Anne Salmond - Inaugural Bishop Reeves Memorial Lecture

Anne Salmond to give inaugural Reeves Lecture.

Beyond the Binary – Shifting New Zealand’s mindset.

Dame Anne Salmond, New Zealand’s foremost historian and anthropologist, will give the inaugural Bishop Sir Paul Reeves Memorial Lecture next month on the dramatic changes in New Zealand’s thinking that are required to shape our future.

In the first of what will be an annual calendar highlight held on the anniversary of Sir Paul’s passing, Dame Anne will provoke discussion by challenging the status quo of our society, and our thinking as individuals :

"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?"

"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?"

At present, New Zealand’s potential is being limited by non-adaptive thinking and habits of mind.
Dame Anne will draw 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 will be Radio New Zealand National Sunday Morning host Chris Laidlaw.

Modelled 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 will be 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, will pay a tribute to him on the night.

The lecture is a Leadership New Zealand event with the support of AUT University.

Tickets are available at ticketmaster.co.nz for $30. For further information please contact Vicky Pond-Dunlop at Leadership New Zealand on 09 309 3749 or lnzevents@leadershipnz.co.nz.