METANZ

About METANZ

The New Zealand Society for Music Education Inc., founded in 1983, was a society with individual members from all sectors of music education who joined regional branches. It became the recognised subject association for music, and it fulfilled a number of roles. Through its regional societies and an annual conference it provided professional development and networking. Through its newsletter it provided information. Through the actions of its President and Board it provide advocacy for music education. It worked for the Ministry of Education on a contractual basis. Through the work of the Board it attempted to coordinate research in music education.

Discussions in 2003 and 2004 recognised that a membership-based society was difficult to sustain in the contemporary world, and led to a new structure. The professional development role was settled on MENZA Inc (Music Education New Zealand Aotearoa), which has school members, provides a regular magazine, and organises nationwide professional development activities. The University of Canterbury is setting up a Music Education Research Centre, and the merged VUW School of Music and Massey Conservatorium of Music is setting up a Music Education Data Centre.

The advocacy role has been placed in a new trust: the Music Education Trust of New Zealand Aotearoa (METANZ). It has a Trust Board which currently includes SOUNZ, the Music Industry Commission, the Chair of MENZA, together with experienced music education leaders from the community, including Morva Croxson (previously Chancellor of Massey University) and Professor John Drummond (former President of the International Society for Music Education). As time passes others will be invited to join the Trust.

The purposes of METANZ, as defined in the Trust Deed, are

to promote and advocate the importance of education in and about music, and education through music, to groups and individuals within Aotearoa New Zealand;
to support actions by others aimed at promoting and advocating music within arts education in Aotearoa New Zealand ;
to carry on any other charitable object which may seem to the Trustees capable of being conveniently carried on or calculated directly or indirectly to advance the objects of the deed, provided that all funds expended must be for or lead to public benefit in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The mission of METANZ, as defined in its strategic plan, is to provide effective advocacy to raise the quality and availability of music education in Aotearoa New Zealand .

The Trust currently shares an administrator with MENZA. It is hoped that it will develop its own Executive Officer as projects are identified and proceed.

John Drummond
Trust Chairman
April 2005