards dinner in the Grand Hall at Parliament on 4 December and presented by the Minister of Justice Judith Collins.
Ms Warnock is only the second woman and the second academic from Otago (the first being Professor John Dawson in 2002) to have received the award.
Ms Warnock's research, which will be conducted in New Zealand, Australia and at Oxford University, is entitled The New Zealand Environment Court: Importance and Limitations.
The aim of the study is to conduct the first comprehensive, objective legal analysis of the New Zealand Environment Court in its 36-year history.
“The general objective of this research is to fill the present gap and to foster an informed debate about the future role of the court” Ms Warnock says.
It will look at the question “how do we make sense of the seeming paradox between the importance of the Environment Court in developing environment law and the limitations within which it works?”
The Minister for Justice has expressed interest in the work and its findings for policy development.
In receiving the award, Ms Warnock thanked her colleagues at Otago “who have so generously shared their time and wisdom with me and who derive genuine pleasure from seeing others succeed”.
In memory of Greg King
Thursday, 7 November 2013
A memorial service was held to honour the life and contributions of Otago graduate Greg King who passed away late last year. Organised by The Society of University of Otago Law Students (SOULS), approximately 40 people attended the service which was held on the banks of the Water of Leith near the Richardson Building.
Mark Brunton from the Office of Māori Development opened the ceremony with a karakia and Professor Mark Henaghan, spoke about Mr King's life as did prominent Dunedin lawyer Judith Ablett-Kerr who was a colleague friend and mentor to Mr King.
University chaplain Greg Hughson blessed the newly-planted kowhai tree and invited the gathered crowd of friends, family, students, staff and members of the local legal community to place some soil around the tree and others to water it. SOULS president Emma Haggas said the event had been organised to honour one of the most esteemed graduates of both the Faculty and the University.
Congratulations to Jessica Palmer
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Congratulations to Jessica Palmer who has been awarded on of the Otago University Student's Association Top 10 Teaching Awards for 2013.
Jessica is a very popular lecturer and colleague in the Faculty. Her research interests lie in the law of obligations, restitution, equity and commercial law. Her current teaching includes Contract Law, Commercial Equity and Sales and Insurance Law.
Jessica has previously worked in a large commercial law firm in New Zealand and as a Judges' Clerk at the Auckland High Court. She also tutored in Equity at the University of Auckland.
Faculty of Law hosts an exhibition of political cartoons by Cuban artist Gerardo Hernández Nordelo
Friday, 18 October 2013
An exhibition of political cartoons by Cuban artist Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Humor from my Pen, opened in the Faculty of Law with Her Excellency the Cuban Ambassador to New Zealand María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro among the audience of invited guests which included the Mayor of Dunedin, members of the local Hispanic community, University staff and students.
The audience was treated to a traditional Māori welcome by Mark Brunton from the Office of Māori Development who highlighted some similarities between Māori and Cuban nationals.
The Cuban Ambassador spoke of international relations between Cuba and New Zealand and hopes for collaboration in mutual areas of interest. The Cuban Embassy has opened a Cuba and New Zealand Friendship organisation in Dunedin last week.
The occasion was also used to celebrate the award of the Spanish Prize which was won by Phoebe Harrop LLB/BA.
The exhibition itself features 30 works by Mr Hernández on topics mostly of political satire around US/Cuban relations.
Dean, Professor Mark Henaghan says the Faculty of Law is delighted to be co-hosting the exhibition alongside the Spanish Programme and the Cuban Embassy in New Zealand.
“The Faculty has a long history of holding art exhibitions and collaborating with emerging and established artists to promote a diversity of art works to the Faculty and public at large. We see these works as contributing to an ongoing celebration of different art forms and expression.”
The artist, a personal friend of the Ambassador, is a caricaturist whose drawings have been published in the Cuban media and displayed in galleries around the globe. He is also one The Cuban Five – a group of men arrested in Miami in 1998 accused of conspiracy to commit espionage. He is currently serving a double life sentence in a U.S. prison.
Associate Professor Jacinta Ruru awarded the OUSA 20013 New Supervisors Award
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Congratulations to Jacinta Ruru who won the OUSA 2013 New Supervisors award. The awards go to postgraduate supervisors selected by students who stand out fortheir high level of commitment to their students in study and in future life direction. Matthew Tucker from the Student Support Centre says that one thing that the recipients of the awards have in common is that they are admired by their students.
Sarah Baillie's Honours Research Makes Waves
Friday, 31 May 2013
Sarah Baillie published the results of her honours research in the New Zealand Law Journal - “RMA climate change case headed to the Supreme Court” [2013] NZLJ pp 11-13. The appellants in West Coast ENT Incorporated v Buller Coal Limited [2012] NZSC 107 used Sarah's research to help argue their case before the Supreme Court.
Otago Performance Based Research Fund Results
Friday, 12 April 2013
Otago was ranked first in the country in the most recent (2012) PBRF assessment (released today) of the quality of research performance by all eligible academic and research staff in New Zealand universities, in the subject area of Law.
This is a credit to the depth and breadth of legal research that is carried out at Otago which enhances our teaching and our ability to influence Law reform through our publications.
Otago LLB/BA alumnus Sam Judd has won Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year 2013
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Congratulations to Sam Judd of The Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust for winning the Coca-Cola Amatil Young New Zealander of the Year award. The Award gives special recognition to honour and encourage our leaders of tomorrow and promote youth leadership.Sam directly contributes to New Zealand society by motivating people to take positive action through making sustaining and protecting our coastlines an enjoyable activity for everyone. He is CEO and co founder of the Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust which inspires a huge team of volunteers to rid New Zealand's coastline of rubbish. Sam says “This recognition is a sign of how important our cause is. My aim is to change behaviour in all New Zealanders and how they deal with rubbish.”