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ARATOI VOICES Aratoi collection: From rst to latest

Extra

In 1963 Wairarapa gallery supporters took the ambitious step of buying a Barbara Hepworth sculpture as the foundation piece for a new arts and cultural centre.

That first purchase was by an internationally renowned artist: now Aratoi’s collections policy states it will hold ‘collections in art, Taonga Māori, natural and social history with a particular emphasis on the Wairarapa region of New Zealand.’

Jo Torr, registrar at Aratoi, is responsible for researching any proposed additions to the Aratoi collection. She takes her findings to the Acquisitions Committee, made up of Susanna Shadbolt, Aratoi’s director, two Aratoi board members, and Torr. Co-opted member Gareth Winter brings his knowledge of Wairarapa’s history. Decisions involving Taonga Māori are investigated by Aratoi’s kaihautū, Haami Te Whaiti.

“Most acquisitions are donated or bequeathed to Aratoi,’’ said Torr. “Often our new acquisitions come from people when they are clearing out their

Norse Pipe. Collection of Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History. Gift of Debbie Paterson. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

family home. I write an acquisitions proposal and if the committee decides the item should join our collection, the board will ratify the decision and a deed of gift is drawn up.”

Then the object joins the collection, is valued for insurance purposes, and registered on the new software collection information system.

Not everything is accepted: the item must fit the kaupapa set out in the policy.

“In the proposal I consider the significance of the item, taking into account factors such as how it might be used in the collection, what researchers might use it for and its place in future exhibitions,” said Torr.

She said if something is not accepted, she will endeavour to suggest a more relevant place, such as Cobblestones, or the Wairarapa Archives, a logical home for items on paper. Aratoi does not collect items on paper, except for art. The latest addition to the collection is a much humbler artefact than the Hepworth sculpture. A handmade pipe made from what is possibly a reindeer antler, decorated with scrimshaw of a deer among foliage and the word ‘TromsØ’, it was offered to Aratoi by a donor who has Norwegian ancestry. It seems possible that her ancestors were among those recruited to clear the area north of Masterton known as Forty Mile Bush.

In her research, Torr found that TromsØ, an area in Norway, has a rich Norse and Sámi heritage and the pipe is likely of Sámi origin or influenced by Sámi craftsmanship.

“This item is worth collecting as an item that reflects the migration of Scandinavians into the area in the 1870s”, her report said.

Thanks to those farsighted benefactors of 1963, and the generosity of many others, Aratoi’s collection has morphed into the one we have today.

FEATHER REPORT

In praise of parrots in a nutshell

Most people can recognise a parrot even if they have never met that sort of parrot before.

Parrots fill our storybooks and children’s books. Captain Flint was the parrot who sat on the shoulder of Long John Silver in the book Treasure Island.

In Victorian Britain pubs and coffee houses had parrots in place of TVs to entertain the clientele.

So what makes a parrot a parrot?

Beaks are their defining feature. The two muscles that work them are unique to parrots. With strong jaws hinged flexibly to a thick skull they are the only birds that can really crush and chew.

Their mouths are like Swiss Army knives, used to crack kernels, crush seeds, pulp fruit, tear wood and hold nuts.

Another key part of the parrot body plan is the feet, with two toes on each foot running forward and two running backward.

Almost alone among birds they can hold what they eat. They are the squirrels and monkeys of the bird world. And they have tongues that can take nectar from flowers as well. Parrots usually live in large garrulous flocks (we will come to the NZ exceptions later) and are exceptionally noisy. A visitor to Oz will rapidly encounter the awful racket of lorikeets and cockatoos.

Talking of parrots takes us straight to Australia.

There are more types of parrots living around Sydney than are to be found than in any other whole country. Australia is the mother lode of the parrot world.

They first evolved there and have spread out repeatedly to other parts of the world.

Which brings us to the NZ parrots.

There are three main families of parrots. Our three large ancient parrots: the Kākākpō, Kākā, and Kea are very different from the rest of parrotdom. They were the earliest branch to split from the ancestral family tree.

Eastern rosella. PHOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM Continued on page 16

NIBBLE AWAY AT YOUR DOG REGO

Dog registration fees are due at the end of June, but there’s an easy way to take the pain away from payments. For as little as $5 a week, you can cover the cost of registration in instalments – and avoid late fees. Contact Masterton District Council’s Animal Services team to set up an automatic payment for dog registration fees. Phone 06 370 6300 or email animalservices@mstn.govt.nz, and don’t forget to update your contact details if they have changed.