University of Otago vice-chancellor Grant Robertson has appointed Prof Richard Barker to drive the institution's ambitious plans in Queenstown and the Lakes District.
A tree was sent tumbling and a "whisper dish" in place for decades was sent hurtling through the air like a flying saucer as wild wind hit Tūhura Otago Museum.
A burst of wild weather has cut power to thousands of households, toppled trees, closed roads and sent shipping containers tumbling like Lego in Dunedin after wreaking havoc in Southland.