A brand-new literary degree has landed – the MA in New Zealand Literature. It’s the first of its kind, and where better than at Victoria University in Wellington, with its huge history of involvement in New Zealand, Pacific and Maori writing.

Paul Millar, the convenor of the new degree, told LeafSalon the MA (NZLit) has been in the planning stage for a couple of years, and in fact it was only finally signed off in December last year. However, he also said:

The fact that in the end it was approved with very little difficulty helped confirm our own sense that this is a timely and robust initiative.

We're determined to make the most of our Wellington location by working closely with key institutions (particularly the National Library and Alexander Turnbull Library). We want students to gain a good sense of the range of research possibilities right at the outset, so that when their thesis topic is established it will be in an area that they'll find rewarding and stimulating.

Longer term, we hope to attract international students from countries where New Zealand and Pacific Literature have an established following but opportunities to do more focused research are limited.

The MA will have a similar structure to Bill Manhire’s MA in Creative Writing in that students will attend a series of seminars and produce a thesis. They’ll also be involved with the Film and Theatre arm of the School of English. The list of associated staff is heavyweight and impressive, and it will include a prodigal daughter in the form of Dr Alice Te Punga-Somerville (Te Atiawa ki Waiwhetu/Pakeha) who has been appointed to the new position of Lecturer in Maori and Pacific Literature within the School.

She was one of 14 candidates selected from 700 for the fabulous and fully-funded PhD course at Cornell University, no less, where she also scored the Fulbright Scholarship, meaning she spent her last year of study at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, as a visiting colleague. Phwoar, eh?

Paul Millar again:

Dr Te Punga-Somerville is making a significant contribution to critical developments in the discipline through a sophisticated re-theorising of Oceanic Literature. In her teaching, she brings an enthusiasm and energy to the classroom that will inspire students at every level. As well, her expertise in formal mentoring programmes for Maori and Pacific students will help the School realise a key strategic priority of enhancing the learning experience of Maori and Pacific students.”

For more information on this mouth-watering degree, visit the MA (NZLit) web pages. Or email the amiable Dr Millar: paul.millar@vuw.ac.nz or his Associate Professor Lydia Wevers lydia.wevers@vuw.ac.nz. Do it soon, enrolments should be in by the end of February.