Humanist Society of New Zealand

Humanist Society of New Zealand

Formation	1967
Founders	Ray Carr, J Beadle, M Geary, D C Worsley [1]
Type	Nonprofit organisation
Legal status	Incorporated Society, Registered Charity [2]
Location	New Zealand
President	Sara Passmore [3]
Main organ	Council
Website	humanist.nz

The Humanist Society of New Zealand (Inc.) was a New Zealand incorporated society founded in 1967 that promoted secular humanist philosophy and ideals.

In 2024, the Society voted to legally wind up and operate as a regional branch of the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists ^[4] under the name Wellington Humanists.

The Society was affiliated internationally to the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and in October 2018 hosted the annual General Assembly of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. ^[5]

Notable members include Frank Dungey, ^[6] founder of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New Zealand, abortion law reform advocate Dr Jim Woolnough, ^[7] Rhodes Scholar James Dakin, ^[8] and teacher and peace activist Maureen Hoy. ^[9]

2018 census campaign

In 2018 the Humanist Society of New Zealand ran an advertising campaign to encourage people who are not religious to tick the 'no religion" box in the census. ^[10] The campaign raised concerns, with a bus company refusing to allow the posters to be displayed on their buses. ^[11]

See also

• New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists
• Atheist bus campaign (other countries)

References

1. "Humanist Society Council". Humanist Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
2. "Humanist Society of New Zealand". Humanist Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
3. "Humanist Society Council". Humanist Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
4. "Humanist Society of New Zealand votes to wind up". 6 November 2024.
5. "Report on international humanist meetings in New Zealand". Humanists International. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
6. "Dungey, Frank, 1928-". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
7. "Woolnough, James, 1915?-1992". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
8. "New Zealanders and the Rhodes Scholarship". University of Otago Library. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
9. "Hoy, Maureen Patricia, 1932-". natlib.govt.nz. National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
10. admin. "Humanist campaign tick the "not religious" option in census" . Retrieved 28 June 2025.
11. "Bus company refuses to carry human rights charity's posters". Scoop Independent News (Press release). Humanist Society. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2025.

External links

• Humanist Society of New Zealand