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Petition Title:
Save Centre for NZ Studies
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Location:
London,
United Kingdom
Updated on 9/4/2009
Created on
8/28/2009
We are opposed to the closure of the Centre for New Zealand Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London.
Birkbeck College accepted funding from the New Zealand Government for this Centre in 2008 on the understanding that the Centre would continue until at least 2011. Helen Clark announced the funding at a conference hosted by Gordon Brown.
The current threat of closure is contrary to the agreement signed by Birkbeck College. The short notice is especially unfair on staff and students, including six Ph.D. candidates. Closure also threatens valuable collections of New Zealand resources held by the Centre, and the New Zealand Studies Association.
We appeal to Birkbeck College, the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and New Zealand, and Members of Parliament in both countries to ensure the agreement signed between the New Zealand Government and Birkbeck College is honoured.
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Websites
Friends of the Centre for New Zealand Studies –for updates and further information - http://sites.google.com/site/nzfriendsorg/home
Centre for NZ Studies - www.bbk.ac.uk/cnzs
The New Zealand Studies Association - www.nzsa.co.uk
NZ Labour Party Press Release on closure 28 August 2009 http://http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0908/S00430.htm
Further Details
The Centre for New Zealand Studies opened in 2007. In April 2008, the then NZ Prime Minister announced funding for the Centre at Birkbeck College. Helen Clark said:
“Since its opening in February 2007, the Centre’s support network has continued to grow, with a fundraising programme now underway to provide an endowment fund for its future operation,” (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0804/S00181.htm)
Despite the grant, which Birkbeck accepted on the understanding that the Centre would run until 2011, the College is unilaterally closing down the Centre at short notice.
Last year, the New Zealand Society named the Director of the Centre, Dr Ian Conrich, ‘New Zealander of the Year in Britain’ for his work in establishing the Centre. (http://sites.google.com/site/nzfriendsorg/new-zealander-of-the-year-press-release )
Update 4 September 2009
The Friends of the Centre are concerned that the New Zealand government still has not acknowledged that the Centre is closing. Several Friends received an email from the Master of Birkbeck of September 1st that made this quite clear.
Statement by Paul Burns, originator of the petition
As I have the privilege to be a citizen of both Great Britain and New Zealand, and have attended universities in both countries, I was delighted to hear the April 2008 news concerning funding for the Centre for New Zealand Studies at Birkbeck.
I have no formal contact with the Centre or the New Zealand Studies Association, and no personal connections with Centre staff or students. I have visited the Centre on only two occasions. I found the level of organisation and the energy of the Director, Dr Conrich, impressive.
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This is a short-sighted action on the part of the Birkbeck College. We sincerely hope that the keen interest shown by many individuals, academics, students and friends of New Zealand culture and studies, as well as the New Zealand Government will convince the management to recognise the value of the resources, and reverse the decision. O.E.Middleton and Cynthis Greensill
The Centre for New Zealand Studies is an outstanding opportunity to give NZ - it's voice and common purpose a home for debate and learning. I strongly support its ongoing development
Another outlandish management decision with no rationale offered.
As Director of New Zealand's playwrights organisation and agency Playmarket I have been very impressed by the education and research model set up by the centre, their proactivity and quality programming. It is a enormous shame that what has started so well has appeared to not have been shown the respect and thought it deserves. Mark Amery, Director, Playmarket
The Center has been a real asset in furthering studies in all aspects of New Zealand culture, literature and cinema. Having a center devoted solely to this country has enabled scholars like myself to meet like minded colleagues and further valuable exchanges. The center is unique not only in Britain but in the US or Canada for its focus and role.
Pascale De Souza
I would like to add my name to the petition requesting renewed efforts to sustain the CNZS. My concerns are for the existing students effected by this abrupt decision and for the permanent loss of a resource during time of temporary financial difficulty. If the plan was for funding through 2011, the intent should be honored, particularly in an effort to allow for the full development of alternative funding streams.
Closing the centre would be a huge mistake. I was an intern at the centre through Richmond University in the Spring of 2009 and the centre is an absolutely amazing place. There is no other place outside of New Zealand that has this much information and research available for people interested in studying New Zealand. Not to mention the wonderful events that the centre puts on with world renowned speakers. It would be a travesty to lose a place like the centre. All of the people at the centre are absolutely wonderful. They are such a help to anyone who is interested in New Zealand. It would be a shame to lose a place that has Maori language classes. It is so rare in the UK to find a place as wonderful and welcoming as the centre. I learned so much working at the centre and had hoped that I would be able to visit the centre for years to come. It is also a shame that future interns from Richmond will not be able to work at the centre and learn as I did. Keep the centre!
I am writing in support of the Centre for New Zealand Studies at Birkbeck College in London. It was a shock to hear the future of the Centre might be in jeopardy. This is unbelievable when the Centre fulfills such a necessary and profound function. As well as being an invaluable resource of collected material about New Zealand, it is a Centre of excellence in New Zealand studies. It is unique and irreplaceable in the UK. It promotes cross-cultural interchange and learning and keeps alive the links that New Zealand has with London. New Zealand is a Commonwealth country with a particularly close historic relationship to the UK, and it therefore seems a travesty that this relationship should not be respected.
I am writing in support of the Centre for New Zealand Studies. They have given me extraordinary logistical and intellectual support for my photographic exhibitions in Poland and Israel. As a publisher I am also astounded how much they have kept up a high profile of books and authors from New Zealand and am I grateful for this channel of awareness in Great Britain and Europe . It would be a tragedy if their work was curtailed in any manner whatsoever. Craig Potton
I am deeply shocked and saddened to discover that the managerial staff of Birkbeck College/ University of London hold the CNZS with such little regard. For individuals, such as myself, wanting to further their knowledge and understanding of past cultures the CNZS was an unequalled resource. Being a lowly, poor post-grad, the chance of studying in New Zealand herself, is a daunting and dim prospect. With the closure of a research centre on home shores, I feel I may have to give up on my passion for New Zealand’s prehistoric archaeology and settle for something less exciting and memorable…..something I am far from willing to do. I warn you……you’ll loose me forever (sob…sob)!