Award for Old Boy's French Pacific research

Old Boy Mike Lee (1963-1965) has been awarded the prestigious John Dunmore Medal 2025 for his research into early French explorers, navigators and naturalists.

The award was announced by the Fédération des Alliances Françaises de Nouvelle-Zélande, in association with l’Ambassade de France, for Mike’s scholarly contributions to the natural history of Aotearoa, via his work on 18th and 19th century French navigators, explorers and naturalists.

Mike’s nomination, presented by the president of the France Aotearoa Sciences Technologies and !nnovations network (FAST!), Dr Philippe Gerbeaux, outlined the work that culminated in his 2018 book-length study, Navigators and Naturalists: French Exploration of New Zealand and the South Seas (1769-1824).

The book attempted to redress the balance between French exploration and an over-emphasis on the British Captain James Cook.

Mike’s focus was on what the French found during their voyages around the South Pacific.

The book was praised by experts in the field, including the late Professor Dunmore himself:

“Dear Mr Lee, I recently completed reading your voluminous tome on the French voyages, and I would like to offer you my warmest congratulations on this impressive work. I was fortunate to find a copy in a local bookseller, as being somewhat retired these days, I was unaware of its publication until a few weeks ago, hence my slight delay in expressing my admiration for this work.”

Mike is currently doing more research on the 1827 visit by Dumont d’Urville and has started work on a second book that will form a useful addition to the 2018 volume.