Dame Anne Salmond Presents Inaugural Reeves Lecture
Dame Anne Salmond, New Zealand’s foremost historian and anthropologist, gave the inaugural Bishop Sir Paul Reeves Memorial Lecture on the dramatic changes in New Zealand’s thinking that are required to shape our future.
Available here
View:
The text of "Beyond the Binary: Shifting New Zealand's mindset" has been published online by the NZ Herald.
Download:
"Beyond the Binary: Shifting New Zealand's mindset" as a pdf document.
Audio the event:
Radio New Zealand.
Feedback from Attendees
More than 600 people made their way to the Holy Trinity Cathedral to hear Dame Anne deliver the inaugural Bishop Sir Paul Reeves Lecture, and many of these people have since made contact to express how much they enjoyed the event.
We thank you for your kind words, and ongoing support - below are a few of these words which have been offered:
"Paul would have been delighted with the evening both in terms of the young talent involved and in the content and direction of Dame Anne Salmond's address. I could hear him many times over saying "Yes" and at other times chuckling as was his custom. From those who meet us at the door and then on there was a warmth to the evening, and an ordered, but gracious feel to the way it all went....very much in the spirit of how Paul worked when with people. As one of those priests he encouraged and eventually as one of his friends, I thank you for the evening, and pray you well in the years ahead, kind regards (Archdeacon) Michael Smart."
"When I came 5 years back as a tourist to visit my friend in Auckland, I fell in love with this place...this event has only confirmed my belief that New Zealand is the place for me."
"Louise and I thoroughly enjoyed Friday evening. It was exquisite, elegant and inspiring."
Event Information
In the first of what will be an annual calendar highlight held on the anniversary of Sir Paul’s passing, Dame Anne provoked discussion by challenging the status quo of our society, and our thinking as individuals, with her lecture entitled:
Beyond the Binary - Shifting New Zealand's mindset
In the twenty-first century, are there new ways of thinking that will allow people to work together in shaping the future?
How do we avoid disempowering the majority, with wealth and power being aggregated in the hands of a few?
Can we escape the old, frozen binary oppositions between town and country, nature and culture, men and women, young and old, Maori and Pakeha, Left and Right?
At present, New Zealand's potential is being limited by non-adaptive thinking and habits of mind.
Is it possible to explore the creative spaces in between, using collaborative decision-making based on impartial, reliable evidence and exchanges that move towards shared interests, rather than raw impositions of power?
Dame Anne draws on the legacy of the Enlightenment, Maori philosophy and aspects of contemporary science to examine the potential of relational thinking for politics, economic life, environmental questions and identity in New Zealand.
Master of Ceremonies for this outstanding occasion was Radio New Zealand National Sunday Morning host Chris Laidlaw.
Modeled on the prestigious international BBC Reith Lectures, it promises to become a memorable milestone event and commentary on New Zealand’s progress as a nation. It will be a draw card for thinking New Zealanders wanting to engage in shaping a positive future for our nation.
The inspiration for the annual lecture series came from the outstanding leader and visionary, Bishop Sir Paul Reeves, who passed away in 2011 and to whom the series is dedicated.
The evening was enhanced by supporting artists poet Selina Tusitala-Marsh, musician Karam Meuli, and the St Mary’s Chora choir conducted by David Hamilton. Former Governor General Dame Catherine Tizard, a friend of Sir Paul, also paid a tribute to him on the night.
The lecture was a Leadership New Zealand event, with the support of AUT University.