Our President

July 2026 – We are currently seeking nominations for our next Tumuaki President. View nominations and role description.

List of all Presidents of Royal Society Te Apārangi over our history:

• Harding, Dame Jane DNZM FRACP FRSNZ 2024–2027 (current)

• Clothier, Brent FRSNZ 2021–2024

• Larner, Wendy FRSNZ 2018–2021

• Bedford, Richard QSO FRSNZ 2015–2018

• Skegg, Sir David KNZM OBE FRSNZ 2012–2015

• Carnaby, Garth MNZM FRSNZ 2009–2012

• Jordan, Neville CNZM 2006–2009

• Watson, Jim PhD FRSNZ 2004–2006

• Simpson, Sir Gil KNZM QSM DSc honoris causa 2000–2003

• Scott, Sir John KBE FRSNZ 1997–2000

• Black, Philippa Margaret, CNZM PhD Auck FRSNZ FMSAm 1993–97

• Dodd, John Newton, MSc(Hons) PhD B'ham FRSNZ FInstP 1989–93

• Hatherton, Trevor, OBE DIC PhD DSc Lond HonDSc Vict FRSNZ 1985–89

• Bollard, Edward George, CBE BSc PhD Cantab HonDSc Auck FRSNZ FNZIC 1981–85

• Dell, Richard Kenneth, QSO BA DSc Vict DipEd FRSNZ FMANZ 1977–81

• Burns, Sir Malcolm McRae, KBE MSc PhD Aberdeen FRSNZ FNZlC FNZIAS 1974–77

• Willett, Richard Wright, MSc NZ HonDSc Otago FRSNZ MAIMM 1970–74

• Miles, John Arthur Reginald, CBE MA MD Cantab FRSNZ FRACP 1966–70

• Fleming, Sir Charles Alexander, KBE BA DSc NZ FRS FRSNZ FMANZ FGS 1964–66

• Barnett, Miles Aylmer Fulton, OBE MSc PhD Cantab FRSNZ FInstP 1964

• Fleming, Sir Charles Alexander, KBE BA DSc NZ FRS FRSNZ FMANZ FGS 1962–64

• Dixon, Joseph Keith, MSc PhD Lond DIC FRSNZ FRIC NZIC 1960–62

• Allan, Robin Sutcliffe, PhD Cantab DSc FRSNZ 1958–60

• Briggs, Lindsay Heathcote, DSc DPhil Oxon FRSNZ FNZIC 1956–58

• Miller, David, CBE MSc PhD CMZS CSChE FRSNZ FRES 1954–56

• Oliver, Walter Reginald Brook, DSc NZ FRSNZ FZS 1952–54

• Callaghan, Francis Raymond, ISO MA NZ FRSNZ FRES 1950–52

• Falla, Sir Robert Alexander, KBE CMG MA DSc NZ FRSNZ FMANZ 1947–50

• Marsden, Sir Ernest, KB CMG MC DSc NZ FRS FRSNZ MIEE 1947

• Benson, William Noel, BA DSc FRS FRSNZ FGS 1945–47

• Allan, Harry Howard, CBE MA DSc PhD(Hons) FRSNZ FLS 1943–45

• Archey, Sir Gilbert, KB CBE MA DSc FRSNZ FZS FMANZ 1941–43

• Holloway, Rev. John Ernest, LTh DSc FRS FRSNZ 1939–41

• Evans, William Percival, CBE MA PhD FRSNZ HonFNZIC 1937–39

• Williams, Right Rev. Bishop, MA LittD FRSNZ 1935–37

• Speight, Robert, MA MSc FRSNZ FGS 1933–35

• Segar, Hugh William, MA FRSNZ 1931–33

• Farr, Clinton Coleridge, DSc FRS FRSNZ FPSL 1929–31

• Thomson, J Allan, MA DSc FNZI FGS AOSM (Mr B. C. Aston reappointed May, 1928 , vice Dr J. Allan Thomson, deceased.) 1928

• Aston, Bernard Cracroft, FRSNZ FRIC FCS 1926–28

• Marshall, Patrick, MA DSc FRSNZ FGS FRGS FES 1924–26

• Kirk, Harry Borrer, MA FRSNZ 1922–24

• Easterfield, Sir Thomas Hill, KBE MA PhD FRSNZ FRIC FCS 1920–22

• Cockayne, Leonard, CMG PhD FRS FRSNZ FLS 1918–20

• Benham, Sir William Blaxland, KBE MA DSc FRS FRSNZ FZS 1916–18

• Petrie, Donald, MA PhD FNZI FLS 1915-16

• Chilton, Charles, MB CM MA DSc LLD FNZI FLS CMZS 1913–15

• Cheeseman, Thomas Frederic, FNZI FLS FZS 1911–13

• Hamilton, Augustus 1909–11

• Thomson, Hon. George Malcolm, FRSNZ FLS MLC 1907–09

• Hector, Sir James, KCMG MD FRS 1906–07

• Hutton, Captain Frederick Wollaston, FRS 1904–05

See the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography for short biographies of many of the Society's presidents.