Kia ora
I am writing my first alumni newsletter while home in Germany to celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday. As I reflect on 2024, I feel privileged to have been appointed Executive Dean to such a brilliant, engaged, and committed Faculty. I am particularly grateful for the warm welcome given to me by the entire UC community and the easy transition into my role thanks to acting Dean, Professor Karen Scott.
Tertiary education gained significant attention in 2023 but undoubtedly took centre stage in 2024. As far as one can predict, it will remain a key political agenda item in 2025. For me, these discussions have highlighted the invaluable contributions of our faculty whānau (academic and professional colleagues, students, alumni, and the profession) in making Aotearoa New Zealand a more just, equal, sustainable, and overall better place.
The world-leading research undertaken by my colleagues, which you can read about in this newsletter, has contributed to important jurisprudential and policy developments and challenged current practices and conceptions. Our students, who open their minds and work hard to acquire knowledge, also challenge us, thereby ensuring that the wheel of learning keeps turning for all of us. Similarly, our alumni, the profession, and visitors are an integral part of the faculty’s fabric and its overall contribution to Aotearoa. They provide the bridge to the “real world”. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the role of our professional staff. They are very much the heart of our whānau.
Looking back over the last two years and what lies ahead for 2025 makes me confident that whatever the challenges we might face in the coming twelve months, the Law Faculty whānau will weather it.
Ngā mihi o te tau hou ki a koe. Ki tau te rangimārie me te aroha ki runga i a koe mō te tau 2025. Wishing you a wonderful, fun-filled, interesting, and healthy 2025.
Ngā manaakitanga
Petra Butler
Amo Matua | Executive Dean - Law