New Zealand geography, biography and autobiography.

This introduction to the special issue on biography and geography in New Zealand reviews some of the existing biographical and autobiographical writing relating to the university discipline of geography in New Zealand. It then frames the five papers in this issue within the boundaries of haphazard events, mistakes and accidents, definitions of geographers and definitions of geography. While arguing for further research into disciplinary history in New Zealand, it is asserted that these endeavours are of value for the future of the discipline and not only a matter of concern for those interested in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]