Friends of the Centre for New Zealand Studies

7 September 2009 23.30 For Immediate Release

An Act of Cultural Vandalism

The Imminent Closure of the Centre for New Zealand Studies

As a community, we are strongly opposed to the imminent closure of the Centre for New Zealand Studies at Birkbeck, University of London. The Centre at one of Britain's leading universities has been an invaluable focus for New Zealand Studies abroad. We are appalled to learn that Birkbeck is eliminating this unique resource. This is an act of cultural vandalism and we urge the New Zealand government to insist that the contract, which was signed by Birkbeck in 2008, continues to be honoured. Birkbeck accepted funding of $255,000 last year from the New Zealand government on the understanding that the Centre would continue until at least April 2011. Then Prime Minister, Helen Clark, announced the funding and support for the Centre at a London conference hosted by Gordon Brown in April 2008. This contract is now being unilaterally abrogated by the College leaving the Centre and the related New Zealand Studies Association to die. The overseas promotion and development of New Zealand cultural identity and of New Zealand Studies in general will take a massive step backwards if the government fails to act now.

The closure is not a matter of the Centre’s finances (its $255,000 award remains intact, for instance), nor is it a matter of accommodation as just two weeks ago it moved to new offices. It is also not an issue of failure, as the achievements of the Centre will attest. Birkbeck has spent the last year going through a period of restructuring and for no reason explained has left the Centre out. There were continued requests as to where the Centre was going in the new schools, and with the new academic year and schools about to start it was told that it was being closed.

There is no rational reason for the closure. The Centre has attracted 6 Phd students, bringing money to the University, and operates a successful book imprint devoted to New Zealand Studies, which is also generating income for the University. The closure of the Centre will deprive researchers, academics, writers and the creative and cultural industries of a wonderful resource base and forum. The research materials within the Centre - some 7000 books and journals and many rare and unique manuscripts, documents and old photographs (111 large removal crates in total) - are to be dismantled within the coming weeks. The weekly Maori language classes (unique in Europe), reading group, and Research Fellows will also disappear. In just 2.5 years, the Centre has organised 114 events, 5 international conferences and 3 international festivals. Many of us have spoken at these events and have found the Centre to be a unique taonga and irreplaceable. Nowhere else has there been such a rich and varied programme of speakers in one place.

If the Centre is disbanded, we will lose not only an extraordinary archive, but a valuable sphere of national endeavour and scholarship. This is a matter of national pride. In an age when international cultural identity is so important, the suppression of such an asset in the UK and Europe will have a significant effect on this country and will undermine its visibility and the knowledge of its continuing cultural and intellectual development. We urge the New Zealand government to take immediate action to prevent the destruction of this valuable institution and insist that its contract with Birkbeck is honoured.

A petition can be found at , and we ask that as many people as possible add their names to this site and their voices to this campaign.

Fleur Adcock

Gretchen Albrecht

Harriet Allan

Scilla Askew

Tusiata Avia

Stu Bagby

John Barnett

Graham Beattie

Jean Betts

Roger Blackley

Peter Bland

David Blyth

Chris Brickell

Linda Burgess

Philippa Campbell

Fiona Copland

Eve de Castro Robinson

Roger Donaldson

Marilyn Duckworth

John Dunmore

Barbara Else Chris Else

Mia Farlane

Sia Figiel

Beryl Fletcher

Kerry Fox

Bill Gavin

Maurice Gee

Andrew McAlpine

James McNeish

Paula Morris

Noel Murphy

Leon Narbey

Emma Neale

Vincent O'Sullivan

Rawiri Paratene

Christine Parker

Jenny Pattrick

Vivienne Plumb

Craig Potton

Gaylene Preston

Jill Rawnsley Ian Richards

Anthony Ritchie

Victor Rodger

James Ross

Dan Salmon

Fiona Samuel

Elspeth Sandys

Rob Sarkies

Peter Scholes

Rosie Scott
Iain Sharp

Peter Simpson

Elizabeth Smither

Robert Sullivan

Ariana Tikao

Nelson Wattie

Ian Wedde

Fay Weldon

Peter Wells

Albert Wendt

Gillian Whitehead

Richard Wolfe

Ends

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