Policy Quarterly Vol 16 No 3 (2020) p.79-80. The earliest assessment of Jas that I recall is that he was ‘New Zealand’s John Stone’, referring to a towering secretary of the Australian Treasury. When I told Jas this, he was appalled because their political views were very different. I explained that the comparison arose because…
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I was asked to make a short contribution at the function on 18 December 2019 for Bill who is retiring from director of policy at the NZCTU. He will continue to work on labour issues part-time.
A day in Adelaide revived affection memories of an old friend and economist.
The Policy Observatory 15 April 2019. New Zealand’s progressive causes have been driven by a strong sense of social justice. Ian Shirley was one of the nation’s strongest drivers. He was born in Kaiapoi and spent his early years in rural towns. His father Eric was a stock and station agent, and so the family…
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David Mayes, Professor of Finance at the University of Auckland, died on November 30, 2017, aged 71. Asymetric Information No 61, April 2018, p.6 David studied for a PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at the University of Oxford, graduating in 1968, before completing his PhD at the University of Bristol in 1971. Much of his…
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Contribution at Funeral Service Tena koe kotoa. My name is Brian Easton. I live across the road from the Robinsons. Over the last few months I have often looked at their house with its lonely hall light and thought how it was so lived in by a family full of love and how they were…
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The lives of two outstanding economists who died recently illustrate just how diverse the profession is. I first came across William Baumol when, as a student, I valued greatly his two textbooks: Economic Dynamics and Economic Theory and Operations Analysis, both lucid, intellectually challenging and with a gentle humour. (Rather than the conventional tradeoff of…
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Keywords: Portraits; I last saw Barry shortly before he died. He was comfortable, cheerful and realistic about his prospects. We talked of many things; he went on to say that the hospice care was ‘marvelous’. Reflecting, he said he had decided that kindness was the most important thing. I am sure he would want me…
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An interview by Emma Beer, published in ‘The Wellingtonian’, 24 November, 2011. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; What begins with Michael Joseph Savage and Gordon Coates and ends with Rob Muldoon and Roger Douglas? A new exhibition that catalogues 60 of the most important makers of modern New Zealand, curated by Wellington…
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Lynn Freeman interviews Brian Easton: 27 November, 2011. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; Lynn Freeman interview http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/art/art-20111127-1333-brian_easton_economist_and_art_curator-048.mp3
Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; 60 Makers of New Zealand: 1930-1990:Â is at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery from 24 November 2011 to 12 February 2012. It was curated by Brian Easton. The following is a list of items on the website. At the end is the list of individuals who are…
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60 Makers of New Zealand: 1930-1990: is at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery from 24 November 2011 to 12 February 2012. It was curated by Brian Easton. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; The following are the panels to go with the portraits. (Each is constrained to 250 words.) They are also tell…
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I was asked by the NZ Portrait Gallery to curate an exhibition of 60 New Zealanders who were influential in the making of New Zealand between 1930 and 1960. Here is the entry for Owen Woodhouse. 37. Rt HON SIR ARTHUR OWEN WOODHOUSE President of the Court of Appeal, Royal Commissioner 18 July 1916, Napier…
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60 Makers of New Zealand: 1930-1990: is at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery from 24 November 2011 to 12 February 2012. It was curated by Brian Easton. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; Thank you for coming this evening. I hope you find the exhibition interesting and provocative. I am sure you will…
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60 Makers of New Zealand: 1930-1990: is at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery from 24 November 2011 to 12 February 2012. It was curated by Brian Easton. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; Choosing 60 New Zealanders to reflect the development of New Zealand was not easy, says Dr Brian, Easton Curator of…
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60 Makers of New Zealand: 1930-1990: is at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery from 24 November 2011 to 12 February 2012. It was curated by Brian Easton. Keywords: Literature and Culture; Political Economy & History; This exhibition is an experiment to see whether a history of New Zealand can be represented by a series of…
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Fact: New Zealand has a national portrait gallery. Not many people know that.
Listener: 17 January, 2004.
Keywords: Political Economy & History;
You would hardly know that New Zealand has a national portrait gallery, hidden on the busy corner of Wellington’s Bowen St and Lambton Quay in the debating chamber used when Parliament House was being refurbished. The local bookseller tells me that he constantly has to point the way.
Diane Dekker wrote an article in “The Evening Post” of 11 May 1996 on Mike Hosking, who was then one of the frontmen on “Morning Report”. Many people wrote in criticising him. My response, printed on 22 May, was more indirect. Keywords: Miscellaneous; Portraits; Diana Dekker writes that broadcaster Geoff Robinson asks the…
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Phanzine (May 1996, vol 2, no 1: p.6-8) by David Grant. Brian Easton: Wellington economist, historian, media commentator Brian Henry Easton was born in Christchurch on 28 March 1943. His father Harold, born in Wellington (his father was from the West Coast), worked as an armature winder for half of his adult working life and…
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