University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni

8 September 2015

Singer, Olympian and financial analyst are University of Waikato Distinguished Alumni

A renowned Māori singer, Olympic gold medallist and a Hong Kong-based financial expert will receive Distinguished Alumni Awards from the University of Waikato this month.

Singer Hinewehi Mohi, former Olympian and Chef de Mission Rob Waddell and finance and investment expert Peter Churchouse are the recipients of the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards. These awards recognise and honour alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their careers and communities.

Peter Churchouse

Based in Hong Kong, Peter Churchouse is an authority on the real estate and investment industries and has more than 35 years’ experience working in the Asian investment sector. He graduated from the University of Waikato in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Social Sciences.

Mr Churchouse worked on housing projects in London, Africa and the Middle East before setting up Morgan Stanley’s first Asian office and working there for 16 years as head of Asian real estate research, regional strategist and head of research.

In 2004 he set up a real estate investment fund with LIM Advisers and in 2006 it was named Best Real Estate Fund in Asia and was successfully wound down in 2009.

Since 2009 he has been writing “The Churchouse Letter”, a monthly newsletter providing investment advice. He shares his knowledge widely and is a frequent contributor on investment in Asia and appears often on TV, radio and in newspapers, with regular appearances on Bloomberg and CNBC.

Hinewehi Mohi MNZM

Hinewehi Mohi shot to fame singing the national anthem in te reo Māori at a 1999 Rugby World Cup game in Twickenham. That same year, she released her first album Oceania. A critical success, Oceania was the first Māori language album to be released internationally.

Since then, Ms Mohi has released two more albums and was a semi-finalist in 2013’s New Zealander of the Year. In 2008 she was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Māori.

Following the birth of her daughter Hineraukatauri, who has cerebal palsy, Ms Mohi established the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in 2004 to support children and their families with music therapy.

Ms Mohi has also had a successful career in television production as a researcher, presenter, director and producer for nearly 30 years. She continues to produce programming for mainstream and Māori television through the production company she owns with her husband.

Ms Mohi has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Māori. She graduated in 1985.

Rob Waddell ONZM

Rob Waddell burst on to the elite rowing scene in 1995 when he won the single sculls title at the New Zealand championships. In the following two years, he won the world championships in Germany and Canada and graduated from the University of Waikato in 1998 with a Bachelor of Management Studies with honours, majoring in marketing and Japanese.

At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney Mr Waddell won New Zealand’s only gold medal. That same year he won his third Halberg Award, making him the first person to win the Sportsperson of the Year Award three years in a row.

After a break from rowing, Mr Waddell took to yachting, joining Team New Zealand as a grinder and competing in the 2003, 2007 and 2013 America’s Cup campaigns.

Mr Waddell gives his time to several sporting and community bodies, including chairing the Home of Cycling Trust and working with the Halberg Trust helping children in sport.

Next year, Mr Waddell will lead the New Zealand team to the Olympic Games in Rio as Chef de Mission.

Distinguished Alumni Awards

The University of Waikato’s Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented on Friday 25 September at a black tie event at the Hamilton Gardens’ Pavilion.

ENDS

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