Latest news with #Whanganuitangatawhenua
Scoop
02-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
New Exhibition At Whanganui Regional Museum Celebrates Sacred Architecture
Whanganui Regional Museum is proud to announce the opening of Our Places of Worship, a captivating photographic journey through the diverse churches and places of worship that have shaped the wider Whanganui region. The exhibition combines print and digital photography captured in 2024. The exhibition is the result of a major collaborative effort between the Whanganui Camera Club and the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust. Featuring the work of 24 talented club photographers, the project documents 70 sites of architectural significance, with over 2,000 digital images. The images have been archived in the Alexander Heritage & Research Library/Te Rerenga mai o te Kāuru. Of these, 40 carefully selected prints are on display, alongside a digital display of around 200 images. The original print exhibition unveiled last year at Whanganui Arts Centre was curated by Andrew Clifford (Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery), Bruce Dickson and Denis McGowan (local architects and members of the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust), and Beverley Sinclair and John Smart from the Whanganui Camera Club. The current presentation at the Museum has been curated by Maeve Egan, Kaihāpai Taonga/Curator at the Whanganui Regional Museum. 'This exhibition honours not just the buildings, but the stories and communities behind them,' says Egan. 'It's an evocative tribute to the region's spiritual heritage, captured through the eyes of passionate local photographers. We're thrilled to offer visitors a chance to experience these spaces in a new light.' Our Places of Worship is now open daily from 10am to 4.30pm until September 16, at the Whanganui Regional Museum, located in Pukenamu Queens Park on Watt Street. Entry is free, with koha (donations) gratefully accepted to support the Museum's work. Exhibition details Our Places of Worship Open daily 10am-4.30pm at Whanganui Regional Museum, Pukenamu Queens Park, Watt Street, Whanganui. Admission is free. Founded in 1892, the Whanganui Regional Museum is internationally renowned for its Taonga Māori Collection. Located in Pukenamu Queen's Park, visitors can view the exceptional creations of tupuna (ancestors) of Whanganui tangata whenua (indigenous people) alongside a changing exhibition programme encompassing a world-class collection of natural and human history, with a regional emphasis. The ground level boutique museum store sells a range of local and Māori jewellery, books, cards, art, and other New Zealand-made gift items. The Whanganui Regional Museum Trust is an independent legal entity that owns the collection and governs the development of the Museum on behalf of the Whanganui community. Open to visitors daily from 10.00am to 4.30pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday), entry to Whanganui Regional Museum is free.
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Wearing Of The Tartan: A Bold Blend Of Tradition And Modernity
The Whanganui Regional Museum is preparing to showcase a 1950s woollen day dress made from Wallace tartan. The dress was donated to the museum by Jean Frank, a dedicated Wanganui Museum staff member from 1970 to 1988. Pou Ārahi/Director, Dr Bronwyn Labrum, will host a fashion talk in the Museum at 12.15pm on Friday 4th July to present the outfit to the public. Whanganui Regional Museum's popular Outfit of the Month series continues with the next fashion talk on Friday 4 July at 12:15pm, which takes a special look at a classic woollen dress with a stylish twist. The featured outfit for July is a day dress made from Wallace tartan. An example of post-war fashion, the dress reflects the 1950s enthusiasm for structured silhouettes and statement patterns. The Wallace tartan is arguably one of the most recognisable and striking of all Scottish tartans, associated with the famous Scottish patriot Sir William Wallace. Tartan styles experienced a revival during the 1950s. Designers embraced tartan's strong visual appeal, pairing it with the era's fitted bodices and flared skirts to create garments that felt both traditional and modern. The crisp plaid and strong pattern would have made it a fashion-forward choice at that time. It reflected the post-war desire for elegant practicality with a splash of individuality, making it popular not just in the UK but in countries like New Zealand, where many families maintained strong ties to British and Scottish heritage. Originally worn by Mrs. L.A. Sergeant (born Annie May Lowe in 1899), who later emigrated with her family from England to New Zealand, the dress was gifted to the Museum by her daughter, Jean Frank. Jean was a dedicated Wanganui Museum staff member from 1970 to 1988, holding roles that included Artist, Display Artist, and Senior Assistant. The fashion talk will be presented by Pou Ārahi/Director, Dr Bronwyn Labrum. 'This dress is a stylish piece from the 1950s and a connection to the journeys of migration, memory, and family heritage,' says Labrum. 'Clothing like this speaks volumes about the era's fashion, but also the everyday lives of women who wore them.' The dress will remain on display throughout August, following the free lunchtime talk. All are welcome to attend. Koha or donations are appreciated to support the Museum's ongoing work in preserving Whanganui's rich cultural history. Founded in 1892, the Whanganui Regional Museum is internationally renowned for its Taonga Māori Collection. Located in Pukenamu Queen's Park, visitors can view the exceptional creations of tupuna (ancestors) of Whanganui tangata whenua (indigenous people) alongside a changing exhibition programme encompassing a world-class collection of natural and human history, with a regional emphasis. The ground level boutique museum store sells a range of local and Māori jewellery, books, cards, art, and other New Zealand-made gift items. The Whanganui Regional Museum Trust is an independent legal entity that owns the collection and governs the development of the Museum on behalf of the Whanganui community. Open to visitors daily from 10.00am to 4.30pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday), entry to Whanganui Regional Museum is free. Connect with Whanganui Regional Museum at or on Facebook, and Instagram.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Heirloom Glamour: Tracing Family Threads Through Fashion Talk
A stunning hand-made, beaded, flapper dress from the 1920s is the star of Whanganui Regional Museum's next Outfit of the Month fashion talk, taking place at 12:15pm on Friday 6 June. Presented by Pou Tiaki/Collections & Curatorial Lead, Trish Nugent-Lyne, the talk will delve into the fascinating story behind this exquisite garment – from its possible origins in the Netherlands or Indonesia to its journey to New Zealand in the 1950s. The dress was donated to the Museum in 1996 by Christiana Rietveld. Christiana'sdaughter Melanie Ellis recently visited the museum to share her memories and provide valuable context, including a photograph of Christiana wearing the dress in the early 1970s. Raised in Holland after a dramatic start to life in Indonesia, Christiana had treasured this heirloom, passed down through the family. 'This dress is a beautiful example of 1920s fashion and craftsmanship, but it's also a deeply personal piece with a story that spans continents and generations,' says Trish Nugent-Lyne. 'It's a privilege to share not only the garment itself, but the life and memory of the woman who wore and cared for it.' Following the talk, the outfit will be on display throughout June, giving visitors a chance to admire the intricate beadwork and craftsmanship up close. This event is free and open to all, with koha or donations welcomed to support the Museum's work in preserving and sharing our region's rich history. Don't miss this chance to step back into the glamour of the Jazz Age and uncover the moving story behind one woman's cherished dress. Founded in 1892, the Whanganui Regional Museum is internationally renowned for its Taonga Māori Collection. Located in Pukenamu Queen's Park, visitors can view the exceptional creations of tupuna (ancestors) of Whanganui tangata whenua (indigenous people) alongside a changing exhibition programme encompassing a world-class collection of natural and human history, with a regional emphasis. The ground level boutique museum store sells a range of local and Māori jewellery, books, cards, art, and other New Zealand-made gift items. The Whanganui Regional Museum Trust is an independent legal entity that owns the collection and governs the development of the Museum on behalf of the Whanganui community. Open to visitors daily from 10.00am to 4.30pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday), entry to Whanganui Regional Museum is free. Connect with Whanganui Regional Museum at
