Judith Binney Fellowships and Writing Awards
2019 Recipients Announced
The Judith Binney Trust is proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Judith Binney Fellowships and Writing
Awards. The awards were established by the Judith Binney Trust to support research and writing on New Zealand history.
The Judith Binney Fellow for 2019 is Dr. Nēpia Mahuika (Ngāti Porou), Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Waikato. Dr. Mahuika specialises in Māori and Indigenous
history with a particular focus on Māori spirituality and beliefs.
The 2019 Judith Binney Fellowship will support Dr Mahuika’s research on new perspectives on the history of makutu in
Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nēpia Mahuika said he was honoured to be offered the Fellowship.
“This is exciting news for me, my whanau and iwi. Judith Binney left a legacy of research that encouraged new voices and
Māori voices in particular to speak their truth and I appreciate the magnitude of this award which will be essential in
supporting the completion of my research and writing for publication”
Three Judith Binney Writing Awards have also been announced. The recipients are: freelance writer Ryan Bodman; journalist and commentator Morgan Godfery (Ngāti Awa, Samoa); and independent historian Dr. Melissa Matutina Williams (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Maru).
Ryan Bodman is writing a book on the social and cultural history of rugby league in New Zealand; Morgan Godfrey is
exploring the history of dissent in New Zealand society; and Dr. Melissa Matutina Williams is engaged in a collective
project on the history of wāhine Māori.
Chair of the Judith Binney Trust, Adam Ross QC, says that the trustees are delighted by wide range of strong
applications for the inaugural Judith Binney Fellowships and Writing Awards:
“The trustees were impressed with the quality and quantity of applications for funding in our inaugural year. The
selected applicants reflect well on the Trust, the legacy of the late Dame Judith Binney, her mother Marjorie Musgrove,
and the settlor of the Trust, Sebastian Black. We are looking forward to seeing the contribution that the outstanding
recipients, through the Trust’s funding, will make to scholarly historical research and writing in this country.”
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