History 6-week Course

Dr. Kathryn A. Hardy Bernal, Ph.D., M.Phil., B.Art.Th., is an art and cultural historian, critical theorist, academic researcher and publisher, on intersections between art, architecture, design, fashion, film, costume, subculture, society, religion, and psychoanalytical anthropology, with over twenty years’ involvement in the arts sector, including lecturing, teaching, editorial management, and curatorial practice. She has held senior positions at leading tertiary institutions in Australia and New Zealand, such as the University of New South Wales, and Auckland University of Technology; has guest lectured at Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland Museum, and Whitecliffe College; and presented at international academic conferences in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Her formal qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Material Culture, Master of Philosophy with First-class Honours in Art and Design Theory, and a Bachelor of Art Theory with Distinction Honours in Art History. She is professionally acknowledged as an expert in her fields of research, having been officially ranked by the Humanities and Law panel of the New Zealand Government’s Tertiary Education Commission as a specialist in History of Art, History, Classics, and Curatorial Studies.

Session Abstract: King Henry VIII: Power, Progeniture, and Propaganda -
Explore the dramatic reign of King Henry VIII and the events that reshaped England forever. From the rise of the Tudor dynasty to Henry’s relentless pursuit of a male heir, this session examines the political ambition, marriages, betrayals, and power struggles that led to the English Reformation and transformed English society. Alongside the historical events, we will also explore how portraiture and visual imagery were used as powerful tools of propaganda to shape Henry’s public image and reinforce royal authority.

A New Zealander by birth, Emeritus Professor Linda Bryder gained her DPhil at the University of Oxford in 1985. She taught in the History Department of the University of Auckland from 1988 to 2026, lecturing on general New Zealand history, New Zealand social welfare history, and the history of health and medicine in the Western world. She has published widely, with research interests in the history of tuberculosis, infant health and reproductive health. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society New Zealand Te of Apārangi.

Session Abstract: The 1918 Influenza Epidemic - This talk will focus on New Zealand’s responses to the 1918 influenza epidemic, which remains the largest natural disaster in modern history. The recent COVID pandemic drew attention to the 1918 outbreak, and while there are many resonances to discuss, the different historical contexts remain important.

Malcolm Campbell is Professor of History at the University of Auckland where he teaches the history of Ireland, Australia, and the British empire. Born and raised in Sydney, he completed his PhD at the University of New South Wales before coming to Auckland in 1992 to take up a lectureship at the university. Professor Campbell has held visiting appointments at the Australian National University, the University of Washington, and Trinity College Dublin. He has published three books and numerous articles on the history of Ireland and Irish emigration, most recently a study of Irish mobility and settlement in the Pacific World from the late eighteenth century.

Session Abstract: The Great Irish Famine at Home and Abroad - The Irish Famine from 1845-1852 produced a profound crisis that resulted in the death or emigration of millions. In addition to causing a massive decline in Ireland's population, it recast Ireland's political and economic future and profoundly shaped migration to North America, Australia and New Zealand. This talk investigates the causes and consequences of Ireland's decade of despair including its effect on the Irish around the world.

Dr Aleisha Ward is an award-winning writer, jazz historian, and lecturer in music history. She was the 2017 Douglas Lilburn Research Fellow and a recipient of the 2018 Ministry of Culture and Heritage New Zealand History Research Trust Award for her work on the Jazz Age in New Zealand. She is one of the first graduates of the Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) at the University of Auckland, holds a Masters of Arts degree in Jazz History and Research from Rutgers University, and a PhD in Music from the University of Auckland where she researched jazz in New Zealand 1920-1955.

Session Abstract: “The Yanks Are Coming!”: World War Two and the American Influence on Jazz in New Zealand - Between 1942 and 1944, thousands of American military personnel arrived in New Zealand during World War Two, bringing with them new music, dance styles, and cultural influences that would leave a lasting mark on the country. This session explores how the American military presence transformed New Zealand’s jazz and entertainment scenes, influencing musicians, audiences, radio broadcasting, and popular culture. Through stories of interaction between troops, civilians, performers, and fans, we uncover the significant role this “friendly invasion” played in shaping New Zealand’s musical and cultural identity.

Dane Tumahai is a cultural advisor, educator, and storyteller from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the tangata whenua of central Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). A 7th-generation direct descendant of Chief Apihai Te Kawau, whose gifting of land helped establish Auckland City, Dane is passionate about sharing the stories, history, and living culture of his people.

Through his cultural enterprise, Te Manu Taupua, Dane delivers authentic cultural experiences that connect people to the past, present, and future of Tāmaki Makaurau. Combining historical knowledge with stories handed down through generations, he brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to the history of Auckland and the enduring legacy of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Session Abstract: Home Fires of Tāmaki - Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are the tangata whenua of central Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), with a history that stretches back generations before the founding of the city.

In this fascinating session, Dane Tumahai, a 7th-generation direct descendant of Chief Apihai Te Kawau, shares the story of his people and their enduring connection to the land, waters, and communities of Tāmaki Makaurau. Drawing on history, whakapapa, and stories passed down through generations, Dane explores the events, decisions, and relationships that helped shape Auckland, including the gifting of land that enabled the city to be established.

This is a powerful opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Auckland's history through the eyes of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and to hear a story of resilience, identity, survival, and renewal.

Dr. Kathryn A. Hardy Bernal, Ph.D., M.Phil., B.Art.Th., is an art and cultural historian, critical theorist, academic researcher and publisher, on intersections between art, architecture, design, fashion, film, costume, subculture, society, religion, and psychoanalytical anthropology, with over twenty years’ involvement in the arts sector, including lecturing, teaching, editorial management, and curatorial practice. She has held senior positions at leading tertiary institutions in Australia and New Zealand, such as the University of New South Wales, and Auckland University of Technology; has guest lectured at Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland Museum, and Whitecliffe College; and presented at international academic conferences in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Her formal qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Material Culture, Master of Philosophy with First-class Honours in Art and Design Theory, and a Bachelor of Art Theory with Distinction Honours in Art History. She is professionally acknowledged as an expert in her fields of research, having been officially ranked by the Humanities and Law panel of the New Zealand Government’s Tertiary Education Commission as a specialist in History of Art, History, Classics, and Curatorial Studies.

Session Abstract: William Morris and His Circle: Anti-Industrialisation, Nostalgia & Sustainability - This session examines the backlash against the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries by prominent architects, artists, designers, and craftspeople of the Victorian period. Central to this reaction was William Morris, who led his followers in challenging the rise of mechanical mass‑production and its effects on health, the environment, and quality of life. Advocating a return to an idyllic pre‑industrial past, the group expressed both nostalgic yearning and a revival of high‑quality, handmade, non‑pollutive methods of manufacture, laying early foundations for modern notions of sustainability and protection of the planet.