A police enquiry into the availability of forged tertiary education documentation in Auckland has been the subject of a number of media reports in recent days. According to a police statement the documents include forged degrees, diplomas, academic records and other supporting documentation.

Police investigations culminated in the arrest earlier this month of three Chinese nationals - a female aged 27 years and two males aged 26 and 27. They appeared in the Manukau District Court last week charged with forgery.

Police believe that the production of false academic documentation may have been occurring over a period of two to three years with in excess of 100 such sets of documents produced, according to their statement.

"Documents seized by police contain Chinese-named recipients of 'qualifications'. The false documents represent that the recipient has completed the prerequisite course of studies at various New Zealand universities."

The statement quoted Detective Inspector Stu Allsopp-Smith to the effect that the investigation had uncovered a market for forged academic qualifications. While the production of the documents had been professional, police were satisfied that there was no evidence that those responsible had been able to compromise university academic registries where records of all academic achievement could readily be validated.

"The use and production of such documents is not new in New Zealand nor internationally, but the risks of buying and using such documents can have long lasting effects on those who commit criminal offences by obtaining them.

"Police encourage those who have obtained such documents to surrender them to their nearest police station. If there is a desire to check the validity of any degree or diploma, the issuing university registry is able to perform this service," the statement said.

The latest case is the second involving forged university qualifications in recent years. In both cases, NZVCC comment has been limited to advice that anyone, including potential employers, wishing to verify a university qualification should check with the awarding institution. Other items

University staff honoured by RSNZ

New Zealand's top science honour - the Rutherford Medal - has been awarded to internationally renowned biomedical engineer Professor Peter Hunter FRS, FRSNZ, of the University of Auckland. Professor Hunter was presented with the 2009 medal by Research, Science and Technology Minister Dr Wayne Mapp at the Royal Society of New Zealand's science honours dinner held in Auckland last week. The award was for Professor Hunter's revolutionary approach to modelling the human body.

The top award for achievement in technology, the Pickering Medal, was awarded to Professor Kenneth McNatty FRSNZ from Victoria University of Wellington for his contribution to the field of reproductive biology, with products having been commercialised from his work.

The Hutton Medal for earth sciences was awarded to Professor Colin Wilson FRSNZ, also from Victoria, for his outstanding work on volcanism. Professor Wilson's research aims to better understand volcanic activity so adequate warnings of eruptions can be given.

This year's Te Rangi Hiroa Medal for excellence in social sciences was awarded to Professor Ian Pool FRSNZ of the University of Waikato for his demographic research on Māori fertility and family formation, the theory of age-structural transition, the measurement of mortality and morbidity, and the relationship between population and development.

Professor Peter Steel FRSNZ from the University of Canterbury was honoured with the Hector Medal for the advancement of chemical sciences, for his world renowned work in the field of metallosupramolecular chemistry leading to potential applications in medicine and nanotechnology.

Summer scholarships allocation announced

The Government has announced final details of the summer research scholarships scheme including the number of scholarships allocated to each university. Auckland and Otago will both have 400 scholarships while Victoria has been allocated 350, Canterbury 200, Waikato 100 and AUT, Massey and Lincoln, 50 each. The 1600 scholarships, worth $5000 apiece, are part-funded through $4 million set aside in Budget 2009. Universities will match that public investment dollar for dollar and were responsible for allocating the scholarship places. Some of the students involved have already begun their research.

Medicine, law and engineering - Rhodes Scholars elect for 2010

Thomas Hills, Alice Irving and Richard Stebbing have been selected as Rhodes Scholars following a selection meeting at Government House in Auckland last week. Tenable at Oxford University, Rhodes Scholarships are among the most prestigious awards in the portfolio managed by the NZVCC's scholarships office.

Thomas Hills has been studying at the University of Otago's Dunedin and Wellington campuses. At Oxford, he intends studying for an MSc in Integrated Immunology leading to his eventual goal, a DPhil programme. Once his studies are complete, Thomas plans to return to New Zealand to train as a specialist. His experience to date includes participation in the 2008 Rural Medical Immersion Programme run by the University of Otago and a 2009 medical elective in Zambia.

Alice Irving has undertaken an LLB (Hons) and BA in Community and Family Studies at the University of Otago and should complete her studies midway through next year. She started her university education at Victoria University of Wellington in 2005. At Oxford, Alice will undertake a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) and an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She intends to work as a criminal defence lawyer, then in social policy and legal reform work, having already served as a volunteer at law centres and as a Pacific Island mentor and tutor at the Otago Faculty of Law.

Richard Stebbing is undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) at the University of Auckland and is expected to graduate in May next year. He gained direct entry to Auckland University as a second-year student, enabling him to complete his degree in three years rather than four under the accelerated pathway for engineering programme. Richard has achieved A+ grades in all his courses to date. At Oxford, Richard will pursue a DPhil in Biomedical Engineering. Once his studies are complete he plans to return to this country to continue work in either the academic or industrial sectors.

2009 Woolf Fisher Scholarships awarded

Anna Dare (University of Auckland), Ashley Easter (University of Waikato) and Nathalie Saurat (University of Otago) have been awarded Woolf Fisher Scholarships for 2009, enabling them to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge next year.

Anna, a former president of the NZ Medical Students' Association, has an honours degree in human biology and her PhD at Cambridge will be based on research into mitochondrial dysfunction and therapeutics in kidney transplantation.

Ashley, a Waikato master's student, plans to read biochemistry at Cambridge. Through his research into enzyme dynamics, he hopes to extend his understanding of protein folding, an area of investigation which could lead to a cure for a variety of diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

An Otago Bachelor of Science honours student, Nathalie will undertake her PhD in Cambridge's biochemistry department where she will research microRNAs (strands of molecules which regulate gene expression). She hopes that a greater understanding of microRNA action will assist in the development of new cancer therapies. Nine scholars were short-listed for this year's Woolf Fisher awards by the NZVCC which administers the scholarship. Established in 2003, Woolf Fisher Scholarships are tenable for three or four year postgraduate research at Cambridge and provide each recipient with a maintenance allowance of 12,000 a year, payment of tuition fees and an annual London - New Zealand return airfare. Nominations for 2009 NZU Blues University Sport New Zealand (USNZ) is calling for nominations for the NZ Universities Blues Awards for the 2009 academic year. Criteria for the 2009 awards are currently being updated in conjunction with national sports organisations and will shortly be available on the USNZ website. Nominations, which close on 29 January 2010, must be made on the official form which is available from: www.universitysport.org.nz Celebrating Richard Pearse Applications for the Richard Pearse Trophy for Innovation Excellence in the New Zealand Aviation Industry are now open. The award recognizes the achievements of New Zealand pioneer aviator Richard Pearse and is offered by the Aviation Industry Association (AIA). New Zealand-based individuals, organisations (including the military) and educational institutions are eligible for the trophy. It will be awarded to a specific project or on-going initiative that exhibits innovation in the field of aerospace. The AIA gives the development of innovative materials, power, propulsion or guidance systems, or equipment, as examples. Further details and criteria, as well as the application form, can be downloaded from the AIA website: www.aia.org.nz