Welcome
The Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies was founded through a bequest from the late Professor John Macmillan Brown (1846-1935). A founding Professor of the University of Canterbury and a former Vice Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, he spent a considerable amount of time travelling and studying the countries of the Pacific.
Under the terms of Professor Macmillan Brown's will, the Centre was established in 1988 at the University of Canterbury to facilitate the 'investigation and research of the history, traditions, customs, laws, and ideas of the peoples of the Pacific generally.'
The main areas of research of the Centre are the societies and cultures, past and present, of the indigenous peoples of Oceania (including New Zealand). In developing its research programme, the Centre is responsive to concerns expressed by these people.
The Macmillan Brown Board is appointed by the Vice-Chancellor and consists of the following persons:
• five representatives nominated by the Colleges
College of Arts - Prof Philippa Mein Smith
College of Science- Dr John Pirker
College of Business and Economics and the School of Law- Dr Keith Dixon
College of Education- Mr Leali'le'e Tufulasi Taleni
College of Engineering- (Pending)
• the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Arts) (ex-officio) - Prof Jarg Pettinga (Acting)
• the University Librarian or her/his nominee (ex-officio) - Ms Gail Pattie
• the Macmillan Brown Librarian - Mrs Jill Durney
• the two advisory Trustees of the Macmillan Brown estate (ex-officio) - Mr Richard Hlavac and Judge Stephen Erber
• one person from the Maori community in Canterbury - Sir Tipene O'Regan ( Board Chair)
• one person from the Pacific Islands community in Canterbury - Dr Kiki Maoate
• one person nominated by Aotahi: the School of Maori and Indigenous Studies - Associate Prof Rawiri Taonui
• the Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre and one Pacific Staff member from the University
Director- (Pending)
Pacific Staff member-
Dr David Gegeo
The Centre is housed in the Te Ao Marama building, Arts Rd and is adjacent to the Macmillan Brown Library. The Macmillan Brown Library Collection of approximately 90,000 books, journals, microfilm, periodicals, archival material and pamphlets with special emphasis on the anthropology and ethnology of New Zealand and the Pacific Ocean regions is available to researchers.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies is to promote and advance scholarship and understanding of the Pacific region, including Aotearoa New Zealand, its people, societies and cultures; histories; arts; politics; environment and resources; developments and future.
Te Kete
Te Kete, a basket woven from coconut leaves, (picture left) is used by the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies. Te Kete symbolises the knowledge of the Pacific which the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies seeks to pursue, collect, promote, advance and impart through its main activities of research, publications and teaching.
Te Kete is a proto-Polynesian/proto-Oceanic word meaning container or receptacle,"which is found in a number of Pacific languages.
Te Kete was used in mythological connections to denote "the basket of knowledge, ancient wisdom, lore and learning." Te Kete is made by the weaving or plaiting of strips of materials together, a process which symbolises, in most Pacific cultures, logical thinking, composing or creating a coherent whole, such as a song or story.