Te Aka Tauira – Issue 2, June 24

Te Aka Tauira

The music scene at Otago, stories from our graduates, inside Te Whare Tāwharau, & more!

This month:

Otago’s music scene: Local band IVY evolving and growing

May graduation: Stories from our graduates

Deep Dive into ... Te Whare Tāwharau Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Centre

Plus:

- Photos from our May graduations - A roundup of Otago news - A look at what’s coming up in June

Good Mahi on display in May

Otago staff and students joined forces this month for a day of Good Mahi.

The inaugural event was a collaboration between the Social Impact Studio and the OUSA Recreation Programme. Volunteers helped at 11 different projects across Ōtepoti Dunedin, including Pregnancy Help Dunedin, Foster Hope Otago, Valley Project and SuperGrans.

Manager of the Social Impact Studio Sze-en Watts says having to organise your own volunteer opportunities can be a barrier for many people.

“Many students are unfamiliar with what organisation and volunteer opportunities are available in Dunedin. We also had feedback that many staff

wanted to volunteer but like the students, didn’t know where to start,” Sze-en says.

• Keen students and staff can still volunteer via the Unicrew’s Priceless ‘Store’

Above: Helping at the Otago Community Hospice on 3 May are, from left, Louis Nummy, Louisa Mason and Josie Morrison.

Above: Volunteering at Save The Otago Penninsula are, from left, Alivia McMurtry, Kate Bonné, Caitlin Grosvenor and Alex Teulon.

IVY evolving and growing

Local band IVY has gone from strength to strength since winning OUSA’s Bring the Noise competition last year. Laura Hewson talks to lead singer and student Jesse Hanan about combining music and study, the state of the local music scene, and what’s coming up for IVY.

Dunedin, New Zealand, Australia, the world … that’s the basic fourstep plan for Dunedin band IVY.

And so far, it’s going pretty well, says lead singer Jesse Hanan.

“We won the Radio One Bring the Noise competition last year and the main prize was two days recording time at Sublime Studio in Kurow,” Jesse says.

During the session, IVY recorded two new songs, which will come out on an EP soon.

“To be able to record in a studio like that is something you shouldn’t take for granted because it doesn’t happen often. For musicians that are young and aspiring, it’s such a contrast from what you’re usually offered. It’s really a priceless kind of prize.”

IVY is made up of Jesse (vocals, rhythm guitar), James Axton (lead guitar/acting manager), Connor Cooper (bass), Ocean Temple Wilson (drums) and Louis Stevenson (violin).

Their sound, which Jesse describes as alternative rock with a

variety of influences ranging from classical to heavy metal, has evolved since they formed four years ago in high school.

“I think when we started, we wanted to fit everything in, and we recorded absolutely everything that we thought was kind of okay. Now we’re trying to really hone our craft and understand the process of writing music more,” Jesse says.

Jesse’s in his second year of a BA majoring in music with a minor in history. Bringing his classical background to his songwriting and performing may be an asset now but it didn’t come naturally.

“I feel like in first year it was kind of a jarring experience. I grew up on classical so I’d always kind of

put it in a separate box. I couldn’t blend the lines between the two different styles of music at all.”

Having one-on-one voice lessons as part of MUSI241 Performance 2 has made a big difference, as have teachers Dr Tessa Romano, Tom McGrath and Professor Terence Dennis.

“This year I’m able to blend them more. Tessa especially has taught me a lot about combining genres and taking the techniques that classical singers use to preserve their voice and maintain it in a rock setting.”

IVY regularly plays at U-Bar on campus, which offers a valuable opportunity for new bands.

“It’s a great venue and we’re very

Otago student Jesse Hanan is the lead singer of local band IVY, which won the Bring the Noise competition last year.

grateful to them. They’ve given us lots of opportunity to play in front of an audience.

“The Otago music scene is pretty small. There’s a group of 200 students that really keep it all together. Without U-Bar there wouldn’t be any student scene.”

OUSA and Radio One have also been a major support for the band, from pitching them to the radio or giving them opportunities, Jesse says.

“They put in the hard yards for us because they believe in us. And there’s a good musician connection and community within the uni scene. We’re good friends with a lot of people from doing music here.

Noise competition to go for it.

“Being part of the competition was an awesome experience. There was a great feeling of community, and I really felt the enjoyment of others. The prizes were also incredible.”

Entries for this year’s Bring the Noise are open from now until 17 July. All writers and performers of original music can enter, with the proviso that the act/band has

broaden their horizons further by building a national fan base.

“We’re really happy with what we have now but we’ve got to be ambitious,” Jesse says.

“So, we’re looking to spread across NZ and hopefully Australasia next year and extend it from there in the long term.”

There’s also a new website, an EP and an album in the works.

“You’re only 21, 22, 23 once. You might as well just give it all and have fun while you’re doing it.”

at least one Otago University or Polytechnic student.

“We’ve got an album written. It’s not recorded yet, but we’ve got a collection of songs that we think are worthy to put in a ten-song album.

“Often people are struggling with money and looking for places to play. There’s kind of this feeling like we’re all in this together. ”

Jesse says anyone considering entering this year’s Bring the

“You’re only 21, 22, 23 once. You might as well just give it all and have fun while you’re doing it.”

This year, IVY has been doing more out-of-town gigs in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka and the guys are looking to

“We’re starting to show people what we’re capable of.”

• To keep up with IVY, follow them on Instagram or facebook

• Bring the Noise 2024

• Read the full story

IVY, from left, Connor Cooper, James Axton, Jesse Hanan, Ocean Temple Wilson and Louis Stevenson.

MAY GRAD PICS

Rural healthcare in the blood

Estelle Arundell followed in her parents’ footsteps when she graduated as a doctor in May.

While she was elated to be collecting her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Estelle has a long list of other achievements she’s ticked off since leaving her hometown of Fairlie.

Having been surrounded by “the joys and challenges” of rural medicine throughout her life and as the eldest child in the family, she felt pressure to follow in her parents’ footsteps. But she wanted to be sure that a career in medicine was something she actually wanted, which led to her exploring several different pathways.

One of these paths took her to Malawi for six months. There she volunteered as a secondary teacher and met locals who inspired her to return to New Zealand and commit to becoming a doctor to help support rural communities.

“I realised that being able to learn and practice medicine is such an incredible skill to have.

“It puts you in a unique position in people’s lives when they trust you during times of great need and vulnerability.”

Seeing the impact her parents have made in the Mackenzie community through their family owned-and-operated medical practice has also been a great source of inspiration and she is grateful to have been raised rurally even though there are challenges, such as access to healthcare services, she says.

Estelle took part in the University of Otago’s Rural Medical Immersion Programme (RMIP) enabling her to do placements in Ashburton and Methven. Afterwards, she took up an elective in Timaru where she ended up working at her parents’ clinic for six weeks.

“Being able to learn from my parents in a clinical setting and apply my knowledge from the last few years of study in my own community was a very special experience, one I will never forget, and one of the highlights of my degree.”

“I have been gifted a variety of special experiences, with memories and skills that I will carry with me into my career.”

She then volunteered for the Students of Rural Health Aotearoa, where she helped organise student visits to rural secondary schools around the country to inspire and empower rural youth to consider a career in healthcare.

Estelle also took a gap year to complete the Te Araroa trail solo, a nationwide hike from the top of the North Island to the tip of the South Island.

After finishing the trail, she was inspired to continue pursuing adventure which led to her winning the gruelling two-day Coast to Coast race last year and placing second in the Open Women’s category and eleventh overall in the one-day Coast-to-Coast race this year – a considerable achievement for a recreational athlete.

“I have been gifted a variety of special experiences, with memories and skills that I will carry with me into my career,” she says.

– Kōrero by Kelsey Swart

Full story

Among her many achievements, Estelle Arundell won the Coast-to-Coast endurance race last year and placed second in the open women’s category in the ‘Longest Day’ race in February this year.

Scholarship recognises leadership skills

Mila Urlich (Taranaki) barely recognises the girl that first arrived at Otago from the Far North in 2019.

“I also gained a lot of confidence in myself along the way – high school Mila could never have imagined volunteering for leadership roles, or even public speaking.”

Mila has graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in economics, and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours.

She is also this year’s recipient of the Jolene Patuawa-Tuilave Māori Leadership in Law Scholarship. This special scholarship was established by the University of Otago Council in 2013 in remembrance of Jolene Patuawa-Tuilave, a promising graduate treasured by both colleagues and whanaunga in her short professional career.

“From what I have heard of her, Jolene was a

force to be reckoned with and was adored by all who knew her. It is an honour to be associated with her.“

Full story

Forging a path for family to follow

Ilisapeti (Betty) Feiloaki Feiloakitohi’s path from South Auckland’s Mangere East to graduation hasn’t been a smooth one. But as the first from her family to attend university she’s confident it will soon be a well-trod one.

“It’s fitting that Otago’s new logo symbolises a place of many firsts – I’m one of five siblings and I’m the first, but won’t be the last, to pave the way for our family’s younger generations through tertiary education,” she says.

Betty has graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in anatomy, after overcoming a series of obstacles and trials along the way.

She credits her success to her grit and determination and to many others who helped her, such as Anatomy Teaching Fellow Rebecca Bird. She’s also especially thankful to all those who “believed it was possible”.

“Graduating makes up for all the obstacles and challenges I have faced, “ Betty says.

– Kōrero by Sally Knox

“Graduating makes up for all the obstacles and challenges I have faced.”

Mila Urlich has receive the Jolene Patuawa-Tuilave Māori Leadership in Law Scholarship.

Grit and determination helped get graduand Ilisapeti (Betty) Feiloakitohi through her anatomy degree.

DEEP DIVE: STUDENT SERVICES

Te Whare Tāwharau

Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Centre

This month we take a look at what Te Whare Tāwharau Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Centre offers and how students can get involved.

What does it mean to be a workshop facilitator at Te Whare Tāwharau? Laura Hewson talks with Oak Airey Madriz about the mahi and rewards of being part of the team.

For psychology student Oak Airey Madriz there are a lot of positives about working at Te Whare Tāwharau Sexual Violence Support and Prevention Centre.

Te Whare Tāwharau is a space that provides sexual-violence-related support within the campus community for students and staff who are dealing with recent or historic incidents of sexual harm, or who are supporting others who have. They also provide education to students and staff around consent and how to support people who have disclosed an incident of sexual harm.

Oak has been a workshop facilitator for two years and a volunteer peer supporter for three.

“The mahi undertaken there aligns well with my interests and line of work in terms of prevention and support, and those who run the centre are strong in their ethics,” they say.

“Workplaces where boundaries and self-care are discussed and

required is a great sign it’ll be a positive work experience.”

The workshop facilitator role is a casual paid position that primarily involves running consent workshops at colleges during O-Week. They are then invited to become volunteers in the centre’s student engagement programme.

“We have the privilege of attending colleges and groups around the University and engaging with students – mainly first years – and discussing how we can have strength in community and prevent sexual violence where possible, as well as supporting those who have experienced it.”

Oak, who is in their final year of

a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, says being a facilitator is hugely rewarding.

“We get to share important, yet sensitive, information and do so with great empathy. It’s immediately rewarding when groups are vulnerable with us and we’re able to challenge common myths surrounding sexual violence.

“It’s also rewarding in the long run knowing the work we do has played a part in making campus a safer place.”

Facilitators receive thorough training on a range of subjects, including sexual violence, suicide prevention and LGBTTQIA+ and cultural sensitivity. Trainees can

Psychology student Oak Airey Madriz says their work at the centre aligns well with their interest in sexual harm prevention and support.

expect to be well supported and learn how to set sturdy boundaries, Oak says.

“This type of training is an asset to you in so many different aspects of your life regardless of what you study, but people in a field related to social work, psychology and law seem to fit especially well with these positions. They benefit from what they’ve learnt, and the experience speaks to their character when applying for future roles.

“It’s certainly a great way to gain confidence in teaching or presenting, in that you are gently taught these skills, have space to practice with peers and receive feedback, and then gain lots of experience in this area. I don’t know of any other paid role which would provide this type of learning and experience.”

Oak is also a peer supporter, which is a volunteer role focussed on supporting students when they visit the centre.

“Anyone considering these roles should feel free to contact the centre. The team is lovely and welcoming and keen to recruit people who are the right fit!”

What to know about Te Whare Tāwharau

A Q&A with Te Whare Tāwharau manager Hahna Briggs

How does the centre support students?

Students can come to us to talk, have a cry or a cup of tea, whatever they need. Some students might come and see us once and we never see them again and other students will touch base with us throughout the year or multiple years.

We’re not there to judge or ask intrusive questions. Knowing that there’s somewhere that you can come and you’re not going to meet resistance is really important – belief and validation of someone’s experience is vital.

One thing to point out is that we’re not counsellors. We’re more like connectors in a lot of ways and a safe space as a starting point. A big part of what we do is connecting students in with other services like Student Health or Disability Information and Support. We can also walk alongside them throughout a complaints process if that’s what they’re looking at. So really being there and offering ongoing support.

How can students be involved in the centre?

We take a community approach to reducing harm and we think everyone has a part to play, even if they’ve never had an experience of sexual harm. Students can get involved through our volunteer peer supporter or workshop facilitator programme. These roles are filled by current students or those who have just finished their studies.

How can you support students academically?

The centre did a campus climate survey in 2019 and there were some pretty significant impacts on academic study for individuals who’ve experienced sexual harm, so that ability to focus and feel confident in your work. Being absent from classes is much more likely and thinking about dropping out.

Certainly, when we approach staff about someone we’re supporting who may need access to extensions or other academic supports, they’re very supportive and go out of their way to be helpful, which is really great. The types of academic supports that students find helpful often include extensions on assignments, lecture notes, a safe study space and alternative arrangements for exams. We work very closely with Disability Information and Support, who are really sensitive to the needs of students who have experienced sexual harm. That academic support is really vital.

• Find out more about Te Whare Tāwharau

There’s more where that came from:

Building futures on past foundations

Almost halfway through her term as President of the University of Otago Pacific Islands Students’ Association (UOPISA), Telekalafi Likiliki is honoured to be supporting others as she herself was supported.

“Everything we do is for the students. Our executive wants to do right by those who were in these positions before us, who put in the mahi and invested so much to create what UOPISA is today,” Telekalafi says.

Coming into her presidential role in UOPISA, Telekalafi was motivated to create a space that was inspired by the quality of support and guidance she received throughout her studies.

Full story

Moot competition goes to High Court

Holding the final of the student moot competition in Dunedin’s historic High Court in May was a special occasion for Otago’s Faculty of Law.

A moot competition is a mock trial, where competitors present their arguments on a plausible legal case, and answer questions from the judges.

The four competing finalists, pictured from left, were Oliver Thorns and Samuel Blackwood acting for the Appellants and Manawa Te Ahuru-Quinn and Samuel Walker for the Respondents.

Ultimately Samuel Blackwood and Oliver were the winning side and Samuel was announced best speaker.

Full story

Global Studies projects worthy of attention

The annual Global Studies Project Fair was held in the Link last week, with students from GLBL202 and 302 presenting a display on their projects.

This year, for the first time, they were joined by students of New Zealand Cinema (MFCO216) presenting on themes of New Zealand cinema.

Elijah Samson, pictured showing his tattoo in acknowledgement of his younger brother, has created a documentary on Polynesian tattoos and is seeking to raise awareness of, and encourage people to embrace, this cultural identity. He also shared the story of his own tattoos.

More photos and projects

Students

share tips ahead of exams

We asked you on our socials for your top tips on how to navigate exam season, and you delivered!

Alongside the classics – study, have a sweet treat, take regular breaks and make sure you get enough sleep – there were some reminders to look after your mental health.

“Go to the gym for stress relief”, “use all the support systems you need whether that be staff, OUSA, class reps etc...” and “always remember that the best version of you is the happiest version of you”.

If all else fails: “If you cry in the shower you can’t actually tell if it’s water or your tears.” Good luck!

Check out our Insta for more tips

What’s on in June?