Introduction 

NICKirPAGE 

CHRISTCHURCH POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND 

Since 1995 the Journal of Distance Learning 
has occupied an important and unique 
place in the body of literature pertaining 
to distance, open, and flexible learning in 
New Zealand. Its success is underpinned 
by the existence of a group of extremely 
talented and dedicated educators who 
devote their time unstintingly to the 
DEANZ Executive. From this year the 
journal will be undergoing a further 
maturation as the newly appointed 
permanent editors, Bill Anderson and 
Mary Simpson, take up the reins. Bill 
and Mary have already voiced 
suggestions for further strengthening the 
publication's existing processes and 
infrastructure, and we look forward to 
those ideas being implemented. 

This issue went through several iterations 
before its final form and content 
emerged. It was originally conceived as 
a themed issue, the idea being that 
articles would be sought that contributed 
to an overall history of the development 
of open and distance learning in 
Aotearoa/New Zealand. Time has its 
own way of shaping outcomes, however, 
and although the eventual selection 
still bears the hallmarks of that early 
planning, the four articles presented span 
a variety of topics. 

The first paper sees Don Bewley 
continuing on from his earlier article 
"Distance Education in New Zealand: 

An Historical Sketch" (1996). In this 
account Bewley looks at some of the 
developments that have shaped the more 
recent directions of flexible learning in 
New Zealand, particularly at the post­
school level. Bewley's ability to present a 
big-picture view while focussing on key 
influences makes him ideally suited to 
an undertaking of this nature. 

Nola Campbell, the author of the second 
of the two historically themed articles, 
has been referred to as a pioneer in 
New Zealand with regard to online 
learning, predominantly in the area of 
teacher education (McLachlan-Smith & 
Gunn, 2001). Campbell's endeavours 
bring her into direct contact with current 
thinking and innovation in New Zealand 
schools, and she uses this connection to 
shape an overview and analysis of early 
eLearning developments in this sector. 

In the next article, Mark Nichols 
explores the topic of justifying eLearning 
initiatives from a financial perspective. 
Tempting though it is for educators to 
focus on more altruistic aims in the 
proviSion of eLearning opportunities, 
the reality is that accountability must be 
sought at all levels. Nichols' timely 
discussion draws on practices followed in 
the corporate sector, and suggests ways 
in which they may be applied in tertiary 
education institutions. 

Journal of Distance Learning, Vol8, No 1, 2004 ©Distance Education Association of New Zealand 

3 



In the final paper, Ruth Smith outlines 
a study that was prompted in part by 
her own experience as an online leamer. 
This experience, coupled with the 
widening of her own professional 
role as a tertiary leaming adviser and 
(fledgling) eEducator in a private 
training establishment, led her to ask 
some key questions about staff and 
student support in the online environ­
ment. Smith takes a case-study approach 
within the context of her own institution, 
but the outcomes and insights of her 
research have immediate application to 
other programmes and courses. 

This issue also offers three book reviews, 
all of which are for publications that 
clearly have much to offer readers 
looking for guidance in eLeaming and 
distance education. 

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue 
of the joumal, and will continue to 
support the publication and its umbrella 
organisation, DEANZ, into the future. I 
would- like to thank those who have 
contributed: the authors, advisors, and 
reviewers who gave so freely of their 
time and expertise. I wish the incoming 
editors well in their new venture. 

REFERENCES 

Bewley, D. (1996). Distance education in New 
Zealand: An historical sketch. Journal of 
Distance Learning, 2(1), 14-25. 

McLachlan-Srnith, C., & Gunn, C. (2001). 
Introduction. Journal of Distance Learning, 
6(1), 3-4. 

Journal of Distance Learning, Vol8, No 1, 2004 ©Distance Education Association of New Zealand 

4