Emeritus Professor David Simmons, a leading tourism scholar who spent his academic career almost exclusively at Lincoln, has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to tourism and tertiary education.




Additionally, alumna and lecturer in Global Supply Chains and Trade, Dr Hafsa Ahmed, was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ethnic communities and women.



Recognition also went to past staff members, Grant Cleland (ONZM), Dr Jan Wright (DNZM) and Ruta McKenzie (MNZM).

Prof Simmons has been a leading tourism scholar for more than 40 years and is regarded as a key founder of the discipline at tertiary level in New Zealand.

After founding tourism studies at Lincoln University, he established the Centre of Exellence – Sustainable Tourism for Regions, Landscapes and Communities, which focuses on generating and supporting sustainable tourism regions.

He has also contributed to international tourism planning and education in numerous countries, including Sarawak, Cambodia, Niue, Mauritius and Nepal, and advised international organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund and United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

Speaking to Stuff, Prof Simmons said the honour was completely unexpected.

"Naturally, I was most surprised and initially thought that maybe it was in error, but on reflection came to realise that I had been nominated anonymously by my peers, but from where I do not know.

"I am most proud of my students, especially those who have undertaken postgraduate studies, a number of whom now make significant national and global contributions."

Dr Ahmed has empowered women to tell their stories through media projects and the video documentary series, Immigrant Journeys, in her capacity as co-founder and trustee of Lady Khadija Charitable Trust.

A registered charity that works to support vulnerable groups achieve social cohesion in the community, it is one of many different not-for-profit organisations Dr Ahmed has advocated for over the past decade.

Also an active presenter and contributor to the Ministry for Ethnic Communities' Women to Women Project in Ōtautahi Christchurch, she is a highly regarded leader in supporting the empowerment of ethnic women and the recovery of the Muslim community following the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks.

Following the announcement of the honour, Dr Ahmed told Stuff that she was committed to shining a light on important issues.

"Yesterday reading, I came across a Chinese proverb, 'it is better to light a single candle than curse the darkness,'" she said. "That is so true. I guess I am trying to light a candle when there is so much darkness."

David Simmons photo courtesy of Chris Skelton/Stuff

They have made a dozen trips down under since 1999, and are celebrating early as they may not be back for two or three years.

Each visit they stay for a month with a group on the Lincoln campus exploring New Zealand farming.

Lesa is a Professor of Animal Science at Delaware, while Susan is part of the Cooperative Extension Service, and both are Study Abroad Program Co-Directors.

They said while Delaware has farms of its own, they wanted to show their students a different way of farming utilising different types of land, and New Zealand provided that opportunity.

The 36 second and third year students toured the Lincoln University farms and had some guest lectures from Lincoln academics on-campus. They also visited farms around the region, with one in Hurunui on their itinerary since 1999.

The students also had pre-arranged visits to some of the local attractions but also got free-time to explore for themselves, which Susan said helped them develop soft skills.

Lesa said the students were from a range of majors which included pre-vet medicine, sustainable food systems, entomology and conservation, and few had farming backgrounds.

Student Evyn Apple called the trip the most memorable, and formative month of her life.

This trip has opened doors to novel landscapes, people, and agricultural operations I hadn't realised existed.

"The most interesting thing Kiwi farmers have taught me is the importance of existing within the constraints of one's environment.By letting the land govern production, rather than the other way around, farmers are more self-sufficient, innovative, and sustainable by learning to work alongside nature and not fight it.

"Hiking through beaches and forests, up and down mountains Kiwi's call "wee hills," I have encountered breathtaking wildlife," she added.

"Every experience adds value to you."

The Bachelor of Agricultural Science student, who's been selected as this year's recipient of the Hugh Williams Memorial Scholarship, is about to enter her second year of study, as she prepares to help guide the industry "to continue to meet the needs of our consumers, environment and rural communities".

Georgia has a major passion for helping Kiwi farmers and wants to relate "ag research and lab outcomes back to [them] in a way that's relevant and practical".

She's also keen to travel in the future and learn more about different farming practices overseas and discovering "some of the aspects we might be able to take away and apply here".

"But for now, my focus is on the next couple of years here at Lincoln," she says.

Her ambition to positively impact the future of agriculture impressed the Ravensdown scholarship panellists.

"With young leaders like Georgia coming through the ranks, it gives me confidence that the future of New Zealand is in very capable hands," says Ravensdown CEO Garry Diack.

Lincoln's flagship Bachelor of Agricultural Science programme offers the perfect foundation for Georgia's vision, with a lot of time spent in the lab during her first year, and Georgia says it's been "really interesting to be involved in the science of farming".

Agriculture is the ideal career path for the 19-year-old, who grew up on a sheep and beef farm in the Wairarapa.

"As a kid, I really enjoyed getting out on the farm," she says. "I'm fortunate to have hardworking parents who encouraged me and gave me enough room to give things a go."

As part of the practical component of her degree, Georgia spent this summer on a dairy farm in Springston, and says she's learnt much more than she was expecting to.

"My bosses and manager [are] taking the time to explain the reasons why things are done a certain way and make sure I get to do a variety of jobs."

Learn more about Georgia on the Ravensdown website.

The University has a highly successful basketball scholarship which has produced Tall Ferns and a multitude of elite players, and it already sponsors Canterbury Basketball's Glory League which provides video highlights for players throughout the divisions to share.

The Thomson Trophy, for boys, and Whelan Trophy, for girls, competitions have been running as weekly since 2015 and 2016 respectively for high schools' "Senior A" teams.

They have been widely lauded for the part they playin terms of raising the level of competitiveness for Canterbury's teams on a national stage, and in generating interest in playing basketball locally, evidenced by  a big increase in player numbers in high schools over the same period.

Lincoln University Marketing Manager Duncan Stirling said he was excited about the new partnership.

 Basketball is the fastest growing teenage sport for boys and girls in New Zealand. Partnering with Canterbury Basketball is an opportunity to promote sport and encourage teenagers to stay active while also highlighting the opportunities available for them to grow with Lincoln University's range of land-based qualifications.

General Manager of the Canterbury Basketball Association (CBA), Clive Beaumont, expressed a similar sentiment.

 "We are hugely grateful to Lincoln University, for entering into partnership with us in 2023 by sponsoring the Thomson and Whelan Trophies. This will enable us to deliver what is widely regarded as the foremost premier high school basketball competition in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

"At the same time we are able to promote Lincoln University as a first-class destination and environment for tertiary students to pursue both their academic and sporting ambitions."

A key point of synergy in the expanded partnership between Lincoln University and the CBA is the basketball scholarships on offer each year.

Pete Magson, Lincoln University Sports Scholarship Programme Manager, said Lincoln offered a pathway for players hoping to play at the highest-level through their basketball programme.

"It is great to be able to support young athletes through this partnership, and through our Sports Scholarships, to be able to be play a game they are passionate about and to fulfil their sporting dreams."

Image; Lincoln University's Marketing Manager Duncan Stirling, left, and Sports Scholarship Programme Manager Pete Magson with the new competition logo.

Having recently finished high school at Roncalli College in Timaru, she'll be embarking on the Bachelor of Commerce (Hotel and Tourism Management) in February.

She's also the first ever recipient of the new George Hotel Scholarship, a programme that offers part-time employment and mentoring each year to students of the specialised degree.

With the tourism sector bouncing back to its former position as one of the world's largest businesses, hotels and other tourism providers will need strongly qualified leadership, which Roshean will be developing during her study.

Hotels offer careers in a range of areas, including operations, marketing, human resource management, accounting and finance, property management, food and beverage, and conferencing and events.

Lincoln is the only university in New Zealand to offer a degree specialisation in hotel management, and has done so for the past two decades.

Roshean was attracted to the tourism industry growing up "because it looked like an interesting environment to work in".

"After researching further, the hotel industry also looked like it was right up my alley," she said.

The Bachelor of Commerce (Tourism and Hotel Management) really stood out to me when I was considering my options.

The George Hotel Scholarship is a major bonus, with Roshean receiving $3,000 towards her university fees and gaining part-time work at the hotel to obtain first-hand industry experience.

"I am excited to take up this opportunity and learn valuable skills from knowledgeable people," she said. "Working at the George will be beneficial for gaining a deeper understanding of my study."

The scholarship is a first for the New Zealand hotel industry and for a student working towards a degree in hotel management.

The George Managing Director Bruce Garrett said the company was "very happy to invest in the future of our industry" by providing the scholarship opportunity.

"We believe that by supporting young people who are passionate about careers in hotels, we can help promote positive change and sustainable growth for the industry in New Zealand. We look forward to working alongside Roshean and those to follow."

In terms of future career possibilities, Roshean is keen to explore her options as her studies progress.

"I think this programme will give me opportunities that will set me on an exciting path for the future," she said.

But for now, she's looking forward to settling in at Lincoln as she begins cultivating her tourism career, citing the university's small size as a big part of its attraction.

"I was attracted to Lincoln because I wanted to be not too far from home but also somewhere new. I visited other universities and found them to be very busy and not what I was looking for.

"Coming from a small town, Lincoln looked much more suitable for me as I didn't feel so overwhelmed."

The extra support she'll gain from academic staff will also stand her in excellent stead as she grows her hotel and tourism management skills.

Other scholarships will be available each year for students of the Bachelor of Commerce (Hotel and Tourism Management), courtesy of The Pavlions Hotel and The Chateau on the Park.

There is also an additional opportunity for Māori students entering undergraduate study at Lincoln and intending to pursue a degree in the tourism field: the Lincoln University Tāpoi Scholarship.

PHOTO: New Lincoln student Roshean O'Connor is forging a career in the tourism industry with the help of a new scholarship.

California has long been the leader on environment and climate change in the US.  It is by far the US's largest agriculture producer and exporter. Dairy is the top revenue earner. The State of California has ambitious methane reduction targets and the agricultural sector has made good progress towards meeting those targets. 

Event Details:

"How Managing Methane from Livestock can be a Climate Solution"

• Monday, February 20, 2023
• 2:15 PM  4:00 PM
• Lincoln University Stewart Building and Zoom Webinar

Register Here for this event.