Kia ora koutou katoa! I’m writing to welcome you, our Social Anthropology Postgrad community, to 2026. We have 2 events coming up to bring us all together and kick this year off to a good start as a community. Please see the attached invitations for more info and please remember to RSVP for each 😊. First - the Student Welcome, Farewell & Prizegiving - 13 March, 10-11:30. Here we will appreciate the mahi of our students by welcoming our new postgrads, celebrating those who have completed degrees or submitted theses late last year, and also acknowledging our Geddes undergraduate award winners. We will provide a zoom link as well for those who might like to attend from afar. This is a catered morning tea, please RSVP by 5pm 1 March, noting if you will attend in person or online and your dietary requirements. [cid:image002.jpg@01DCA264.C1FEC1C0] Next we have the Postgraduate Symposium: 23 April, 10-5pm. I don’t want to overwhelm our newest arrivals, who undoubtedly will still be settling into Postgrad life, with the thought of a presentation! But I assure you this is a supportive, friendly event. Some have already asked for more information to be able to plan ahead, so here it is: The symposium is a hybrid event – in person and online. Morning and Afternoon Tea will be provided (there will be an hour long lunch break – so please bring your own lunch or plan to go to a local cafe). The symposium is always a valuable (and genuinely supportive) space to hear about what other postgrads in the programme are working on, to share your own ideas, and to get constructive feedback on your research — whatever stage you’re at. This year, we will also hear a little bit of departmental news and a bit from staff (more on that later). Most Social Anthropology PhD, MA, and ANTH490 students are expected to give a short presentation (15 minutes + 5 min Q&A for MA and PhD candidates; 10 min + 5 min Q&A for Honours, PGDip).) If this is the first Soc Anth PG Symposium of your current degree, your presentation would usually include some of the following elements: your overall topic and what drew you to it, key questions or aims (can absolutely still be tentative!), what methods you are, or plan to be, using (document work, interviews, fieldwork, etc). For some, you may have some initial findings you can share. If you’ve already presented at a recent Postgrad Symposium as part of your current degree, you may prefer to go deeper on a more specific aspect of your thesis — for example, a particular chapter, theme, or set of findings. Everyone will be at different stages, so some presentations will focus more on plans and intentions, while others will focus on work already completed. All of these are equally welcome, supported and encouraged. Have a chat with your supervisor beforehand, and if possible show them your abstract before sending it to me. Let me know if you have any questions! By 10 March, please: * Confirm you will attend and present * Staff – confirm you will attend (for catering purposes) Please indicate whether you are likely to join in person or via Zoom, and if you have any dietary requirements. If you will be presenting, please send me an abstract of up to 150 words by 27 March. This will be included in the Symposium Programme. (I’ll send a reminder about abstracts closer to the time.) I’m really looking forward to hearing more about your projects and learning alongside you at the symposium. [cid:image003.jpg@01DCA264.C1FEC1C0] Again, welcome to social anthropology postgraduate studies in 2026! Ngā mihi nui, Molly [cid:image001.png@01DCA261.F9F71800]