The Friends of the Turnbull Library (FoTL) is a national organisation, supporting the work and activities of the Alexander Turnbull Library since 1939.
Titiro ki muri kia whakatika ā mua. Preserving the past to enlighten the future.
The Alexander Turnbull Library is a guardian of our heritage, a great research institution serving the general public and scholars in the fields of historical research, literary, cultural and genealogical studies. The Friends of the Turnbull Library promotes public interest in the Library’s collections and supports research and use of its collections.
The next FoTL event is in Auckland this week: Wednesday 18 June, at 6pm: Dame Claudia Orange DNZM, OBE, CRSNZ, The Treaty, the Government and Aotearoa New Zealand: Where are we now?
2025 FOUNDER LECTURE
Thursday 26 June 2025 at 6.00 pm
Dr Monty Soutar ONZM
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Kahungunu
Historian and author
Venue: Taiwhanga Kawhau Auditorium
Lower ground floor, National Library of NZ Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, Thorndon
The Kāwai series: Conveying history through fiction
As an historian Dr Soutar has consistently sought to engage audiences by making New Zealand’s history more captivating. Through his bestselling Kāwai novel series, he has reached a broader audience.
In this lecture Monty will comment on the art and challenges of presenting historical material in a fiction format.
Monty Soutar will speak at 6.00 pm with light refreshments to follow.
Register now to join the talk remotely
The event location is now at capacity. On-line and emailed ticketing have closed. However, there will be an overflow space – and the possibility that some auditorium seats will become vacant on the night. If you wish to join a priority shortlist please email the Friends of the Turnbull Library at: turnbullfriends@gmail.com
You can also register for a Zoom link and add this event to your calendar.
About the speaker: Dr. Monty Soutar has been a teacher, a soldier, an historian and has worked for the New Zealand government, museums and his iwi runanga organisations. He has a research background that spans almost 40 years, in which time he led one of the largest oral history projects in New Zealand, interviewing Māori elders about their WWII experiences abroad and at home.
He has held a number of appointments on national advisory boards, including the Archives NZ Council, the Guardians of the Alexander Turnbull Library and the First World War Centenary Panel. Dr Soutar was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal in 2002. In 2015 he was awarded the NZ Order of Merit for services to Māori and historical research. And, in 2024 he was presented with the prestigious Manakura Award for his 15 years of work compiling the 28th Māori Battalion’s history- as part of the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion scholarship ceremony held at the C Company Memorial House in Gisborne. He continues to serve on the Waitangi Tribunal.
Dr Soutar is the author of Whitiki Whiti Whiti E! Māori in the First World War and Ngā Tama Toa: The Price of Citizenship: C Company 28 (Māori Battalion 1939-1945). Whitiki is a major publication about Māori participation in the First World War and the award-winning Ngā Tama Toa focussed on Māori participation in the Second World War. In 2021 he was awarded the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer’s Fellowship to write the Kāwai series.
Tuesday 8 July, at 5.30pm: Will Hansen, A Trans View of Queer Activism in Aotearoa
Transgender people have always been a part of life in Aotearoa, and yet their histories are seldom explored. In the current climate of growing anti-trans violence, honouring not only trans histories, but trans histories of resistance, is more important than ever. Trans historian Will Hansen seeks to do this in his PhD thesis, ‘Queer Activism in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1961-2013,’ which argues that Aotearoa’s myriad queer communities are materially, historically bound together. In this talk, Will explores the complicated, intertwining relationships between trans and other queer communities through the lens of their activisms. While transphobia and transmisogyny have been part of some queer activism, so too has trans solidarity. Will’s work casts a spotlight on the ways trans, lesbian, gay, and other queer peoples have stood together, shoulder to shoulder, in the struggle against queer oppression.
Will Hansen (he/him) completed his PhD in April 2025 at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and is pending graduation in December. His thesis, ‘Queer Activism in Aotearoa New Zealand, 1961-2013,’ is currently being written as a book manuscript with the generous assistance of the Judith Binney Writing Award. Will is also a trustee of Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa, and through this work has had a close and enjoyable relationship with the Alexander Turnbull Library.
Can’t make it in person?
This event will also be delivered using Zoom. You do not need to install the software to attend, you can opt to run Zoom from your browser.
If you’d like to join this talk, register below and we’ll send a link to use on the day.
Add to your calendar and Register for a Zoom Link
2025/26 Subscriptions are now due ….
Please see the Join Us page.
PLEASE NOTE that we need your contact details. Copies of our annual magazine Off the Record and the annual journal Turnbull Library Record will be mailed to members in May and October respectively. We need your postal address. Please contact us at turnbullfriends@gmail.com to supply your contact details.
The 2025 Speaker Programme.
Here are some of the upcoming speakers and events confirmed for 2025.
| The 2025 Founder Lecture | ||
| Dr Monty Soutar | The Kāwai series: conveying history through fiction | Thursday 26 June |
| Monthly Speakers | ||
| Will Hansen | Radical Queer Histories from Aotearoa | Tuesday 8 July |
| AGM | Helen McCracken | Wednesday 23 July |
| Dr Mere Whaanga | Conflict. Land and Leadership | Tuesday 12 August |
| Dr Annabel Cooper | Biography of the Hayward family | Wednesday 10 September |
| Nick Bevin | John Scott digitizing the archive | Wednesday 15 October |
| Letters Out Loud | Saturday 18 October | |
| Justine Olsen | Walter Cook collection | Tuesday 11 November |
Our previous Speakers
Details of many past speakers are still on the What’s on page.
Wellington events are held at Taiwhanga Kauhau — the National Library Wellington Auditorium -entrance from Aitken Street, Thorndon.
In Auckland, talks are held at the Takapuna Library, 9 The Strand. The address by Dame Claudia Orange (previously advertised for September 2024 but then unavoidably postponed) will now be held on Wednesday 18 June. Further details coming soon.
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<!>Friends of the Turnbull Library AGM Papers 2024
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