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New Zealand Geographic Society
Waikato Branch
Geography Jobs |
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Entered
April 2008
| Name: |
Anthony (Tony) Hall |
| Job Title: |
High School Teacher (Geography & Social Studies) |
| Employer: |
Hamilton's Fraser High School |
| Qualification: |
BA; CELTA; Grad Dip Teaching |
| I have been in the job: |
18 months |
My general day at work involves...
planning, teaching, getting to know my students and, unfortunately, paperwork. |
What I like most about this job...
is when I see things click into place in the minds of my students - an amazing feeling! |
What I find difficult about this job...
keeping on top of the paperwork and finding ways to keep geography fresh and relevant in the eyes and minds of my students. |
My favourite place in the world is...
such a hard question to answer! So many cool places in the world. But if I have to choose - Kobe, Japan. Kobe was the first place I visited outside Australia. It's so interesting in terms of geography as it was one of the first places in Japan that was opened in to foreigners in the 19th century so it's really cosmopolitan. In terms of physical geography Japan is an extremely geologically active place and Kobe sits on a series of very active fault lines. This makes Kobe a wonderful example of the effects that the natural environment have on the cultural environment. And vice-versa! It's also important sentimentally, because it's where I met and married my wife Melanie. |
Geography is...
going places. Heehee! Sorry that's a poor geographic pun. I think geography is about trying to explain where things are, why they're there and how this affects both the natural and cultural environments. |
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Entered
December 2007
| Name: |
Ross Ambercrombie |
| Job Title: |
Integrated Catchment Management Coordinator - River and Catchment Services |
| Employer: |
Environment Waikato |
| Qualification: |
BSocSc (Geography major in Resources and Environmental Planning)
MSocSc (Geography) |
| I have been in the job: |
1 year but in Environment Waikato in Education role since April 2004 |
My general day at work involves...
coordinating activities with 2 catchment
projects in the South Waikato Hydrolakes catchment. This includes farm planning, communication, liaising with key stakeholders such as farmer industry and many project related meetings. I have also been working with forestry converters to ensure best practice standards are created when converting pine forest to dairy farms. |
What I like most about this job...
The contact I have with 2 catchments of farmers.
This keeps my work grounded as farmers tend to call a spade a spade. If things don't work they tell you straight. It is hard to push environmental messages at times when economic drivers are in place for many subjects. However, farmers are also hugely innovative which keeps life interesting. |
What I find difficult about this job...
Marrying up need to adhere to regulation and
ensure compliance while trying to move farmers beyond this to best practice. Often farmers believe they meet regulatory standards and are doing well but have small issues that need to be addressed. The way you work people thru this can be difficult, especially while maintaining a positive relationship. |
My favourite place in the world is...
Jasper, in the Canadian Rockies British
Columbia. I'd also love to follow the Tour de France one day, cycling is my sport of choice. |
Geography is...
Working across disciplines to discuss environment in a social
setting. It offers a general overview of physical and social science that is highly useful across many fields (or paddocks). |
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Entered
Sept/Oct 2006
| Name: |
Colin McLeay |
| Job Title: |
Lecturer |
| Employer: |
The University of Waikato |
| Qualification: |
BSocSc (Hons) Waikato
MSocSc Waikato
PhD Macquarie |
| I have been in the job: |
Since 1995 |
My general day at work involves...
A variety of tasks, including writing lectures, marking assignments, meeting with students, doing research, attending meetings. |
What I like most about this job...
The variety of daily activities, where each day brings different issues to attend to. I also enjoy the flexibility of the job, particularly the opportunity to pursue individual and group research. It is also fantastic to help students as they progress through their courses and degrees; seeing students develop understandings and make connections is always a pleasure (and very rewarding). |
What I find difficult about this job...
Developing lectures that are both interesting to the student and informative. Always a challenge. |
My favourite place in the world is...
Wherever my wife and children are. |
Geography is...
People and place. |
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Entered
July 2006
| Name: |
Paula Blackett |
| Job Title: |
Social Science Researcher (Policy) |
| Employer: |
AgResearch |
| Qualification: |
BSc & Msc (Resources and Environmental Planning/Ecology major) Waikato
PhD School of Geography and Environmental Science, Auckland |
| I have been in the job: |
1 year |
My general day at work involves...
It's hard to say my day can be quite different, depending what project I am working on although much of my time is spent at a computer. Most work is associated in some way with agriculture, be it, farmers perceptions of 'something' or governance issues in the dairy industry or conflicts within rural communities over land use alternatives. |
What I like most about this job...
The variety of the work. Projects are very diverse which keeps the interest levels going. |
What I find difficult about this job...
The need to juggle many projects at once, although this almost conflicts with the comment above it is the downside of a job with plenty of variety. |
My favourite place in the world is...
At the moment, it would have to be a beach in Fiji (I am not particular) as long as it is warm. This is heavily influenced by the fact that it is cold and I have to go outside very shortly! |
Geography is...
In my experience - just about anything! It seems to cover (or border on) so many disciplines ranging from politics to ecology. That's both what I like about it and what makes it challenging. |
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