Jonathan Boston

Professor Jonathan Boston serves as Chair of the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington, where he has established himself as a leading scholar in public policy and governance. His academic career spans several decades, with significant contributions to understanding democratic governance, long-term policy making, and climate change adaptation.

Professor Boston holds a BA(Hons) from the University of Canterbury and a DPhil from the University of Oxford (1984). Earlier in his career, he worked briefly for the New Zealand Treasury and taught at the University of Canterbury before joining Victoria University of Wellington.

Professor Boston's research focuses on the critical challenge of governing for the long-term in democratic systems that often prioritize short-term political considerations. His work examines institutional mechanisms to address intertemporal policy conflicts, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation, social policy reform, and environmental governance. He has published extensively on public management, social policy, climate change policy, tertiary education policy, and comparative government.

His recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong emphasis on climate adaptation governance, particularly managed retreat strategies, long-term insights briefings for government, and the tension between present political imperatives and future generational needs. Professor Boston's work increasingly integrates Māori perspectives and terminology, reflecting his deep engagement with Aotearoa New Zealand's unique policy context.

• Fulbright Fellowship (2014) for research on 'Governing for the Future: Bringing Long-Term Policy Issues into Short-Term Political Focus'

Professor Boston actively supervises doctoral students, currently guiding research on children's rights through futures thinking approaches and wage rigidity policy implications for New Zealand. He has secured multiple External Innovation Programme grants from the State Services Commission for research on governance frameworks, ocean governance, and public policy issues. His editorial leadership extends to serving as Editor of Policy Quarterly since 2005.

As a member of numerous boards including Oxfam NZ, Professor Boston maintains strong connections between academic research and practical policy implementation. His work with the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty and contributions to designing New Zealand's Performance-Based Research Fund demonstrate his commitment to translating scholarly insights into real-world policy solutions.