Tough job for judges at 2024 OBS awards

The 2024 Otago Business School/Te Kura Pakihi Awards ceremony was held last week to salute staff members (and postgraduate students) who’ve shone extra brightly this year.

Commerce Pro-Vice-Chancellor Maree Thyne says it was “a great opportunity to come together and celebrate success, community and damned hard mahi”.

Though the judges managed to whittle the list of high-achieving humans down to a more manageable size, there were still some neck and neck awardees in the mix – such was the calibre of the nominees.

This year, there was also a one-off teaching award given to Dr Murat Üngör, Department of Economics. Maree spoke of his tireless and genuine efforts to scaffold the learning of his students.

“Murat goes above and beyond by learning every student’s name and background before classes begin, regularly visits study spaces to provide additional support, and offers comprehensive career guidance. He has not only excelled in his teaching duties but has also contributed significantly to mentoring colleagues and maintaining strong alumni relations. His innovative teaching methods, combining historical examples with economic models and real-world applications, alongside his dedication to providing detailed, personalized feedback to every student, exemplify the highest standards of teaching excellence.”

There was also a new award on offer.

“To acknowledge my commitment to enabling and enacting the Māori Strategic Framework (MSF) I’ve created a new award that recognises someone who has supported Business School staff and students in our journey towards being a Te Tiriti-led University.

“With that objective in mind, and following consultation with some of our Māori staff, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and the Office of Māori Development, this award has been named ‘He tohu whakamana i tō kake i Te Aka Matua’. This translates as someone who enables or enacts the ascension of Te Aka Matua/the MSF. It relates to the imagery of climbing, as Te Aka Matua draws on an analogy of a vine, and of raising the mana of the MSF.”

Maree went on to describe the qualities of this inaugural award’s first recipient, Kaiāwhina Māori Ben Sommerville.

“Ben exemplifies the goals of the MSF – living the value of manaakitanga in his everyday work, showing generosity and good humour in all activities with kaimahi across the Business School and University community. He does much to manaaki/care for our students, demonstrating kaitiakitanga/guardianship of our taonga/treasures. He does this by sharing his knowledge of Te Ao Māori – whether at cultural activities at the marae with students, through engagement with our staff and people in the community, or in the lectures he generously provides. He contributes to the kōrero around challenging subjects in Te Rito, and encourages conversation, debate and learning for our staff which enhances our collective bicultural capability. He upholds tikanga, kawa and te reo Māori, lifting us all in our competency and confidence.”