National Association for Science Fiction
Encyclopedia
The National Association for Science Fiction (or NASF), New Zealand
's first national science fiction
club, was formed in 1976 by Wellington
resident Frank Macskasy. The club expanded over several years and by the early 1980s had branches in Wellington, Auckland
, Christchurch
and Dunedin
, and was for nearly 15 years New Zealand's only nationwide science fiction fan organisation.
Members in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin were involved in running national conventions, although none were officially run by NASF, and in many of the fanzines that sprouted up in the late '70s and early '80s, as well as amateur press association
Aotearapa
. NASF was also a motivating force behind the inauguration of a New Zealand Science Fiction fan awards in the late 1980s (these later renamed the Sir Julius Vogel Award
s), and was also the umbrella organisation responsible for the appointing of host sites for national conventions
.
At its height in the mid-'80s, NASF had a membership of about 150 and a bimonthly club magazine called Warp
. By the mid-1990s, the Auckland and Christchurch branches had died off, although there were still club members in those areas. The Dunedin branch and the Wellington branch continued until the late 1990s.
Debate continues on why NASF died, as well as whether it was officially wound up, but it was largely inactive by the mid 1990s and went into indefinite recess in late 1997. The rise of science fiction as a popular genre in the cinema and television, coupled with easier accessibility to science fiction books, magazines, movie and television series on video and later DVD likely contributed to NASF's demise. Considerable infighting within the Wellington and Christchurch branches may also have contributed, along with an unwieldy National Committee. The Phoenix Science Fiction Society was founded in Wellington specifically as an alternative to what was seen as a moribund branch of NASF, draining many active fans away from NASF. Other factors included the growth of the Internet, which made an organised club less relevant. In contrast to when Macskasy formed NASF in 1976, by the late '90s, New Zealanders could soak themselves in science fiction without any need to meet other people with the same interest.
Many of the national functions of NASF were later taken up by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand
(SFFANZ), which was founded in 2002.
, then at various other venues, the last of which was the W.E.A. building in Crawford Street. The branch organised social events and outings and ran a small lending library. About a dozen people attended the first meetings, but it took till the middle of the year for the official formation of the branch. Membership began to increase as a side effect of Dunedin winning the rights to hold the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention
, Octacon, in 1982. There was also a jump in social gatherings with members meeting every weekend and on some week days.
By 1983, the Dunedin branch was the most socially active within NASF and second in size only to the Wellington branch. Branch members were instrumental in staging other national conventions in Dunedin in 1986, 1989 and 1994. Dunedin branch members contributed to the NASF club fanzine Warp
which was edited from Dunedin for several years, but the branch itself did not have a regular branch fanzine or newsletter other than the short-lived Larque's Lament, which ran for five issues in the late 1980s, and a one-off fanzine called Can’t Think of a Name So We Called it This! in 1982. Several branch members were also members of Aotearapa
, or published their own fanzines, notably Tom Cardy's Worlds Beyond, which ran for 11 issues.
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...
's first national science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
club, was formed in 1976 by 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...
resident Frank Macskasy. The club expanded over several years and by the early 1980s had branches in Wellington, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, and was for nearly 15 years New Zealand's only nationwide science fiction fan organisation.
Amateur press association
An amateur press association is a group of people who produce individual pages or magazines that are sent to a Central Mailer for collation and distribution to all members of the group.-Organisation:...
Aotearapa
Aotearapa
Aotearapa is a New Zealand-based amateur press association, run in association with New Zealand science fiction fandom. It caters primarily - but not exclusively - to science fiction fans. Founded by Greg Hills in 1979, it is New Zealand's only apa, and that country's longest-running science...
. NASF was also a motivating force behind the inauguration of a New Zealand Science Fiction fan awards in the late 1980s (these later renamed the Sir Julius Vogel Award
Sir Julius Vogel Award
The Sir Julius Vogel Awards are awarded each year at the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in New Zealand science fiction, fantasy, horror, and science fiction fandom...
s), and was also the umbrella organisation responsible for the appointing of host sites for national conventions
New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention
The New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention is a volunteer-run science fiction convention that is scheduled annually, and usually takes place either at Easter or at Queen's Birthday weekend...
.
At its height in the mid-'80s, NASF had a membership of about 150 and a bimonthly club magazine called Warp
Warp (magazine)
Warp was the magazine and official organ of the New Zealand National Association for Science Fiction , the country's first national science fiction fan organisation. First published in November 1977, Warp continued on a usually two-monthly schedule until the late 1990s, surviving for a short period...
. By the mid-1990s, the Auckland and Christchurch branches had died off, although there were still club members in those areas. The Dunedin branch and the Wellington branch continued until the late 1990s.
Debate continues on why NASF died, as well as whether it was officially wound up, but it was largely inactive by the mid 1990s and went into indefinite recess in late 1997. The rise of science fiction as a popular genre in the cinema and television, coupled with easier accessibility to science fiction books, magazines, movie and television series on video and later DVD likely contributed to NASF's demise. Considerable infighting within the Wellington and Christchurch branches may also have contributed, along with an unwieldy National Committee. The Phoenix Science Fiction Society was founded in Wellington specifically as an alternative to what was seen as a moribund branch of NASF, draining many active fans away from NASF. Other factors included the growth of the Internet, which made an organised club less relevant. In contrast to when Macskasy formed NASF in 1976, by the late '90s, New Zealanders could soak themselves in science fiction without any need to meet other people with the same interest.
Many of the national functions of NASF were later taken up by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand
Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand is a non-profit organisation founded in 2002 which aims to coordinate and facilitate science fiction and fantasy-related fan activities within New Zealand...
(SFFANZ), which was founded in 2002.
Dunedin branch
The Dunedin branch of the National Association for Science Fiction (NASF) existed from 1978 until the late 1990s. Th branch was the first science fiction club formed in Dunedin and for many years was the southernmost science fiction club in the world.It held fortnightly meetings (later monthly), initially at the children's library in Stuart StreetStuart Street, Dunedin
Stuart Street is one of the main streets of Dunedin, New Zealand. As with many of Dunedin's streets, it is named after a main street in Edinburgh, Scotland....
, then at various other venues, the last of which was the W.E.A. building in Crawford Street. The branch organised social events and outings and ran a small lending library. About a dozen people attended the first meetings, but it took till the middle of the year for the official formation of the branch. Membership began to increase as a side effect of Dunedin winning the rights to hold the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention
New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention
The New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention is a volunteer-run science fiction convention that is scheduled annually, and usually takes place either at Easter or at Queen's Birthday weekend...
, Octacon, in 1982. There was also a jump in social gatherings with members meeting every weekend and on some week days.
By 1983, the Dunedin branch was the most socially active within NASF and second in size only to the Wellington branch. Branch members were instrumental in staging other national conventions in Dunedin in 1986, 1989 and 1994. Dunedin branch members contributed to the NASF club fanzine Warp
Warp (magazine)
Warp was the magazine and official organ of the New Zealand National Association for Science Fiction , the country's first national science fiction fan organisation. First published in November 1977, Warp continued on a usually two-monthly schedule until the late 1990s, surviving for a short period...
which was edited from Dunedin for several years, but the branch itself did not have a regular branch fanzine or newsletter other than the short-lived Larque's Lament, which ran for five issues in the late 1980s, and a one-off fanzine called Can’t Think of a Name So We Called it This! in 1982. Several branch members were also members of Aotearapa
Aotearapa
Aotearapa is a New Zealand-based amateur press association, run in association with New Zealand science fiction fandom. It caters primarily - but not exclusively - to science fiction fans. Founded by Greg Hills in 1979, it is New Zealand's only apa, and that country's longest-running science...
, or published their own fanzines, notably Tom Cardy's Worlds Beyond, which ran for 11 issues.