John Oliver Crompton (Jock) Phillips (born 1947) is a New Zealand historian, author and encyclopedist. He is the general editor of Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, the official encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Born and raised in Christchurch, Phillips did a BA at Victoria University of Wellington, followed by a MA and PhD at Harvard in 1978. Returning to Wellington was a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader in History at Victoria. He was founding director of the Stout Research Centre (established by the will of the grandson of Robert Stout).
Moving to the Department of Internal Affairs in 1989, Phillips was Chief Historian (1989-1997 and 2000-2002) and General Manager, Heritage (Acting) (1997-2000). He was Conceptual Leader (history) for Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 1994-1998, in the lead-up to its radical transformation, accompanying its move to new waterfront premises. He is general editor of Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Phillips was mentioned in cables released by Wikileaks as an expert on New Zealanders' attitude to war:
and
Te Ara Blog contributions by Jock Phillips. November 2007—
Phillips, Jock. Biography in New Zealand, Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-0-86861-530-1. 1985.
Jock Phillips and Ellen Ellis. Brief encounter: American forces and the New Zealand people, 1942-1945. Historical Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs. ISBN 0-908896-21-2, 1992.
Phillips, Jock. Aberhart, Laurence. et al. The caravan. McNamara Gallery. ISBN 978-0-9582430-0-1. 2002.
Phillips, Jock. Dalley, Bronwym. Going public: The changing face of New Zealand history. Auckland University Press. ISBN 1-86940-226-X, 2001.
Phillips, Jock. Boyack, Nicholas. Malone E.P. Great adventure: New Zealand soldiers describe the First World War. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-0-86861-579-0. 1988.
Phillips, Jock. Maclean Chris. In the light of the past: stained glass windows in New Zealand houses. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558103-2, 1983.
Phillips, Jock. Man's country? The image of the pakeha male, a history. Penguin ISBN 0-14-009334-6, 1987. ISBN 0-14-025658-X, 1996.
Phillips, Jock. New worlds? The comparative history of New Zealand and the United States. NZ-US Education Foundation ; Stout Research Centre, ISBN 0-473-00869-6 c1989.
Phillips, Jock. New Zealand Memorial: 11 November 2006. Ministry for Culture & Heritage, 2006.
Phillips, Jock Royal summer: The visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to New Zealand, 1953-54. Historical Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs; Daphne Brasell Associates Press. ISBN 0-908896-38-7, 1993.
Phillips, Jock. Hearn Terry. Settlers: New Zealand immigrants from England, Ireland & Scotland, 1800-1945. Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-401-7. 2008.
Phillips, Jock. Maclean Chris. Sorrow and the pride: New Zealand war memorials; editor Debbie Willis. : Historical Branch ; GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01475-5 c1990.
Unique sort of battle: New Zealanders remember Crete / edited by Megan Hutching ; with Ian McGibbon, Jock Phillips and David Filer ; foreword by Helen Clark. HarperCollins New Zealand / History Group, Ministry for Culture and Heritage. ISBN 1-86950-394-5, 2001.
Phillips, Jock. Te Whenua, Te Iwi: The Land and the People. Allen & Unwin/Port Nicholson Press / Stout Research Centre. ISBN 0-86861-762-8, 1987.
Awards and posts
Member of the Council of the Victoria University of Wellington by election by the Court of Convocation
Member of the New Zealand-US Education Foundation since 1995
President of the National Library Society in 1994.
2011 recipient of the Royal Society of New Zealand's Pou Aronui Award for service to the humanities-aronui.
