ABSTRACT
A problem often encountered within international HRD research is broad generalizations that overstate or over-simplify important context factors to describe HRD in areas of the world less familiar to Northern Hemisphere readers. All too frequently international publications lump Australia and New Zealand together for analysis. Yet, each nation is unique in many important ways despite the somewhat common location in the South Pacific thousands of miles away from North America and Europe. This vast distance from most other English-speaking developed nations, seemingly shared colonial origins and perceived common cultural traits often promote misunderstanding. This chapter provides a backdrop of the historical, cultural and socio-political contexts and regional traditions that influence HRD in Australia and New Zealand and reviews the current state of HRD in professional practice, research and academic study.
