Warwick Murray (born 1972) is a British–New Zealand academic, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known for his research in human geography and development studies, and for his musical recordings with The Fabulous Murray Brothers, Funky Jandal, and as a solo artist.
Early life and education
Murray was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham and raised in Hereford, England, where he completed his secondary education.[circular reference] He studied at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1993 and completing a doctorate there in 1997.
Academic career
Murray held academic posts at the University of the South Pacific and Brunel University in the UK.[circular reference] He joined Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), New Zealand, in 2001 and was appointed Professor of Human Geography and Development Studies in 2010. He retired in October 2023. Since November 2023, he has taught human geography at Durham University, UK.
In 2006 he received a New Zealand National Tertiary Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence. In 2007 he received the NZGS President’s Award for Teaching Excellence and, in 2015, the President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision. In 2019 he was awarded the Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Medal.
Editorial and professional service
Editor-in-chief of Asia Pacific Viewpoint (2002–2010, 2016–2020). Founder of Victoria Institute for Links with Latin America (2007). Vice-President (2017–19) and President (2020–21) of NZGS.
Media appearances
Contributor to TVNZ and RNZ on international development and Latin American affairs. RNZ programmes include Summer Nights and Nights.
Research and publications
Murray’s research focuses on development, rural and economic geography, with emphasis on Latin America, Pacific Islands, Asia–Pacific, and New Zealand. Key works include *Geographies of Globalization* and *Aid and Development* (co-authored with John Overton).
Selected publications
Warwick Murray’s academic work spans economic geography, development studies, globalisation, aid, and political economy.
Books
Murray, Warwick E., Howson, Kelle, and Overton, John (eds.) (2022). Ethical Value Networks in International Trade: Social Justice, Sustainability and Provenance in the Global South. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781800374492.
Overton, John and Murray, Warwick E. (2020). Aid and Development. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367414849.
Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E.; Prinsen, Gerard; Ulu, Tagaloa Avataeao Junior; and Wrighton, Nicola (2018). Aid, Ownership and Development: The Inverse Sovereignty Effect in the Pacific Islands. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367000523.
Murray, Warwick E. and Overton, John (2014). Geographies of Globalization (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415567626.
Articles
Murray, Warwick E. and Overton, John (2016). “Retroliberalism and the new aid regime of the 2010s.” Progress in Development Studies, 16(3): 244–260. doi:10.1177/1464993416641576.
Overton, John and Murray, Warwick E. (2016). “Fictive place.” Progress in Human Geography, 40(6): 794–809. doi:10.1177/0309132515625464.
Murray, Warwick E. and Overton, John (2011). “Neoliberalism is dead, long live neoliberalism?” Progress in Development Studies, 11(4): 307–318.
Murray, Warwick E. (2006). “Neo-feudalism in Latin America? Globalisation, agribusiness, and land re-concentration in Chile.” The Journal of Peasant Studies, 33(4): 645–680.
Murray, Warwick E. (2001). “The second wave of globalisation and agrarian change in the Pacific Islands.” Journal of Rural Studies, 17(2): 135–148.
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His show The Singing Geographer aired on RNZ 2012–13.
Warwick Murray discography
Warwick Murray has released a number of albums and EPs both as a solo artist and as a member of various bands, several of which have charted on the Official Aotearoa Albums Chart, the Independent Music NZ Top 20 Albums Chart, and Apple Music Blues charts internationally.
Albums and EPs
Year
Title
Artist
Label
Official Aotearoa Albums (peak)
IMNZ Albums Chart (peak)
Apple Music Blues Chart
Notes
2017
Paekakariki Moon
Warwick Murray
Emerald Hills
—
18
Charted (Worldwide)
IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart
2017
That’s All We’ve Got Time For
Strait Shooters
Refried Audio
20
12
Charted (Worldwide)
Official NZ Albums Chart (now Aotearoa Music Charts)
2018
Sing It Chap!
The Fabulous Murray Brothers
Refried Audio / Emerald Hills
6
5
Charted (Worldwide)
IMNZ peak contemporaneous with Official chart run
2019
Nada Más Que Blues
The Blues Machine
Rokarolla Records / JC Blues Música
—
—
#45 (Chile)
Apple Music Blues Chart (Chile)
2019
Far Too Long – Thirty Years Together
The Murray Brothers and Friends
Emerald Hills
—
—
—
Non-charting anniversary release
2020
The Emerald Hills EP
Warwick Murray
Emerald Hills
14
8
Charted (Worldwide)
EP release
2021
Smile
The Murray Brothers
Emerald Hills
12
2
Charted (Worldwide)
IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart
2021
See You at the End Boys
Funky Jandal and the Murray Brothers
Emerald Hills
14
2
Charted (Worldwide)
Collaborative release
2022
Falling Gently
Warwick Murray
Emerald Hills
—
Top 20
Charted (Worldwide)
Available on Apple Music
2022
Golden One
Warwick Murray
Emerald Hills
—
—
Charted (Worldwide)
Did not chart on Official Aotearoa or IMNZ
Personal life
Murray lived in Wellington, New Zealand until October 2023 and now resides near Cambridge, UK.[circular reference]
↑Murray, Warwick E.; Howson, Kelle; Overton, John, eds. (2022). Ethical Value Networks in International Trade: Social Justice, Sustainability and Provenance in the Global South. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN9781800374492.
↑Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E. (2020). Aid and Development. Routledge. ISBN9780367414849.
↑Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E.; Prinsen, Gerard; Ulu, Tagaloa Avataeao Junior; Wrighton, Nicola (2018). Aid, Ownership and Development: The Inverse Sovereignty Effect in the Pacific Islands. Routledge. ISBN9780367000523.
↑Murray, Warwick E.; Overton, John (2014). Geographies of Globalization (2nded.). Routledge. ISBN9780415567626.
↑Murray, Warwick E.; Overton, John (2016). "Retroliberalism and the new aid regime of the 2010s". Progress in Development Studies. 16 (3): 244–260. doi:10.1177/1464993416641576.
↑Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E. (2016). "Fictive place". Progress in Human Geography. 40 (6): 794–809. doi:10.1177/0309132515625464.
↑Murray, Warwick E.; Overton, John (2011). "Neoliberalism is dead, long live neoliberalism?". Progress in Development Studies. 11 (4): 307–318. doi:10.1177/146499341001100403.
↑Murray, Warwick E. (2006). "Neo-feudalism in Latin America? Globalisation, agribusiness, and land re-concentration in Chile". The Journal of Peasant Studies. 33 (4): 645–680. doi:10.1080/03066150601152281.