About this Event
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Britain’s decision to seek entry into the European Community in 1961 and its eventual accession in 1973 have been described as a ‘shock’, ‘betrayal,’ and ‘abandonment’ for New Zealand, hastening the South Pacific nation’s independence from its old colonial master. But what do the historic records show actually happened in the course of British entry?
Hamish McDougall presents new research from sources in Europe, UK and New Zealand to demonstrate the immense political and diplomatic campaign deployed to retain New Zealand trade access in the European common market, and how this was received by counterparts in the UK and continental Europe.
This has implications for the modern day, with Brexit repercussions still playing out, New Zealand negotiating free trade agreements with the European Union and Post-Brexit Britain, and with policymakers in Brussels and London looking to exert strategic influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hamish McDougall’s research will be discussed by Dr Felicity Barnes from the University of Auckland.
About Dr Felicity Barnes
Dr Felicity Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Auckland. She teaches and researches on colonial and cultural nationalism in New Zealand; Dominion identity in New Zealand, Canada and Australia; and British empire trade and consumption. Her book publications include New Zealand's London: A colony and its metropolis, which was based on PhD research that won the award for Auckland University’s best doctoral dissertation, and Selling Britishness, a cultural history of empire trade, to be published by MQUP this year. In 2020 she helped establish the Auckland University History Innovation Fund, to improve research outputs in New Zealand history.
About Dr Hamish McDougall
In January 2022 Dr Hamish McDougall was appointed Executive Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs - Whare Tawāhi-amahi i Aotearoa (although he presents at this event in a personal capacity). He recently completed a PhD in international history at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on the topic of Anglo-New Zealand relations in the context of European integration. At LSE he taught and designed courses on twentieth century international history. His published research includes a chapter in the forthcoming official history of the New Zealand foreign service, and articles on New Zealand’s involvement in the 1971 negotiations for European Community accession, and separately, international aspects of the 1981 Springbok Tour. Outside of academia, he has a successful career in corporate and marketing communications, including working on the launch of He Tohu, the exhibition of iconic New Zealand documents at the National Library.
https://www.nziia.org.nz/events/new-zealand-britain-and-the-european-community-end-of-a-long-distance-relationship/
COVID-19 Safety
The venue is is subject to University of Auckland and the New Zealand's Government's COVID-19 safety guidance. People are expected to wear a face mask in indoor settings where physical distancing is difficult to maintain, including lecture spaces. Please do not attend if you feel unwell. More information can be found here:
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/notices/2022/covid-19.html
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Old Government House, 24 Princes Street, Auckland, New Zealand
NZD 0.00