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Maire Leadbeater papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-Archives-2023/16

Scope and Contents

Collection contains Maire Leadbeater's personal papers relating to her political activism over five decades, notably the nuclear-free New Zealand and Pacific movement, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, East Timor Independence Committee and Indonesia Human Rights Committee, amongst others. These papers complement the records of the organisations she was associated with also held by Special Collections. Series 1 contains original scrapbooks of newspaper clippings curated by Leadbeater. Series 2 is subject files organised by Leadbeater encompassing the many local and international issues she was engaged with. The materials include newspaper and magazine cuttings, pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence and other ephemera. Series 3 are two sets of print colour photographs and three VHS tapes. Series 4 is a set of government documents, mostly relating to East Timor and Indonesia, released under the Official Information Act.

Dates

  • 1965-2021
  • Majority of material found in 1975-2000

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted

Biographical / Historical

Maire Leadbeater was a leading figure in CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. She was national spokesperson for CND during the opposition to French nuclear testing in the Pacific and grassroots campaigning towards New Zealand adopting its anti-nuclear legislation in the 1980s. Leadbeater was involved actively highlighting human rights abuses in the South-east Asia and the Pacific, most notably in the struggles for East Timor and West Papua independence. She also served as City Vision local board member on the Auckland City Council and Auckland Regional Council. Leadbeater holds lifetime award from Amnesty International New Zealand for her commitment to human rights.

Extent

5 metres (10 cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

In off-site storage. Expect delay of 12-24 hours from time of order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Maire Leadbeater, October 2013, with additional materials donated February 2023.

Related Materials

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (NZ) records, MSS & Archives A-249; Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (NZ) further records, MSS & 90/7; Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Auckland Branch further records MSS & 94/9; East Timor Independence Committee (Auckland) records, MSS & Archives 2008/2; East Timor Independence Committee (Auckland) further records, MSS & Archives 2023/15; Indonesia Human Rights Committee records MSS & Archives 2023/17.

Processing Information

Subject file titles derived from those created by Maire Leadbeater where applicable.

Title
Inventory of Maire Leadbeater papers
Author
Ian Brailsford
Date
June 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, University of Auckland Repository

Contact:
5 Alfred Street
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142 New Zealand