EDITORIAL
Glorious opportunities in domestic tourism
ANDREW COLEMAN
Recently, a group of individuals were planning a trip to Northland and I was asked what I could recommend to them. My first response was “Tohu Whenua”, quickly followed by “heritage properties and stories”. My third comment was “it’s all about New Zealand’s history and heritage – exploring and learning”. This line of thinking took me back to Tohu Whenua, a fantastic programme all about heritage, history, stories, properties, exploring and learning. I really enjoy having these conversations with heritage and history supporters for a number of reasons. It is pleasing that a strong feature of this edition of Heritage Quarterly is the promotion of heritage properties, programmes and the stories they represent. It is a must read for anyone who has the same question as the group I spoke to. It is a pleasure for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to be tasked with the acquisition of the Hokitika Government Building. It will be a challenge to strengthen and adaptively reuse it, but a challenge we readily accept.
This is a building with an important history. It also has important links to other heritage stories across the country due to the connection and influence of Richard Seddon. Born in Eccleston near St Helens, Lancashire, England, Seddon arrived in New Zealand in 1866. He was a resident of Kumara, with locals electing him as their parliamentary representative in 1881. In 1893, he became leader of the Liberal Party and for the next 13 years as Premier was widely regarded as dominating politics. Seddon was credited with social and economic change, significant public works and inherited a Bill for women’s suffrage. The statues in Hokitika and on the forecourt at Parliament are reminders of his legacy. Connecting and celebrating places with our history and heritage is what Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is about. We do this through the 44 properties we care for on behalf of the country, and will continue to do with additional properties such as the Hokitika Government Building. Programmes such as Tohu Whenua provide us with many opportunities to encourage and invite New Zealanders to explore and visit their country. The summer campaign for Tohu Whenua to ‘Discover the places that tell our stories’ is an inviting catchphrase. The good thing is that in behind the catchphrase there are many glorious heritage opportunities. Exploring one, some or all of the 24 Tohu Whenua in the three current regions the programme features should be a goal of every New Zealander. It is impressive that each current Tohu Whenua region has its unique story:
arrived, centuries apart, and where their identities were defined. • Otago showcases examples of a pioneering nation with places that tell the stories of our collective ingenuity, creativity and spirit – some of the cornerstones of our economic and entrepreneurial livelihood. • Te Tai Poutini West Coast represents the rise of a resourceful nation that tells the stories of the hardships endured for our country’s most prized resources. A region known for its incredible beauty and rich bounty, these are places where limits were tested and rewarded. So, there are many opportunities to visit Tohu Whenua and heritage properties around the country. Many are privately owned and others are owned by you – New Zealanders – and managed on your behalf by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. You will find that you are spoilt for heritage choice! The challenge is there for us all – so be a domestic tourist. Go and explore and discover the places that tell our stories. You might like to also explore other heritage gems that feature in this issue. Try Tamatea/Dusky Sound in Fiordland, the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin, Pūtiki Church in Whanganui, Whangaroa, the Forgotten World Highway in Taranaki, the Carter Fountain in Wellington and archaeological sites. This edition of Heritage Quarterly certainly offers up many options for you. Enjoy your heritage.n
ANDREW COLEMAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
• Northland highlights the birth of a bicultural nation and the interweaving journeys that tell the stories of our beginnings. These are the places where our Māori and European ancestors
heritage.org.nz
3
