Damon Salesa

The arrival of a global pandemic and the highly differentiated response to it, both across New Zealand and differentiated response to it, both across New Zealand and across our region, has amplified and transformed existing across our region, has amplified and transformed existing inequities. Particularly affecting key dimensions where inequities. Particularly affecting key dimensions where inequalities were already defining—such as health, inequalities were already defining—such as health, education, housing, wealth and mobility—COVID has education, housing, wealth and mobility—COVID has allowed us to see these challenges clearly. Focusing on a couple of these dimensions (education and health) I will talk couple of these dimensions (education and health) I will talk about what we have learned from COVID and our collective about what we have learned from COVID and our collective response, and what else (potentially) we could. In particular response, and what else (potentially) we could. In particularI want to explore how COVID revealed the deep connectionsI want to explore how COVID revealed the deep connections between NZ and its region, and where in addition to our between NZ and its region, and where in addition to our current challenges, historic and colonial injustices continue current challenges, historic and colonial injustices continue to permeate our present.

Professor Damon Salesa is the Vice-Chancellor of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland University Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Damon is a prize-winning scholar, of Technology (AUT). Damon is a prize-winning scholar, specialising in history, society, and politics in New Zealand specialising in history, society, and politics in New Zealand and the other Pacific Islands.and the other Pacific Islands.After obtaining his MA with First Class Honours at theAfter obtaining his MA with First Class Honours at theUniversity of Auckland, he completed his doctoral studies atUniversity of Auckland, he completed his doctoral studies atOxford University. He is the author and editor of many booksOxford University. He is the author and editor of many books and academic articles including Island Time: New Zealand’s and academic articles including Island Time: New Zealand’sPacific Futures and Racial Crossings: Race, IntermarriagePacific Futures and Racial Crossings: Race, Intermarriage and the Victorian British Empire, which won the and the Victorian British Empire, which won the international Ernest Scott Prize in 2012. He is a Fellow of the international Ernest Scott Prize in 2012. He is a Fellow of theRoyal Society of New Zealand, and currently serves on theirRoyal Society of New Zealand, and currently serves on theirCouncil.Council.Damon retains strong connections to many of Auckland’sDamon retains strong connections to many of Auckland’s communities, especially in South Auckland. A passionate communities, especially in South Auckland. A passionate teacher and educator, he has been an innovator at the teacher and educator, he has been an innovator at the interface between schools and universities and has been an interface between schools and universities and has been an important leader and supporter of the work of schools, in important leader and supporter of the work of schools, in pedagogy, curriculum and governance leadership roles in pedagogy, curriculum and governance leadership roles in education, research, and community.