About

History of the Aerospace Medical Society of Aotearoa New Zealand

A branch of the British Medical Association of Australia was formed by 15 doctors on 25th November 1949 in Melbourne as the Special Group on Aviation Medicine. In 1962 the Special Group’s name was changed to the Aviation Medical Society of Australia. By 1972 the membership was 258 and due to the large numbers joining from New Zealand the Society was renamed the Aviation Medical Society of Australia and New Zealand (AMSANZ).

In 1978 the Society was Incorporated formally in Australia but after discussion it was agreed that the two bodies should be incorporated separately in each country to become distinct legal entities. On 29th January 1997 the New Zealand branch became the Aviation Medical Society of Australia and New Zealand (NZ Inc.)

In 2003 AMSANZ-Australia changed its name to the ‘Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine’. In 2009 AMSANZ-New Zealand changed its title to the ‘Aviation Medical Society of New Zealand (Inc.)’.
The two societies continue to share the same Objects and Rules, maintain close contact and attend each others conferences.

AMSNZ is closely associated with the Patterson Visiting Lectureship Trust. This is a charitable Trust established with the purpose of fostering aviation medicine educational activities in New Zealand. The Trust is named after Mr Douglas Patterson who was the last General Manager of National Airways Corporation (NAC) which later became the domestic division of Air New Zealand. Doug Patterson had a lifetime interest in aviation and was a staunch supporter of the Society. The Patterson Trust continues and sponsors a visiting lecturer to the annual conferences of both ASAM and AMSNZ along with other sponsorships and prizes.

ASAM has a similar John Lane Trust. Dr John Lane was a Foundation Member of the Society, an ex-RAAF medical officer and the inaugural Director of Civil Aviation Medicine (CASA) in Australia. He died in 1999 aged 81. The John Lane Trust also sponsors a keynote speaker at the Annual Scientific Meetings in both Australia and New Zealand.

The two Societies have separate Annual Scientific Conferences but usually closely timed so that the visiting lecturers can attend both events.

A more detailed history compendium of the joint Societies was compiled by Dr Peter Wilkins (Australia) and is available on ASAM’s excellent website here.

The 2023 Annual General Meeting resolved to amend the Society’s name to reflect the increasing regional involvement in space and the life sciences, as well as the country’s bicultural heritage.  The Society will be known as the Aerospace Medical Society of Aotearoa New Zealand (AMSANZ). It will continue to be registered as the Aviation Medical Society of New Zealand to avoid the expense and complexities of changing the legal and financial identity.