Citation – Honorary Fellow, Wairarapa Campus, 22 March 2012 – Bob Francis
As Chair of the Universal College of Learning Council, I am honoured to announce the 2011 UCOL Honorary
Fellow recipient.
The Honorary Fellow is UCOL’s highest Honour and recognises one or more of the following:1.
2.
3.
An outstanding and distinguished contribution to UCOL or;
An outstanding and distinguished contribution to the communities of which UCOL is a part;
An outstanding and distinguished contribution to society in general.
On behalf of the UCOL Council, I am hereby privileged to announce the 2011 Honorary Fellow recipient Bob
Francis. Bob, could you please step forward.

Bob has a longstanding interest and involvement with tertiary education in the Wairarapa.

He was involved in the inception of Wairarapa Community Polytechnic in 1989 and since then has
continued to support the provision of tertiary education in the region. This often required advocacy in
political and economic environments that with changing demographics created a challenge for
polytechnics to remain viable. However Bob has always believed in the need for tertiary education in
the provinces of New Zealand and supported and encouraged the continuing provision of tertiary
education in the Wairarapa.

When the Wairarapa Community Polytechnic could not continue to maintain viable delivery
autonomously, Bob was an advocate for merging with UCOL to ensure the region continued to have
access to tertiary education. He was appointed to the UCOL Council in 2000 and contributed to UCOL’s
governance until 2008.

Bob was Mayor of Masterton from 1986-2007. During his mayoralty he worked tirelessly to grow the
region, promote it and enhance its reputation. Today, many attractions in Masterton are testament to
Bob’s time as Mayor including Aratoi, Genesis Recreation Centre, Masterton Skate Park, Queen
Elizabeth Park and playground, Shear History Trust, and Pukaha Mt Bruce.

Bob retired from his mayoralty in 2007 but he continues to contribute to the wider community. He is
Chair of the Wairarapa DHB and Pukaha Mt Bruce and continues to advocate for the region and its
needs. He works with many community groups and local organisations on a volunteer basis, giving his
time and experience and using his respected influence with his vast networks.

He has also continued to support and promote UCOL Wairarapa, acting as an advocate wherever he
can. He helped re-launch the School of Cookery with the help of Chef Al Brown. He also facilitated
negotiations with the Wairarapa DHB, which resulted in the provision of computer training to more
than 200 hospital staff.

In his work with the International Rugby Board’s Referee Selection Panel, he was able to secure the
attendance of the Hurricanes at UCOL Open Days, attracting many hundreds of people to the campus.

Bob has made an outstanding and longstanding contribution to this polytechnic and to the Wairarapa
community in general. We are fortunate to have his support.

It is now with great pleasure that I present Bob Francis with the 2011 Honorary Fellow Award.