New Zealanders aren’t the best when it comes to learning from history.
That was the view held by the late Bruce Jesson, journalist and politician. It was also the starting point for the speech given by ARC Chairman Mike Lee at the annual Bruce Jesson lecture last year.
"Bruce was a close friend and respected colleague whose thoughts and ideas are very relevant today," says Mike.
"Bruce said that we New Zealanders are careless - perhaps deliberately forgetful - about our history, and there is a price we pay for that.
"In the lecture I discussed how similar problems and familiar challenges recur throughout Auckland’s history and, therefore, that history has important lessons for us in managing Auckland now and in the future.
"With the likelihood of major change to the way Auckland local government is structured soon to be announced by the Royal Commission, and the growing uncertainty in the world because of the economic downturn, I feel this paper about the history of Auckland’s regional government, with some comments about the future, could be of interest to ARC staff."
That was the view held by the late Bruce Jesson, journalist and politician. It was also the starting point for the speech given by ARC Chairman Mike Lee at the annual Bruce Jesson lecture last year.
"Bruce was a close friend and respected colleague whose thoughts and ideas are very relevant today," says Mike.
"Bruce said that we New Zealanders are careless - perhaps deliberately forgetful - about our history, and there is a price we pay for that.
"In the lecture I discussed how similar problems and familiar challenges recur throughout Auckland’s history and, therefore, that history has important lessons for us in managing Auckland now and in the future.
"With the likelihood of major change to the way Auckland local government is structured soon to be announced by the Royal Commission, and the growing uncertainty in the world because of the economic downturn, I feel this paper about the history of Auckland’s regional government, with some comments about the future, could be of interest to ARC staff."
The 2008 Bruce Jesson Memorial lecture will be held on Monday October 6th at 6:30 pm at the Maidment Theatre, University of Auckland. Details contained here........
2008 Memorial Lecture
ARC Chair, Jesson Foundation trustee and long time friend of Bruce Mike Lee will deliver the lecture this year.
2008 Memorial Lecture
ARC Chair, Jesson Foundation trustee and long time friend of Bruce Mike Lee will deliver the lecture this year.
Aug 7th 2008
From The Economist print edition
Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s example—and the heirs who failed him
GEORGE KENNAN, the dean of American diplomats, called “The Gulag Archipelago”, Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s account of Stalin’s terror, “the most powerful single indictment of a political regime ever to be levied in modern times”. By bearing witness, Solzhenitsyn certainly did as much as any artist could to bring down the Soviet system, a monstrosity that crushed millions of lives. His courage earned him imprisonment and exile. But his death on August 3rd (see article) prompts a question. Who today speaks truth to power—not only in authoritarian or semi-free countries such as Russia and China but in the West as well?
The answer in the case of Russia itself is depressing. Russia’s contemporary intelligentsia—the should-be followers of the example of Solzhenitsyn, Sakharov and the other dissident intellectuals of the Soviet period—is not just supine but in some ways craven (see article). Instead of defending the freedoms perilously acquired after the end of communism, many of Russia’s intellectuals have connived in Vladimir Putin’s project to neuter democracy and put a puppet-show in its place. Some may genuinely admire Mr Putin’s resurrection of a “strong” Russia (as, alas, did the elderly Solzhenitsyn himself). But others have shallower motives.
From The Economist print edition
Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s example—and the heirs who failed him
GEORGE KENNAN, the dean of American diplomats, called “The Gulag Archipelago”, Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s account of Stalin’s terror, “the most powerful single indictment of a political regime ever to be levied in modern times”. By bearing witness, Solzhenitsyn certainly did as much as any artist could to bring down the Soviet system, a monstrosity that crushed millions of lives. His courage earned him imprisonment and exile. But his death on August 3rd (see article) prompts a question. Who today speaks truth to power—not only in authoritarian or semi-free countries such as Russia and China but in the West as well?
The answer in the case of Russia itself is depressing. Russia’s contemporary intelligentsia—the should-be followers of the example of Solzhenitsyn, Sakharov and the other dissident intellectuals of the Soviet period—is not just supine but in some ways craven (see article). Instead of defending the freedoms perilously acquired after the end of communism, many of Russia’s intellectuals have connived in Vladimir Putin’s project to neuter democracy and put a puppet-show in its place. Some may genuinely admire Mr Putin’s resurrection of a “strong” Russia (as, alas, did the elderly Solzhenitsyn himself). But others have shallower motives.
Penguin Books has just published the first collection of Bruce Jesson’s works. This project, funded by the Foundation, has been compiled and edited by Foundation Chair Professor Andrew Sharp and has received strong reviews in all of the major media.
It is an essential work for those interested not only in Bruce’s work but also in the social, economic and political development of New Zealand from an author with an exceptional and idiosyncratic viewpoint.
It is an essential work for those interested not only in Bruce’s work but also in the social, economic and political development of New Zealand from an author with an exceptional and idiosyncratic viewpoint.
Press Release: Bruce Jesson Foundation
A New Zealand journalist who reported on the US invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq is this year's winner of the Bruce Jesson Foundation's Critical Writing Award.
Hamilton-born Jon Stephenson, 42, has won the $3000 award to return to Iraq this month to report for Auckland's 'Metro' magazine on the political, social and economic position of the country two years after US forces chased Saddam Hussein out of Baghdad in April 2003.
The award is given once a year to fund "critical, informed, analytical and creative journalism or writing which will contribute to public debate in New Zealand on an important issue or issues". The inaugural winners last year were Wellington writers Nicky Hager and Tina McIvor.
Bruce Jesson Foundation chair Professor Andrew Sharp said Jon Stephenson had already made an impressive contribution towards raising New Zealanders' awareness and understanding of both Afghanistan and Iraq from the perspective of the people of those countries.
"Without his reports, we would have been almost totally dependent on news organisations based in the United States and Britain, which were direct participants in the wars," Dr Sharp said.
"Jon Stephenson has risked his life to report in depth from Iraq at a heavy personal and financial cost. We hope his work will inspire others to do similar in-depth work on important issues for New Zealanders, with our support."
Jon Stephenson reported for the Sunday Star-Times from Afghanistan in December 2001 and has made five trips to Iraq since April 2003, most recently in January when he covered the Iraqi elections with TV3's Mike McRoberts. He leaves for Iraq later this month.
He had a varied career as a labourer, freezing worker, public servant, and in the arts before training as a journalist at the Auckland University of Technology in 2000. Since then he has worked for The Independent business weekly and for the past three years as a freelancer.
He has received three fellowships from the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism in the United States in 2003-04 to attend seminars in Washington and at Berkeley, California, on the "War on Terror", "Covering Conflict" and US foreign policy.
Applications for next year's Bruce Jesson Critical Writing Awards close on 20 January 2006.
A New Zealand journalist who reported on the US invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq is this year's winner of the Bruce Jesson Foundation's Critical Writing Award.
Hamilton-born Jon Stephenson, 42, has won the $3000 award to return to Iraq this month to report for Auckland's 'Metro' magazine on the political, social and economic position of the country two years after US forces chased Saddam Hussein out of Baghdad in April 2003.
The award is given once a year to fund "critical, informed, analytical and creative journalism or writing which will contribute to public debate in New Zealand on an important issue or issues". The inaugural winners last year were Wellington writers Nicky Hager and Tina McIvor.
Bruce Jesson Foundation chair Professor Andrew Sharp said Jon Stephenson had already made an impressive contribution towards raising New Zealanders' awareness and understanding of both Afghanistan and Iraq from the perspective of the people of those countries.
"Without his reports, we would have been almost totally dependent on news organisations based in the United States and Britain, which were direct participants in the wars," Dr Sharp said.
"Jon Stephenson has risked his life to report in depth from Iraq at a heavy personal and financial cost. We hope his work will inspire others to do similar in-depth work on important issues for New Zealanders, with our support."
Jon Stephenson reported for the Sunday Star-Times from Afghanistan in December 2001 and has made five trips to Iraq since April 2003, most recently in January when he covered the Iraqi elections with TV3's Mike McRoberts. He leaves for Iraq later this month.
He had a varied career as a labourer, freezing worker, public servant, and in the arts before training as a journalist at the Auckland University of Technology in 2000. Since then he has worked for The Independent business weekly and for the past three years as a freelancer.
He has received three fellowships from the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism in the United States in 2003-04 to attend seminars in Washington and at Berkeley, California, on the "War on Terror", "Covering Conflict" and US foreign policy.
Applications for next year's Bruce Jesson Critical Writing Awards close on 20 January 2006.
Wellington researchers Nicky Hager and Tina McIvor have won the first awards from the new Bruce Jesson Critical Writing Fund.
The fund has been set up by the Bruce Jesson Foundation to encourage the kind of critical, analytical journalism that the late Bruce Jesson produced in Metro, The Republican and in books until his death in 1999.
It will initially allocate $3000 a year, and has split the first award equally with $1500 each to Hager and McIvor.
Hager has written many articles and books. He was inspired by Bruce Jesson to write his first major piece of research, a history of Tasman Pulp and Paper looking at the interaction between the company, the government and the local people. Two of his most recent books were "Secret Power" (1996), about New Zealand's role in the Western spy network, and "Seeds of Distrust" (2002), the book that revealed a cover-up of genetically engineered sweet corn that was planted in New Zealand in 2000.
He will use the Jesson Foundation award to work on a new book about New Zealand's alliance links with the US, Britain, Canada and Australia.
Tina McIvor coordinated the Benefit Rights Service at the Wellington People's Centre from March 2001 until last October, when she stopped fulltime paid work to become a mother. She still produces the People's Centre's Welfare Scene bulletin, and last November wrote a report on Female Financial Hardship and Debt Due to Marital Status.
She will use the Jesson award to research and write a report on the culture of the Ministry of Social Development's Benefit Control Unit.
Former Prime Minister David Lange, who was a personal friend of Bruce Jesson and has chaired the Jesson Foundation since it was established in 1999, said the Critical Writing Fund was designed to help people with limited financial resources to put the time and money required into producing critical, informed, analytical and creative writing that would contribute to public debate in New Zealand.
"Many people - journalists, academics, students, workers and people in all walks of life - have ideas for this kind of work, but can't afford to take the time off paid work, or need help with the cost of phone calls, books or travel," Lange said.
The foundation has put $15,000 from private donors into the Critical Writing Fund to fund awards of $3000 a year for the next five years, and is seeking co-sponsors to make the fund permanent. Applications for the 2005 awards will be called in November.
The Bruce Jesson Foundation is a charitable trust funded by public donations and registered by the Inland Revenue Department as a donee organisation, making donations eligible for a tax rebate. Further information is at www.brucejesson.com.
Contact:
Nicky Hager, 04 384 5074.
Tina McIvor, 04 905 6814.
Critical Writing Fund Committee:
Simon Collins, 021 612 423.
Rebecca Jesson, 09 521 8118.
Finlay Macdonald, 09 415 4700.
or email: Bruce Jesson Foundation
The fund has been set up by the Bruce Jesson Foundation to encourage the kind of critical, analytical journalism that the late Bruce Jesson produced in Metro, The Republican and in books until his death in 1999.
It will initially allocate $3000 a year, and has split the first award equally with $1500 each to Hager and McIvor.
Hager has written many articles and books. He was inspired by Bruce Jesson to write his first major piece of research, a history of Tasman Pulp and Paper looking at the interaction between the company, the government and the local people. Two of his most recent books were "Secret Power" (1996), about New Zealand's role in the Western spy network, and "Seeds of Distrust" (2002), the book that revealed a cover-up of genetically engineered sweet corn that was planted in New Zealand in 2000.
He will use the Jesson Foundation award to work on a new book about New Zealand's alliance links with the US, Britain, Canada and Australia.
Tina McIvor coordinated the Benefit Rights Service at the Wellington People's Centre from March 2001 until last October, when she stopped fulltime paid work to become a mother. She still produces the People's Centre's Welfare Scene bulletin, and last November wrote a report on Female Financial Hardship and Debt Due to Marital Status.
She will use the Jesson award to research and write a report on the culture of the Ministry of Social Development's Benefit Control Unit.
Former Prime Minister David Lange, who was a personal friend of Bruce Jesson and has chaired the Jesson Foundation since it was established in 1999, said the Critical Writing Fund was designed to help people with limited financial resources to put the time and money required into producing critical, informed, analytical and creative writing that would contribute to public debate in New Zealand.
"Many people - journalists, academics, students, workers and people in all walks of life - have ideas for this kind of work, but can't afford to take the time off paid work, or need help with the cost of phone calls, books or travel," Lange said.
The foundation has put $15,000 from private donors into the Critical Writing Fund to fund awards of $3000 a year for the next five years, and is seeking co-sponsors to make the fund permanent. Applications for the 2005 awards will be called in November.
The Bruce Jesson Foundation is a charitable trust funded by public donations and registered by the Inland Revenue Department as a donee organisation, making donations eligible for a tax rebate. Further information is at www.brucejesson.com.
Contact:
Nicky Hager, 04 384 5074.
Tina McIvor, 04 905 6814.
Critical Writing Fund Committee:
Simon Collins, 021 612 423.
Rebecca Jesson, 09 521 8118.
Finlay Macdonald, 09 415 4700.
or email: Bruce Jesson Foundation
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