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The first New Zealand studio pottery exhibition…
was held at Otago Museum in 1957, organised by Otago-based potter Oswold Stephens. Fifteen of New Zealand’s foremost studio potters were invited to take part. The result prompted Stephens, and fellow potters Helen Mason, Doreen Blumhardt, Lee Thomson and Terry Barrow to form a committee to organise a second exhibition in Wellington and the publication of a national magazine, New Zealand Potter, which was intended to help with the financing and coordination of the national shows. The Editorial Committee continued to run both the magazine and national exhibition from 1958–63 until their activities had become too large to administrate on their own.
The New Zealand Society of Potters (later NZ Potters Inc) was officially established in 1965 to support that first Editorial Committee and create a national council for the pottery community. This consisted of one person from the editorial committee and council representatives from regions around the country. Membership was by selection to the national exhibitions or by application, and only a high standard of work was accepted. The first AGM was held in Dunedin to ratify the new constitution with Murial Moody standing as president for the first two years.
Over the years…
the society grappled with the issue of membership eligibility and standards. The growing question of shifting from an exclusive art society to an organisation that supported the greater community of makers continued to be controversial right up into the 1980s. At the 1981 AGM held alongside the symposium Ceramics ’81, selected membership was abolished in an attempt to adapt to remain viable and meet the needs of all potters.
Between 1988–89 membership to the society reached its peak (between 600–800 members) after then president, Rick Rudd and the Council successfully advocated for the government to lower ACC fees, a recent increase which had unfairly affected potters.
In 2018 the society was renamed the Ceramics Association of New Zealand (Ceramics NZ), as part of a recent redevelopment plan to remain relevant and engaged with the changing community. It continues to act as an inclusive national body that provides exhibiting opportunities, education and a national magazine, and serves all New Zealanders that have an interest in pottery and ceramics.
Sources Mason, Helen 10 Years of Pottery in New Zealand; Interview with Rick Rudd; Evans, Vic The New Zealand Society of Potters – Birthing Pains
Founding Members
Gwyn Ace
Margaret Anderson
Ina Arthur
Terry Barrow
Trevor & Marjorie Bayliss
Nancy & Martin Beck
Nan Berkeley
R. G. B. Bevan
June Black
Doreen Blumhardt
Minna Bondy
Barry Brickell
Audrey Brodie
David Brokenshire
John Brown
Paula Carter
Len Castle
K. M. Caughley
Flora Christeller
Veronica Clear
Betty Colson
Danella Cooper
Roy Cowan
J. M. Craig
Helen Dawson
Winifred Dunn
A.M. Ferguson
Frank & Peggy Finan
Nora Flewellen
Pamela Forsyth
Greta Graetzer
Neil Grant
R. B. Hall
Dennis Hanna
Mary Hardwick-Smith
Maisie Hill
Hillsborough Group
Wailyn Hing
Doris Holland
Mavis Jack
Stan Jenkins
Olive Jones
Gwen Keys
Paula King
Erna Kral
Jack Laird
D. J. Lascelles
Marjorie Leighton
Hazel McCaughern
Marion Mauger
Elizabeth Matheson
Helen Mason
Paul Melser
Margaret Milne
Muriel Moody
Guy Mountain
Margaret Oglivie
Phyllis Oxford
Jim Palmer
John T. Patrick
Nan Patterson
Patricia Perrin
Yvonne Perrin
Juliet Peter
Dora Prime
Inez Rennie
Mavis Robinson
Rachel Rose
Elizabeth Schiessel
Lee Thompson
Hilary Thurston
Warren Tippett
Michael Trumic
Lilyan Walcott
D. J. Watkins
Jean Weir
L. J. Wilde
Jocelyn Wilkie
Marcia Wilkinson
John Wood
Muriel Wotton
Wilf Wright
Mirek SmÃÅ¡ek
Jocelyn Thornton
Carl Vendelbosh
W. S. Schiessel
Mr & Mrs F. G. Shewell
O. R. Stevens
Peter Stichbury
Graeme Storm
Noelene Thompson
