Professor Bruce Curtis has made a distinguished and sustained contribution to the advancement of sociology in Aotearoa New Zealand. His achievements across his areas of expertise are exceptional both in breadth and depth. His clear and sustained focus on Aotearoa New Zealand is a feature of his sociological research as is the emancipatory theoretical framework that he draws upon. Bruce’s service to sociology has manifested in numerous ways. He was President of SAANZ from 2005-2008 and during his tenure instigated the process of formally recognising the achievement of members and enhancing and extending the sociological community.
His time as Head of Sociology of Auckland University has had lasting impacts as he sought ways to acknowledge both students and colleagues. As Head of School for Social Sciences at Waikato University he initiated the criminology major which has an explicit sociological, social justice and anti-colonial focus. As the Senior Editor of Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences he has fostered a greater diversity of voices and approaches, in particular to Māori authors and rangahau mātauranga. Overall, Bruce’s commitment to the discipline has been undertaken with the strong belief that the benefit of the work must accrue to the collective.