Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Warwick Murray

Warwick Murray 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.

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Warwick Murray
Murray in 2013
Born1972 (age 53–54)
Edgbaston, Birmingham, England
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham
OccupationsAcademic, musician
Known forDevelopment geography, music

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.

Early life and education

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

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

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

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

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

Research and publications

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).1516

Selected publications

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

Books

  • 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

  • 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

Music career

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His show The Singing Geographer aired on RNZ 2012–13.26

Warwick Murray discography

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

Year Title Artist Label Official Aotearoa Albums (peak) IMNZ Albums Chart (peak) Apple Music Blues Chart Notes
2017 Paekakariki Moon Warwick Murray Emerald Hills — 1828 Charted (Worldwide)29 IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart
2017 That’s All We’ve Got Time For Strait Shooters Refried Audio 2027 1228 Charted (Worldwide)29 Official NZ Albums Chart (now Aotearoa Music Charts)
2018 Sing It Chap! The Fabulous Murray Brothers Refried Audio / Emerald Hills 627 528 Charted (Worldwide)29 IMNZ peak contemporaneous with Official chart run
2019 Nada Más Que Blues The Blues Machine Rokarolla Records / JC Blues Música — — #45 (Chile)30 Apple Music Blues Chart (Chile)
2019 Far Too Long – Thirty Years Together The Murray Brothers and Friends Emerald Hills — — — Non-charting anniversary release
2020 The Emerald Hills EP Warwick Murray Emerald Hills 1427 828 Charted (Worldwide)29 EP release
2021 Smile The Murray Brothers Emerald Hills 1227 228 Charted (Worldwide)29 IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart
2021 See You at the End Boys Funky Jandal and the Murray Brothers Emerald Hills 1427 228 Charted (Worldwide)29 Collaborative release
2022 Falling Gently Warwick Murray Emerald Hills — Top 2028 Charted (Worldwide)29 Available on Apple Music
2022 Golden One Warwick Murray Emerald Hills — — Charted (Worldwide)29 Did not chart on Official Aotearoa or IMNZ

Personal life

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

References

References

  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. "Aotearoa Music Charts – Artist Search". Recorded Music NZ.
  28. "IMNZ Top 20 Albums Chart". Independent Music NZ.
  29. "Apple Music Blues Charts". Top-Charts.
  30. "Apple Music Blues Chart – Chile". Top-Charts.
  31. "Warwick Murray personal life". Retrieved 2025-12-28.
External links