An enduring connection

Vision, hard work, and passionate, boundless commitment: they’re words Christine Keller Smith uses to describe the spirit of the University of Auckland Society.

Christine was the first alumni relations manager of the Alumni Association, which operated thanks to numerous volunteers from 1990 to 2004. In 2004, the association became the University of Auckland Society and, this year, has wound up its operations.

“The University of Auckland Society has always given its funds back to the University in significant areas,” says Christine. “Now, even in its dissolution, the society continues to support talented young New Zealanders.”

Between the ’90s and now, the society’s executive committee created scholarships and studded the University calendar with events that recognised the value of those who arrived as students, left as graduates, and remained connected as alumni.

It instigated the high-profile Distinguished Alumni Awards. It shored up support for the exposé of frenetic talent through years of Three-Minute Thesis competitions. It launched and funded the Golden Graduates lunches for many years before the University took over as main supporter, sponsored the University Strings and started the Graduation Gala Concerts with funds and continued support before the University, again, took the reins.

Notably, it also paved the way for the University’s inhouse Alumni Relations Department, which took on and formalised many of the roles, functions and events established by the association.

“Unequivocally,” says Christine, “the society’s proudest achievement is the alumni scholarships, starting in 1995 with highly regarded potential students who could benefit from financial support to complete postgraduate degrees.”

As a 20-year-old in an op-shop jacket, part-time dishwasher and full-time philosophy student, Paul Newfield was one of those first postgraduate alumni scholars.

“I’m not really sure what the scholarship selection committee saw in that, but I’m so very grateful that they took a chance on me,” says Paul. “I didn’t entirely give up the dishwashing job, but the scholarship gave me the freedom to spend a lot more of my time on my masters thesis – perhaps an even more absurd idea, it was on Nietzsche’s philosophy of love.”

Paul is now CEO of investment firm Morrison, working with brilliant people dedicated to investing in ideas that matter, like decarbonising the global energy sector.

Undergraduate alumni scholarships were created in 1996. These were fee-paying grants for the minimum length of an undergraduate degree. Schools nominated candidates with merit in their final secondary year who needed a hand-up to undertake tertiary studies.

The Alumni Association raised money, mainly through an alumni Visa card and merchandising, with its policy being to return every cent made from sales to the University. Its first range of merchandise was produced in 1991. The 1994 addition of Warwick Bear – affectionately named for the then Registrar Warwick Nicoll – was a particular hit with graduands as a memento of their university days.
Through this, the association provided a lifeline of funds to ameliorate critical financial struggles and aided extension opportunities for hundreds of students.

Kirsten Strom is one of many whose aspirations were propelled in part by the society. In 2019, the music honours student attended the Etchings Festival – a leading international music festival offering a week of private lessons, masterclasses and workshops in Auvillar, France – supported by the society.

“My dream was to become a professional composer. The financial support from the society to attend the Etchings Festival certainly helped me on that path.”

The pinnacle of that experience, she says, was meeting renowned contemporary composer Kaija Saariaho, who provided encouragement on Kirsten’s original scores.

Now a composer, arranger and mentor, Kirsten is working with the Auckland Philharmonia and mentoring at Avondale College as part of a Creatives in Schools residency. Her latest commission, The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, was performed in September in an Auckland Philharmonia collaboration with the StarDome, Strings Under the Stars.
 

For many years to come, the society’s remaining funds will be distributed through the Student Emergency and Well-being Fund and the Campus Life Student Support Fund.

They will also support Kupe Leadership scholars for five years.

The inaugural Kupe Leadership Scholarship recipient, James Corles, is a School of Architecture and Planning masters student, who is exploring housing approaches that create quality spaces and encourage sustainable living.

James says the mentorship offered through the scholarship has been the most significant aspect of the support.

“I was paired up with Pip Cheshire, which has given me great exposure and insight into the world of architectural practice, one-on-one tutoring and brought context to my years of study,” says James.

“Lately, I have worked on increasingly complex projects with suppliers, engineers and other architects. Increasing my leadership skills will help me collaborate with the many members of my industry, and becoming a better leader will help me become a better architect.”

Interestingly, the catalyst for forming the Alumni Association was neither financial nor event focused, but to rally alumni voices against a threat to the University’s sustainability.

“The association formed in the wake of the Education Amendment Bill of 1989, which threatened and codified the role and structure of Aotearoa’s universities,” says Christine. “The government attacked academic freedom and autonomy. Alumni fought back – and won.”

At that time, Richard Northey, who was the society’s final president, was chair of the Education and Science Select Committee, which heard the submissions from universities and alumni organisations on the bill.

“I was most impressed by the University graduates’ submissions. They concentrated on the public good with no hint of self-interest.”

The association, and then the society, continued its legislative advocacy, making submissions against increasing government encroachment on academic freedom and autonomy of universities, such as the 2014 Education Amendment Bill, which Richard worked on with society members Emeritus Professor Nicholas Tarling and Alison Roberton Scott.

Richard also points proudly to the entity’s commitment to promoting important public conversations by supporting ‘society salon’ events on vital issues, culminating in an event recognising the 50th anniversary of Halt All Racist Tours, as well as debates during election years between political parties’ tertiary education spokespeople, and Auckland mayoral debates.

Now that the society has dissolved, Richard says it is vital alumni retain an independent voice, especially for advocacy.

“The major challenge ahead,” says Richard, “is to retain the commitment of the University of Auckland’s alumni to come to the aid of the University when it is under challenge in terms of academic freedom, independent scientific and medical research and learning, inclusiveness and financial viability in the future.”

An alumni advisory panel has been proposed to preserve this legacy.