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Lydia Wevers

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Alternate NameLydia Joyce WeversBiographical NoteEmeritus Professor Lydia Joyce Wevers (1950-2021), ONZM, was an internationally renowned literary historian and critic, teacher, writer, and scholar who specialised in New Zealand studies.

Lydia was born in the Netherlands and emigrated to New Zealand with her family when she was three, growing up in Masterton in the Wairarapa. She graduated from Victoria with an M.A.(Hons) in English in 1972, followed by a M.Phil at St Anne's College, Oxford, on a two-year Commonwealth Scholarship.

Upon returning to New Zealand Lydia became a lecturer in Renaissance literature at Victoria University of Wellington, and subsequently developed significant expertise in New Zealand literature. From 1998-2001 she was the principal researcher for the History of Print Culture Project and also a Senior Associate/Research Associate at the School of English, Film and Theatre at Victoria University.

In 2001 she became the director of the Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies at Victoria, revitalising it to become an integral part of the university with additional staff members, connections with other research institutes and a broad scope of research into New Zealand society, history and culture. She remained there as director until 2017.

As well as her teaching and research, Lydia was a prominent and respected member of New Zealand's arts and humanities sector. She gave her time to many panels and advisory boards such as the New Zealand Book Council, the Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, and the Writers and Readers Committee of the New Zealand Festival of the Arts. In 2003 she became the inaugural Chair of the Kaitiaki Guardians of the National Library.

Lydia both authored and edited many books during her long academic career. Her 2010 book 'Reading on the farm : Victorian fiction and the colonial world' explored the history and significance of the Brancepeth Station Library, a subscription library created for the residents of a Wairarapa sheep station which was gifted in its entirety to Te Herenga Waka in 1966.

As well as the Brancepeth Library itself, Tapuaka holds some material related to Lydia Wevers' research for the book.LifetimeBetween 19th March 1950 and 4th September 2021

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