Warwick Murray (born 1972) is a British–New Zealand academic, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known for his research in human geography and development studies, and for his musical recordings with The Fabulous Murray Brothers, Funky Jandal, and as a solo artist.

Warwick Murray
Murray in 2013
Born1972 (age 5354)
Edgbaston, Birmingham, England
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham
OccupationsAcademic, musician
Known forDevelopment geography, music

Early life and education

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Murray was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham and raised in Hereford, England, where he completed his secondary education.[1] He studied at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1993 and completing a doctorate there in 1997.[2]

Academic career

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Murray held academic posts at the University of the South Pacific and Brunel University in the UK.[3] He joined Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), New Zealand, in 2001 and was appointed Professor of Human Geography and Development Studies in 2010.[4] He retired in October 2023.[5] Since November 2023, he has taught human geography at Durham University, UK.[6]

Murray has held visiting posts at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.[7]

Awards and honours

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In 2006 he received a New Zealand National Tertiary Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence.[8] In 2007 he received the NZGS President’s Award for Teaching Excellence and, in 2015, the President’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision.[9] In 2019 he was awarded the Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Medal.[10]

Editorial and professional service

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Editor-in-chief of Asia Pacific Viewpoint (2002–2010, 2016–2020).[11] Founder of Victoria Institute for Links with Latin America (2007).[12] Vice-President (2017–19) and President (2020–21) of NZGS.[13]

Media appearances

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Contributor to TVNZ and RNZ on international development and Latin American affairs. RNZ programmes include Summer Nights and Nights.[14]

Research and publications

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Murray’s research focuses on development, rural and economic geography, with emphasis on Latin America, Pacific Islands, Asia–Pacific, and New Zealand. Key works include *Geographies of Globalization* and *Aid and Development* (co-authored with John Overton).[15][16]

Selected publications

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Warwick Murray’s academic work spans economic geography, development studies, globalisation, aid, and political economy.

Books

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  • Murray, Warwick E., Howson, Kelle, and Overton, John (eds.) (2022). Ethical Value Networks in International Trade: Social Justice, Sustainability and Provenance in the Global South. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781800374492.[17]
  • Overton, John and Murray, Warwick E. (2020). Aid and Development. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367414849.[18]
  • Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E.; Prinsen, Gerard; Ulu, Tagaloa Avataeao Junior; and Wrighton, Nicola (2018). Aid, Ownership and Development: The Inverse Sovereignty Effect in the Pacific Islands. London: Routledge. ISBN 9780367000523.[19]
  • Murray, Warwick E. and Overton, John (2014). Geographies of Globalization (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 9780415567626.[20]

Articles

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  • Murray, Warwick E. and Overton, John (2016). “Retroliberalism and the new aid regime of the 2010s.” Progress in Development Studies, 16(3): 244–260. doi:10.1177/1464993416641576.[21]
  • Overton, John and Murray, Warwick E. (2016). “Fictive place.” Progress in Human Geography, 40(6): 794–809. doi:10.1177/0309132515625464.[22]
  • Murray, Warwick E. and Overton, John (2011). “Neoliberalism is dead, long live neoliberalism?” Progress in Development Studies, 11(4): 307–318.[23]
  • Murray, Warwick E. (2006). “Neo-feudalism in Latin America? Globalisation, agribusiness, and land re-concentration in Chile.” The Journal of Peasant Studies, 33(4): 645–680.[24]
  • Murray, Warwick E. (2001). “The second wave of globalisation and agrarian change in the Pacific Islands.” Journal of Rural Studies, 17(2): 135–148.[25]

Research profiles

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Music career

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Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His show The Singing Geographer aired on RNZ 2012–13.[26]

Warwick Murray discography

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Warwick Murray has released a number of albums and EPs both as a solo artist and as a member of various bands, several of which have charted on the Official Aotearoa Albums Chart, the Independent Music NZ Top 20 Albums Chart, and Apple Music Blues charts internationally.[27]

Albums and EPs

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YearTitleArtistLabelOfficial Aotearoa Albums (peak)IMNZ Albums Chart (peak)Apple Music Blues ChartNotes
2017Paekakariki MoonWarwick MurrayEmerald Hills18[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart
2017That’s All We’ve Got Time ForStrait ShootersRefried Audio20[27]12[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]Official NZ Albums Chart (now Aotearoa Music Charts)
2018Sing It Chap!The Fabulous Murray BrothersRefried Audio / Emerald Hills6[27]5[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]IMNZ peak contemporaneous with Official chart run
2019Nada Más Que BluesThe Blues MachineRokarolla Records / JC Blues Música#45 (Chile)[30]Apple Music Blues Chart (Chile)
2019Far Too Long – Thirty Years TogetherThe Murray Brothers and FriendsEmerald HillsNon-charting anniversary release
2020The Emerald Hills EPWarwick MurrayEmerald Hills14[27]8[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]EP release
2021SmileThe Murray BrothersEmerald Hills12[27]2[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart
2021See You at the End BoysFunky Jandal and the Murray BrothersEmerald Hills14[27]2[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]Collaborative release
2022Falling GentlyWarwick MurrayEmerald HillsTop 20[28]Charted (Worldwide)[29]Available on Apple Music
2022Golden OneWarwick MurrayEmerald HillsCharted (Worldwide)[29]Did not chart on Official Aotearoa or IMNZ

Personal life

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Murray lived in Wellington, New Zealand until October 2023 and now resides near Cambridge, UK.[31]

References

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  1. "Warwick Murray". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  2. "University of Birmingham Doctoral Theses". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  3. "Warwick Murray Academic Career". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  4. "Victoria University Calendar 2019" (PDF). p. 42. Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  5. "Warwick Murray retirement notice". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  6. "Durham University staff profile: Warwick E. Murray". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  7. "Warwick Murray Visiting Positions". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  8. "National Tertiary Teaching Award Winners". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  9. "NZGS Award Winners". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  10. "NZGS Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  11. "Asia Pacific Viewpoint editorial boards". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  12. "VUW Latin America Institute". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  13. "NZGS Council Officers". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  14. "RNZ appearances". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  15. "Geographies of Globalization". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  16. "Aid and Development". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  17. Murray, Warwick E.; Howson, Kelle; Overton, John, eds. (2022). Ethical Value Networks in International Trade: Social Justice, Sustainability and Provenance in the Global South. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781800374492.
  18. Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E. (2020). Aid and Development. Routledge. ISBN 9780367414849.
  19. Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E.; Prinsen, Gerard; Ulu, Tagaloa Avataeao Junior; Wrighton, Nicola (2018). Aid, Ownership and Development: The Inverse Sovereignty Effect in the Pacific Islands. Routledge. ISBN 9780367000523.
  20. Murray, Warwick E.; Overton, John (2014). Geographies of Globalization (2nd ed.). Routledge. ISBN 9780415567626.
  21. Murray, Warwick E.; Overton, John (2016). "Retroliberalism and the new aid regime of the 2010s". Progress in Development Studies. 16 (3): 244–260. doi:10.1177/1464993416641576.
  22. Overton, John; Murray, Warwick E. (2016). "Fictive place". Progress in Human Geography. 40 (6): 794–809. doi:10.1177/0309132515625464.
  23. Murray, Warwick E.; Overton, John (2011). "Neoliberalism is dead, long live neoliberalism?". Progress in Development Studies. 11 (4): 307–318.
  24. Murray, Warwick E. (2006). "Neo-feudalism in Latin America? Globalisation, agribusiness, and land re-concentration in Chile". The Journal of Peasant Studies. 33 (4): 645–680.
  25. Murray, Warwick E. (2001). "The second wave of globalisation and agrarian change in the Pacific Islands". Journal of Rural Studies. 17 (2): 135–148.
  26. "Singing Geographer on RNZ". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Aotearoa Music Charts – Artist Search". Recorded Music NZ.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart". Independent Music NZ.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Apple Music Blues Charts". Top-Charts.
  30. "Apple Music Blues Chart – Chile". Top-Charts.
  31. "Warwick Murray personal life". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
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