New Zealand Skeptics
 |
|
| Formation | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Bernard Howard, David Marks, Denis Dutton, Gordon Hewitt, Jim Woolnough, Kerry Chamberlain, Ray Carr |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Legal status | Incorporated Society, Registered Charity |
| Location | |
|
Chairperson
|
Mark Honeychurch |
|
Main organ
|
Committee |
| Website | skeptics.nz |
|
Formerly called
|
New Zealand Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal |
The NZ Skeptics is a New Zealand incorporated society created in 1986, with the aim of promoting critical thinking. The main areas of interest to the NZ Skeptics are claims of psychic abilities, alternative medicine, creationism and other pseudoscientific claims. At its founding in 1986 it was known as the New Zealand Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (NZCSICOP). In 2007 the name was formally changed to NZ Skeptics Incorporated.
The NZ Skeptics was co-founded (as the New Zealand Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) by David Marks, Denis Dutton, Bernard Howard, Gordon Hewitt, Jim Woolnough, Ray Carr and Kerry Chamberlain in 1986. Other similar organisations exist in the USA (Committee for Skeptical Inquiry), Australia (Australian Skeptics) and India (Indian CSICOP). Denis Dutton was the first chair. Vicki Hyde took over as the first chair-entity (a title devised by Hugh Young both to be all-inclusive and to parody inclusiveness) from 1997–2010. Gold (his only name), who founded the New Zealand Skeptics in the Pub, was chair-entity from 2010–2014. Mark Honeychurch is the current chair. Vicki Hyde continues in the society as a media spokesperson. The English spelling of the word "skeptic" was chosen over the British spelling "sceptic" to more closely associate with the American organisation, and to avoid negative connotations of "being cynical and negative". In 2007 the committee decided to formally change the name to NZ Skeptics Incorporated.
The society does not address the topic of religion, not only because there are other organisations better equipped to deal with it, but also because religion is not testable unless the supporter makes a specific claim. The founders felt that people with religious beliefs could also be skeptical of claims of the paranormal and did not want to exclude them.
In 2014 after much heated discussion amongst its members it was decided that NZSI should be clear about its stance on Climate Change. There was concern that the word "skeptic" was being confused by the public and media. They released the following statement:
...
Wikipedia