Taranaki Heritage Month 2022

Working in collaboration with iwi and hapū, museums, historical societies and other community groups, Heritage Taranaki is proud to present a month-long programme of activities focused on facilitating discussion, and exploring both the shared, and divergent, understandings of Taranaki’s complex and fascinating past.

Activities begin with a pōwhiri on Saturday 1 October at Puke Ariki, kindly hosted by the local Te Kaunihera Kaumatua committee. See the new mural honouring Hana Jackson and her passion to see Te Reo Māori taught in all schools. Buses will then transport people to New Plymouth Airport to hear the explanation of the Ngā Hinga Whakairo- the artwork embedded in the architecture of this award-winning terminal.

On the evening of 6 October, a panel discussion will focus on the broader definition of heritage; what is heritage, who has ownership over it, what are the consequences of decisions made, who do we entrust to make these decisions and how do these decisions resonate from our past into our present? The discussion will invite audience participation.

The month will include 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 such 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, along with tours of Pukekura Park, central New Plymouth, and much more. The programme will conclude on 5 November as events surrounding the invasion of Parihaka on 5 November 1881 are recalled.

Find our FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS HERE

Keep up-to-date with Taranaki Heritage Month events and other heritage news on HERITAGE TARANAKI’S FACEBOOK PAGE

This month wouldn’t be possible without the support of our generous sponsors, including: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Taranaki Cathedral, Heritage Taranaki Inc, Govett Quilliam, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre, Waitara Rotary, the New Plymouth District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Toi Foundation, Taranaki Electricity Trust, and The Plymouth International Hotel. A full list of Taranaki Heritage Month 2022 supporters can be found HERE.