Dr Toby Boraman Named 2025 JD Stout Fellow to Explore New Zealand’s Labour History

Varahi media.com online news,February 3rd,2025: Historian Dr Toby Boraman has been awarded the 2025 JD Stout Fellowship by the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies at Te

Varahi media.com online news,February 3rd,2025: Historian Dr Toby Boraman has been awarded the 2025 JD Stout Fellowship by the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

As part of the fellowship, Dr Boraman will further his research for his forthcoming book, tentatively titled Knocking Off: A History of Strikes in Aotearoa New Zealand from the Late 1960s to the Mid-1980s. His study delves into one of the most significant yet understudied periods of industrial action in New Zealand history.

Dr Boraman is a leading expert in labour history and social movements. His research focuses on amplifying the voices of Māori workers, Pasifika migrant workers, women workers, and rank-and-file unionists, offering a nuanced and multidimensional view of workplace conflicts.

His professional experience includes serving as a historian at the Waitangi Tribunal and as a politics lecturer at Massey University. Internationally, he has been a fellow at the re:work International Research Centre at Humboldt University in Germany, studying global labour history.

According to Professor Brigitte Bönisch-Brednich, Director of the Stout Research Centre:

“Toby’s research will fill a critical gap in our understanding of New Zealand’s labour history. We are delighted to support his work and welcome him to the centre.”

Established in 1985, the JD Stout Fellowship is funded through the legacy of John David Stout and administered by Perpetual Guardian. It provides scholars of distinction the opportunity to explore key aspects of New Zealand’s society, history, and culture, contributing to a legacy of influential research. Dr Boraman will formally begin his fellowship on 1 March 2025.

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