Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
Station of the Year
NZ Radio Awards 2009
20 March, 2010
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Concepts Of Nationhood
Marking 100 years since the proclamation of Dominion status for New Zealand.
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- Programme 1: Globalisation and the Nation
- Prof. James Belich, from the University of Auckland, places the national history of New Zealand in a globalised context, exploring the way in which we have belonged to the world throughout our history. (duration: 46′36″)
- Download: MP3
- Programme 2: Moments of Nationhood
- Emeritus Prof. David McIntyre from the University of Canterbury traces how New Zealand came to be called a dominion and Dr Andrew Ladley from Victoria University of Wellington looks at how the Statute of Westminster was adopted here, finally cutting the legal apron strings from the Mother Country only in 1947. (duration: 50′32″)
- Download: MP3
- Programme 3: Approaches to Nationhood
- Māori approaches to nationhood are analysed by Prof Ngatata Love from Victoria University of Wellington, and Prof Giselle Byrnes takes a dissenting view of the debate about nationhood as she seeks to question conventional concepts of who we are. The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, president of the Law Commission, explores the function of symbols in the development of our sense of ourselves as New Zealanders. (duration: 53′48″)
- Download: MP3
- Programme 4: Nations and states in the 21st century
- Political journalist Colin James sets out some provocative statements on New Zealand’s transition from a settler society, and Dr Charles Royal, Mauriora-ki-te-Ao, speculates on Māori identity in the future, and the value of the labels “Māori” and “Pakeha.” (duration: 53′47″)
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Information
In 1907, a milestone occurred in the development of our national identity. The declaration of Dominion status meant that New Zealand was no longer a colony, but a dominion within the British Empire.
One hundred years later on 26 September 2007, an industrial-strength lineup of historical, legal and constitutional experts met to explore what Dominion status meant at the time, and what it means to us now.
From its recording of the day, Radio New Zealand produced the series Concepts of Nationhood. It provides a major four-part exploration of themes relating to who we are, and how we have begun to redefine our independence as a sovereign country, and how we might develop in the future.