New Zealand Psychologist Society History

History

The New Zealand Psychological Society was initially formed as a Branch of the British Psychological Society in 1947. It functioned at that time primarily as a learned society with a strong emphasis on meeting the needs of its predominant group, academics. In 1967 it became an independent Society and has functioned as such since. With changes in the practice and application of psychology and the widening role in society of its practitioners, the Society evolved into an association that aimed to meet the needs of both scientists and professional practitioners. Divisions were established to cater to special interest groups such as clinical psychologists and educational psychologists.

In 1990 a National Office was established in Wellington with an Executive Director and Executive Secretary. This marked a significant shift in the way in which the Society operated. Realising that servicing members is a labour intensive business and acknowledging that volunteers' time and commitment was insufficient to provide efficient and prompt service delivery, most of the administrative functions of the Society were centralised in Wellington.

Services to members have been steadily increased in both quantity and quality. The National Office has been managing the Society's affairs along business lines, developing a Professional Development Programme, improving the standard of publications and earning extra income through contracted services. Not surprisingly membership has increased as more and more psychologists have appreciated the value of "belonging".

The Society, in keeping with other progressive professional associations has recognised the fact that a group of volunteers, however committed, cannot be expected to run this scale of operation alongside their paid employment and because of this cannot provide the continuity of function and service that is required.

Since November 1968 the New Zealand Psychological Society has been an affiliated member of the Royal Society of New Zealand, arguably the most learned scientific "collective" in the country. Currently the Society has a seat on the Social Sciences Committee and, each year, submits nominations for Fellowships. At least half a dozen members of the Society are Fellows of the Royal Society in recognition of their services to psychological science.

The Society is also a key member of the Federation of Social Science Organisations (FONZSSO). This was set up in the early 1990's to provide an umbrella institution for a variety of organisations in the social sciences and social science research. It has a variety of functions:

- Networking and information sharing among social scientists, most recently through its newsletter, FONZSSO News

- Representing the interests of social scientists, especially with respect to funding and policy matters, for example making submissions to government reviews

- Encouraging active participation by social scientists in issues relevant to research and its uses, including educational aspects

- Maintaining contact with key individuals and institutions such as the Ministry and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, the Minister of Science and other party spokespeople, the Royal Society and the New Zealand Commission for UNESCO

Under the Psychologists Act (1981) the Society has three nominees on the eleven person Psychologists' Board (two are not psychologists: a Director-General of Health appointee and a barrister of the High Court). In fact, all but one of the current psychologist members are also Society Members. Since its creation, all the elected chairpersons of the Board have been Society nominees.

The Society enjoys good relations with its Commonwealth partners, e.g., the British Psychological Society, the Australian Psychological Society and the Canadian Psychological Association. In recent years the presidents of each of these associate organisations have visited New Zealand as guests of the Society.

The Society also maintains good relations with the American Psychological Association and members of the Society can become affiliate members.

The Society is also a member of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), an organisation composed of National Member organisations established for the purpose of promoting the science and practice of psychology internationally. Currently there are 61 National Members. As a Union, the IUPsyS holds membership of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and in the International Social Science Council (ISSC) as well as Type A consultative status with UNESCO. The Union is currently seeking the confirmation of consultative status with the United Nations Department of Public Information.

This page last updated 17/01/2001, by Web Services New Zealand.