Haere mai to Sheeanda Field (Ngāriki Kaipūtahi, Ngāti Porou and Tūhoe), the Library's new Kaihautū Māori / Māori Library Services Manager.

Sheeanda is a familiar face at the Library and around Turitea site, as she has spent several years as Kaiwhakarato Pārongo Māori / Māori Information Services Librarian.

"I'm looking forward to the new role and the rewards and challenges that it will no doubt bring," she says.

Sheeanda starts as Kaihautū Māori on Monday 12 December, based at Turitea Library.

2011 Ngā Kupu Ora Awards winners. Back row – Basil Keane (Te Ara), Jock Phillips (Te Ara), Derek Fox, Chris Winitana. Front row – Robert Jahnke, Trudy Meredith, Tina Makereti.

The Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards for 2011 were presented at a ceremony on 29 November at Te Pūtahi-a-toi/School of Māori Studies. The Library was honoured to again be involved in the organisation of the awards.

Most of the books are available for borrowing from Massey Library:

Massey News article: Ngā Kupu Ora Awards Celebrate Māori Publishing Milestones

The Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards winners for 2011 have been announced, ahead of the presentation ceremony on 29 November at Te Pūtahi-a-toi/School of Māori Studies.

Māori Information Services Librarian/Kaiwhakarato Pārongo Sheeanda Field has been involved in organising the awards from the first year in 2009, and was on the judging panel this year.

"More and more Māori are writing so it is good to be able to recognise Māori authorship with the Book Awards," she said. "I was honoured to be a part of the process and judging for the books this year."

Massey News article: First Fiction Winner at Ngā Kupu Ora Māori Book Awards

We're celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) by shouting fortune cookies each morning at the Library cafes - just order your kawhe (coffee) in Māori (we'll help you!). Also keep an eye out for displays in the Libraries.

Brush up on your kōrero kawhe on Massey's Kōrero kawhe – Coffee chat page. The Library cafes are taking part, along with other eating places around the University. If you time it right (10.00-10.30 am), ordering your kawhe or kaputī in Māori might earn you a free fortune cookie.

Take a look at the other activities at the University, which will go on for the whole month - Te Marama o te reo Māori

Dr. Spencer Lilley, the Library’s Kaihautū Māori/Māori Services Manager (Te Ātiawa, Muaūpoko and Ngāpuhi), graduated with a PhD degree at the College of Education Graduation Ceremony on 11th of May. He has also received a Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Travel Award to present his work to American audiences.

Dr. Lilley's thesis The information seeking behaviours of Māori secondary school students (available on Massey Research Online) investigated how Māori students access and use information to make sense of the two worlds they live in. The research results demonstrated that they have a distinct preference for seeking information from other people, rather than print and electronic sources.

The Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Travel Award allows him to visit America in June. He will be making presentations to the Tribal College Librarians’ Institute, the universities of Washington and Texas, and the American Library Association’s Annual Conference as part of the incoming President’s program. He returns to New Zealand at the beginning of July.

Congratulations Spencer!