Prof. Dov Bing joins ICFI Advisory
Prof Bing speaking at a ICFI event in Rotorua, NZ, 27 September 2022
We are delighted to announce that Emeritus Professor Dov Bing will be joining the Indigenous Coalition for Israel as part of a Jewish Advisory.
Professor Dov Bing taught for 46 years at the University of Waikato in the discipline of political science and public history.
Born in the Netherlands in 1939, Professor Bing lost family in the Holocaust including his father who was in the Dutch underground. Professor Bing has been at the forefront of challenging Holocaust denial and antisemitism in New Zealand education institutions.
LH, back to front: Piripi Munro, Secretary to the Maori Queen; Maori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atarangikaahu; Mrs. Margaret Voyle, President New Zealand Friends of Israel Society; Neil Collyer, Secretary of the New Zealand Friends of Israel Society. RH, back to front: Professor Dov Bing, Head of Department of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Waikato; Dame Margaret Evans, Mayor of Hamilton; Mr.Raanan, First Secretary, Embassy of Israel in Wellington.
During his time at the University of Waikato Professor Bing championed the Te Timatanga Hou (TTH), a programme equipping those who had been unsuccessful at secondary school to pursue a university education. The TTH programme produced many high achieving Waikato-Tainui leaders, such as Rukumoana Scaffhausen and Rahui Papa. Professor Bing also gained a lifetime membership award from the Teachers Education Union, for his leading role in establishing equity-oriented programmes at the university – including Māori Studies, Women’s Studies, Labour Studies, and the School of Law.
At his farewell, Professor Bing was honoured for the way in which he championed Māori in the University, working close with Māori staff. He was gifted a taonga both on behalf of Māori of the University and the iwi in recognition of his relationship with the Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
On the occasion of the 3000 year celebration of Jerusalem, 4 August 1996, Professor Bing was invited by the Dame Te Atairangikaahu to speak at Turangawaewae Marae about the political, religious and historical meaning of Jerusalem. Both the Israeli and Turkish Ambassadors were present at this event.
We are honoured to have Professor Bing join us as Jewish advisor. He will bring to this role a deep understanding of Te Ao Māori, as well as a wealth of experience and knowledge of his own people and heritage.