Michael Goldsmith (Honorary Fellow of the University of Waikato, and Research Associate in Anthropology at the University of Waikato) has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr Goldsmith was nominated for Honorary Life Membership by his colleagues, Fiona McCormack and Tom Ryan, and was unanimously conferred this award at our Annual General Meeting in Whāingaroa (Raglan) during our annual conference.
Michael Goldsmith was born in England, began his education in Canada, and attended high school in New Plymouth and Tauranga. Subsequently he attained a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a double major in Anthropology and History, at the University of Auckland, where also he was a Junior Lecturer in Anthropology in 1972. Then came a period at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, from which he graduated with a Master of Arts, and ultimately a PhD, both in Anthropology. Along the way, Michael undertook short periods of fieldwork in Samoa and on the Caribbean island of Antigua, and – for his doctorate – longterm fieldwork and archival research on Tuvalu, focussed on the role of the church in village life. During this period, too, he taught for a semester in the Sociology Department at the University of South Pacific, in Suva.
In 1977 Michael joined the University of Waikato, where he was to remain until 2015 – a total of 38 years. At various times Michael was a teacher in Sociology, Politics, and Anthropology departments or programmes. He also contributed significantly to cross-disciplinary programmes in Pacific Studies and Social Science Research. In the latter, for many years he taught highly regarded courses in ethnographic methods and qualitative research, and was a member of human research ethics committees at all levels of the University of Waikato.
Michael also served a record seven consecutive years as head of its Anthropology Programme, and a three-year term as Chairperson of its School of Social Sciences. As an academic colleague and administrator, Michael was renowned for his efficiency, fairness, and humanity. On his retirement he was made both an Honorary Fellow of the University of Waikato and a Research Associate in its Anthropology Programme.
Julie Park and Mike Goldsmith at the ASAA/NZ AGM in Whāingaroa (Raglan) on 29 November 2019, when Mike was awarded Honorary Life Membership of ASAA/NZ. Julie Park is also an Honorary Life Member of ASAA/NZ.
Since 1977, when he began his employment at the University of Waikato, Michael has been a notably energetic contributor to the development of social anthropology at a national level. Under his leadership, the small group of anthropologists at that institution hosted more than their share of annual conferences for the Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand. Over a three-decade period, too, Mike was a fixture on the ASAANZ national executive, either as its Waikato representative or as an elected office-holder. In the process, he was a core contributor to many of this organisation’s major debates and policy formulations, especially on matters relating to research ethics, social responsibility, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
He also has had a regular presence on the governing boards and editorial committees of the two major New Zealand-based anthropological journals – The Journal of the Polynesian Society and Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies. There can be no doubt that his is one of the most recognised ‘faces’ in the profession of anthropology in this country today. On several occasions, too, Michael has represented New Zealand anthropology at meetings of the globally-oriented World Council of Anthropological Associations.
Over the same period Michael Goldsmith has produced numerous scholarly publications. In 2002, with his colleague Doug Munro, he authored a book, The Accidental Missionary: Tales of Elekana (Macmillan Brown Centre, Christchurch). Similarly, he co-edited special issues of both the Journal of the Polynesian Society and Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies. Then there have been innumerable journal articles, book chapters, encyclopaedia essays, book reviews, conference proceedings, and commissioned reports. While most of Mike’s publications have focussed on Pacific Islands themes, especially regarding Tuvalu, governance, religion, and climate change, he also has published on Captain Cook, Māori/Pākehā ethnicity, the welfare state in New Zealand, guaranteed income systems, cultural property, anthropological theory, and much more.
Mike likewise has established himself as an indefatigable contributor to Pacific-focussed scholarly forums, often serving on their boards while also presenting at their conferences. These include the Pacific History Association, the Pacific Islands Political Science Association, the European Society for Oceanists, the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania, and the New Zealand Studies Association. Likewise, this country’s government, along with media and regional organisations, have regularly recognised Mike’s vast knowledge of the South Pacific by seeking his advice or viewpoint on a wide range of matters.
We are delighted to award Michael Goldsmith life membership of the Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand in recognition of his four decades of outstanding service to our organisation, and to the success of social anthropology at the University of Waikato and throughout the country, and for his many contributions to the Pacific Islands and their peoples.
