Claudia Orange
Encyclopedia
Dame Claudia Joseph Orange, DNZM
, OBE (born 17 April 1938) is a New Zealand
historian. She is best known for her book The Treaty of Waitangi, which was derived from her PhD thesis and published in 1987. It was highly successful by the standards of non-rugby related New Zealand history. The book's success was due primarily to an upsurge in interest in the Treaty of Waitangi
caused by the increasing importance of the Waitangi Tribunal
and also major Māori protests at Waitangi Day
celebrations. The book has become a definitive reference for Pākehā
audiences on interpreting the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi. Several shorter versions of the book have been published for young and non-academic audiences.
From 1975 to 1983 Orange was a history lecturer at the University of Auckland
. Since 1990 she has been General Editor of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
, and also worked on Te Ara: The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. She is also an Associate Editor for the New Dictionary of National Biography
(Britain). Between 1997 and 2000 she was Acting Chief Historian of the History Branch in the Department of Internal Affairs. Late in 2003 she became Director of History and Pacific Cultures at the Te Papa
Museum of New Zealand in Wellington
.
In 1993 Orange was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE), and awarded DCNZM in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to historical research.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, OBE (born 17 April 1938) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
historian. She is best known for her book The Treaty of Waitangi, which was derived from her PhD thesis and published in 1987. It was highly successful by the standards of non-rugby related New Zealand history. The book's success was due primarily to an upsurge in interest in the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
caused by the increasing importance of the Waitangi Tribunal
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975...
and also major Māori protests at Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
celebrations. The book has become a definitive reference for Pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
audiences on interpreting the relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi. Several shorter versions of the book have been published for young and non-academic audiences.
From 1975 to 1983 Orange was a history lecturer at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. Since 1990 she has been General Editor of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography contains biographies for over 3,000 New Zealanders. It is available in both English and Maori. All volumes of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography are available online....
, and also worked on Te Ara: The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. She is also an Associate Editor for the New Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
(Britain). Between 1997 and 2000 she was Acting Chief Historian of the History Branch in the Department of Internal Affairs. Late in 2003 she became Director of History and Pacific Cultures at the Te Papa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
Museum of New Zealand in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
In 1993 Orange was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE), and awarded DCNZM in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to historical research.
Theses
- 'A kind of equality: Labour and the Maori people, 1935-1949', MA thesis, University of Auckland, 1977.
- 'The Treaty of Waitangi: a study of its making, interpretation and role in New Zealand history', PhD thesis, University of Auckland, 1984.
Published work
- The Covenant of Kohimarama (1979).
- The Treaty of Waitangi (Allen & Unwin, 1987).
- Story of a Treaty (Allen & Unwin, 1989).
- An Illustrated History of the Treaty of Waitangi (Allen & Unwin, 1990).
- An Illustrated History of the Treaty of Waitangi (2nd edition, Bridget Williams Books, 2004).
External links
- Biography on Te PapaMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaThe Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
website: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/AboutUs/Pages/ClaudiaOrange.aspx