TARANAKI

Aotea Waka Memorial at Patea.

Taranaki is set to celebrate its inaugural heritage month

A Heritage Month planned in 2021, but cancelled due to Covid, is all on for October 2022 when Heritage Taranaki will bring forth a month-long varied programme of heritage events and activities steered toward the reflection and facilitation of community understanding of the province’s complex and interesting past.

WORDS: David Watt IMAGES: Ron Lambert

Engagement with iwi and hapū as well as the wider community, including museums, historical societies and other community groups, have formed the basis of planning considerations for the month, according to organiser Rob Green. Rob says they “are focused on developing a better understanding of our rich and shared past, which is reflected in a programme that will honour and build a greater awareness of the region’s collective heritage.” “Other cultures, Chinese, Swiss and Polish, have had their narratives woven into the tapestry of Taranaki history. We will hear from them the stories they wish to share of their heritage.” “Heritage is a vital component of our unique and regional identity, capturing what we value from the past and promoting that into the present and our future. Heritage forms the fabric of how we can understand one another within our communities. Importantly, heritage is being continually redefined and iterated,” says Rob. Heritage Month will commence on 1 October 2022, with a pōwhiri at Puke Ariki in central New Plymouth.

The Gables, Brooklands, New Plymouth, one of four colonial hospitals commissioned by Governor Grey.

View from Memorial to Te Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck) Okoki Pā Urenui.

Whanganui’s Heritage Month this year is also being held over 8-30 October, with over 35 events. Their Heritage Month line-up includes Whanganui’s first heritage parade with horse-drawn carriages, cycles and vintage cars. The Whanganui programmme is available to view at: www.whanganuiheritagetrust.org.nz

wool export market. This exhibition has been developed by the Massey University School of Design led by Dr Annette O’Sullivan, who undertook the research, design and photography for the project. Other places to visit will be Owae to Pukerangiora, a mystery bus tour, the historic streets in Hawera and a trip to Patea.

A new mural will be unveiled on the wall of Puke Ariki followed by shared kai. Buses will then provide transportation to New Plymouth Airport where they will learn about Ngā Hinga Whakairo – the beautiful artwork embedded within the interior architecture of this awardwinning terminal. On 6 October a panel discussion, which includes Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Chief Executive Andrew Coleman, will focus on the broader definition of heritage; what it is, who has ownership of it, the consequences of decisions made, who do we entrust to make these decisions, and how do those decisions resonate from our past into our present? The discussion will invite audience participation. Rob Green emphasises that the stories we tell ourselves of our heritage will naturally be different according to our own perspective; our ‘lens’. “We need to challenge ourselves to better understand how our identity is reflected and reinforced through monuments and heritage chosen to be honoured and celebrated.”

Heritage Month also includes engagements with all Taranaki Museums: Puke Ariki, Aotea Utanganui (Museum of South Taranaki), and Nigel Ogle’s renowned Tawhiti Museum, along with historical societies and other organisations across the province. Several field trips are planned in North and South Taranaki, led by local archaeologist and historian Ivan Bruce, and historian Ron Lambert.

Former long-serving South Taranaki Mayor, Ross Dunlop, will host a wool bales stencils exhibition in the woolshed at his Hawera farm showing people the history of wool bale markings from the early days of large sheep stations and the Heritage Month will end on 5 November. Heritage Taranaki hopes that at its conclusion people will feel that they have a better grasp on local heritage and a thirst for more. “Our aspiration is that Taranaki Heritage Month becomes an annual fixture for our province,” says Rob. For full details on Taranaki’s Heritage Month, go to www.heritagetaranaki.com n