News Release

5 March 2007

Illustrious Historian to Speak at Puke Ariki

One of New Zealand’s leading historians will be in New Plymouth on Wednesday 7 March to speak at Puke Ariki. Dr Jock Phillips, who is the General Editor of Te Ara – The Online Encyclopedia of New Zealand, will discuss his role as historian for the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and a new publication ‘Settler and Migrant Peoples of New Zealand’.

After a 16 year academic career at Victoria University of Wellington, where he founded the Stout Research Centre for the study of New Zealand society, history and culture, Dr Phillips was appointed as New Zealand’s chief historian, a position he held for thirteen years. He served as Conceptual Leader for History during the development of Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand. He is the author of more than ten books on New Zealand history and is regularly called upon as an authority on the subject.

As General Editor of the online Encyclopedia of New Zealand / Te Ara (www.teara.govt.nz), Dr Phillips is leading a nine year project to produce the first definitive resource about New Zealand since the 1966 publication An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, which itself has been digitised and incorporated into the new website as an historical snapshot of the country.

Te Ara is intended to provide a comprehensive guide to the natural environment, history, culture, economy, institutions, peoples and social development of New Zealand. Dr Phillips will speak in the Learning Centre, off the main foyer at 7pm and registrations are essential telephone to 7596060.

ENDS

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