Social and Community Work: Referencing & Writing

Referencing Styles

If you follow a citation style correctly, you will avoid plagiarism and help your reader find your information sources.  Ask your lecturer/supervisor if you are not sure which style you should use. Harvard and APA are common styles used in the Social & Community Work program at Otago:

• APA style guides - including style guides & books
• Harvard - including Limerick & ICL style guides & books
• Other Referencing style guides

Reference Management Software

Reference management software imports documents and bibliographic data in order to store this information and generate references and bibliographies in their writing documents. This means that researchers save a lot of time as they do not have to write out citations or bibliographies manually.

The three most commonly used reference management software are:

• Zotero
• Endnote
• Mendeley

See our Managing Your References guide for more information and tips for choosing which software is best for you.

Legal Referencing using APA - created by AUT library 

The New Zealand Law Style Guide is a set of rules for citing legal literature.

Find The New Zealand Law Style Guide in print: Law K100 NH3347. Or buy your own copy. The print version has the added advantage of a quick reference guide on the inside covers. 

Find the New Zealand Law Style Guide online:

• New Zealand Law Style Guide (NZLSG)

  Free.

• Blog of the NZ Law Style Guide

  A new tool that includes news and updates, as well as clarifications, corrections and examples to support the NZLSG.The blog includes a form to submit suggestions for topics and questions.

  For more information see the Law Subject Guide - Write & Cite page.

Assistance with Reading and Writing

The University of Otago Student Learning Development services include: 

• Study Guides

• Tipsheets

• Online Tutorials

• Workshops

• Drop-in Thesis Clinic

• Individual Consultations with a Learning Advisor

If you are an enrolled student, you are welcome to visit the Student Learning Centre in the south-west corner of the Central Library (ISB) Building to discuss any aspect of your study that is causing concern. You can also telephone (03) 479-8801 or e-mail slc.reception@otago.ac.nz to make an appointment with a Learning Adviser. 

If you are an off-campus student, the same service is available to you through e-mail or call toll-free: 0800 808 098 and ask for the Student Learning Centre.

Te Huka Mātauraka Māori Centre

The Māori Centre is a support service for Māori Students. They provide academic and social support for all Māori Students, regardless of their academic ability or tribal affiliations. 

Tutorials are available for all Māori students who are enrolled at the University of Otago.  Tutorial goals include ensuring students develop effective study and note taking skills, examination techniques, and improve academic excellence.

• The Māori Centre Homepage

Otago's Pacific Islands Centre is a little bit of the Pacific right in the middle of campus!

It's a welcoming environment designed to help all students of Pacific descent to make the most of their time at University. Students use the Centre for advice on anything from academic assistance, scholarships and accommodation to legal and immigration matters and places to worship. The Centre also organises a variety of academic, cultural and social events throughout the year.

Extra tutorials held by the Pacific Islands Centre are free and use mainstream tutors from the academic departments. Tutorials are free for all Pacific Islands students, except NZAID sponsored students (however the NZAID students have funding to cover extra private tutorials). The Centre can also help organise and set up study groups.

• The Pacific Islands Centre Help page