The Stout Centre is hosting a series of seminars in the Stout Research Centre Seminar Room, 12 Waiteata Road, to mark 180 years of Pakeha settlement of Wellington.
There are three seminars scheduled on consecutive Wednesdays from 25 March to 8 April.
25 March, 4.10-5.30pm: Morrie Love – ‘Getting the traditional history right – Is there a parallel between Shelly Bay and Ihumatao?’
In this opening kōrero Morrie Love will traverse the odd arrangements in part made by George Grey at Wainuiomata, Waiwhetu and Palmerston North and conclude by looking at education about traditional histories. How do we get better information about Wellington’s history out into public discussion?
4.10-5.30pm, 1 April: Malcolm McKinnon – ‘Capital Politics’, What shapes the politics of a capital city?
While Wellington has a radical past, before the 1950s this did not stem from its role as the seat of government, indeed that likely had a conservative effect on the city’s politics. In contrast, Wellington’s left-leaning politics since the 1960s owe more to its capital city status.
8 April 4.10-5.30pm: Dave Armstrong – ‘Wellington Theatre in the 70s and 80s – from Downstage to Unity’
Playwright Dave Armstrong will talk about some of the experiences he had growing up in Wellington – from attending drama classes, playing the trumpet in a Brecht play while only 11, stage managing a Robert Lord play, to watching works by playwrights as diverse as Baxter, Buzo, Osborne and D.H. Lawrence.