Division of Humanities, University of Otago

New Zealand’s first Centre for Creation Care has been established under the leadership of our Mātai Whakapono Karaitiana – Theology programme 👏 Bringing together faith, an environmental focus, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Centre aims to respond to growing concern about the state of the planet by exploring what it means to care for creation as an expression of Christian belief.

This Centre’s establishment and future promise is made possible by the support of the programme’s wider community. Some of the key supporters recently attended an event celebrating the launch of the Centre in the University’s Council Chamber.

Farmers, church and other theological leaders, researchers in sustainability and other partners were there to celebrate the significant milestone.

Read more here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/new-centre-to-connect-faith-and-environmental-action

Look through the gallery of photos and comments from some of the Centre supporters.

🎼A weekend treat in Ōtepoti with the world premiere performance of Emeritus Professor Anthony Ritchie’s first ‘Cello Concerto’ 🙌 Anthony, who recently retired from our Music programme, is being honoured as part of Dunedin Symphony Orchestra’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

As Anthony tells Brenda Harwood of The Star, while he has written many concertos in his career, including for viola, violin, and bass, this is a first for cello - and there is a personal story behind it.

‘It took many years before I decided to write this concerto... partly because I learned cello myself at school and it wasn’t the happiest of experiences. Despite that, I love the sound of the cello and have aimed to compose a lyrical piece for Inbal that covers a lot of different moods and also gives the orchestra plenty to do,’ Anthony says.

Anthony’s work will be in its ‘Beethoven, Ritchie and Faure’ matinee series concerts this Saturday and Sunday. The DSO, and Wellington-based cellist Inbal Megiddo will present under the baton of conductor Brent Stewart.

Read more:

Matinee concerts celebrate shared history Dunedin Symphony Orchestra continues its 60th anniversary celebrations by honouring the music of leading Dunedin composer Emeritus Prof Anthony...

A distinguished group of international and national specialists will gather at the 60th Otago Foreign Policy School next week to examine how our nation should respond to numerous global pressures and challenges.

New Zealand has a “vital stake in ensuring that its security and economic well-being are not dictated by the unrestrained exercise of raw power,” says Otago Foreign Policy School Co-Director Professor Robert Patman.

Professor Patman says for many decades, New Zealand governments have championed the vision of a rules-based international order and the norm of multilateral diplomacy, but these foundational principles now seem to be threatened by growing lawlessness in the international arena.

Read more about this upcoming Otago Foreign Policy School: 'The Faltering International Rules-Based Order and New Zealand’ on Friday 26 June – Sunday 28 June, and find links to more information and registration here:

Otago Foreign Policy School celebrates 60 years New Zealand has a vital stake in examining its position in the midst of a faltering international rules-based order, a leading University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka researcher says.

Forget ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, it’s ‘Basements and Aliens’ in the steampunk surrounds of Zoology's historic Marples Building 🪐👾

Zoology Senior Lecturer Bart Geurten and Teaching Fellow Joseph Cahill-Lane have developed an immersive, interactive simulation that sends postgraduate students on an extraterrestrial academic quest designed to give them the feeling of making a scientific breakthrough.

Launched in 2024, the paper has received “really positive” feedback from students.

And, in good news for Humanities 🥳 Senior Lecturer in Political Theory David Jenkins has been collaborating with these two educational innovators and is poised to run his own interactive paper, POLS399 Political Actors in Action, next year 🤩

“Politics students will experience the different roles – leaders, partisans, revolutionaries, artists and Indigenous political groups – they learn about in the first part of the paper, as they attempt to advance their faction's cause. The simulation’s a great way to experience politics, and struggles for justice, in a heightened but fictional setting,” David says.

Karawhina!

Simulation outbreak traced to Zoology Department Forget 'Dungeons and Dragons', it’s 'Basements and Aliens' in the steampunk surrounds of Zoology's historic Marples Building.

Our Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Hugh Campbell is pictured looking very pleased with the civil defence armbands and buttons presented to the University by Peter Trevathan 🎀

Hugh is also happy because he was able to thank Peter for his work 🕵🏽‍♀️investigating an air raid shelter hidden just below street level at the southeast corner of the University’s Geology Building.

Known by staff and students as ‘the bomb shelter’, the basement – previously used to store fossils and whale skeletons 🐋 was long suspected to have a deeper history. It was not until Peter investigated the site in 2024 that this was confirmed. It is estimated that fewer than two per cent of the original shelters remain intact and accessible, making the Geology Building shelter a particularly rare wartime relic.

“It highlights not only a special little piece of our history, but also the value we place on our relationship with the armed forces, with other groups, like Civil Defence, who serve our community, and also the great host of amateur historians who spend endless hours chasing down meaningful stories from our past,” Hugh says.

“Otago is richer because of these stories and the relationships that lie behind them.”

Hidden beneath campus: Otago’s WWII air raid shelter An air raid shelter hidden just below street level at the southeast corner of the University’s Geology Building is considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in New Zealand, according to Otago Military History Group representative Peter Trevathan.

Arts Fellowship applications close in less than a week: Monday, 15 June 🦄 Writers, visual artists, composers, and practitioners of community dance 🎩 throw in your hat to come join our creative community in Ōtepoti Dunedin 🥰 Links to more info and applications for ⭐️ Robert Burns ⭐️ Frances Hodgkins ⭐️ Mozart ⭐️ and Caroline Plummmer Community Dance Fellowships are here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/humanities/about/otago-fellows/applications

Ka rawe 🙌 Emeritus Professor Peter Adams has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to music and music education 🥳

On receiving his MNZM, Peter says: "I've had the privilege of working with wonderful musicians, students, people young and old, in all sorts of musical communities, and I think this recognition really belongs to all the people I've shared that journey with. Music brings people together and changes lives, and if I've contributed in some small way to that, then I’m very pleased."

🎺 Retired? Not really—just doing the best bits!

Since retiring at the end of 2023, Peter has kept all the parts of the job he loved—performing, composing, supporting music students, and running workshops & adjudicating across the country.

🎶 He's been busier than ever:
- Led St Kilda Brass to victory at the 2025 & 2026 national brass band championships
- Conducted local community wind band concerts
- Conducted local rock band Ivy backed by the Dunedin Youth Orchestra at Errick’s
- Adjudicated brass band contests in Wellington & Christchurch
- Ran workshops for secondary school wind band & orchestral musicians at the Aurora Festival (Burnside High School, Christchurch)

🎵 He's also finally found time to pick up his clarinet again, and together with partner Toni, has enjoyed trips to England and Australia.

✍️ Currently on the go: a commissioned composition for choir and brass band.

The icing on the cake however was recognition in the Kings Birthday Honours Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for doing what he loves for forty years.

On receiving his MNZM, Peter says:

"I've had the privilege of working with wonderful musicians, students, people young and old, in all sorts of musical communities, and I think this recognition really belongs to all the people I've shared that journey with. Music brings people together and changes lives, and if I've contributed in some small way to that, then I’m very pleased."

Huge congratulations Peter, and long may your mahi continue.

Lovers of music, and its history 👋 as part of Music at Otago’s centenary, Hocken Collections has an exhibition on until Saturday, 13 June. This thoughtful tribute has lots of treats:

🎧A listening station featuring Otago graduates and staff

🎼 Taonga pūoro and other musical instruments – you are encouraged to try out the gamelan!

📸A revolving digital display of 174 images covering 1926 to 2026

🧐 Original items from the Hocken Collections, including programmes, posters, ephemera, recordings, and more

🥰 Opportunity for a trip down memory lane, and to learn about more recent activities

The display will be up until Saturday, 13 June. Hocken foyer, 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday), 90 Anzac Avenue.

Nau mai, haere mai!

Manuia le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa 🙌 Talofa lava, Humanities āiga 🌺

In recognition of Samoan Language Week, we feature Matāafa Joshua Ali'ifa'alogo a proud Sāmoan alumnus of Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka and a dedicated researcher serving Pacific communities in Aotearoa.

Hailing from the villages of Faleapuna, Lufilufi, Saoluafata, and Vaiala, Joshua reflects on the profound impact of Pacific Humanities staff whose encouragement and support helped him navigate his university journey.

His story is a testament to the power of community, service, and giving back.

Fa'afetai Matāafa for reminding us of the power of collective support and giving back to our communities.

Tag someone you'd love to see featured next in our language week profiles!

It isn’t every day you get the chance to hear from someone who’s been to the bottom of the ocean 🐟🦑

But that’s what happened when renowned marine biologist and deep-sea explorer Dr Nicole Yamase visited Otago in May for a series of events celebrating Pacific knowledge, Indigenous-led science, and climate advocacy 👏

Hosted by the Centre for Pacific Thought (CPacT), Dr Yamase’s visit included an official welcome, the Annual Pacific Lecture, a postgraduate masterclass, a screening of the documentary ‘Remathau: People of the Ocean’, and a community and student visit to the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and Portobello Marine Laboratory.

CPacT Co-Directors Dr Allamanda Faatoese and Dr Charles Radclyffe are thrilled Nicole was able to visit Dunedin from Hawai’i where she works as Director of Impact with conservation organisation OneReef.

They highlight that Micronesian voices are rarely centered in this way at the University, which made the visit particularly special for Pacific students and staff 🙌

Read more about this Micronesian trailblazer here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/about/news/newsroom/micronesian-trailblazer-inspires-pacific-students-at-otago