Chapter Manager’s Message

Kia ora koutou

A very big welcome to the second half of the year in what seems to be a blur.

My role this year has seen me be able to connect, engage and share in many of our members successes and triumphs! This makes me incredibly proud to be part of such a thriving and successful organisation. However, we do not want these wins to go untold. So please, connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook to share and rejoice in our fist pump moments.

Sharing, interacting, and engaging with one another is such a powerful tool. I was reminded of this just yesterday when my colleague recited this wonderful quote from Benjamin Franklin

Tell me and I will Forget

Teach me and I may Remember  

Involve me and I will Learn

Never has this been truer no matter what age and status you are. We are never too old to learn from those around us. This keeps us young, our brains active and our focus clear. 

I would like to tip my hat to you all on your incredible work that you continue to do around the country. I hope the school break brings some quite time for many of you. Remember to take care of YOU and let’s bring home the second half of 2021 with a bang.

Ngā mihi nui

Kate Eatts
NZ Chapter Manager

Chapter News

Christchurch Networking Event

Otago Networking Event

The Otago members met over an informal breakfast on a brisk winter’s day at John McGlashan College in Dunedin. Delicious brunch was provided by the in-house catering team, followed by a tour of fantastic facilities.

Kerry Buchan, Development Manager at the University of Otago, said “It was a wonderful visit and great to see so many local heroes represented around the walls who have contributed to what the impressive school is today. The results of the hard work and determination that Kirstyn and Alumni have achieved is outstanding”.

A Word with our Chapter Partners

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Enquiry Tracker is a proud partner of Educate Plus NZ.

Thought Leadership

The #1 block to teamwork is defensiveness. Here’s how to defuse it 

By Kara Cutruzzula

To be human is to get defensive. When we’ve been questioned or criticized at work, it’s fair to say that almost all of us — save for, perhaps, the Dalai Lama and other equanimous souls — have gotten irritated, retreated into silence, or said something cutting in response. And because it is so normal to get defensive, we tend to write it off as no big deal. Jim Tamm, however, begs to differ.

Former judge Tamm spent 25 years working through other interpersonal conflicts, including mediating more than 1,000 employment disputes, and he currently trains consultants to teach collaboration skills. So what does defensiveness have to do with collaboration? Tamm has come to believe that defensiveness is the major obstacle that prevents people from working well together. “There is nothing that will help you become more effective at building collaboration than better managing your own defensiveness,” he says in an interview.

 Read More

‘How to Manage Growing Pains During Rapid Team Growth’

By Sarah Ribeiro 

Your business has grown. What once was a small office of 10 people has expanded to 200, and with that comes a whole lot of adjusting. While growth is great, not everything is sunshine and roses. We call these tough adjustments “growing pains,” and they can throw your business way off its trajectory if you aren’t prepared to face them.

What Are Growing Pains In Business?

Remember going through growth spurts as a child? The too-short pant legs were embarrassing, but the achy limbs and joints made it miserable. Just like when you were 10 years old, your business can experience growing pains when it’s scaling too fast. 

 Read More

‘How Leaders Around the World Define Leadership’

 By Amy Rigby

Good leadership. Countless books, seminars, TED Talks, and articles have attempted to explain what it is and how to emulate it. But what does it really mean for us on a day-to-day basis?

Instead of interviewing another organizational psychologist or management expert, I decided to ask my inner circle of friends and colleagues what good leadership means to them. 

What Does Good Leadership Consist Of?

My question-asking took me (virtually) from Zagreb to Bangkok to a tiny town in the mountains of Idaho. The respondents come from various backgrounds, from a private school principal to a nomadic artist, and even an ER nurse. 

I asked them all this question: What makes someone a good leader? Here’s what they had to say.

 Read More

Tribute to Sir Eion Edgar

Sir Eion Edgar, a Queenstown-based investor, businessman, philanthropist, husband and father, has passed away last month in Queenstown aged 76, and leaves behind enormous legacy for New Zealand.

Sir Eion attended John McGlashan College in Dunedin from 1954 to 1963 and was inducted as a member of the Distinguished Old Collegian in the College’s centennial year in 2018. After school, he then attended the University of Otago and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1967 and completed his accounting professional qualifications the following year. He began working for Forsyth Barr in 1972.

Sir Eion chaired numerous charitable trusts and organisations, including the Edgar Olympic Foundation, New Zealand Dementia Prevention Trust, Winter Games NZ Charitable Trust. He was the official patron of Diabetes New Zealand, the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, and the New Zealand Football Foundation. Sir Eion had significant contribution in the creation of the University of Otago’s Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre, and also in the creation of the southern hemisphere’s largest single-building indoor sports arena, Dunedin’s Edgar Centre.

Sir Eion served as Chancellor of the University of Otago from 1999 until 2003, and was awarded Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the university for outstanding service.

He served as Chairman of Forsyth Barr for 20 years until his retirement in 2018. In his role as the Chairman, he was instrumental in the company’s sponsorship of the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. He was served as a director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Chairman of the New Zealand Stock Exchange, and President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee. He was also a trustee of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand and of the Halberg Diasbility Foundation.

Sir Eion has undoubtedly made significant contributions to New Zealand as a philanthropist in sport, education, youth, arts, sport and health, which has earned him many awards and accoldates, including a knighthood, being named NBR New Zealander of the Year in 2004, the Senior New Zealander of the Year in 2010, and being inducted into the Business Hall of Fame.

Graduate Profile by University of Otago – https://www.otago.ac.nz/business/alumni/otago090613.html

Small Wins, Big Progress

Who was involved?

• Tangata whenua
• Howick Local Board
• Howick College Board & Senior Leadership Team
• Howick Coast Kahui Ako Leader
• Waipaparoa Kahui Ako Leader
• Community Development Office & International Students Department Staff
• Student Leaders

What was the initiative or win?

Blessing and Official Opening of the new Community Development building – this new office building located at the front of the school, which houses both the Community Development Office and the International Students Department under one roof, aims to be the focal point where relationships will be strengthened between Howick College and its wider community. 

When and where did this take place?

Thursday 20 May, Sunrise

What big progress movement has occurred because of this win? 

Having recognised the synergy between the two departments, Howick College established its new structure of incorporating the International Students Department as part of the Community Development Office.  The school’s vision is to bring a more cohesive approach and inclusion for both our domestic and international community, reaching out to our students, parents and alumni, at a global scale that is well beyond our front doorsteps.

The establishment of Howick College’s Community Development Office isn’t an overnight success story, but rather a courageous commitment by the Howick College Board and the Principal, Mr Iva Ropati, to pursue a long term vision with a view to enriching and future-proofing the School and its people for generations to come.

Any future impacts this change will have on your institute?

The dedication and commitment by the Howick College School Board and its Senior Leadership Team to invest in this new structure and the physical space has been a trailblazing vision, which has already created some very positive feedback among the wider school community. The alignment between the International Students Department and the Community Development Office will see relationships being fostered and better managed to create further philanthropic support for the School in the future.

Anything else you may wish to add?

To our knowledge, Howick College is the first state school in New Zealand to integrate the International Students operation with the school’s Community Development function, and in so doing, recognise the importance of the school’s community being viewed and treated as one.

Story covered by the local newspapers – https://www.times.co.nz/news/howick-college-opens-new-door-to-community/

Inspiration Corner

PDs/SIGs and Upcoming Events

We have an exciting line up of networking events available for our members. We encourage everyone to join in. There is something for every profession in the Advancement sector and this is a great space to learn and share industry ideas.

Social Media

Keep in touch with the other members and other advancement professionals during your working day through our NZ Chapter social media channels! Keep up with all the latest tips, ideas and links to keep you abreast if the advancement sector developments, social media is the perfect way to stay connected and converse with like-minded peers.

We would love for you to join us – here are a few good reason why you should!

• Find out about the latest local events from Educate Plus
• Helps you gain knowledge
• Helps you be creative
• Find old friends
• Voice your opinions
• Lets you meet new people – generate leads
• Help and get help

Meet an Educate Plus Member

Kia ora, my name is Vanita Karena and I am the Development Officer for Rutherford College. 

I started my role at Rutherford in March 2020, three days before we went into lockdown! Initially my role focused on the schools 60th Reunion that took place on the 9th April 2021, 18 months of preparation went into the event and thankfully it was a great success with over 1000 people attending the school over the two days. Since the reunion my role has evolved into setting up the Kotuku Foundation that will eventually raise funds that go directly back to the school. I am also hosting the schools first Father & daughter breakfast in September this year as well as a First 10 years brunch that is for all staff and ex pupils who attended the school between 1961 – 1971 to come together and reconnect.  

I am a mother of three children aged nine, six and three that keeps me pretty busy outside of work. In my previous life before my children, I was a high school teacher. I took a few years off after my third child before taking on my new role working with Alumni. I work 16 hours a week. When not at work I can be found on the side of the sports field cheering my kids on, or volunteering up at their primary school for different events. I have a love for cooking and when I have the time, I enjoy painting landscapes as a hobby. I can also be found doing a bit of DIY around the house and interior decorating.