New Trustee, Judith Binney Trust

The Judith Binney Trust is delighted to welcome Dr Damon Salesa as a trustee.

Dr Salesa was recently appointed Vice-Chancellor of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

He has a special relationship with the Judith Binney Trust and says 'I was blessed to have Dame Judith Binney as teacher, mentor and inspiration.'

Dr Salesa was also among those who spoke at the launch of the Judith Binney Trust in August 2018. 

Read more in Korero: A Reflection on the Work of Judith Binney written by Dr Salesa for the New Zealand Journal of History.

2021 Writing Award

Sarah Johnston

Many are already aware of the progress being made by Sarah Johnston (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rākaipaaka) who received a Judith Binney Writing Award in 2021.

Sarah is actively blogging, speaking and being interviewed about her project, which is focused on the sound recordings made during World War II by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service Mobile Units.

Coverage has included an interview with Kim Hill on RNZ

Auckland War Memorial Museum's "Cenotaph Stories." World War Voices - identifying speakers in wartime radio recordings

Public presentation at Christchurch City Libraries Tūranga (April 2021): New Zealand's voices of war: the Mobile Unit recordings 1940-1945

You can read Sarah's blog here: World War Voices

2020 Writing Award

Ellen Andersen

Ellen Andersen received support for “Matangireia: A Centenary History of the First Māori Affairs Committee Room at Parliament” which she aims to publish this year as 2022 is the date that marks the centenary of Matangireia.

Ellen is Director Kaiwhakahaere Tautiaki Taonga and Kaupapa Māori Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. The 100-year old room at Parliament is undergoing specialist conservation that will include repairs with the same traditional materials originally used to create the taonga in this room.

Matangireia will describe not only the creation and evolution of the room as a focus in Parliament dedicated to Māori, but also the role of Māori Members of Parliament, the purpose and activities of the Māori Affairs Committee.

Other Judith Binney Trust News

Upcoming publications

Rachel Buchannan (Writing Award 2020)

Te Motunui Epa

This stunning book examines how five interconnected carved panels, Te Motunui Epa, have journeyed across the world and changed international law, practices and understanding on the protection and repatriation of stolen cultural treasures. By placing these taonga/tūpuna at the centre of the story, Rachel Buchanan presents a vivid narrative, richly illustrated, that draws on newly declassified government records to tell a story of art, ancestors and power. Te Motunui Epa will be published later this year by BWB.

Ryan Bodman (Writing Award 2019)

Through the lens of a sport that was often in the margins of our sporting landscape, Ryan Bodman's history of rugby league provides a compelling new analysis of New Zealand’s social history across a range of distinctive communities. It casts fresh light on the intersections of race, class and culture through exploring the popularity of league amongst blue-collar working-class communities, Kīngitanga Māori, Irish Catholics and Pasifika migrants. Drawing on rich oral history interviews and previously unpublished images, this remarkable book publishes with BWB in 2023.