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The Speech Communication Association (NZ) Incorporated is a national association of those interested in promoting and advancing good communication skills.
Its objectives are to further the many and varied aspects of speech communication and to improve the status of teachers of voice, speech, drama, business and oral communication by assisting them increase their knowledge.
The Association developed from a group of people interested in promoting the art of spoken poetry at a meeting in 1951 at Victoria College (now Victoria University). Those present were teachers, students and poets including Louis Johnson and James K Baxter.
A school for teachers of speech, poetry speaking and drama was held Labour Weekend 1952. At this came the decision to form an Association of Teachers of Speech and Drama. Members of the first committee met over the next few months to write a constitution and prepare the rules as discussed by those attending the first meeting.
At the Labour Weekend School in 1953 the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Speech and Drama was incorporated and was known as ATSD. For thirty years it operated successfully as the Association of Teachers of Speech and Drama before the name was changed in 1982 to Speech Communication Association (NZ) Incorporated, commonly referred to as the SCA.
Annual conferences, numerous workshops and seminars on all aspects of speech communication, drama and theatrecraft have been held over the years providing professional development and support to members. Regional branches also provide support to teachers and their students. First , and foremost though, all members are members of the national Association.
In 2002 the Association joyfully celebrated its 50th Jubilee which was opened by Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE , the Governor-General of New Zealand, who was also the Patron of the Association at that time. Dame Silvia Cartwright was succeeded by Dame Kate Harcourt as Patron in 2007.