Max Abbott

New Zealand psychologist

Max Abbott

CNZM

Abbott in 2016

Born|

Max Wenden Abbott

(1951-06-07) 7 June 1951 (age 74)

Featherston, New Zealand

Academic background
Alma mater| University of Canterbury
Thesis| Inter-relations between cognitive factors in the prediction of outcome among chronic alcoholics (1979)
Doctoral advisor| Robert Gregson
Academic work
Discipline| Psychology
Institutions| Auckland University of Technology

Max Wenden Abbott CNZM (born 7 June 1951) is a New Zealand psychologist. He served as director of the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation from 1981 to 1991. An expert in gambling addiction, he was a professor at Auckland University of Technology from 1991 to 2020, when he resigned following an allegation of sexual harassment.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Born in Featherston on 7 June 1951,[1] Abbott was educated at Kuranui College in Greytown.[2] He went on to study at Victoria University of Wellington, where he earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 1971 and 1973, respectively.[1] He then completed a diploma at Christchurch Secondary Teachers' College in 1974, and a Master of Arts degree at the University of Canterbury in 1977.[1] He subsequently undertook doctoral studies at Canterbury; his PhD thesis, supervised by Robert Gregson and completed in 1979, was titled Inter-relations between cognitive factors in the prediction of outcome among chronic alcoholics.[1][3] In 1980, Abbott received a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology from the University of Canterbury.[1]

## Career

[edit]

Abbott was the inaugural national director of the Mental Health Foundation, a position he held from 1981 until 1991.[1][2] He was also president of the World Federation for Mental Health from 1991 to 1993.[4]

In 1991, Abbott joined the Auckland Institute of Technology—now Auckland University of Technology (AUT)—as dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, and remained there until his resignation in 2020.[2][5] He also served as pro-vice-chancellor at AUT,[6] and is a noted expert in the field of gambling addiction.[7]

## Honours and awards

[edit]

In 1990, Abbott was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[1] In the 2016 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to health, science and education.[8] In 2018, Abbott was a recipient of AUT's University Medal.[9]

## Controversy

[edit]

In August 2019, a five-page complaint was laid against Abbott for sexual harassment of an overseas colleague over a period of two years.[10][11] After an investigation, Abbott resigned from AUT,[12] and apologised to the complainant.[13]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 41\. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
2. ^ a b c Farmer, Don (31 December 2015). "Leading role in NZ mental health reform". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
3. ^ Abbott, Max Wenden (1979). Inter-relations between cognitive factors in the prediction of outcome among chronic alcoholics (PhD thesis). University of Canterbury. hdl:10092/4757. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
4. ^ "Waitematä District Health Board Candidates" (PDF). waitematadhb.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
5. ^ "Professor Max Abbott resigns from all roles at AUT after sexual harassment claims". The New Zealand Herald. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
6. ^ "AUT apologises to academic for mishandling harassment complaint against former Pro Vice-Chancellor Max Abbott". The New Zealand Herald. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
7. ^ Graham-McLay, Charlotte; Davies, Anne (20 June 2020). "New Zealand academic accused of sexually harassing colleague in Australia resigns". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
8. ^ "New Year honours list 2016". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
9. ^ "Professor Max Abbott wins top accolade". Auckland University of Technology. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
10. ^ Mau, Alison (23 May 2020). "Trans-Tasman universities at war over top scholar's 'sexual stalking'". Stuff. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
11. ^ Hutt, Kendall (19 June 2020). "AUT professor Max Abbott resigns in wake of sexual stalking claims". Stuff. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
12. ^ Mau, Alison (5 June 2020). "Professor volunteers to stand down from board after sexual stalking allegations". Stuff. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
13. ^ Brettkelly, Sharon (25 June 2020). "The Detail: AUT Professor Max Abbott exposed". Stuff. Retrieved 17 August 2024.

Authority control databases: Academics |

* ORCID

|