Heritage Quarterly Ngahuru Autumn 2024

New Zealand Archaeology Week promises more exciting events

WORDS: David Watt IMAGES: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Unearthing the past, for the future – we dig archaeology.

An annual fixture, Archaeology Week provides a perfect platform for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff to work together with external organisations and consultant archaeologists to promote the importance of protecting our archaeological heritage.

To be held from 27 April to 5 May, 2024 is the seventh year running for the popular science and discovery week.

As the principal organiser for the event, the New Zealand Archaeological

Association (NZAA) has been working with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga on this year’s events, themes, and in securing support for regional activities.

Each year there is growing interest in Archaeology Week from families looking to learn about our archaeological history and to get hands-on knowledge and experience with artefacts.

NZAA’s mission is to promote and foster archaeological and historical research. Its membership spans professionals, amateurs, students, businesses, and

various other institutions involved or interested in archaeology and heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The organisation also lobbies government and local authorities for the recognition and protection of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural heritage through planning consultations and engagement.

Archaeology Week will see the launch of a new booklet of ideas for kids’ archaeology activities, along with accompanying resources on the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga website. Senior Outreach

In previous years, children have enjoyed being an ‘archaeologist for a day’.

Advisor Rosemary Baird has enjoyed compiling this publication with the help of colleagues.

“We find that children and families love archaeology, they enjoy the thrill of excavating and being detectives about the past,” said Rosemary. Various events will be held at places cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga across Te Waipounamu South Island. In Auckland, Dr Kurt Bennett will be running an AIMA (Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology) NAS Certificate Course, which introduces the methods and procedures used in maritime archaeology. The course also generates awareness of shipwreck preservation in Aotearoa New Zealand. This will be held at Highwic in Auckland on 27-28 April.

In the Far North, James Robinson will be presenting a talk on climate change and the threat to archaeology. Those in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Wairarapa will enjoy a range of archaeology-focused talks and events.

Full details for all Archaeology Week events will be posted on the NZAA website: nzarchaeology.org n

1 ARCHAEOLOGY WEEK

New Zealand Archaeology Week promises more exciting events

3 EDITORIAL

A modern approach to heritage operations

4 FEATURE INTERVIEW

Sir Wayne Shelford, National President Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association

6 WHAKATĀNE

New to the List: Mataatua Wharenui

8 ASHBURTON

伍Ng King Brothers site’s auspicious opening

10 TŪRANGI

Niu meticulously restored

12 TOHU WHENUA

Behind the scenes with Tohu Whenua at the New Zealand Agricultural Show

14

RANGITĪKEI

Preserving Wheriko: A tale of heritage survival

16

WAIMATE NORTH AND KAIKŌURA

Incredible critters bring smiles –and more...

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Editor: Adrienne Hannan

Designer: Michael Steele

Published by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Heritage Quarterly keeps you up-to-date with heritage news from around New Zealand.

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Ready for action during Archaeology Week at Totara Estate in 2023.

A modern approach to heritage operations

We are making a click in the right direction towards a sustainable and efficient digital future.

At Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga we focus on the past to inspire the future with our efforts recognisable by communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. This futurefocused approach also includes how we operate internally — ensuring that our processes are up to date and fit for purpose, utilising modern technology and methods.

This edition of Heritage Quarterly carries a significant message — it marks the culmination of an era, as this will be the final printed issue. In an age where sustainability is more than a catchphrase, we believe in living up to our responsibilities to the future of Aotearoa New Zealand and the world. Bid farewell to paper files, adieu to the photocopier, and goodbye to manual processes. It is a resounding acknowledgement that the future lies in modern technology and innovative methods.

Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the environmental realm; it encompasses efficiency and fiscal responsibility. We acknowledge that print newsletters, while cherished, come at a cost, both financially and environmentally. Thus, we are embracing digital channels to better connect with you. This transition is not merely about saying goodbye to print; it is about embracing a more accessible and ecofriendly way to keep you informed and engaged.

As supporters of heritage, we know you share our vision. We invite you to join us on this digital journey, where you can follow us on social media, delve into articles on our website, enjoy our podcast, and subscribe to Heritage This Month — a newsletter that delivers updates directly to your inbox, ensuring timely and convenient access to the latest news.

Our continuous process of modernisation, and commitment to sustainability and efficiency, does not stop with

communication. As the regulators of archaeology for Aotearoa New Zealand, we are also spearheading a digital transformation in our processes with an online portal that streamlines archaeology authority processes, allowing archaeologists to manage their work efficiently. This development eliminates manual processes, ensuring a seamless end-to-end authority process, from application to legal compliance and reporting. This IT project is on track to launch the portal on time this year and on budget, an achievement in itself.

The ever-pressing effects of climate change, which puts heritage and archaeology at risk, have become a focal point of our operational decisions. The shared experiences of severe weather events in 2023, namely Gabrielle and Hale, have become catalysts for change.

In response, we have developed a comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Plan, specifically tailored to safeguard our nation’s heritage. The plan identifies the communities we work with to engage with local Civil Defence and the National Emergency Management Agency in the interests of heritage. The Disaster Risk Plan identifies values to protect and

risks to those values, identifies strategies and methods to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster, prioritises actions to reduce and prevent risk over the short, medium and long term, and finally enables planning and resourcing of risk reduction.

As you enjoy this final edition of Heritage Quarterly, brimming with updates on our people, mahi, and projects, I want to express my gratitude for your support. The transition from print to digital is not a goodbye but a welcome to a more sustainable and efficient future. We look forward to staying connected with you online, where together we can continue to protect the past for the future. n

Andrew Coleman Chief Executive

We say farewell to Heritage Quarterly after 10+ years in publication.

Feature interview:

Sir Wayne Shelford, National President Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association

WORDS: David Watt IMAGES: Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association

Sir Wayne Shelford, former RNZN Serviceman, All Blacks Captain, rugby coach, and now National President of the RNZRSA outlines his views on Anzac Day, and our Returned Services organisation and the challenges it faces.

Q1. As a respected national identity through your sporting achievements and for your earlier military service for New Zealand, what special skills will you be relying on as National President of the RNZRSA?

No matter the organisation you are with, whether it’s the New Zealand Defence Force, the RNZRSA or on the field with the All Blacks, there is always a need for good honest leadership – and that is what I bring to the table. I’m about helping people achieve the goal of the organisation, and here at the

RSA it’s all about making sure New Zealand’s veterans of military service and their whānau can access the support they need, when they need it.

Q2. The Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington is a special place, commemorating more than 30,000 New Zealanders who died in conflict and honouring all those who served. What are your thoughts on our proposal to recognise this place as a National Historic Landmark?

Sir Wayne Shelford speaking at Pukehu.

As National President of the RNZRSA, I sit on the National War Memorial Advisory Council. Pukeahu is the heart of remembrance in New Zealand, and National Historic Landmark status is an important part of ensuring it is safeguarded for future generations.

One of the most important parts of that status for the RSA is that, while the recognition offers protection, becoming a National Historic Landmark does not affect the ability to ensure more recent and future conflicts can be acknowledged within Pukeahu.

Q3. The number of Returned Services Association branches and places of assembly have diminished around the country over the years. What actions would you like to see to encourage their retention and support in coming years?

It’s no secret that the RSA is going through some change right now. Our focus is squarely on ensuring that New Zealand’s veterans of military service and their whānau can access support when they need it.

We know that the younger generation of veterans don’t socialise in the same way as those that came before, and the challenge for us is to ensure that RSAs around the country are looking to the future. It is critical for the RSA to have a presence in communities around the country, but how that looks might change. It could be a hospitality venue, a Veteran Centre – or something else.

Q4. We see large numbers of families and communities turning out for Anzac Day services each year. As a country, should there be stronger promotion of Anzac Day remembrance?

While we would like to see every New Zealander turning out to honour our service men and women on Anzac Day, I am not sure stronger promotion is the answer.

We would like to see a greater acknowledgement of our Defence Force personnel across the board. From valuing those who currently serve, regardless of whether they deploy on operations, to teaching our tamariki more about New Zealand’s involvement in conflicts throughout history right up to the present.

We would like to see greater support and care for New Zealand’s veterans of military service, both while they are serving and after they move on to another career or retire.

When New Zealand truly values its service men and women, that is when we will see the biggest turn out at Anzac Day and other commemoration services.

Q5. What are your thoughts on what support and services the RSA can provide for returned services personnel?

Right now, New Zealand has legislation that is discriminatory and inadequately provides for New Zealand’s veterans of military service. The RSA is advocating for change to the

legislation and has established a working group to advance that work.

While the legislation remains inadequate, the RSA continues to provide support to those who have served – from support with transition out of the military, gaining and maintaining employment, right through to hardship alleviation and ensuring they have access to appropriate health and wellbeing support throughout their life.

Q6. Currently there is a large focus on achieving peace talks and resolution of war and conflict, so what part do you see our New Zealand forces and others playing to help achieve this on a world stage?

I am not going to comment on what part our forces should play – that rightly is the domain of our government and those with the experience both in warfighting and policy making.

Right now, the international environment is one of uncertainty and increased conflict. The RSA is actively advocating for improvements to the conditions of service for Defence Force personnel to ensure that wherever they are sent, and whatever role they play, they are adequately supported both while they are serving and after they leave the military. n

Acknowledgement

We appreciate the support we received from the RNZRSA team in making the arrangements for this interview with Sir Wayne.

Sir Wayne Shelford laying a wreath at Pukeahu with Victoria Cross for New Zealand recipient Bill (Willie) Apiata.

New to the List: Mataatua Wharenui

WORDS: Annemarie Gilles and Niki Partsch

IMAGES: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

The new listing confirms Mataatua Wharenui is a majestic physical manifestation of the courage, determination, endurance, and resilience of a people.

During the decade 1864 to 1875

Ngāti Awa had become a broken people. A tribe alienated from each other because of the divide-andrule policies that were unleashed upon them by the settler government. The brutal confiscations of land by the settler government eroded the leadership within Ngāti Awa causing internal tensions and disconnections within whānau and hapū.

Out of the chaos came an idea to restore tribal dignity, unity, and identity at a time when Ngāti Awa were dispossessed and displaced. The idea was to build a structure that would help restore relationships among whānau and hapū. The building of Mataatua was an enormous task to even contemplate, let alone achieve, for a people so deeply

impoverished because of having their land taken and being treated as tangata hara (wrongdoers, people of sin) by the Crown.

Named for the illustrious waka that brought their ancestors to Whakatāne, this magnificent house, so beautiful to the eye and imbued with mana, would encompass large and intricate works of art, and showcase the expertise of those

Mataatua Wharenui in Whakatāne.

who built and adorned every part of it. The dedicated carvers, weavers, and builders and all who supported them, worked hard to uplift their people through the creation of Mataatua Wharenui. Elsewhere no-one could have anticipated the great journey and humiliations that were yet to come for Mataatua.

Mataatua Wharenui was built under the careful direction of Apanui Te Hāmaiwaho, the senior chief of Ngāti Awa and tohunga whakairo, and his son Wepiha Apanui.

Completed in 1875, the wharenui was a stunning testament to the skill, creativity, and expertise of many master carvers, mostly from the Mataatua region. Sadly, the wharenui dedicated to Queen Victoria as an expression of goodwill would not remain in the care of Ngāti Awa for long.

In 1879 the government ordered the wharenui to be dismantled and shipped to Australia for the International Exhibition in Sydney. No-one from Ngāti Awa had been permitted to travel with the house, so it was reassembled very poorly, with the carved and woven inside panels placed on the outside where they were exposed to the elements. Apanui Te Hāmaiwaho died in 1880, the same year that the carvings and the wharenui were transported from Sydney to Melbourne for another international exhibition.

The carvings have been restored over 15 years.

Following the Melbourne event, the wharenui was sent to London and erected at the South Kensington Museum. Later it was dismantled and placed in storage where it remained until 1924 when the whare was again unpacked for display at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley. But this would be the last overseas exhibition of Mataatua Wharenui. Successful negotiations by the New Zealand Government saw it returned to this country in 1925. But incredibly, Mataatua was not returned home to Whakatāne. Instead, the wharenui was taken to Dunedin for the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition.

During the many years of travels, the wharenui had been packed up, stored, rebuilt, and dismantled at least five times by various groups of people, most with no knowledge of how to do this correctly. Unsurprisingly damage was extensive, with much of the original building material lost, carvings unaccounted for and tukutuku panels ruined or destroyed.

When Mataatua Wharenui was erected at Otago Museum they added further insult and injury by sawing off the lower portions of whakairo to make the wharenui fit inside their museum. Mataatua was by this time significantly different from the beautiful wharenui that had been taken from Whakatāne some 45 years earlier.

Many requests from Ngāti Awa leaders asking for the return of Mataatua Wharenui to Whakatāne were made but ignored. From 1980, lead negotiator Tā Hirini Moko Mead undertook more earnest negotiations for the return of the wharenui to Whakatāne. A Waitangi Tribunal special deed of settlement finally returned ownership of Mataatua to Ngāti Awa in 1996. It took another 15 years for restoration work led by master carver Te Hau O Te Rangi Tutua to be completed.

Finally, after a 130-year journey, Mataatua was reopened on 17 September 2011, and is now located in Whakatāne at Te Mānuka Tūtahi Marae, Wairaka, near to where the whare had originally stood.

In November 2023, Mataatua Wharenui was recognised on the New Zealand Heritage List Rārangi Kōrero as Wāhi Tūpuna.

Annemarie Gillies who worked on the listing says, “There is so much history, Māori knowledge, genealogy, story, and connection depicted in the carvings, tukutuku panels, and the building itself that takes us back in time to the early Māori settlement period and returns us to the present. Almost all tribal groups in Aotearoa can make a connection to Mataatua Wharenui.

“Ngā mihi ki te whare. We are so lucky to have it.” n

伍 Ng King Brothers site’s auspicious opening

WORDS: Rosemary

Baird

A former Chinese market garden in Ashburton celebrated a major milestone in February 2024 as the restored site was officially opened soon after Chinese New Year.

Although the 伍Ng King (伍 is the Chinese character for Ng) Brothers Chinese Market Garden Settlement site has been managed as a reserve by the Ashburton District Council since 2013, the February event marked the site becoming a heritage and recreation destination. The newly stabilised buildings, fresh landscaping, and eight new interpretation panels make the site an informative and picturesque place to visit.

The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Christchurch team attended the celebrations, as many have been integrally involved in the project for many years through archaeology, listing, and interpretation.

The site was gazetted as a post-1900 archaeological site in 2019, and Senior Archaeologists, Frank van der Heijden and Gwen Hoopman, have often been onsite during ground works to monitor any archaeology found. Senior Listing Advisor, Robyn Burgess, authored the report for the listing of the site as a Category 1 Historic Place on the New Zealand Heritage List Rārangi Kōrero in 2020. Others worked closely with 伍Ng family members, project manager Arlene Baird, and Ashburton District Council graphic designer Paola Martinez to facilitate writing and designing the eight new interpretation panels.

Over the course of several years, the group has convened every few

months. The remarkable dedication and attention to detail displayed by the 伍Ng descendants became evident as they continuously added additional panels, incorporating more fascinating social history, images, and maps as they emerged.

The new panels, funded by the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust and Ashburton District Council, bring alive the stories of the men, women and children who lived on-site from 1921-1964. As well as describing the hard work and innovation that made the market garden business so successful, the panels provide insights into the home life of the 伍Ng family and their employees. There is detailed information on cooking, recipes, and

Some of the stabilised accommodation and living buildings at the 伍Ng King Brothers Chinese Market Garden Settlement site, 2023. Image credit: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

parties, including a panel devoted to the still-standing Chinese Pig Oven.

The research process revealed how integrated the 伍Ng community was into Ashburton society – from being trusted to fill local farmers’ pantries with produce, to taking part in local schools, dances, and commerce.

The panels also share some of the discoveries made during the restoration project: the wide variety of archaeological artefacts discovered, as well as the early use of radiata pine for building construction, which was highly unusual for its time.

For the 伍Ng family descendants, the event was a chance to enjoy all the hard work of the last decade. Carolyn King says, “Sadly Yep 伍Ng (the caretaker of the property for 49 years up to 2013, and the instigator of the idea that the land be used as a recreation park) and two of his cousins, Harry King and Wing King, passed away in 2023. The three of them worked at the market garden as teenagers. We know how much this project meant to them and how proud they would be of what has been collaboratively achieved. Family members travelled from around New Zealand and Australia to attend this special opening ceremony.”

Christine Whybrew, Director Southern at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, who also has a long association with the project, hopes the public will engage with the site. “Our team have enjoyed collaborating with the 伍Ng King family

and the Council on this project. We hope that school groups and visitors of all varieties will take the opportunity to learn about life and work here, and the important legacy of this place for Chinese New Zealanders.” n

Roasting a pig for Young King’s birthday celebrations in 1977. This was the last time the oven was used. Image credit: Lois Yee

Children of the 伍Ng families celebrating a birthday, circa 1950s. Image credit: Tong King

Niu meticulously restored

WORDS: Niki Partsch IMAGES: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Specialists Jim Schuster and Jasmine Hemi undertake a niu (flagpole) restoration project at Hīrangi Marae with the hapū of Ngāti Tūrangitukua of Ngāti Tūwharetoa in Tūrangi.

The very elegant maunga Pihanga is clearly visible behind the more than a century-old whare tūpuna, Tūwharetoa-i- te-Aupōuri. On the marae ātea at the front of the whare stands a massive niu crafted over 60 years ago by master carver Major Benjamin Goddard Christy (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Rongomaiwahine, Ngā Puhi).

The niu is made up of two sections – the lower half is carved on all four sides, and the top half is a narrow unadorned mast. Constant exposure to weather over six decades has impacted the niu, which by 2022 was clearly due for conservation. Marae reservation trustee Loretta Christy, who is the daughter of Benjamin Christy, reached out to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for an assessment and advice.

Ellen Andersen and Jim Schuster completed an on-site inspection and the team then concluded that the flagpole would need extensive work and time invested into its restoration. There was notable weathering on two sides of the carved niu. Large cracks ran vertically through the timber on the most exposed sides, and it was evident that a large amount of carved detailing would be required.

At the end of 2022, Jim and Jasmine worked alongside the marae whānau, guiding them through the lengthy process of cleaning and paint-stripping. First, using scrubbing brushes, detergent and warm water, debris and old filler were carefully removed from the cracks and details of the whakairo. Then they delicately scraped off all the old paint

with paint stripper and chisels. “During this time, you often see the real extent of the pirau behind the paintwork. It must be removed during this stage,” says Jasmine. Unfortunately, work that was scheduled to continue over the summer period onwards was delayed due to Cyclone Gabrielle. “The cyclone halted our work at Hīrangi as we had to shift our focus to the weatherimpacted marae on the eastern side of the North Island, and later with the incoming winter, our work could not be resumed. The summer months bring longer days that offer prolonged periods of natural light and warm enough weather for curing fillers and drying paints.”

In the Spring of 2023, Jim and Jasmine were able to get back to Hīrangi Marae to push on with the project. They were

Jim Schuster works with Richie Broughton (left front), Andrew Rangitauira (left back), Lester and Loretta Christy (both behind Jim) to carefully strip paint away.

joined by new staff member, Mya Dixon, who works as Pou Tai Tuara Assistant Programme Co-ordinator. She came to the site to learn about the team’s conservation methods and together they filled the deep cracks in the niu with glue to bind and strengthen it. Once it dried, a softer filler was carefully applied on top of the glue and to other areas of loss, to allow the team to re-carve the missing details. The painstaking task of filling and re-carving took many weeks.

The intention of this process was to reinstate the original details of the whakairo which had been lost. “Once the paint was removed, we could see some of Benjamin Christy’s pencil lines that guided his chisels so many years ago. It was such a neat sight to see. It was as if we were being taken back in time. We could see his decisions and design changes.”

With the niu repaired, the team and marae whānau could undercoat and paint the taonga using what Jasmine describes as their ‘dab and wipe technique’. The paint was dabbed into the details of the whakairo and wiped out with a paintbrush – carefully sweeping out the excess. This method of painting ensures that the paint doesn’t collect and obscure the detail of the whakairo once dried, but also ensures that every detail is painted sufficiently.

Once the paint was dried, the team and whānau completed the finishing touches – the pāua shell eyes. Together, they created stencils, shaped the pāua with clippers and grinders, and glued them into place. The niu took on a radiant glow from the shimmering of the eyes and

deep richness of the red paint.

The Māori Built Heritage team members enjoyed working with the whānau and with Benjamin Christy’s son, Lester and his son-in-law, Andrew (Tallyho) Rangitauira. Without these two, the mahi would have taken much longer. Jasmine says, “They were a great team to work with. They were enthusiastic and always willing to get stuck in and get the job done. Without them we would not have finished the job before Christmas.”

There were many quiet moments during the restoration of the niu. Together they shared the satisfaction of completing incremental progress stages and shared conversations that revealed a story. As the whānau worked on the flagpole, they spoke of how Benjamin Christy trained under Ngāti Porou brothers Hone and Pine Taiapa – two very well-known master carvers. He carved with them in the rohe of Ngāti Kahungunu and carved a poupou in the Kahungunu meeting house in Nuhaka and other carvings in Ngāti Tūwharetoa which was the home of his wife’s people.

“At the conclusion of the painting,” says Jasmine, “the whānau were happy and grateful to see the niu looking like new. Our mahi together has given it another lease on life. With regular maintenance, the niu could last another 50 years or more.”

At the time of writing, the niu is patiently waiting to be lifted and fixed back onto its base at Hīrangi Marae. The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga team aim to be back for this momentous occasion. n

Memorials raised to Pūataata Alfred Grace OBE

In 1963 there was a gathering of many tribes at Tūrangi for an unveiling ceremony of two memorials to the late Pūataata Alfred Grace OBE, JP of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. One memorial was the niu carved by Benjamin Christy of Tokaanu, which stands alongside the meeting house at Hīrangi Pā. The niu, ko Tūrangitukua, commemorates Ngāti Tūrangi.

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te niu.

Ko Ōwheao te ngārara; ko te kōkiritanga a Ngāti Tūrangi. Ko Te Rangitautahanga tētehi tangata. Kei reira ko Te Heuheu e pupuri ana ki tana taiaha, e titiro whakarunga ana ki ana mātua tūpuna. I tae a Te Wainui-a-Rua, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Kahungunu, me te motu.

At the unveiling ceremony, the kawa (dedication) was done by Tainui, headed by esteemed kaumātua Ngapaka Kukutai, Paraire Herewini, and Hēnare Tuwhangai. Link to recording of Benjamin Christy speaking in 1963 regarding the niu: bit.ly/3Ubwlqv

Kupu list

mahi work maunga mountain niu pou kara flagpole pirau rot

poupou carved figures of ancestors rohe area, region whānau related group of people. whare tūpuna ancestral house hapū subtribe marae ātea courtyard whakairo carving

Jim Schuster re-carving the niu.

Jim Schuster and Mya Dixon focus on undercoating the niu.

Behind the scenes with Tohu Whenua at the New Zealand Agricultural Show

WORDS: Jenny Mitchell IMAGES: Tohu Whenua

Armed with 6kg of jet planes and nearly 500 'Tohu Whenua Explorer' badges, a team of passionate wāhine spread the Tohu Whenua word.

Stalls of artisan food, massage chairs, merino sheep and local fashion lined the maze of the Christchurch Show. A threeday event with tens of thousands of visitors, the show offered an incredible opportunity to connect with New Zealanders from all corners of the country.

The Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Canterbury West Coast team is a regular participant at the show and this year suggested that Tohu Whenua take over the stall since Waitaha Canterbury will be the next region to be included in the programme. Always up for an opportunity to fly the flag and talk the talk, Team Tohu Whenua accepted the challenge – with lots of help from our colleagues, making for a great team effort!

Tohu Whenua is a visitor programme (run in partnership with three government agencies) that connects New Zealanders with our unique heritage and promotes significant historical and cultural sites. Launched in 2016, the programme is successfully operating in three regions – Te Tai Tokerau Northland, Otago, and Te Tai Poutini West Coast, with Waitaha Canterbury lining up nicely for the fourth region. The ultimate goal is to roll out the Tohu Whenua programme across all 15 regions of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Part of the team at the show.

Pre-show preparations meant the team was well equipped with the best words and tools to highlight the network. Senior Outreach Advisor, Rosemary Baird, identified that a great place to start was a simple, “do you like to travel around New Zealand?” Asking people what they like to do on holiday was a fantastic way of starting a conversation about all the diverse kinds of experiences Tohu Whenua has to offer – cycling, hiking, trains, mines, boats, opulent historic buildings, mission houses, picnic spots and Treaty signing locations – we really do have something for everyone.

Other one-liners such as, “a network of mustsee heritage places,” and “a free online guide to heritage experiences,” came to life when visitors recognised familiar places on the large Tohu Whenua map that adorned the back wall of the stall. Faces lit up with nostalgia, and stories of family adventures on the Otago Central Rail Trail or visiting Larnach Castle poured out along with plans for future trips around Aotearoa.

The Tohu Whenua stall quickly became a hub of activity, drawing in families and solo travellers with its vibrant display and friendly team members. As hands eagerly reached for jet planes and badges, conversations sparked about heritage, history, travel, and education. To sweeten the deal, stall visitors had the

A great place to start was a simple, “do you like to travel around New Zealand?”

chance to win a family pass to a Tohu Whenua experience of their choice. Options included a family pass to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, a trip on the TSS Earnslaw or a guided tour at Denniston Mine.

By the end of the event, the team had collected over 250 entries for the competition. The promise of a family pass to a Tohu Whenua experience had stirred the imagination of the attendees, leaving them eager to embark on their own adventure.

One of the best things about getting out and about at events like this is having the opportunity to genuinely connect with people who might not think they like ‘heritage’ but in fact are interacting with it every day –especially when they are travelling around the country.

With the success of the show behind us, the Tohu Whenua team is looking forward to future opportunities for in-person promotion and will be utilising the most successful conversation starters as tools to share with our stakeholders n

Our stall, with design elements by Michael Steele.

Rosemary Baird’s tamariki enjoying the stall.

Preserving Wheriko: A tale of heritage survival

WORDS: David Watt IMAGES: Russell Murray

The petite Anglican church has a bright future with a newly funded conservation plan to preserve its rich history.

In the tranquil surroundings of rural Parewanui, near Bulls, stands the venerable Wheriko Church — an Anglican sanctuary with a captivating narrative cherished by the Rangitīkei community. Recognised as a Category 1 Historic Place and protected within the Rangitīkei District Plan, Wheriko embodies national and regional significance.

With its origins dating back to the early 1840s, Wheriko serves as a monument to the expansion of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and the dedicated efforts of missionary Reverend Richard Taylor (18051873).

Reverend Taylor's impactful journey began in Pēwhairangi Bay of Islands, where he arrived with his family in September 1839, taking over the mission school at Waimate North. Attending the debate at Waitangi on 5 February 1840, he played a pivotal role in crafting the final version of Te Tiriti o Waitangi from rough drafts in preparation for signing on 6 February.

He was sent south by Bishop Selwyn, the family arriving at Pūtiki Wharanui on the southern side of the early settlement of Whanganui in May 1843. His subsequent mission in the Whanganui area marked a period of evangelism and peace-making, fostering close ties with the Rātana Church.

Throughout his missionary tenure, Reverend Taylor's diverse interests in ethnography, botany, zoology, and geology were evident. His influential work, "Te Ika a Māui, or New Zealand and its Inhabitants " (1855), stands as a testament to his multifaceted contributions.

Among the notable structures erected during Reverend Taylor's mission, the Wheriko Church completed in 1862 stands as a simple yet significant Victorian Gothic example. Built with timber and funded by the local community and the Wellington Diocese of the Anglican Church, its significance extends beyond its association with Reverend Taylor to encompass teachings from the Anglican Church, Haaki o te Wairua Tapu, and the Rātana Church.

Initially named Christ’s Church, some time later the name changed to Wheriko – being a Māori translation of Jericho.

The churchyard holds the resting place of Atareta Kawana Ropiha Mere Rikiriki (Ngāti Apa), a tohunga whose prophecy in 1912 foretold the emergence of a new prophet, which was later confirmed to be Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, the founder of the Rātana religion. Her presence, along with the graves of the parents of Rātana, adds layers of spiritual significance to Wheriko.

Wheriko Church holds significance to heritage supporters in the Rangiīikei District and elsewhere, but is especially remarkable to Manawatū conservation architect, David Chapple.

In the 1980s, Chapple intervened when moisture threatened the church's timber walls. Facing potential disaster, Chapple and his team successfully raised the church on piles, ensuring its survival for future generations.

“It was a near disaster. The simply built church began to simply unbuild itself. I can recall an agonising drive from my office in Palmerston

North to the church wondering how I was going to tell Heritage New Zealand that it was going to cost the building or having to find hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the end we had a good result, and the organisation ‘carried the can’ until we could locally raise the money for repairs.”

Today, four decades later, Chapple remains dedicated to Wheriko Church. His recent collaboration with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Ngāti Apa, and conservation architect, Russell Murray, aims to secure the church's future through a comprehensive conservation plan. This plan, undertaken in collaboration with Chris Cochran and Win Clark, will assess the church's condition and provide guidelines for necessary repairs, and future maintenance. Funding of the conservation plan has been supported through Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

Pleased with the collaborative effort, David Chapple emphasises the collective and shared commitment to Wheriko's preservation. Together, they are working towards ensuring the enduring legacy of this cherished taonga.

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The interior of the Wheriko Church.

The timber exterior of the 162-year-old church.

We make funding for heritage projects easy.

Embarking on a heritage preservation journey? The 2024 National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund is your key to unlocking vital funding support. Applications for conservation funding are currently open and will close at the end of June 2024.

Visit our website to learn about the criteria, funding priorities, and the application process. It’s a straightforward way to kickstart your heritage project.

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The Wheriko Church and historic graves in its rural surroundings.

Incredible critters bring smiles – and more...

WORDS: John O’Hare IMAGES: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

They’re cute and cuddly, at times unusually curious and always on duty. Meet some of the incredible critters who bring so much to two of our historic places – Te Waimate Mission and Fyffe House.

Te Waimate Mission Station, nestled inland from the picturesque Pēwhairangi Bay of Islands, beckons visitors into a world where the beauty of nature intertwines with a rich tapestry of history. Established in 1832 by Anglican missionaries, Te Waimate was conceived as a model farm designed to teach European agricultural techniques to Māori. Wandering through this historical haven, visitors quickly realise they are not alone. Masked Lapwings guard their ground nests, ready to shriek their displeasure at anyone who comes too near, while the Kūkupa (Kereru) swoop gracelessly between branches. Beyond the feathered inhabitants, an array of farm animals, “sets the scene for what things might have been like when this place was a working farm,” according to Property Lead Lindis Capper-Star.

“Te Waimate Mission is fortunate to have animal life in abundance – and each one represents an important part of the many stories associated with this special place,” she confirms.

The early Anglican missionaries spared no effort in transforming the landscape to mirror the English countryside, introducing not only flora but fauna as well. Horses, cattle, and sheep were brought in, playing pivotal roles in the narrative of Te Waimate Mission. Visitors are encouraged to engage with these living relics, feeding treats to the cattle and capturing memories with them, as Visitor Hosts share the stories of their impact on the Mission's history.

Annie and Maggie, the Highland cows, alongside Beatrice, a Jersey cow, take center stage. However, the real star, or perhaps social media sensation, is Fergus – a Highland/ Hereford cross steer born to the 30-year-old Annie in an unexpected late arrival, charming all with his 'cuteness' factor.

Travelling southward to Fyffe House in Kaikōura, the historical context takes a different turn. Once at the heart of Robert Fyffe's whaling operation, the oldest part of Fyffe House stands on foundation 'stones' crafted from whale vertebrae, a creative response to the timber

shortage on the peninsula.

Ann McCaw, Fyffe House Property Lead, sheds light on the practical use of whalebone during the whaling era, “It seems almost unthinkable to us today with current attitudes towards whaling, but the family was frugal and very practical – they had to be in order to survive in that industry in this part of the world – hence the creative use of whalebone.”

Today, Fyffe House enjoys a positive relationship with animals, especially those of the sea. The surrounding coastline's abundance of fish attracts an array of birdlife, including Kōtare, Tōrea, Matuku, and occasionally the Red-billed Gull. Even an intrepid seal once took up temporary residence on the house’s roof. The cliffs near the house, named Te Whatakai-o-Rakihouia, hold historical significance, tied to Te Rākaihautu's exploration of Kaikōura, where his party scaled cliffs gathering seagull eggs. In this vibrant ecosystem, even the smallest creatures contribute to the overall visitor experience. Skinks bask on concrete paths, adding their charm to the landscape, while bumble bees, a novelty for visiting Australians where they are virtually unknown, play their part in the delicate dance of nature.

Across Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga properties, from Te Waimate Mission to Fyffe House, the diverse fauna not only connects visitors to the rich history of these unique places but also adds a vital dimension of fun, creating memories that resonate far beyond the visit itself. n

No you’re not seeing things – that really is a seal on the roof of Fyffe House. Just one of the fantastic beasts that make our historic places special.

Introducing Massey Ferguson Te Mīhana Waimate – Fergus for short – taken after his somewhat unexpected but very welcome arrival in August 2023.