"FEEDBACK ON DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING HISTORIC PLACES AND HISTORIC AREAS ON THE NEW ZEALAND HERITAGE LIST/RANGI KŌRERO" The Historic Places Aotearoa submission.
You can download a copy of the HPA Submission at the following link: HNZPT draft Guidelines for Assessing Historic Places Submission
Extra funding delights Heritage New Zealand
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is delighted with the allocation of an extra $6.3 million over four years announced in the Coalition Government’s budget on 17 May.
Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern said the new funding, on top of current operating funding of $13 million per year, will assist in processing archaeological authority applications, protecting built heritage (including advising on earthquake-prone buildings), and identifying and protecting sites of significance to Māori.
“As the Prime Minister said following this announcement, the value of heritage and its importance to our national identity is being recognised by more New Zealanders each year,” Heritage New Zealand commented following the announcement.
“Demand for our services has increased and we welcome that – it shows we are regarded as the country’s lead heritage agency as we continue to honour the past and inspire the future. Our aim is to ensure present and future generations of New Zealanders appreciate their sense of place, identity and nationhood.”
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga continues to prioritise and celebrate our most significant places, build support by working with iwi, local authorities, volunteers, owners, members and communities, promote the vision of Tapuwae to conserve Māori heritage, and prioritise our advocacy with a focus on educating, promoting, advising and regulating.
“Achieving the best outcomes for heritage requires working alongside many groups.
“The funding allocation reflects very positively on the value of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga’s work and gives us increased ability to meet expectations of us. We are delighted with the Government’s support of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.”
The lobby of the Brian Boru Hotel as photographed by John Fields.
(Image source Heritage New Zealand)
"A digital display of images taken by one of New Zealand’s foremost photographers detailing Thames life in the 1970s will lead 150th anniversary celebrations at the Thames School of Mines.
"The photographs – a collection of 500 colour and black and white pictures taken by John Fields – will feature as a rolling show of images displayed on a high resolution TV. The exhibition, which will be shown from August 5 to October 6, will include portraits, street panoramas and aerial shots
“The digital display is designed to complement a static exhibition of some of John Fields’ Thames images taken between 1973 and 1975, which will run at the Bella Street Pumphouse during the same time,” says the Manager of the Thames School of Mines, John Isdale.
The photographs – a collection of 500 colour and black and white pictures taken by John Fields – will feature as a rolling show of images displayed on a high resolution TV. The exhibition, which will be shown from August 5 to October 6, will include portraits, street panoramas and aerial shots
The Media Release is as follows: (more…)
HNZ:
"Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is delighted with the acquisition of the Government Buildings Historic Reserve and Turnbull House Historic Reserve in central Wellington as part of a property portfolio realignment with the Department of Conservation and Ministry for Culture and Heritage announced today.
"DOC has received from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga the Whangamarino Redoubt Historic Reserve at Mercer, Clifden Suspension Bridge in Southland, Gabriel Read Memorial Reserve in Otago, Springvale Suspension Bridge east of Taihape and full control of the Brunner Industrial Historic Reserve on the West Coast.
Hon Maggie Barry
Minister Maggie Barry:
“The Old Government Building is already tenanted and a popular tourist attraction and Heritage New Zealand will consider options for Turnbull House once it has been earthquake strengthened.
The Media Releases are as follows: (more…)
May 29
Boys from Whangarei Boys High School sketch Parihaka Pa.
MEDIA RELEASE
Whangarei’s archaeological gem captures imagination of students
A heritage site dating back hundreds of years has captured the imagination of students from Whangarei Boys High School.
Mair’s Landing / Tawatawhiti, just north of Whangarei’s CBD, contains a number of prehistoric and historic features – including a remnant Maori stone field garden, the remains of a coal chute associated with the Whau Valley Coal mine horse drawn tramway and Mair’s Landing itself – a stone wharf dating back to 1841. Interest in the extensive heritage site was sparked by a public talk given by Heritage New Zealand’s Northland staff as part of last year’s New Zealand Archaeology Week.
“I was told of the site by a friend who attended the talk, and so I got in contact with Bill Edwards of Heritage New Zealand in Kerikeri,” says Whangarei Boys High School Deputy Principal, Allister Gilbert.
“He was pleased that a school was interested in the history of the place, and supplied documents recording the archaeology of the Whangarei area and harbour as background material for the students. Heritage New Zealand people have been fantastic to work with.”
Bill, and his colleague Northland Archaeologist James Robinson, took 22 of the school’s staff members on a walking tour of the site – and the ideas for using the site as an outdoor learning environment grew from there. Mair’s Landing / Tawatawhiti was recently listed as a Historic Area, and research for the listing report has helped raise understanding of the site’s significance.
“The science and social studies teachers were enthusiastic about being able to walk classes to the site and back to school in 90 minutes, and a cross curricular unit was developed between the two faculties,” says Allister.
“The English Faculty then became involved with the project as they wanted to use it as a source of inspiration for writing. The Te Reo Maori teacher has also used it as a source of information and experience for te tuhi me te korero[writing and speaking activities].”
About 250 Year 9 students – split up into 10 teaching groups – visited the site earlier this year and took part in a number of activities including sketching the outline of Parihaka Pa across the Hatea River, one of the largest archaeological sites in New Zealand. The students also sketched the stone garden remnants and learned how the garden was used.
The boys also rolled up their sleeves and helped clean up the rubbish in the area that had come in from the road. Year 9 Horticulture students will also be involved in weed management of the site as part of their course working with Whangarei District Council.
“About 42 percent of the Year 9 students are Maori, and the ability to give these rangatahi pride and a place in the city is a really positive outcome of this cross curricular work,” says Allister.
“The response from all the boys has been positive, with growth in a sense of connectedness to the place they live in. The ability to weave the Tawatawhiti garden site – which is very early – with the Parihaka site has really put their history into perspective.”
The project has had other spin-offs that have impacted the students.
“The local museum, KiwiNorth, brought artefacts relating to Maori gardening and other tools to the school. We had them at the school for two days, with the Year 9 classes rotating through the display of Ko [digging sticks], Timo / Ketu [small wooden digging implements], Toki [adze], and Mahe [fishing sinkers] and Punga [anchor stone].
“This was the first time they have brought material out of the museum, and we were very privileged to have this opportunity. The source of the stone has triggered interest with the boys, and so the inquiry continues.”
Mair’s Landing / Tawatawhiti will continue to play a central part in Whangarei Boys High School’s learning – and the Year 9 cross curricular unit in particular.
“The school feels very close to the site and is looking forward to helping develop it, and hopefully getting access to a high enough standard that it can be open to the public as it is an easy walk from the popular Town Basin café and tourist precinct,” he says
May 28
Liz Bigwood at Kerikeri’s Stone Store.
MEDIA RELEASE
Stone Store nominated for retail award
The New Zealand Retail Association has nominated the Stone Store as a finalist in the Best Provincial Retailer category of the 2018 Retail Hotlist awards.
The Association praised the way the Stone Store shop “balances its role as a living museum with a successful and beautifully merchandised retail operation”.
Manager of the Stone Store, Liz Bigwood, is delighted with the nomination, which she says is a tremendous honor in itself.
“The Stone Store began as a trading post in 1836, and has been in business in one form or another pretty well since then,” she says.
Trade of iron tools and implements, cloth, and basic foodstuffs like flour, tea, and sugar were stock in trade with local Maori and it was primarily this trade and the attraction of shipping into the Eastern Bay of Islands that Hongi Hika and other Ngapuhi leaders intended when they allowed a missionary settlement here.
“In later years, people used to say of the store that you could buy anything from a needle to an anchor, and we continue that tradition by stocking a wide range of goods, including authentic items similar to those that would have been on sale in the 19thCentury.”
A recent example includes wooden butter molds, similar to those available in New Zealand over a century ago, that are still manufactured in Germany. The Stone Store also stocks a range of quality New Zealand merchandise.
“It takes time to source these products, and it’s important that they fit well with our market and the heritage values of this place,” says Liz.
“The nomination acknowledges the special nature of the Stone Store as a unique retail operation, and the team that makes it so special.”
The awards take place on June 6.
The house at Opua – archaeological research has shown that it was not part of the historic Te Wahapu Barracks.
(Image source Heritage New Zealand
"A house in Opua – widely believed to have been part of historic barracks that were established by colonial troops at Te Wahapu in 1846 – has another story to tell.
“Close inspection of saw marks on the stud timber, however, show that it was cut using a ‘Twin Break Down Saw’. This type of saw did not appear in New Zealand mills until the 1870s – which is a long time after the Te Wahapu Barracks was built. The timber is also kauri which means it was milled in New Zealand. Both factors strongly suggest that the house was not part of the original barracks.”
"The saw marks are a good example of how building archaeology techniques can provide insights into the construction method of historic buildings and their history according to Heritage New Zealand’s Northland Area Manager, Bill Edwards.
The Media Release is as follows: (more…)
One of Thames’ three Levinge pillar boxes. This one is located on Pollen Street. (Image sourced HNZ Media Release
"Heritage New Zealand has listed Thames’ historic pillar boxes as a Category 2 historic place.
“One of the pillar boxes in Pollen Street, for example, is the oldest in use in the North Island, and the second oldest in the country. People have used it to post letters for almost as long as the township of Thames has been in existence.”
"Two of Thames’ three pillar boxes, which were designed by New South Wales Post Office clerk Thomas Levinge, were installed in 1869, with the third added in 1878.
The Media Release is as follows: (more…)
"Heritage Northland Inc is targeting six pre-existing signs around the Waimate North area for upgrading as part of a new project to improve historic interpretation signage at key places.
“The signs are getting rather worn so Heritage Northland approached the Rotary Club to see if they’d be happy for us to make some new ones. They were delighted and gave a generous donation towards the project,” says Kerikeri resident Grainger Brown of Heritage Northland.
“Initially we plan to put up six signs, and if the project goes well more may be added in Northland. One of the signs will point to Arthur's Stone near Waimate North – a seven-foot basalt column which is also New Zealand's first traffic accident memorial, and listed as a Category 1 historic place by Heritage New Zealand,”
The Media is as follows: (more…)
Rina Ward at the Honey House Café (Image HNZ Media Release)
May 15
MEDIA RELEASE
Crafts and Coffee kick off winter hours at the Honey House Cafe
The Honey House Café – one of Kerikeri’s favourite coffee spots – is staying open throughout winter, and a local artist is taking advantage of the extended hours to share her craft with others.
Jewellery maker Rina Ward will hold the first of a number of ‘Crafts & Coffee’ get-togethers on Thursday, 31stMay (10.30am-12.30pm), and is encouraging people to come along and enjoy a morning of “coffee, cake and charm jewellery making”.
“For the cover charge of $25 people can enjoy coffee and cake, and receive a jewellery starter kit to start them off,” says Rina, who owns Nostalgems Handmade Jewellery.
“I’ll be showing participants how to create one-of-a-kind heirloom-style jewellery, and offer a helping hand if needed. It’s not a workshop, but more an opportunity for people to get together and have fun. What better way to spend a winter morning than with some coffee, cake and a bit of crafting, together with people who have similar interests?”
One person who has taken part in one of Rina’s jewellery workshops in the past is the Manager of the Kerikeri Mission Station and Honey House Cafe, Liz Bigwood.
“As the name Nostalgem suggests, Rina’s jewellery has a wonderful heritage feel and her work is very popular in the Stone Store shop,” she says.
“Rina’s charm bracelets, for example, give people the opportunity to incorporate little keepsakes or objects that might otherwise become lost or overlooked – instead, giving them a purpose and significance that they might not otherwise have.”
A bracelet made by Liz incorporates a button from her grandfather’s army coat which he wore at Gallipoli.
“The button is only small but by incorporating it into a piece of jewellery it somehow gives it a focus and enables his story to be kept alive. Charm bracelets are a great way of highlighting these little treasures which might otherwise be in danger of being lost or forgotten.”
Holding the ‘Crafts & Coffee’ get-togethers at the Honey House shows what a versatile space the café can be according to Liz.
“It’s warm and comfortable with great food and a wonderful outlook – the perfect place for gatherings of this kind. Being open throughout winter also means this space can be available for community use like this – as well as being good news for all our local regulars.”
The Honey House will be open Wednesdays through to Sundays from about 9am and will feature a menu of tasty winter lunch meals and snacks including hearty winter soup, pies, toasted sandwiches, scones and frittata as well as favourites like the café’s toffee apple cake and its quality espresso and teas.
People can book their place on the crafty coffee meet-up by calling Rina on 021 175 9700, or emailing Rina at nostalgems@gmail.com
