NZSA conference, University of Gdansk

New Zealand and Europe: Borders, Nations, Identities

The 18th annual conference of the New Zealand Studies Association, together with the Department of Political Science, University of Gdansk , Gdansk, Poland

6-8 July 2012

The New Zealand Studies Association (NZSA) has a long and strong history in promoting New Zealand Studies. Building on the success of the 2006 conference in Paris, the 2008 conference in Florence, and the 2009 conference in Frankfurt, the 2012 gathering of the NZSA will be located at the University of Gdansk, Poland. This very special conference will be held near the historic city centre of Gdansk with its vibrant culture. On the Saturday, there will be a special guided tour of the city with a boat trip, followed by a conference dinner.

Keynote speakers:

Alan Duff
Professor Witi Ihimaera,
Dr Paul Latawski
Professor Michal Lesniewski
Dr Brian McDonnell
Dr Chris Pugsley
Professor Khyla Russell
Professor Jacek Tebinka
Dr Dariusz Zdziech

Proposals for 20 minute papers must be sent by 4 May to Ian Conrich (email: ian@ianconrich.co.uk) or Marcin Waldoch (marcin.waldoch@gmail.com). The conference will consider all papers that address issues related to New Zealand and Europe, within the context of any of the sub themes - borders, nations, identities. As a section of the conference, it will also consider papers on Maori identity and the Pacific. The conference fee will include annual membership to the NZSA, which for 2012 includes 2 free books. Papers from the conference will be published in issue no.3 of the refereed journal, NZSA Bulletin of New Zealand Studies. Moreover, two new book series - 'New Zealand Writers', and 'New Zealand Film Classics' - will be launched at the conference and delegates will be invited to contribute to future volumes.

The conference will accept proposals on a range of subjects including the following: warfare, land and borders; national identities; political relations between nations; migration, refugees and diasporas (refugees during periods of war or periods of political conflict); Maori identity and the Pacific, New Zealand literature or films set in Europe, or European writers or filmmakers in New Zealand; European cultural influence on New Zealand; the reception and exposure of New Zealand culture in Europe; representations of New Zealand in European museums and collections; voyaging, historical travels and expeditions to New Zealand; science and knowledge transfer; tourism.