Applications invited for Postdoctoral Fellow - deadline 23 January 2009

    Professor Kevin Clements is appointed as the inaugural Director

of the Peace and Conflict Studies Centre, September 2008
  - Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust   - Otago University   - Anglican Taonga
  - Radio NZ International   - Otago Daily Times

    Applications invited for Chair, Peace and Conflict Studies Centre

- deadline 10 March 2008.

• Words of wisdom dedicated to NZ pacifist, Otago Daily Times, 25 May 2009
• 'Making Peace', an interview with Dorothy Brown, Nicola Mutch, University of Otago Magazine, Issue 22, February 2009 (pp 22-24)
• Gift to preserve peaceful culture, Maui Solomon, 25 June 2008
• Peace focus in Moriori Trust, Waatea News Update, 18 June 2008
• Chair in peace studies launched, Anglican Taonga, Advent 2007 (in 'Waging Peace', Margaret Bedggood, p2)
• Warriors’ peacekeeping role topic for research, Waatea News Update, 31 October 2007
• New peace centre at Otago, Waatea News Update, 30 October 2007
• Chair in peace and conflict studies established, LawTalk, 29 October 2007
• Otago establishes National Centre for Peace Studies, University of Otago, 26 October 2007
• Green light for national peace centre, Anglican Taonga, Spring 2007
• "Regarding the pain of others": A Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Aotearoa New Zealand, Margaret Bedggood, December 2006
• Justice and peace could walk hand in hand, LawTalk, October 2005

• 2009

  • Dunedin: Wednesday, 23 September - 'Enlarging the Boundaries of Compassion: Opportunities and Challenges for Peace Research in the 21st Century', inaugural professorial lecture by Kevin Clements, Chair of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. From 5.30pm, College of Education Auditorium, Union Street East, University of Otago. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP for catering purposes to email or tel (03) 479 4546. A printable flyer for this event is available here.
  • Auckland: Thursday, 17 September - 'Enlarging the Boundaries of Compassion: Opportunities and Challenges for Peace Research in the 21st Century', a preview of the inaugural professorial lecture by Kevin Clements, Chair of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. From 5.30pm for 6pm, light refreshments follow the lecture at 7pm, Level 4 (street level), University of Otago House, 385 Queen Street. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP for catering purposes to email or tel (09) 373 9700. A printable flyer for this event is available here.
  • Auckland: Monday, 23 March - 'Challenges to Peace in the 21st Century: Analytical, Educational and Political Responses', Professor Kevin Clements, Chair in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago. From 12.30pm to 1.30pm (discussion time until 2pm), Maclaurin Chapel, University of Auckland, 19 Princes Street. Organised by the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust, in conjunction with the Maclaurin Chapel and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago; for more information contact email. A printable A4 flyer for this event is available here.

• 2007

  • Lower Hutt: Tuesday, 11 December - Waiwhetu Lower Hutt Peace Group meeting, with guest speaker Dorothy Brown, Trustee of the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre, who will be talking about the establishment of the Centre and progress so far; 8pm, Waiwhetu Uniting Church Hall, 6 Trafalgar Street (corner of Grenville Street), Lower Hutt.
  • Auckland: Saturday, 27 October - You are warmly invited to attend our 'Peace Past - Peace Future' Symposium. Opening by Sir Paul Reeves * Session One * Living Peace Covenants: How can the indigenous peace movements of the Moriori and Parihaka contribute to conflict resolution in the world today? Presentations by Maui Solomon of Hokotehi Moriori Trust 'The Moriori Peace Covenant' and Ruakere Hond from Parihaka 'Parihaka: in search of peace' * Session Two * Challenges Posed by Military Aggression: Presentations and panel with Arthur Palmer, George Armstrong, Maire Leadbeater and Edwina Hughes * Session Three * Potential for Peace Teaching: Presentations and panel with Shareen Shah, Yvonne Duncan and the students of Mt Roskill Grammar School will present on 'The Contribution of New Zealand Youth to the Greatest Challenge of the 21st Century - Conflict Resolution' * Session Four * Growing a Field of Peace - Interfaith Peacebuilding: How can the different faiths work together in practical peace building? Presentation and panel with Ali Jiang, Tipene Daniels and Greg Hughson.

    The purpose of this symposium is to develop the relationship between existing peace groups and the new national Peace and Conflict Studies Centre and to explore how the Centre’s research may assist with peaceful resolution of conflicts in the world today. From 9.30am to 3pm, Otago University Centre, 385 Queen Street, Auckland City; admission by koha, a simple lunch will be provided - as space is limited please register early by email (24 October at the latest). Organised by the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust. A printable A4 flyer for this event is available here.

• 2006

  • Palmerston North: Friday, 28 April - Public meeting to introduce the proposal for establishing an Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre.

    "Currently there is no centre that can bring together the work that has been done and the work that is being done now in some university courses, in peace organisations, in the community and through some government initiatives. Peace and conflict studies at such a Centre would encompass a wide range of disciplines and consider peace in different contexts. It could: - teach and co-ordinate undergraduate and post graduate programs to provide the knowledge and practical skills necessary for students to be able to become peace builders, peace keepers and mediators in contemporary situations; - conduct research into the causes of conflict, models of conflict prevention and resolution and peace building strategies; - provide short courses and training for government and non-government organisations engaged in peace keeping and peace building; - provide advice to and do research on peace issues for public and private organisations; and - liaise with peace organisations within the community and the Peace Institutes or Centres around the world. The Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre once developed would provide undergraduate, graduate and research facilities so that New Zealanders wanting to be qualified in peace and conflict studies would no longer need to go overseas for a coherent degree, or piece together courses from a variety of institutions. The Centre would ideally be established within one or more universities with the facility to cooperate between departments and with other universities."

    Starts 5pm in the public library, George Street. Professor Mason Durie, Deputy Vice Chancellor Maori, Massey University, will chair the meeting and members of the Steering Committee will outline the proposal for the Centre, and there will be comments on the proposal and general discussion about it. For more information contact email.

• 2005

• Christchurch: Monday, 31 October - Public meeting to discuss establishing a Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at a university in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Chaired by Emeritus Professor Bill Willmott, CNZM. Speakers will include: Dorothy Brown, update on the public meetings held in Auckland (June 30),Wellington (August 30) and Hamilton (27 September); Prof Jacob Bercovitch, report on Conflict Resolution courses at Canterbury; Prof Margaret Bedggood, Report on her recent visit to Bradford University's Peace Studies Department, and the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland, directed by Professor Kevin Clements; a Maori Perspective on Peace and Conflict Studies; a Rotary representative on International Rotary support for peace studies at various peace institutes around the world by offering valuable scholarships; and Chris Barfoot on finances.

  Discussion will follow on the possibility of, and reasons for, the setting up of an Aotearoa/New Zealand Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. This centre would offer courses for Masters' students and undergraduates and provide research opportunities for postgraduates. It is envisaged that such a centre would cooperate with practical peace initiatives in the community in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and existing academic courses in associated disciplines. From 3pm to 5.30pm, Te Awaroa, Room 253 (2nd floor), Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury; tea and coffee will be served at 3pm. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to email.

• Auckland: Monday, 24 October - 'Progress towards a university peace centre for Aotearoa New Zealand', strategising session at the 2005 National Peace Workshops, with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies Working Group; 1-30pm to 3pm, Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace.
• Hamilton: Sunday, September 25 - Public meeting to discuss establishing a centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at a University in NZ. Chaired by the Rt Rev David Moxon, Anglican Bishop of Waikato. Speakers will include: Dorothy Brown: on the public meetings held in Auckland (June 30) and Wellington (August 30) and the presentations there by Prof. Kevin Clements, Director of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland; Margaret Bedggood on her recent visit to Bradford University's Peace Studies Department established in 1973; Chris Barfoot on funding initiatives for the Centre; and a representative of Rotary to review the ways that International Rotary supports peace studies at various peace institutes around the world by offering valuable scholarships.

  Discussion will follow on the possibility of and reasons for the setting up a New Zealand Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. This centre would offer courses for Masters' students and undergraduates and provide research opportunities for postgraduates. It is envisaged that such a centre would co-operate with practical peace keeping initiatives in NZ and existing courses in associated disciplines. Starts 5pm, Cathedral Centre at Anglican Cathedral Church of St. Peter, 51 Victoria Street (parking available up the drive; soup, tea and coffee will be served. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to email.

• Wellington: Monday, 29 August - Public meeting to discuss establishing a Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Chaired by Russell Marshall. Speakers will include: Prof Kevin Clements, Director of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland, talking about the beginning of that centre, its work, funding and its relationships both within and outside the university, nationally and internationally; Maui Solomon on the Moriori peace kaupapa and how it might relate to this initiative; Margaret Bedggood on her recent visit to Bradford University’s Peace Centre established in 1973 and the meeting that was held on 30 June in Auckland about setting up a Peace Studies Centre in New Zealand, which was attended by more than 70 people; and a representative of Rotary who will review the ways that International Rotary supports peace studies at various peace institutes around the world by offering valuable scholarships.

  Discussion will follow on the possibility of and reasons for the setting up a New Zealand Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. This centre would offer courses for Masters’ students and undergraduates and provide research opportunities for postgraduates. It is envisaged that such a centre would cooperate with practical peace keeping initiatives in New Zealand and existing courses in associated disciplines. Starts 5.30pm, Turnbull House, Bowen Street; tea and coffee will be served. For more information contact email.

• Auckland: Thursday, 30 June - Public meeting with Prof Kevin Clements, the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, on 'Educating for Peace'. Discussion will be exploring the development of a peace and conflict studies institute for New Zealand, and will be chaired by Sir Douglas Graham. Starts 7.30pm, Maclaurin Chapel Hall, Princess Street, University of Auckland. For more information contact email.

For more information, please write to Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre (ANZPCSC) Trust, PO Box 56-719, Mt Eden, Auckland 1446; or email.