We are here to ensure you have the best academic experience at Victoria University of Wellington.
Please vote for the 2022 Landers Award!
The Landers Award recognises an individual who has demonstrated an unstinting commitment to fostering camaraderie and collective consciousness among their colleagues in the postgraduate community.
We’ve shared with you the glowing praise these postgraduates have received in their nominations.
Please Vote HERE
Injy Johnstone , Faculty of Law
Injy Johnstone has been a key player in assisting and advocating for the overseas PhD community during the period of the pandemic. While many of us were unable to come to New Zealand because of border restrictions, Injy was central to organising informal weekly Zoom "socials" for PhD students who had to start their courses overseas and who are only now in the process of being able to come to New Zealand to complete their studies. Although Injy is a New Zealand citizen herself (although she was for much of the two years of the pandemic herself exiled to the UK by MIQ quarantine restrictions) she has used her voice to make University management aware of the particular issues which overseas PhD candidates were experiencing. Now that the border has reopened for non-New Zealand citizens, Injy has continued to help students from all over the world to navigate the student visa path and to welcome PhD candidates to Wellington and to help them be part of the University Community. In addition to her own research and studies in the area of the international law of climate change, Injy has expended considerable personal time and effort to build links within the overseas PhD community and this should be recognised.
Kent Newman, Faculty of Law
As a PhD candidate and as the postgraduate representative on the Faculty of Law, Kent exemplifies the values that undergird the endeavours of a leading law school. His own academic contributions are rigorous. While he is still in the early days of his thesis work, it is clear that he is pursuing knowledge with a refreshing intellectual ambition that bespeaks a true determination to make a significant contribution to knowledge. Added to all of this, he is generous in his support of other postgraduate students. He walks the talk, and regularly attends other students’ work-in-progress seminars. In these fora, he is always meticulously prepared. He asks testing questions, animated by respect for the other students and their work. There is a generosity of spirit that infuses all his contributions. He is also a fine representative of the postgraduate students in his capacity as Postgraduate Student Representative on the Faculty of Law. His is a very useful voice in Faculty deliberations. He has an unswerving focus on ensuring that, in the postgraduate context, all the work we do here is directed toward our statutory responsibilities and obligations to be the critic and conscience of society. He encourages all of us to bring our best selves to the intellectual endeavour we have been entrusted to pursue as academics. He has excellent interpersonal skills and is a highly positive presence in this Faculty.
I am aware of the comments that Prof Graeme Austin has written about Kent Newman in support of this award and endorse all of them wholeheartedly. I have had numerous dealings with Kent as the supervisor of his Master's thesis and now his PhD. He exemplifies everything that a research student should be – curious, hard-working and engaged with his fellow students and the Faculty.
I am also the PhD coordinator for Law and in this capacity have had numerous positive exchanges with Kent, who is the postgraduate student representative for our faculty. He is a huge force for the good in this role – always constructive, principled and engaged. He is always willing to put himself out for people and is unfailingly good-humored even in the face of challenging situations. I strongly recommend him for this award.
From Prof. Graeme Austin: As a PhD candidate and as the postgraduate representative on the Faculty of Law, Kent exemplifies the values that undergird the endeavours of a leading law school. His own academic contributions are rigorous. While he is still in the early days of his thesis work, it is clear that he is pursuing knowledge with a refreshing intellectual ambition that bespeaks a true determination to make a significant contribution to knowledge. Added to all of this, he is generous in his support of other postgraduate students. He walks the talk, and regularly attends other students’ work-in-progress seminars. In these fora, he is always meticulously prepared. He asks testing questions, animated by respect for the other students and their work. There is a generosity of spirit that infuses all his contributions. He is also a fine representative of the postgraduate students in his capacity as Postgraduate Student Representative on the Faculty of Law. His is a very useful voice in Faculty deliberations. He has an unswerving focus on ensuring that, in the postgraduate context, all the work we do here is directed toward our statutory responsibilities and obligations to be the critic and conscience of society. He encourages all of us to bring our best selves to the intellectual endeavour we have been entrusted to pursue as academics. He has excellent interpersonal skills and is a highly positive presence in this Faculty.
From Prof. Nicole Moreham: I am aware of the comments that Prof Graeme Austin has written about Kent Newman in support of this award and endorse all of them wholeheartedly. I have had numerous dealings with Kent as the supervisor of his master's thesis and now his PhD. He exemplifies everything that a research student should be – curious, hard-working and engaged with his fellow students and the Faculty.
I am also the PhD coordinator for Law and in this capacity have had numerous positive exchanges with Kent, who is the postgraduate student representative for our faculty. He is a huge force for the good in this role – always constructive, principled and engaged. He is always willing to put himself out for people and is unfailingly good-humored even in the face of challenging situations. I strongly recommend him for this award.
From Assoc. Prof. Joanna Mossop: As Associate Dean (Research), I fully support Kent's nomination.
From Prof. Petra Butler: From the acting Dean’s perspective – Kent has done a wonderful job in representing and supporting the Faculty’s PhD community. He was very open and constructive in his interactions.
Kaitlin Martin-Feek, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations
Kaitlin is the single student that effectively forms the centre of HPPI, and even FHSS as a whole. She has become the point of contact between staff and postgraduate students, helping to relay concerns and address issues raised by both staff and students. She has always made an effort to personally guide and help new postgraduates that enter the programme - to the point that she may well be physically incapable of saying 'I'm too busy' or 'I can't help' when approached by a student that needs advice or support.
Yoshie Nishikawa, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Yoshie deserves the Landers Award for having enriched my postgraduate study in both academic and social aspects. Since 2020, Yoshie has continued to organise bi-weekly Zoom meetings to connect with other postgraduate students at LALS. These meetings supported me emotionally and helped me to experience the academic atmosphere at VUW even though I am currently overseas. Yoshie is always happy to listen to the challenges I face in my research, share advice on writing, useful articles, and give feedback on my presentation rehearsals. Additionally, Yoshie managed a research interest group with our supervisor which led to several joint presentations at international conferences. During these interest group meetings, I learned a lot about Yoshie’s insightful research on teacher cognition and beginner-level language learners. Overall, Yoshie has inspired me and many other students because of her passion for research and her genuine willingness to help others or share knowledge.