2007 GSE Team to New York 7210
Graeme Blick. Team Leader: gblick@linz.govt.nz
Graeme is a geodesist with Land Information New Zealand
where he is Manager of Geodesy and Team Manager Specialist
Processing. He is 53, married to Christine and has 2 children,
Cameron (24) and Stephanie (22).
Graeme spent the early part of his career working for New
Zealand Geological Survey when he was involved in the study
of crustal deformation using high precision survey techniques.
His work included studying the effects of earthquakes in New
Zealand and volcanic deformation both in New Zealand and in
Antarctica. In 1992 he was a awarded a US visiting scientist
award and he and his family spent 18 months in Boulder
Colorado where he worked for the University NAVSTAR
Consortium (UNAVCO) using GPS to measure and study
crustal deformation internationally. In 1996 he moved to Land
Information New Zealand, New Zealand’s Government survey,
mapping and land titles agency, to implement a new survey
datum and national mapping system for New Zealand.
Outside of work Rotary plays a big part in his life, and along
with Christine they enjoy classic cars, travel, tramping, and
good food, wine and company.
While in New York State and when time permits he is
interested in visiting land surveying, land development, GIS
and mapping companies. He also has a broad interest in
science and science education and would also be interested in
any science teaching organisations.
Tania Davidson (Nga Puhi, Ngati Whakatere):
taniamdavidson@gmail.com
Much to Granma Helen’s consternation, Tania is doggedly pursing
a lifetime goal of becoming an eccentric spinster. Along with her
parents Warren and Wyn, they enjoy wondering what on earth she
will do next, while her examples of eldest sibling behaviour to
brother Jamie and sister Kiri can only be described as dubious at
best. Claire, and Waka have joined forces with respective
siblings, and the brightest ray of light in the whanau (pronounced
“far-no”, meaning ‘family’) must go to 2 year-old nephew, Anaru.
Tania’s interest in signed languages began formally when she was
working in Japan, and on her return to Aotearoa-New Zealand the
passion took a hold, which led to the present occupation. With the
earning of the qualification behind her, Tania has returned to the
provincial city of Palmerston North which is an hour’s drive from
where she was spawned. This is the first year she has been ‘out’
since graduation in March this year, and she is completely
absorbed with working full time as a community based, freelance
NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) interpreter.
Her particular areas of interest include working with Deaf youth,
sport, technological developments in the profession particularly
video-interpreting, tri-lingual interpreting, and the promotion of
NZSL interpreting as a profession and awareness of NZSL in
Aotearoa as an officially recognised language of our nation to the
mainstream community.
When not occupied with increasing her professional fitness, Tania
seeks to improve her physical fitness by combining as much
commuting as possible on her bicycle which can prove
challenging climatically. She found the sport of Ultimate after her
first quarter-century, and has been blessed with some of the best
experiences in her life through the people she has met playing in
local and international tournaments.
Her pastimes include maintaining and adding to the wonderful,
unique bouquet of friends she has gathered over the years,
discovering and improving on her repertoire of recipes for
fantastic food, and thinking about the many things there are to be
grateful for in her life. An interest in art has led to a great deal of
interesting conversations; although she has no great knowledge of
the celestial beings and the intricacies of wine appreciation she
would very much like to one day not too far away. She thinks that
growing up is one of the best ongoing challenges in her life and
encourages everyone she meets to give it a go.
Tania would like the opportunity to visit and observe community
interpreters in New York state, visits to schools for deaf children,
training institutions for interpreters, or anything remotely relevant
to the Deaf community.
Jason May: Jason.may@police.govt.nz
Jason is a Police Prosecutor. He is 35 and married with 2 children.
Jason has seven years experience as a police officer. He is a keen
fisherman, rugby and cricket player.
While in New York he is keen to ascertain how New York Police
deal with first time adult offenders, youth offenders and how the
Red Hook Restorative Justice Scheme operates in Brooklyn, New
York, to reduce repeat offending. He wants to liaise with police
investigators to ascertain what interview techniques are used when
interviewing offenders of serious crime and how New York Police
liaise with their respective Prosecution Department. Jason is also
part of a homeless prevention committee working to prevent
homelessness in Wellington. He is keen to visit New York's
homeless shelters and learn how such shelters operate in a
practical sense to facilitate the homeless to regain employment and
overcome their additions.
Mishra Suman: mishras@crop.cri.nz
Mishra lives in Palmerston North and is a Scientist working
for Crop and Food Research Institute. She is single (32y)
with no children. She is an Indian and does not eat pork
and beef (eats chicken, fish and lamb though!).
She has broad interest in science but her primary research
focus is on Nutrition and Health (mainly carbohydrates,
molecular biology and gut health).
Mishra enjoys both indoor (movies etc) and outdoor
activities (walking etc) but she does not know how to
swim. Hopefully she would have learnt to at least float by
the time she reaches the beaches of Hawaii!!. Her other
hobbies are reading, cooking, meeting new people and
making friends.
While in New York she would like to visit the host nations
Research Institutes/Universities doing similar research so
that she can establish an international network and do
collaborative work in future. Mishra is also looking
forward to learning more about American culture, art,
economy.
Kamaya Yates: kamaya.yates@police.govt.nz
Kamaya was born on the 23rd of November, 1973 at
Calvary Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. She works
as the manager of the New Zealand Police Museum.
Kamaya lives with her partner Tim Crawford who is a
sworn police officer and her dog Mitzy the whippet.
Her mother and most of her extended family live in
Christchurch. Her sister, Lisa, lives in Auckland and works
as an emergency communications officer.
There is a long history of police service in Kamaya's family.
Her Grandfather, Alf Berry was a sole charge police officer
in a rural area for over twenty years. "A lot of my early
memories revolve around policing. It is a part of who I am.
New Zealand Police's vision is to have 'safer communities
together' and I love being a part of an organisation that
actively seeks to keep all members of society safe. I also
love museums so my job is a perfect combination of my
passions."
Kamaya is interested in visiting the New York Police
Museum and other institutions such as the Mid-Hudson
Children's Museum while in New York State."I want to
learn more about how other museums use their volunteers
and about what makes a successful interactive display.
There will be lots of common issues and the networking
opportunity is invaluable, both for me personally and for the
New Zealand Police Museum."
Kamaya has a ‘wish’ list of Institutions she would like to
visit attached.
Kamaya’s wish list.
Wish list of places to visit in New York State

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum - Poughkeepsie

George Eastman House - International Museum of Photography and Film - Rochester

Yonkers Police Museum

Hudson River Museums - Yonkers

Franklin D Roosevelt Museum and Library

WestPoint Military Museum

New York State Museum - Albany
(I am sure there are lots of other places I don't know about!)
Wish list of places to visit in New York City

New York Police Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

American Museum of the Moving Image

New York City Fire Museum

Ellis Island Museum
Wish list of places to visit if I could get to…. Washington DC!

Administration offices of the new soon to be built National Law Enforcement Museum

The Holocaust Museum

The Smithsonian

National Museum of Health and Science

National Air and Space Museum

The International Spy Museum

FBI Hoover Building