On Tuesday 15 September we held a webinar on the Cannabis Legislation and Control Referendum.

This was the first in a series of four online panel discussions delving into some of the big issues facing New Zealanders in the upcoming election.

This session was moderated by Dr Fiona Hutton from the University's School of Social and Cultural Studies. Panelists are Mamaeroa Merito and Tania Sawicki Mead.

Earlier this year, as COVID-19 landed on New Zealand’s shores, the swift and effective leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, and others was key in the country’s successful response. But there have also been many cases where leaders have not effectively managed a crisis—leading to dire results.

In this podcast, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Wellington School of Business and Government, Professor Ian Williamson speaks with Dr Ashley Bloomfield—Director-General and Chief Executive, Ministry of Health; Sarah Stuart-Black—Director, Civil Defence Emergency Management and Deputy Chief Executive of the National Emergency Management Agency; Dame Therese Walsh—Chairman, Air New Zealand and Pro-Chancellor, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington; and Dr. Daniel Laufer—Associate Professor of Marketing, Wellington School of Business and Government about effective leadership and their advice for leading through a crisis.

What's next for New Zealand in the fight against climate change?

On Tuesday 11 August Professor James Renwick and New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change Hon James Shaw spoke at a public event at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.

They discussed what is currently being done in our country to combat climate change, what more we can do in the future, and how COVID-19 may have changed things.

The public event included a Q&A section with members of the audience - this has not been included in the podcast for privacy reasons.

Academics from the University’s Faculty of Health held a webinar on 30 July 2020 on Covid-19 and Public Health titled “What’s in the air?”

They discussed the wider public health implications of Covid-19 and how the public sector can better support communities to thrive.

Presented by Professor Gregor Coster (Professor and Dean of Faculty of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health); Professor Colin Simpson (Professor in Population Health, School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health); Dr Anna Matheson (Senior Lecturer in Health Policy, School of Health, Wellington Faculty of Health); Tara Officer (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Health Services Research Centre)

On Wednesday 22 July Professor Ian. O Williamson, Dean of the Wellington School of Business and Government at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington spoke with with alumna Katie Brown in a webinar for alumni.

They discussed Katie's experience leading the digital communications team in the Unite Against COVID-19 campaign for the New Zealand Government and the challenges she and her team faced.

Cannabis reform excites intense debate across society, and with New Zealand’s referendum on the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill just around the corner, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Professor Jennifer Windsor invited Associate Professor of Criminology Fiona Hutton to talk about what the Bill actually entails.

This milestone event was given in honour of lawyer and law reform advocate Lecretia Seales and marks the fifth anniversary of both the decision on the case and Lecretia's death.

In 2015, Lecretia Seales went to the High Court to seek a ruling that would allow a doctor to assist her to die with her consent. Her court case initiated a national debate and helped focus a parliamentary inquiry into assisted dying.

On Thursday 4 June the Faculty of Law recorded a panel discussion on Seales v Attorney General and subsequent law reform. For the first time, Lecretia's counsel, the Crown's counsel, and the presiding judge came together publicly to discuss their perspectives on the historic court action. The panel members will give their perspectives on the original case and the End of Life Choice Act that has led to the upcoming referendum.

Chair:

Geoff McLay, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Panel:

Matt Vickers

Andrew Butler, Barrister

Mike Heron QC

Paul Rishworth QC

Justice David Collins, Court of Appeal

Chris Bishop, MP

Greg O'Connor, MP

Māmari Stephens, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Jessica Young, Executive Director of the 2020 End of Life Choice Act Referendum Society

This is the fourth in a series of Spotlight lectures on COVID-19 and the future of the New Zealand economy.

In this session the panellists share their insights on the future after COVID-19, and what it means for the future of work, digital technology, and government.

Facilitator:

Professor Alan Bollard (Chair for Pacific Region Business, Wellington School of Business and Government)

Panellists:

Associate Professor Val Hooper (Head of School, School of Marketing and International Business)

Professor Alex Richter (Professor of Information Systems, Wellington School of Business and Government)

Professor Girol Karacaoglu (Head of School of Government, Wellington School of Business and Government

Curious about the legal implications of the lockdown? Do you want to know more on the New Zealand Government’s legal framework during this COVID-19 situation and what it means for us in the future?

In the final episode of the series, our Faculty of Law academics; Geoff McLay, Nessa Lynch, Eddie Clark, Dean Knight, Petra Butler and Joel Colón-Ríos continue the discussion on the legal implications of the government’s response to COVID-19.

• What’s been the most striking feature/thing for you during lockdown?

• What’s been the most surprising feature/thing?

• What’s the main lesson for the future?

This is the third panel discussion in the Spotlight Series: COVID-19 and the future of the New Zealand economy and was recorded as a webinar on Tuesday 26 May.

In this session the panellists discuss long-term recovery strategies, including what it means for the climate change response, the impact on health and wellbeing and how it might change how we think about disasters in the future.

Facilitator:

· Professor Alan Bollard (Chair for Pacific Region Business, Wellington School of Business and Government)

Panellists:

· Dr Judy Lawrence (Senior Research Fellow, at the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute)

· Professor Nick Agar (Professor in Philosophy, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences)

· Dr Carolyn Palmer (alumna and Manager Health, The Treasury)