23 November 2004

Race relations subject of inaugural 'Outside the Square' lecture

How we communicate about race relations in our community is the subject of the inaugural 'Outside the Square' lecture, to be delivered by Ngai Tahu kaumatua Sir Tipene O'Regan.

The free public lecture is the first in a series initiated by the Christchurch City Council and the University of Canterbury as part of a cooperation agreement signed last year.

"The University and the Council feel we have a joint role to foster debate about the major issues affecting our community," said Council Chief Executive Dr Lesley McTurk.

The Outside the Square series will feature distinguished speakers giving lectures on a range of issues critical to the future of Christchurch.

The free public lecture is being held at 7.30pm, Thursday 2 December 2004 at the James Hay Theatre, Christchurch Town Hall.

Tickets are required for entry. They can be reserved online at www.conference.canterbury.ac.nz , or by phone 364 2915 or e-mail: publiclecture@canterbury.ac.nz .

Background: Sir Tipene, a Ngai Tahu kaumatua who has recently been appointed as Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Maori) at the University of Canterbury, led the tribe's Waitangi Tribunal land and sea claims, and played a pivotal role in the Treaty of Waitangi fisheries settlements of 1989 and 1992. He currently sits on the boards of a number of companies in the financial, tourism, agricultural and natural resources sectors.

The title of the lecture is "The Weka, the Snare and Discourse in the New Zealand Village", and it will be a consideration of New Zealand's contemporary race relations discourse within the context of its historical roots and the new demographic realities.

ENDS

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