New Zealand History

Seminar presented by historian Margaret Tennant at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage on 3 July 2013. While writing an institutional history requires attention to the framework of the organisation itself, its membership, leadership and changes over time, it invariably provides a lens into broader historical themes and how they are played out within particular local and national frameworks. In the case of the New Zealand Red Cross, we have the example of a transnational organisation which, in New Zealand, emerged within an imperial framework, but operated in minutely local contexts - it links with the history of high diplomacy and nation states, but equally embraces the iconographic wartime sock knitter, the home nursing class, neighbourly social caring and school-room pen pals. The wide range of activities undertaken by the Red Cross during its history sheds light on such areas as disaster relief, children's voluntarism, the militarisation of charity, the business of fundraising, the policing of professional boundaries and the relationship between government and non-profit formations. Margaret's presentation will explore some of these themes while commenting on the tension between the requirements of a conventional, largely chronological institutional history and the desire to 'dig deeper' in pursuit of wider historical questions. Margaret Tennant was formerly Professor of History at Massey University, and is currently working as a contract historian. Margaret is the author of The Fabric of Welfare. Voluntary Organisations, Government and Welfare in New Zealand 1840-2005, Children's Health, the Nation's Wealth, and numerous articles on women's history and the history of health and welfare in New Zealand, the most recent being 'Fun and Fundraising: the Selling of Charity in New Zealand's Past' (Social History, 2013).

Seminar presented at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage on 3 July 2013 Coast is a novel from David Young after some decades as a writer of non-fiction, particularly in the field of history and environment. Exploring the effects of two world wars on three generations of men from the same family, Coast is also a meditation on the power of landscape. The east coast of Kincardineshire, Scotland and the North Island’s Rangitikei coastline where a Scots community endures even today, anchor this story in psychological, as well as physical, reality. Told from the standpoints of the three related key characters, the narrative unfolds a male social history spanning much of the twentieth century. It embraces issues of identity, belonging and connection to place. Kin and romantic love, matters of class, the Depression, active service abroad – first on the Western Front, then through the air war in the Pacific – and of family life, reach out beyond Pakeha concerns to the circularity of history and the tangata whenua. The question of how much the writer brings to his fiction from his previous historical endeavours and from his own life is explored in this talk. The author’s history of conservation in New Zealand, Our Islands Our Selves, his Whanganui River book, Woven by Water, and even his first book, Faces of the River, played a part in the genesis of this work. So too did oral and documentary historical research.

Seminar delivered by Gerald Hensley at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 5 June 2013. In 1984 the anti-nuclear policy of the newly elected Labour Government collided with the United States policy of nuclear deterrence. It led to the rebuff of a US naval visit and after two years in which tempers rose and diplomacy struggled with David Lange's free-wheeling press conferences, the standoff ended in New Zealand's suspension from the ANZUS alliance. In his talk Gerald Hensley, who was one of the participants, draws on interviews and classified files in New Zealand, the US, Australia and the United Kingdom to look at how this came about and how the clash of powerful personalities shifted the foundations of New Zealand's foreign policy. Gerald Hensley was trained as an historian. He served as a diplomat for twenty years before becoming Head of the Prime Minister's Department under both Sir Robert Muldoon and David Lange, and subsequently Secretary of Defence.

Part of the Public Service Act centenary series, this talk by Prof. Peter Hughes, School of Government was presented on 30 October 2012. The talk is introduced by Lewis Holden, CEO of Manatū Tanoga - the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Part of the Public Service Act centenary series, this talk by Prof. Jonathon Boston, Institute of Governance and Policy Studies was presented on 23 October 2012.

John R. Martin, an experienced public servant and IPANZ Fellow, reflects on New Zealand's public service history from 1920 to 1988. He defends the 'old' public service legacy, emphasizing its political neutrality and merit-based careers. He discusses the impact of economic challenges, the expansion of the welfare state, and the complicated dynamics between civil service and reform. Martin highlights the need for strong leadership and the importance of institutional memory while exploring the tensions between responsiveness and professional integrity in governance.

Dr. John E. Martin, a Parliamentary historian, dives into the 1912 Public Service Act's significance. He explores the origins of bureaucratic rationalism in New Zealand, revealing how 19th-century patronage shaped civil service. Scandals during public works reveal tensions between political change and corruption. Martin discusses the evolution from political favor to a merit-based system, influenced by international reform ideas. He highlights the complexities of neutrality versus democratic control, reminding us of the ongoing debate around bureaucratic power.

Join historian Paul Diamond as he dives deep into the fascinating and tragic life of Charles Mackay, New Zealand's first openly homosexual mayor. Discover how Mackay's journey spiraled from a 1920 shooting driven by blackmail to his shocking death in Berlin during political riots in 1929. Paul uncovers the societal fears of homosexuality at the time, the psychological treatments Mackay endured, and the political pressures he faced. This compelling narrative reveals the hidden chapters of New Zealand's history and the complexities of identity and scandal.

Belgian historian Charlotte Descamps, deeply rooted in the Ypres Salient, shares captivating insights from her lifelong research on World War I battlefields. She discusses the fascinating ‘iron harvest,’ where over 200 tons of live ammunition are unearthed annually. Charlotte reveals how modern technology aids in identifying remains of soldiers nearly a century later and recounts the engaging stories behind various artifacts, from helmets to undetonated shells, all while navigating the ongoing hazards of these historical remnants.

Redmer Yska, a historian and author, shares his fascinating journey with NZ Truth, a prominent newspaper he reported for over three decades. He discusses the paper’s evolution from a socialist voice to a conservative one, detailing its impact on national politics. Redmer reveals his investigative work exposing scams and cults, while painting a vivid picture of the newsroom culture. He also uncovers the paper's connections to capital punishment reporting and Cold War propaganda, shedding light on its controversial legacy and the challenges faced while writing its history.