American Fulbright scholars welcomed to New Zealand
Fulbright New Zealand last week welcomed 23 Americans (18
American Fulbright grantees and five Ian Axford Fellows in Public Policy)
and their families to New Zealand, where they will study, research or
teach over the next 3-12 months.
David Huebner, US Ambassador to New
Zealand, poses for a photograph with 2010 Fulbright US Senior Scholar
Daniel McNeil and his family
The visitors were welcomed with a week-long orientation programme introducing
them to New Zealand, Māori and Pacific history, culture and language,
with the aim of providing valuable background context for their academic
exchanges in New Zealand.
The incoming grantees were welcomed with a pōwhiri at Waiwhetū
Marae in Lower Hutt alongside the new American Ambassador to New Zealand,
David Huebner, on his first official visit there. "It was an honour
and pleasure for me to be included in this welcome to Waiwhetū,"
said Ambassador Huebner about the visit. "Our cultural and people
to people exchanges nurture the warm friendship between New Zealand and
the United States."
The orientation programme also included visits to Te Papa Tongarewa The
Museum of New Zealand, Ōtari-Wilton's Bush and Parliament. A complementary
series of lectures and seminars throughout the week by field-specific
experts (many of whom were Fulbright alumni) covered subjects including
the peopling of the Pacific, New Zealand's flora and fauna, the Treaty
of Waitangi and New Zealand politics.
Fulbright New Zealand Executive Director, Mele Wendt, says that the orientation
is an important and enjoyable introduction for American grantees, so much
so that departing grantees often remark that it was the highlight of their
whole New Zealand experience. This year's marae visit was extra special
with the US Ambassador's involvement.
This year's cohort of American grantees includes 12 Fulbright US Graduate
Students and 6 Fulbright US Senior Scholars who will study, research or
teach in a variety of academic disciplines at universities throughout
New Zealand, and five Ian Axford Fellows in Public Policy who will conduct
policy research at relevant government agencies in Wellington. Their topics
of study and research vary from forestry management, groundwater denitrification
and livestock conservation to nutrition, grandparenting and social lending.
ENDS
Download
this Media Release as a PDF:
(includes list of incoming grantees)
