Dame Anne Salmond is a leading social scientist and New Zealander of the Year 2013, whose life-long work has focussed on the history and anthropology of the Pacific and in particular Māori. She has a long-standing interest in environmental issues. Dame Anne’s perspective on our past, present and future is fascinating and enlightening.
Useful links:
- Dame Anne Salmond’s University of Auckland profile page
- Her publications
- Dame Anne’s articles on newsroom – worth a good read
- National Library: Interview with Dame Anne Salmond
Introduction:
I have no idea what it takes to be an extraordinary social scientist. But one possible definition could be someone who steps out of the comfort zone of their own culture, immerses themselves in another for many years – including language immersion – studies both knowledge systems closely, and then considers both perspectives in reexamining historical events, thinking deeply about the present and engaging in constructive conversation about a positive future.
That one very long sentence describes – in very, very oversimplified terms – our next guest on this podcast.
Professor Dame Anne Salmond is a respected and accomplished anthropologist who has studied and lectured at the University of Auckland and studied at the University of Pennsylvania, has spent time doing extensive research at Cambridge University and elsewhere, and has written and published widely: books, research papers, articles, opinion pieces and more. Her work has largely revolved around her deep and personal understanding the Maori world and knowledge systems – which you’ll hear more about shortly. It also includes extensive consideration of European knowledge systems. Ultimately, her work and influence has extended into environmental issues and the role of research and science in policy-making and our future generally.
Dame Anne has a long list of impressive awards including a CBE awarded in 1988, followed by a damehood in 1995, the Prime Minister’s award for non fiction in 2004, the Rutherford Medal in 2013 and being named New Zealand of the Year also in 2013. And believe me, I’ve skipped over most of her accolades, and they keep coming.
Her life long study of Māori culture and the intercultural understanding between Māori and Pakeha is quite simply, extraordinary. Her ability to explain all of this and make it accessible is also extraordinary.
It’s a privilege to share the following interview with you, an interview that I thoroughly enjoyed. So here is Dame Anne Salmond.
