It was New Zealand’s first university. It is justifiably proud of its heritage and its history.
But it’s in deep financial trouble. It has a 60 million dollar funding hole, staff are being threatened with losing their jobs and student numbers are decreasing.
But for some reason it’s decided to push ahead with a rebranding which will include a new logo, and new Māori name.
According to reports, these initiatives will cost 1.3 million on top of the $670,000 already spent on design and $125,000 on consultation about the new design with staff, students and alumni.
The Otago Daily Times conducted an unscientific straw poll on the changes. A massive majority, 77 percent, were opposed.
The paper’s letters to the editor were also mostly opposed to the change and so were number of opinion pieces.
Yet the Chancellor Steven Higgs now says the university council’s decision to endorse the changes followed strong support from staff, students and alumni.
I wonder how can that be? Will he release the results of the research?
I reckon this is a colossal and irresponsible blunder by the University Council.
You’re in a deep, dark financial hole yet you commit to spending another million dollars on an unnecessary project. Why?
I’m sure the answer is simple. The government told them to do it.
I’d wager a lot of money a public poll in Dunedin would be steadfastly against the plan.
But the University constantly pipes this line about becoming a Te Tiriti led university by 2040. What does that even mean?
Intriguingly, those who run the university must know that the new branding and logo will not be received well.
They intend to use the current coat of arms, plus a new stylised version of it, for formal situations like graduation ceremonies and also for international marketing.
So tell me again, just what is this $1.3 million is being spent on?
Peter Williams was a writer and broadcaster for half a century. Now watching from the sidelines. Peter blogs regularly on Peter’s Substack where this article was sourced.
The Otago Daily Times conducted an unscientific straw poll on the changes. A massive majority, 77 percent, were opposed.
The paper’s letters to the editor were also mostly opposed to the change and so were number of opinion pieces.
Yet the Chancellor Steven Higgs now says the university council’s decision to endorse the changes followed strong support from staff, students and alumni.
I wonder how can that be? Will he release the results of the research?
I reckon this is a colossal and irresponsible blunder by the University Council.
You’re in a deep, dark financial hole yet you commit to spending another million dollars on an unnecessary project. Why?
I’m sure the answer is simple. The government told them to do it.
I’d wager a lot of money a public poll in Dunedin would be steadfastly against the plan.
But the University constantly pipes this line about becoming a Te Tiriti led university by 2040. What does that even mean?
Intriguingly, those who run the university must know that the new branding and logo will not be received well.
They intend to use the current coat of arms, plus a new stylised version of it, for formal situations like graduation ceremonies and also for international marketing.
So tell me again, just what is this $1.3 million is being spent on?
Peter Williams was a writer and broadcaster for half a century. Now watching from the sidelines. Peter blogs regularly on Peter’s Substack where this article was sourced.
10 comments:
There was also an explanatory document to the branding that read very much like it came from the same people as He Puapua. The branding is just a logo but the future orientation of the University is to be a world leading indigenous educational establishment etc
Spot on assessment.
Anyone with half a brain cell living in the neo-Marxist CRT diven 'utopia' once known as New Zealand can see this for what it is.
The government saw the opportunity to bribe the university into making a change that clearly was not wanted nor needed....but the university needed the funds.
Like every other institute, community organisation, charity, NGO or benevolent society (any and all) that takes any form of government cash they too were blackmailed and bribed into making it all about Maori.
Culture has a 'place' in New Zealand but it (like government) does not have the right to 'replace'.
Considering universities are just a reminder of the colonial oppression forced on a peaceful Maori, I am surprised they want their language to be used.
Or was the monetary gift of a large enough size to get over the damage western science has caused them.
I would have thought Otago to be the part of NZ least susceptible to maorification. Of course the staff favoured. The fact simply demonstrates the power of the fear of cancellation. In a university I am surprise any dared vent a non pro maori view.
I wonder what persons overseas make of native anmed institutions. Hardly inspire confidence.
Decades of cultural Marxism have left the universities little more than a pale imitation of what they once were in any case. The long march through the institutions by the wokerati will continue until they achieve complete ideological dominance if they haven't already. Perhaps we should welcome their continued demise if this means they have no choice but to reinvent themselves, but I won't be holding my breath.
Are Maori culturally appropriating "white" colonialist universities?
The cultural wars have already started and Whitey is way on the back foot. When we have the government, justice and education systems and media all singing "Glory to the Maoris and pay homage for our sins" we are up the creek without a paddle.
This government has much to explain about wrecking our democracy, education and free speech. We will not forget. Labour are toast. But it's not over by a long shot.
MC
Having spent my school days in Dunedin and having early Scottish settler ancestors I am certainly surprised that the University has become so Maorified since the schools I attended had about 0.2 % of students Maori. I am 100% European but I had black hair and now and then people asked me if I were Maori since they were so unfamiliar with what a Maori looked like.
All I can conclude is that cancel culture has completely taken hold at the University. Absolutely any culture however primitive apparently just has to be better than western culture.
Interestingly, the report sent to University staff, which I have seen, the actual data, is in complete contrast to the public report, and reveals that the comments on this rebranding were overwhelmingly negative. It is a compelling result and flies in the face of the spin the University is putting on the results in its public report and press releases. The fact is that the University does not have majority support for the rebranding, quite the opposite. All of which confirms the view the the consultation was and is a complete sham.
Scots wha hae -not exactly clear to see the oppressor here. Silly wokesters anyway. I do hope they live to regret it.
Post a Comment