Film-maker Ward honoured

ATMOSPHERE: A still from Vincent Ward's movie River Queen.

Award winning film-maker Vincent Ward of Greytown has been named along with a leading New Zealand businessman and a key figure in the Christchurch rebuild as recipients of honorary doctorates at the University of Canterbury graduation ceremonies in April.

Ward is to become a doctor of fine arts, corporate magnate Alan Gibbs a doctor of engineering, and Christchurch property investor and entrepreneur Antony Gough a doctor of commerce.

They will receive their doctorates during the April graduations.

Ward is one of New Zealand's most celebrated film-makers, screenwriters and artists.

His films have received critical acclaim both within New Zealand and overseas, and are known for their strong visual and atmospheric elements.

Ward, who has a diploma of fine arts, produced his first feature film, Vigil, in 1984 and that work became the first New Zealand feature film to be invited to enter the Cannes Film Festival.

Navigator (1988) and Map of the Human Heart (1993) also featured at Cannes.

Ward's film What Dreams May Come, starring Robin Williams, received an Academy Award for best visual effects.

While based in Hollywood in the 1990s, Ward developed the initial story for Alien 3, was executive producer for The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise and directed the historical epic River Queen.

He was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contribution to film-making in 2007.

Ward said he was really excited to get recognition from the university where he had got his diploma of fine arts "fresh from Wairarapa".

He said he would like to think getting the doctorate would help Christchurch by "strengthening the visibility of their new school of the humanities."

He said the school was much in keeping with his own practice of "combining many sorts of media and mediums".

"They have established an approach where English, film, fine arts and music are all part of a brand new cross-fertilisation department," Ward said.

Antony Gough has made a significant contribution to the development of Christchurch's central city.

He is best known in Christchurch for creating The Strip, a stretch of bars and restaurants on Oxford Terrace that became a popular social precinct and tourist destination along the Avon River. He is a strong supporter of the city's rebuild.

Alan Gibbs has had a big influence across New Zealand's business, economic, political and cultural spheres since graduating from the University of Canterbury in 1961 with a bachelor of arts in economics, having previously studied for three years towards an engineering degree.

During New Zealand's period of economic reform from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Mr Gibbs was active in restructuring inefficient businesses such as Freightways and, more significantly, Telecom, so that their best elements could survive and prosper in competitive markets.

He helped establish New Zealand's first pay television channel, Sky TV, and was key to the development of Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.