Oral history in Aotearoa New Zealand
Edited by Anna Green and Megan Hutching
Remembering and Becoming investigates how personal narratives can deepen our understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. The contributing authors, drawing from diverse backgrounds and extensive experience, use interviews to explore themes such as ethnicity, culture, class, religion, gender, place, sexuality, age, family and war. The insights gained from these interviews challenge conventional historical assumptions and reveal the unique perspectives that oral histories provide.
Accessible and engaging, Remembering and Becoming highlights the crucial role of oral history in expanding our views of the past.
Contributors include established and emerging oral historians and academics: Robyn Andrews, Dean Broughton, Helena Cook, Deborah Dunsford, Helen Frizzell, Anna Green, Megan Hutching, Margaret Kawharu, Natalie Looyer, Jane Moodie, Pip Oldham, Megan Pōtiki, Elizabeth Ward and Cheryl Ware.
Editors
Anna Green is an Associate Professor at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s Stout Research Centre for NZ Studies. Anna specialises in memory and oral history using an interdisciplinary approach drawn from psychology, anthropology, sociology and literature. Anna serves as president of The National Oral History Association of New Zealand and contributes to various international scholarly associations and journals.
Megan Hutching has worked as an oral historian for over 30 years, including at Auckland Libraries and Te Manatū Taonga. She has published on a wide range of topics, including immigration and New Zealand’s involvement in World War II and has an abiding interest in the history of women’s political activism.
Publication details
Paperback
240 x 170mm, 221pp
ISBN 9781990048838
RRP $45
Release date: 24 October
Reviews and Interviews
Review: ‘It’s very exciting to see this look at where oral history is in Aotearoa New Zealand ... It’s really interesting to see how strong oral history is now ... This is an incredibly exciting book. If you’re interested in oral history, this book is for you. I think you could say, oral history is not only thriving but nicely subversive.’ – Paul Diamond for Nine to Noon, RNZ Listen
Review: 'Ultimately, Remembering and Becoming reminds us of the power of storytelling in preserving history. In an era dominated by fast-paced media and digital communication, the book celebrates the enduring relevance of oral history as a tool for commemoration and understanding. It challenges us to think critically about our own interpretations of the past and encourages us to listen to the diverse voices that make up our shared history. For future generations, this collection will serve as an invaluable resource, offering a human-centred view of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history, rich with emotion, reflection, and the complexity of lived experience.' – Chris Reed for NZ Booklovers Read
Review: ‘Remembering and Becoming: Oral History in Aotearoa New Zealand serves as a poignant reminder that we are not merely living through history but coexisting with it ... Remembering and Becoming have created a valuable addition to Aotearoa’s thriving historical publications.’ Read