Centre for New Zealand Studies
The Centre for New Zealand Studies, at Birkbeck, University of London,
formally opened on 6 February 2007. This is the first Centre in the world,
outside of New Zealand, that is solely for New Zealand Studies. As a
resource and research centre in central London it acts as a hub for the fast
developing community of New Zealand Studies academics in the Northern
hemisphere. In particular, it is committed to promoting New Zealand Studies
at UK and European universities. For academics from New Zealand, the Centre
acts as a destination and portal; a base offering support for visitors
during research trips. There are many New Zealand academic and non-academic
communities in the UK and Europe and the Centre will provide a base and
support for the various associations. In this context, the Centre has united
with the New Zealand Studies Association to continue the successful annual
conferences.
The Centre facilitates connections between academics, establishes forums for
the exchange and dissemination of information and research, and creates
avenues and opportunities for publication. It runs a series of weekly
seminars and film screenings. Click here for the current programme.
Resources held by the Centre include –
· The remainder of the library from the New Zealand Embassy in Paris. The
New Zealand High Commission has also donated a large part of its library
formally held within its Information Centre.
· Significant collections of post-war and contemporary New Zealand journals
and magazines.
· A 25 year run of New Zealand News UK.
· A collection (on videotape and disk) of approximately 350 New Zealand
feature films and documentaries, and 80+ short films.
· A vast collection of New Zealand film posters, pressbooks, film stills,
and lobby cards, produced for both local and overseas markets, totalling
more
than 1200 individual items.
· A unique collection of late Victorian/ Edwardian visual culture including
1200+ postcards depicting the Maori, 2000+ New Zealand related magic lantern
slides, 600+ stereoviews, 200+ New Zealand nineteenth century prints.
· A unique collection of pre-war tourist brochures and travel guides.
· A large collection of New Zealand posters (for tourism, propaganda, and
cultural events).
This collection continues to grow, with many material donations from
private sources arriving on a regular basis. If you have anything - letters,
documents, books, journals, visual and material culture - that you think
should be archived and that will be of value to anyone researching New
Zealand please do not hesitate to contact Ian Conrich, Director of the
Centre for New Zealand Studies, ian@ianconrich.co.uk
Please also use this email to forward any enquiries regarding the Centre.
Proposals for PhD research on New Zealand subjects are encouraged and should
be addressed to ian@ianconrich.co.uk.