High-flying sociologists reconnect

Studying sociology has been a pathway to influential roles for a group of Massey graduates from the 1980s, who held a reunion at the Manawatu campus on Tuesday evening.

Among them were New Zealand’s High Commissioner in Canada Andrew Needs, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise chief executive Peter Chrisp and Vice-Chancellor and former cabinet minister Steve Maharey.

Some have not moved far from their institutional home – Dr Allanah Ryan has recently taken up the position of the Head of the School of People, Environment and Planning at the Manawatu campus; Professor Paul Spoonley is the research director for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences based at Albany.

Others work for district health boards or local authorities, some work as social researchers and policy advisers while others are in the private sector.

These sociology success stories began in the mid-1980s, when the Sociology Department, under Professor Graeme Fraser, was exploring new ways of teaching sociology with group of young sociology graduates, including Mr Maharey and Professor Spoonley.

One of the outcomes was a growth in graduate numbers and a sense of excitement and collegiality as they explored the social issues of the moment. Meeting up again at Wharerata at the Manawatu campus more than two decades later gave that cohort a chance to compare notes and memories.

Some were not been able to make it but the 18 who did were more than enough to replay the good old days. The members of this high-achieving cabal have made an impact in many ways, belying the claims some make that sociology does not deliver work-relevant skills or lead to valuable careers.

Mr Chrisp has been in his current role since August last year after 20 years in the engineering, manufacturing and pulp and paper industries, including management positions in New Zealand, Norway and Australia. He has a Master of Social Sciences from Massey.

Mr Needs was posted to Ottawa, with cross-accreditations to Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana, in January last year, after two years as foreign policy adviser to the foreign affairs minister in Parliament. He has a Master of Arts in sociology with first-class honours.

Mr Maharey, who gained a master’s and lectured in sociology, was the fourth ranked Minister in Government and over nine years in Cabinet held portfolios including broadcasting; education; employment; child, youth and family; social development; research, science and technology; crown research institutes; youth affairs as well as a variety of other responsibilities.

Professor Spoonley is a high-profile researcher and commentator on immigration, race relations and employment, and works as a researcher and consultant with a wide network of community, government and local body agencies, such as the Auckland Council. As well as publishing numerous books, he is project leader of the Integration of Immigrants Programme run jointly by Massey and Waikato Universities.