Biographies Dominate 2006 History Awards

4 December 2006

Biographies Dominate 2006 History Awards

Biographies of the legendary Gisborne boxer Tom Heeney, artist Rita Angus and Rotorua guide Maggie Papakura are among the projects to receive this year’s Awards in History from the New Zealand History Research Trust Fund.

The largest award this year goes to David Grant of Wellington, who receives $20,000 to write a biography of the leading trade unionist Ken Douglas. Assistance is also provided to studies of Tolaga Bay, spies and revolutionaries, the Strongman mine disaster, droving, the book collector Dr Thomas Hocken, New Zealand scientists, and Auckland’s Freeman’s Bay, Ponsonby and St Mary’s Bay area.

In total, $95,000 is being allocated to 11 projects, drawn from a total of 64 applications to the Fund.

The successful applicants for 2007 are:

Jennifer Carlyon & Diana Morrow of Freeman’s Bay, Auckland: ‘A History of Freeman’s Bay, Ponsonby and St Mary’s Bay’ – $10,000

Paul Diamond of Lower Hutt: ‘The Life and Times of Makareti Papakura’ – $10,000

Stephen Donald of Tolaga Bay, East Coast: ‘Uawa-nui-a-Ruamatua: Maori and Pakeha at Tolaga Bay, 1769–1940’ – $10,000

David Grant of Northland, Wellington: ‘A Biography of Ken Douglas’ – $20,000

Graeme Hunt of Titirangi, Auckland: ‘Spies and Revolutionaries: A History of Subversion in New Zealand’ – $6,000

Donald Kerr of Mornington, Dunedin: ‘A Bio-bibliographical Study on Dr Thomas Morland Hocken’ – $7,000

Ruth Low of Timaru: ‘The Story of Droving in New Zealand’ – $5,000

Veronika Meduna & Rebecca Priestley of Wellington: ‘Butterflies, Boffins and Black Smokers: Two Centuries of New Zealand Scientists’ – $6,000

Lydia Monin of Waiheke Island: ‘From Poverty Bay to Broadway: The Tom Heeney Story’ – $7,000

Brian Wood of Blackball, West Coast: ‘One Too Many: The Strongman Mine Disaster, 1967’ – $4,000

Jill Trevelyan of Hataitai, Wellington: ‘That Fine Thread of Beauty: A Life of Rita Angus’ – $10,000

The Awards in History are intended to provide financial assistance to people carrying out projects that will significantly enhance the understanding of New Zealand's past. They are made annually by the New Zealand History Research Trust Fund, and are administered by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Since the first Awards were introduced in 1990, a total of 1,456 applications have been received and 214 projects have been assisted.

Applications for Awards for 2008 close on 15 October 2007. Further information and application forms are available online at: http://www.mch.govt.nz/awards/history/research.html

– ENDS –

© Scoop Media