Fellow to discuss NZ Views On Queen Victoria

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Statue of Queen Victoria in Albert Park, erected in 1899 and designed by sculptor Francis John Williamson

MEDIA RELEASE
1 NOVEMBER 2006

University of Auckland Hood Fellow to discuss New Zealanders' views of Queen Victoria

New Zealanders' perceptions of Queen Victoria will be explored next week by The University of Auckland's visiting Hood Fellow, Professor Miles Taylor.

Professor Taylor, Chair in Modern History at The University of York (England), will discuss the multiple images associated with Queen Victoria, including as constitutional and religious icon, mother, wife and widow, warrior and pacifier. The illustrated lecture will also examine how Victoria's own attitudes towards empire, Christianity and race were changed and reshaped by the New Zealand experience.

Professor Taylor's interest in this country's experience with Queen Victoria emerges out of his research into India and the British monarchy. Unlike India, which was an empire born of conquest, New Zealand was the only British colony established by Treaty. Professor Taylor argues the personal authority of the Queen thus became of crucial importance, especially to Maori, who invested a great deal of hope in the mana of Victoria.

"New Zealand was the last major territory colonised by the British and the first acquisition of the new reign of Queen Victoria, yet despite all the questions raised about the British Crown by the Waitangi Tribunal, we know very little about what Victoria actually knew of New Zealand, and what Pakeha and Maori really thought about her," says Professor Taylor, who is writing a book about Victoria's empire.

Professor Taylor will present his lecture, "Queen Victoria and New Zealand" on Tuesday 7 November at 6:30pm in the Engineering Theatre 439 (20 Symonds St.). The lecture is free and open to the public.

The University of Auckland Hood Fellowships are proudly supported by Lion Foundation.

ENDS

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