Getting Conference Pack

As I left the Hotel So I wander of down the street looking at my map working out where Conference Centre was. I wandered through some great shops to Cathedral Square. I stopped and had a peek in at the Cathedral, wandring arouns amazed at the architecture.

The walls, the fine structure and the amazing stain glassed windows.
The organ started ups and some amazing music started, making you feel relaxed as you wandered around. Later the choir arrived in and started singing from various carols to a fulll fanfare. It was 20 minutes later we were told the evening Sunday service will be starting in 30 minutes and we were invited to attend but the doors were closing for visitors for the day.

I continued on to conference passing the Town Hall and glorious fountain and then crossed over the Avon River where I saw a punt slowly moving down stream.

Finally at the Conference Events Centre and totally awestruck by the size of it. Wandered in and was greeted by a lovely young lady in Black who directed through the little indoor garden to the Main conference Desk. Here I queued to pick up my Conference pack. I was meeting some new Librarians and chatting about whats happening in our respective libraries and how busy it has been this year. We exchanged business card and got our packs. I then ran into Joanne Ransom whom I went to Library School with soem 20 years ago. We had a good catch up.

We were now being called into the exhibitors for welcome speeches and and welcome drinks. Here I listen to our LIANZA President Barbara Garriock giving a welcome speech to the delegates and welcome and thanks to the exhibitors for making this conference possible.
I caught up with Terry from 3M and chatted with him as well as Andy from NZMS and the team from Knowledge Basket.

It was 7pm by the time we left and Andy & Jo from NZMS had invited me to dinner. I took a photo of the Conference Events Centre in its night Glory.

Must dash to dinner 8pm I meeting Andy and Jo.

Hotel So

The Hotel So despite the small room has some amazingly big features foe a small price.
Awesome flatscreen TV on the wall, equally awesome clock and wake sytem. Wow hi tech at its best.

Flight Down

Arrived at Napier and checked in easily and in plenty of time we we off on time and arrived in Wellington in good time. There in lied the problem - computers down were waited an extra hour to get out of Wellington. Scenic south Island was beautiful.
Arrived in Christchurch an hour late but great trip none the less.
The rest was rather uneventful.

Not Sure what to pack for Conference

Not sure what essentials to pack for Conference? Not to worry, we’ve got some tips.
Check out the long-range weather forecast the day before you leave – I always ring the useful Metphone 0900 number which I have found more accurate than other forecasts when I am going away. It is invariably useful in deciding how warmly to pack. The number for Canterbury is 0900-99903. Layers of clothing will help you make the most of whatever the weather is like on the morning of the pōwhiri – whether it is hot or cold. Style is up to you – whatever you feel comfortable in.
Remember there is no Conference satchel, so bring something in which to put all the things you need during the day. You can bring a satchel from a previous LIANZA conference, a work satchel, or a favourite bag from home instead. Previous LIANZA Conference bags back to 1991 have been collected by Brenda Chawner from Victoria University, you can check out her database and pictures here. The only year that is missing is the 2003 Napier Conference – if you still have one Brenda would love to hear from you! Check out also these examples of other library conference bags.
In terms of bringing note paper and pens – there will be some blank pages to make notes included in the handbook, but it’s still a good idea to bring your own note book. There are no pens provided (other than those you might manage to score from vendors).
Other things to bring are camera, sunhat and walking shoes if you like walking in the morning, favourite pen, post-it notes, business cards, and your favourite clothes for the Conference dinner in Sol Square. Finally enthusiasm, an open mind and a dash of skepticism should enable you to get the most out of conference

Conference Bags

Remember there will be no Conference Bag in this years Conference pack, so make sure you don't forget to bring one a long to put in all your conference info and goodies.
Checkout the previous Bags
http://info541.sim.vuw.ac.nz/wiki/pmwiki.php/Main/INFO528LibraryBags

Aotearoa Peoples Network

Regular blogger Mo-mo takes off her “impartial professional” hat and does a shameless plug for her organisation’s presence at this year’s conference…because she can.
One of the great things about attending LIANZA Conference is the opportunity it affords you to catch up with other people in “the biz” from other parts of the country (or sometimes even further afield). Working for the Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa (for this is our name now) you become even more aware of how widely dispersed library professionals truly are around the country. Our network includes libraries in the Far North and Stewart Island, not to mention a whole swag of them inbetween.
Working and communicating with staff in partner libraries that are so widely spread means it’s very rare that you get the chance to talk face to face. We at the People’s Network are hoping that partner library staff in attendance at this year’s conference will come and see us so that we can touch base and find out what’s happening in their neck of the woods.
We’ll be in residence in the Exhibition Hall on a stand groaning with computers and wearing our branded t-shirts (and we’ll be running a daily draw to win one of the sexiest library t-shirts ever screen-printed, so make sure you stop by).
In addition to our presence amongst the exhibitors the People’s Network (in the form of Margaret Garland) will be presenting our entry for the 3M Awards on Monday morning. Conference delegates will be able to vote (for us) via the link in an email sent to you by Conference organisers until 2.30pm of that day.
Once you’ve voted (for us) you can then pop along to a session jointly presented by Sue Sutherland (Director of the National Digital Library) and Margaret (People’s Network head honcho) on the future direction of the People’s Network. I would encourage partner library staff to attend this session if you’re able.
Looking forward to seeing you at Conference

Pōwhiri – here’s what you need to know

So you’ve never been to a pōwhiri before? Or perhaps you’ve been to one before, but not for a while, or not outside of a marae, or not away from home.

Pou in Victoria Square
Haneta Pierce, who is the manager of Māori Services at Christchurch City Libraries and heads the Bicultural portfolio for LIANZA 2009 Conference, has helpfully put together an explanation of what a pōwhiri is, what you can expect and where to meet.
Why have a pōwhiri? The primary purpose of the pōwhiri is to bring together two groups of people – the hosts (mana whenua) and the visitors (manuhiri). This is a step-by-step process, observing Māori tikanga, that allows the two groups to become sufficiently comfortable with one another, so that they can then mingle with each another and together undertake the business of the meeting, which, in this case, is the annual LIANZA Conference.
Where is it being held? The pōwhiri for this year’s conference will take place in Victoria Square, which is a very short stroll to the conference venue.
What to wear? Tidy dress, just as you would wear to work, or to a conference. There is no specific requirement for skirts for women. It may be cool, or it may be hot, so we suggest you dress in layers to adapt to the weather conditions.
When and where to gather. The pōwhiri is scheduled to begin at 8.30am, on Monday 12th October, so please start to gather near the bridge in Victoria Square from 8.15am. There will be folks around to guide you about where to stand before the pōwhiri begins, and where to move after the wero (formal challenge) and karanga (ceremonial call) have happened. The seating on the manuhiri side is intended for pōwhiri speakers and overseas guests.
Information for the day. As mentioned above, there will be folks on hand to guide you. You will also receive a pōwhiri booklet when you register to explain the process (so if you can register before 8.15am, that would be useful!). Mana whenua will speak first, then the manuhiri will reply. There will be various waiata (songs), including the LIANZA waiata, Ko nga kete wananga e rapuhia e Tane. To familarise yourself with this waiata, have a listen to the tune and learn the words here.
After the formal proceedings. Once the harirū (pressing of noses) between the mana whenua and seated guests is completed, we will enter the Town Hall and make our way to the air bridge upstairs to cross to the Convention Centre for morning tea.
What if it rains? In the event that the weather on the morning of Monday 12th October isn’t favourable, a decision will be made to engage our “change of venue” plans by 7.30am. The process remains the same, but the venue changes to the main hall of the Convention Centre. There’ll be folks on hand to make sure you know where to go.
Some of the challenges to holding the pōwhiri in Victoria Square. In holding the pōwhiri outside of a marae setting, there are some challenges posed as it acquires an additional purpose, that of making a symbolic statement about the identity of the local, regional or national community and the part Māori have within that, as well as an introduction between two groups. It also acquires a different audience, one whose members in most cases do not understand or speak te Reo Māori. This can present the presiding kaumātua (elders) with a dilemma, as speaking in only te Reo Māori may mean that many of those present do not understand the speeches, miss out on the information contained therein, and, instead of enjoying, endure the ceremony. However, through discussions with Te Rōpū Whakahau and tangata whenua representatives, in this case Ngāi Tahu, and structure and guidance from the LIANZA Conference Handbook, we’ve worked together to ensure that the pōwhiri achieves the goal of bringing the two groups together, observing tikanga and welcoming our overseas manuhiri appropriately