6 March 2009 Lincoln University gives careers advisers a 'tree-t'

Gift etiquette usually requires that you "say it with flowers", however Lincoln University decided to "say it with trees"!

Sixty secondary school careers advisers from throughout New Zealand have been attending a two-day gathering at Lincoln University discussing career opportunities for graduates and related topics with campus recruitment staff.

As a farewell gift, concluding what Recruitment Manager Jaime Bowman describes as a "highly productive event", the careers advisers were each presented with a personal tree to take back to their schools.

The trees - and some shrubs - were personally potted by recruitment team member Rachel Boon and handed out at a farewell function on the campus.

Each is in a black rectangular pot with a label carrying botanical information. They are all natives and they came from the Department of Conservation nursery at Motukarara.

"The theme of our meeting with the careers advisers was 'sustainability' so we thought that a tree was an appropriate gift to give to each of the participants," says Jaime.

"Our hope is that the careers advisers will take the potted trees and shrubs back to their schools to put on their desks, then eventually plant them in their school grounds as a reminder of the relationship with Lincoln University."

The careers advisers came from Auckland to Invercargill and all points in between and were hosted on the campus by members of Lincoln University's recruitment team, who came up with the "say with trees" idea.

Lincoln University's Professor of Nature Conservation, Ian Spellerberg, a great native tree enthusiast, described the idea as "brilliant".

"We should have more of it," he said.