Associate Professor Geoff Watson

Contact details

• Ph: 83569
  Location: SGP 4.26, Sir Geoffrey Peren Building
  Campus: Turitea

Certifications and Registrations

• Licence, Mentor Supervisor, Massey University

Prizes and Awards

• Awarded a Massey University Research Fellowship (MURF) grant for $1500, December 2004 for my research on Indian Sports Clubs in New Zealand From: Massey University - (2004)

Research Interests

New Zealand History, Sports History, Sport and Imperialism

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Asian History (210302): British History (210305): Historical Studies (210300): History And Archaeology (210000): New Zealand History (210311)

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

• Joshua Reid - Doctor of Philosophy
  The Flax Trade in the Manawatu c. 1840-1940

Co-supervisor of:

• Jason Cole - Doctor of Philosophy
  'The Shearing Sheds' Context, Constructs, Competition and Culture
• Cameron Lamont - Doctor of Philosophy
  Athlete Selection and Development: A Coach’s Perspective and the Case of Swiss Triathlon
• Philippa Wyatt - Doctor of Philosophy
  Britain Humanitarianism and New Zealand's Founding Origins

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

• 2021 - Malcolm Mulholland - Doctor of Philosophy
  Prominent New Zealand Flags and Changing Notions of Identity
• 2020 - Fiona McKergow - Doctor of Philosophy
  Colonial Textile Culture in Mid-Nineteenth Century Aotearoa New Zealand
• 2019 - Elizabeth Ward - Doctor of Philosophy
  'For Light and Liberty' The Origins and Early Development of the Reform Party, 1887-1915
• 2015 - Peter Meihana - Doctor of Philosophy
  The Paradox of Maori Privilege: Historical Constructions of Maori Privilege circa 1769 to 1940
• 2013 - Helen Dollery - Doctor of Philosophy
  Making happy,healthy, helpful citizens :The New Zealand Scouting and Guiding movements as promulgators of active citizenship, c.1908-1980
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• 2012 - Victor Evans - Doctor of Philosophy
  Constructing Craft: Harmony and Conflict within the New Zealand Studio Craft Movement 1949 - 1992'
• 2008 - William Greenwood - Doctor of Philosophy
  Class, conflict and the clash of codes: The introduction of Rugby League in New Zealand: 1908-1920
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Co-supervisor of:

• 2023 - Alida Shanks - Doctor of Philosophy
  Shifting the focus from gender diversity and inclusion to belonging and gender equity in Aotearoa New Zealand community football organisations: How di
• 2020 - Sarah Wymer - Doctor of Philosophy
  Social Media and Live Streaming: Reaching and Engaging Fans? The Case of Facebook Live and the Queensland Maroons
• 2019 - Lana McCarthy - Doctor of Philosophy
  Coaches, Captains and Cultural Constructs: A Case Study of the Silver Ferns
• 2018 - Dennis Slade - Doctor of Philosophy
  "Please Sir, Can We Play a Game?" Transforming games teaching and coaching: A Practioner's Perspective
• 2015 - Alec Astle - Doctor of Philosophy
  Sport Development - Plan, Programme and Practice: A case study of the planned intervention by New Zealand Cricket into cricket in New Zealand
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• 2015 - Linda Johnson - Doctor of Philosophy
  Maori Activism Across Borders, 1950-1980s
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Media

• 31 May 2015 - Online
  'Fathers Day Sports Titles from Rugby to Running'
  Chris Baskett commented on Legends in Black on Booksellers, Website of the Association of New Zealand Booksellers,
• 31 Aug 2018 - Newspaper
  Manawatu Standard article on book launch
  George Heagney, 'Historians examine why sport is part of the fabric of NZ society', Manawatu Standard, 31 August , 2018. Print version published Manawatu Standard, 31 August 2018, p.7
• 30 Oct 2018 - Newspaper
  'Sport for the many, not the few'
  Article by George Heagney on the launch of Sport Development in Action, Manawatu Standard, 30 October 2018, p. 3. Online version of story published 29 October 2018 https://www.stuff.co.nz/ma
• 30 Mar 2015 - Online
  “Legends in Black”, il significato di vincere...
  Melita Martorana, '“Legends in Black”, il significato di vincere secondo gli All Blacks' or '"Legends in Black", the significance of winning according to the All Blacks'. A review of Legends in Black
• 29 Aug 2018 - Magazine
  NZ Geographer, 'Sport and the New Zealanders"
  Book review of Greg Ryan and Geoff Watson, 'Sport and the New Zealanders', i by Vaughan Yarwood in New Zealand Geographic, , Issue 153, September-October 2018.
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• 27 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
  'Game of Thrones'
  This was a full page feature dedicated to Legends in Black in the Sunday Star Times, July 27, 2014, B4. The article focused on the leadership provided by Senior All Black players from the 'back of the
• 26 Jul 2014 - Online
  'New book reveals All Blacks' winning culture'
  Jo Moir wrote an article on Legends in Black for the 'Rugby Heaven' website on the Stuff Website. The article focused on the factors leading to the All Blacks winning culture and quoted extensively fo
• 26 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
  'Dr Johnson and his book of Rugby Legends'
  Article by Roger Moroney on Legends in Black in Hawkes Bay Today, July 26, 2014, p. 10.
• 26 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
  Winning All Blacks: Secrets of their Success
  James Ihaka wrote an article on Legends in Black in the New Zealand Herald, July 26, 2014, A13. The article summarised the key findings of the book, especially the collective leadership from the senio
• 26 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
  New book lifts lid on All Blacks' winning culture
  Jo Moir wrote an article on Legends in Black in the Dominion Post, July 26, 2014, A3 The article was also placed on the Rugby Heaven website
• 26 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
  'All Black Greats Share Their Thoughts'
  Shane Hurndell previewed Legends in Black in an article in Hawkes Bay Today, 26 July 2014, A10.The review identified some of the themes covered in the book: the involvement of women in Rugby, changing
• 26 Feb 2022 - Newspaper
  When Palmerston North made sporting history
  Newspaper article in the Manawatu Standard, published February 26, 2022, page 2 in print edition. The article is part of the 'Back Issues' series on local history which is published weekly on Saturday
• 23 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
  'Book investigates legends' secrets
  Clinton Llewellyn, from the Napier Mail, wrote an article on Legends in Black in the Napier Mail, July 23, 2014, p. 17 The article highlighted the key findings of the research, particularly the colle
• 23 Jul 2014 - Online
  'Legends in Black by Dr Tom Johnson'
  Drew Thompson reviewed Legends in Black on the NZ Booklovers Website.
• 21 May 2013 - Newspaper
  'Sport and the Indian Community in New Zealand'
  Invited article published in the Indian Weekender, 21 May, 2013, p. 41.
• 21 Jul 2012 - Newspaper
  'Kiwis proud to be nation of underdogs'
  Newspaper article, Manawatu Standard, July 21, 2012, p. 14.
• 19 Sep 2018 - Newspaper
  'In-depth look at our passion for sport'
  Review of Greg Ryan and Geoff Watson "Sport and the New Zealanders: A History", Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2018, by Graeme Barrow in the Horowhenua Chronicle, September 19, 2018, p. 18
• 19 Mar 2015 - Online
  Massey pens new 'Off the Page' series
  Carly Thomas, Massey pens new 'Off the Page' series, Manawatu Standard, Thursday, March 19, 2015. The article is a preview off the series, including the first talk 'Manawatu-Writing in/Writing of in w
• 18 Jun 2022 - Newspaper
  Back Issues: Victoria Esplanade
  Back Issues: Victoria Esplanade - the beating heart of Palmerston North Article on the history of the Esplanade published in the Manawatu Standard of June 18, 2022, p2. The article gives an overview o
• 16 Aug 2014 - Newspaper
  'All Blacks need not be sore losers'
  John Roughan, columnist for the New Zealand Herald, cited Legends in Black and its discussion of the All Blacks winning culture in the New Zealand Herald, August 16, 2014
• 15 Sep 2018 - Newspaper
  'It gets the ball rolling'
  'It gets the ball rolling', Review of 'Sport and the New Zealanders: A History' by Alexander Bisley, New Zealand Herald, Weekend Herald Magazine, September 15, 2018, p. 15.
• 15 Nov 2012 - Newspaper, Online
  'Book Pays Tribute to Indian Sportsmen'
  Indian Newslink, November 15, 2012, p. 42.
• 14 Dec 2014 - Newspaper
  Sunday Star Times reference to Legends in Black
  Liam Napier cited comments from DJ Graham on professionalism in Legends in Black in the article 'Bubble-trouble makes life difficult when thrill is gone', Sunday Star Times, December 14, 2014, B7
• 13 Sep 2014 - Newspaper
  'All Black Success Explored'
  Vic Evans reviewed Legends in Black in the Nelson Mail on 13 September, 2014, p. 14. He wrote that it is 'not so much a book about sport but rather a book about leadership and the desire to win'
• 12 Nov 2012 - Newspaper, Online
  'Indian sportsmen succeeded despite racism'
  The Global Indian
• 12 Jun 2017 - Newspaper
  "Kiwis support for Rugby Waning"
  Newspaper article on papers to be presented at the World in Union Conference, June 28-30, Massey University. The article discusses both past and present challenges to rugby's position in New Zealand
• 09 Nov 2012 - Newspaper
  'Association's rich history of Indian sports'
  Article in Manawatu Standard, November 9, 2012, p. 31.
• 09 Aug 2018 - Radio
  Sport and the New Zealanders Interview Radio NZ
  Geoff Watson and Greg Ryan interview with Kathryn Ryan on Radio New Zealand, Nine to Noon, Thursday, August 9, 2018
• 08 Aug 2018 - Television
  Sport and the New Zealanders interview ''The Cafe'
  Greg Ryan and Geoff Watson interviewed on TV3 show 'The Cafe' 8 August 2018
• 07 Oct 2018 - Online
  "This Island punches above its Weight"
  'When it comes to Sport This Island punches above its weight', article by Geoff Watson and Greg Ryan in Sport History Weekly, October 7, 2018
• 07 Jan 2023 - Newspaper
  The Success of Memorial Park
  Back Issues, 'The Success of Memorial Park', Manawatu Standard, January 7, 2023, p. 2.
• 06 Jan 2015 - Newspaper
  'All Blacks Refuse to Admire own reflection'
  Article by Owen Slot, Chief Rugby Correspondent for The Times, on Legends in Black: New Zealand Rugby Greats on Why We Win'.
• 06 Aug 2014 - Online
  'Legends in Black by Tom Johnson'
  Review of Legends in Black on the Auckland Library Staff Picks website. The review commended the 'insightful interviews' and commended the chapter by Dr Farah Palmer on the Black Ferns.
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