A message from the NZHA Executive on the 2021 NZHA Conference:
Kia ora koutou,
Over the last few months, the NZHA Executive have been continually reviewing the format of the 2021 NZHA Conference in light of the Covid-19 outbreak. We have now concluded that the conference should proceed on the planned dates (Tuesday 23 November to Friday 26 November), but that it should take place entirely online.
There were several reasons for this decision, alongside the overall Covid situation. Planning solely for an online conference will allow us to maximise our efforts in this direction and ensure that the event is as successful as possible. An online event also offers certainty to attendees. We have been receiving regular emails from people asking about the format, so that they can make decisions around travel bookings, time off work, etc. Finally, by deciding now, and setting the registration fee at a low level, we will be able to promote the conference to others, such as schoolteachers, who might not have attended an ‘in-person’ event.
The Executive are convinced that we can host an online conference that will make a significant contribution to the advancement of historical research in Aotearoa New Zealand. We will offer:
- A heavily reduced registration fee – $30 for waged attendees and $15 for students. This will be used to cover technical-support and administration costs.
- Recording of all keynotes and papers, so that they will be available to attendees online for a period after the conference.
- Long lunch and other breaks so that attendees can hold discussions and specialist network meetings.
- Sessions specifically aimed at postgraduate students that will take place on Tuesday 23 November.
We will send out further communications over the next few weeks informing attendees about technical requirements, about the recording of sessions, and about the reopening of an updated registration portal. We will also draw up and disseminate a full programme for the conference as soon as possible.
Those attendees who have already registered for the conference will receive a full refund on their fees over the coming weeks. If anyone who has submitted a paper or roundtable would now like to withdraw their presentation, we ask that they email David Littlewood (D.C.Littlewood@massey.ac.nz) by Friday 1 October.
We have reached the decision for an entirely online conference with regret, as we would much prefer an ‘in-person’ event. However, we firmly believe it is the best decision in the circumstances, and that we can host an online conference that is engaging, interactive, and collegial.
Ngā mihi nui
The NZHA Executive