The Reeves Lecture

One of our flagship events is The Reeves Lecture. Modelled on the prestigious BBC Reith Lectures, this Lecture began in 2012 and commemorates the life and legacy of legendary statesman, warrior and servant leader, Bishop Sir Paul Reeves (1932-2011).

Each year, a distinguished New Zealander is invited to present a challenging perspective on a leadership theme with commentary on New Zealand's progress as a nation. The Lecture is a source of inspiration and action for New Zealanders wishing to shape a better future for this country.

The Reeves Lecture 2018 was delivered by Simon Moutter, Managing Director of Spark. Simon presented on theme of Awakened Leadership: A Heart-led Approach in Business where he offered insights on how we can create a truly diverse and inclusive business culture, the role leadership must play in shaping that culture and why driving this change is crucial for a prosperous Aotearoa New Zealand in the digital age. The Lecture was held in the Sir Paul Reeves Building at AUT on 26 November.

Speakers to date include: Tame Iti who explored the concept of mana and concepts of authority; Rt. Hon. Helen Clark who reflected on the Promise and Challenge of 2015; Dr Mary Quin speaking on Dairy, Digital and Drones - Innovations Creating our Future; Professor Richard Faull who Imagined Tomorrow's World; and Dame Anne Salmond, New Zealand's foremost historian and anthropologist, who gave the inaugural Lecture on the dramatic changes in New Zealand's thinking that are required to shape our future.

Leadership New Zealand organises the Lecture in partnership with AUT, Radio New Zealand and supporting partners.

The Sir Paul and Lady Reeves Scholarship Fund was also launched in 2012 in loving memory of Sir Paul. This fund enables scholarships for those otherwise unable to take part in our annual New Zealand Leadership Programme.  

We are blessed to have Sir Paul and Lady Reeves’ commitment to developing leaders in Aotearoa across many years.

We believe there should be no unreasonable economic barrier for an individual to participate. Scholarships are a key ingredient to ensure the diversity of participants.  

If it had not been for a scholarship, Olive Brown may not have been able to participate in The New Zealand Leadership Programme. You can read her story here » 

Leadership NZ and our scholarship recipients would greatly appreciate your support.  You can make an online donation here.