Friends of the Centre for New Zealand Studies
PRESS RELEASE

1 September 2009 23.30 For Immediate Release

Disappointing Responses from New Zealand Government and Birkbeck College

The Friends of the Centre for New Zealand Studies find it hard to accept that there could be any confusion about the intention of Birkbeck College to close the Centre.

We certainly cannot accept the suggestion today from the office of the New Zealand Foreign Minister that it will take a meeting to clarify Birkbeck’s position. A single phone call or email would suffice. And to suggest that a meeting might be delayed for some time due to the holiday season looks to us like stalling.

The Master of Birkbeck College, Professor Latchman, today sent out an email to many Friends of the Centre. The email refers to Birkbeck’s “decision to step back from involvement with the Centre”. While Professor Latchman does not use the word “close”, the intention is clear. His email is consistent with what we have heard, that the Centre is to close within weeks.

Paul Burns, a spokesperson for the Friends said, “It beggars belief that we have such different messages over the last five days from Birkbeck and a representative of the New Zealand Government. On Thursday, the Deputy High Commissioner said she understood Birkbeck was looking at “a new academic structure” for the Centre that would be consistent with the agreement between the College and New Zealand.

Paul Burns added, “If the High Commission in London was on the ball with Birkbeck, there is no need for ministries in New Zealand to be unaware of developments and ministers to be confused.

“We still want meetings to go ahead. However, what is needed first is for Wellington to assert that Birkbeck must fully honour the agreement it signed last year when it took money from New Zealand.”

Friends website http://sites.google.com/site/nzfriendsorg

1) The Friends of the Centre of New Zealand Studies was set up by New Zealanders living in London when we heard of the impending closure of the Centre. The three organisers are Paul Burns, Maggie Taylor and Mary Ensor. None of us are staff or students at the Centre

2) “A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the New Zealand High Commission in London was seeking a meeting with the university to clarify the confusion. It was difficult timing with summer holidays in Britain and he was not sure when the meeting would take place.” http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/petition-started-despite-university-assurances/11/10664#comment-800 1.9.09

An email form Birkbeck College that makes clear it is closing The Centre.

Sent: 01 September 2009 11:04
To: Paul Burns
Subject: RE: Closure of the Centre for New Zealand Studies

Dear Mr Burns,

Thank you for your email concerning the Centre for New Zealand Studies which is a collaboration between Birkbeck, the University of London and other bodies, co-ordinated by Sir Graeme Davies, Vice- Chancellor of the University of London.

We have been supportive of this venture over the last two and a half years, particularly through the work and close involvement of Professor Philip Dewe, the Vice Master here at Birkbeck. It is important to make clear though that the setting up of the Centre was on an initial pilot basis, involving pump priming funding specifically aimed at securing longer term external resources, and with Dr Conrich participating on a fixed term secondment from his home institution, the University of Roehampton. Birkbeck has always made it clear that it would not be able to provide funding for the Centre from its own existing resources and, as the funding position now stands, has confirmed that it is not in a position to make a long term financial commitment to take the Centre forward itself. Given the College has invested considerable time, energy and commitment to the project, I am sure you will understand that our decision to step back from involvement with the Centre has not been taken lightly or without regret.

Birkbeck is working closely with Sir Graeme Davies to ensure that the staffing and student issues associated with the Centre are handled appropriately. Obviously, ensuring that continuity of support is provided to students linked to the Centre is a priority and plans in relation to this are already being developed.

Finally, my understanding of the Centre’s work is that it encompasses both pre-existing activities and networks as well as new initiatives involving, but not exclusively dependent on, the academic input of Birkbeck. I would hope therefore that there may well be options for such activities to continue albeit supported differently within the New Zealand studies community.

Yours sincerely,
David Latchman
Professor D S Latchman
Master, Birkbeck University of London
Professor of Genetics
Birkbeck & University College London

ENDS

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