Jane Ritchie

Professor Jane Ritchie was a psychologist and an expert in child-rearing who heavily worked together with her husband the late Professor James Ritchie. Ritchie was an influential academic who was made an emeritus professor, and she also was the first woman to graduate with a PhD in psychology from a New Zealand university. She and her husband worked towards encouraging the use of peaceful and effective child rearing methods over the use of physical discipline which further deepened people’s understanding of parenting. Significantly, her works and efforts further encouraged more research into family violence. 

Dr Jane Ritchie and Dr Jim Ritchie presented 21 boxes of research papers to the University of Waikato Library.