Term 3, 2026 Course A -
Picture credit: Te Herenga Waka University PressThe inspiration for this series comes from a Press Editorial (June 21, 2025) reflecting on an article by Louisa Wall. “Across the Pacific a struggle is playing out – not through war or occupation, but through something more deceptive: the political surrender of sovereignty under the guise of help”. It could be said that the Pacific is witnessing a new form of colonialism that Louisa Wall writes “is not imposed through force but advanced through coercive strategic consent.”
Speaker: Alan Blackburn has an MA (Hons) in Geography from Otago University. He was involved in Secondary education for many years and is an inveterate traveler. He is an Okeover member and has addressed us on numerous occasions.
August 13: “Introduction”
A broad canvas, covering Pacific geography, pre-history, colonization and contact, with illustrations from the past and present.
August 20: “NZ in the Pacific”
Using examples of the NZ Samoan Mandate, the 1918 influenza, NZ Police shooting of Samoan protesters and our relationships with the Cook Islanders, this lecture will discuss what are the responsibilities of a ‘Free Association’ with New Zealand for Niue/Tokelau and the Cook Islands.
August 27: “Throwing off the colonial yoke”
Was colonialism a contributing cause of the Coups?... the Pacific Forum, Tonga and Fiji Case Studies.
September 3: “French Imperialism and the Pacific as a US Lake”
Post Pearl Harbour; Atomic Testing – Mururoa and the Marshall Islands; Karnak independence struggles in New Caledonia. France is granting autonomy to New Caledonia but two visions of Nationhood are in competition.
September 10: “Big Power Rivalry in the Pacific”
Reshaping the Pacific.