New Zealand Studies Network

From its base in London, the New Zealand Studies Network aims to promote interest in New Zealand: its people, its social and political arrangements, and its accomplishments in arts, sciences and the learned professions. It is not designed to attract only expatriate New Zealanders, though many of its members are just that. It operates on the belief that New Zealand has much to teach other peoples, especially the British and Irish.

Studies of New Zealand, the NZSN believes, can show the interaction and development of its British, Irish and Māori founding traditions; its exemplary (but imperfect) open, egalitarian, politics, and its adaptations to European and world trends in artistic, academic and professional practice. Comparisons and contrasts are made easier yet more interesting because of its small population (4 million), distant Pacific location and emerging Pacific identity.

The NZSN hosts frequent talks, presentations and performances by academics, public figures, professionals, literary figures, artists, musicians and film-makers. These events typically feature prominent New Zealanders or prominent non-New Zealanders with expertise and experience in a field related to New Zealand.

The NZSN was set up in 2011. As it expands it intends to host colloquia, seminars and conferences not only in London but elsewhere in the UK and Ireland. It has a special relationship with Birkbeck, University of London, and its New Zealand Studies Centre; but it co-operates with a great range of academic and professional organisations and has a widely dispersed membership. It places particular importance on providing fora for graduate students from all institutions of higher learning to present their work and to access the work of others.

The network welcomes proposals especially from visiting New Zealanders who wish to test their ideas and work on an audience composed of both New Zealand ex-patriates and a considerable number of interested people from in and about London. In addition, the NZSN welcomes proposals for specialist events wherever they come from in the UK and Ireland. It is especially interested in proposals in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, law, architecture, and business studies.