ANZABS was founded in 1998. The Association was formed following earlier meetings of groups of biblical scholars in Aotearoa New Zealand—in particular, a small group of Anglican biblical scholars who were drawn together in 1995/1996 by the late Francis Foulkes to discuss a then-prevailing ethical issue, and later a wider group of AFFIRM-affiliated scholars who attended a broader biblical studies research seminar at the Bible College of New Zealand (BCNZ) in late October 1996. At the latter meeting, there was talk of making such a gathering an annual or at least regular event, and many felt that we should include the biblical studies guild as a whole in Aotearoa New Zealand. There did not seem much to be gained by the sectarian approach of only speaking with those with whom we agreed, and much to learn from and offer to everybody else. The decision was made when Paul Trebilco (University of Otago) and Tim Meadowcroft (BCNZ) were standing in LR5 at the BCNZ campus in Henderson: they shook hands, their souls were knit together, and they immediately agreed, ‘let’s call all the biblical studies scholars throughout this land, all of whom we are aware, to a meeting to form an association which will meet regularly.’ And so ANZABS began. Subsequently the first group met at St John’s College in 1998 for two days and there formed the Association that still exists broadly as we know it today.

ANZABS Executive

Dr Katie Marcar (President)
Dr Jonathan Robinson (Secretary)
Dr Deane Galbraith (Māngai Māori)
Dr Brian Kolia (Pasifika representative)
Karen Newton (Student representative)
Dr Philip Church (Treasurer)
Assoc Professor James Harding
Dr Richard Neville
Emma Stokes

Contact details

ANZABS Secretary Jonathan Robinson
jonathan.robinson at carey.ac.nz
PO Box 12149, Penrose, Auckland 1642
+64 9 525 4017 | 0800 773 776

Partners and affiliates

ANZABS is a partner of the Oceania Biblical Studies Association (OBSA), which represents all the motu throughout Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.

ANZABS is not related to ANZAB (the Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers).

Publications

While papers at the ANZABS Annual Meeting are published in a variety of venues, occasionally papers may be selected for publication in a collection, most recently the following:

John Hans de Jong (ed.), Special Issue “Intercultural Hermeneutics of the Bible in Aotearoa New Zealand”, Religions (2024–2025).