THEN :: Histories of Pāmutana

09/11/2024

We've just presented, "Being a Palmerstonian" at the inaugural National Community Heritage Conference, being hosted by Napier. We shared our story of proposing a different way of thinking about the 'start date' of Palmerston North in 2021, and outlined some of the public campaigns we have been running since then, in support of .

We invited everyone at the conference to to learn more about changemaking Palmerstonians. Will you be there?!

29/09/2024

Inspired by a Manawatū Time Machine session on street names, with local primary teachers, we have contributed a piece to the Back Issues series (Manawatū Standard) focusing on streets named after Palmerston North mayors.

Fun fact: It appears that mayors serving the city since 1971 are not remembered in our street names. However, we do have John F Kennedy Drive and Trump Place!

📚We are collating info on local odonyms - streets named after people. We welcome local mātauranga on street names as we build up our 'Face to a Name' project. Feel free to msg or email us 🤓

Names we choose can symbolise a great deal about our culture and worldview. Street names can express social, cultural or political values.

26/07/2024

Calling Y4-8 teachers of the Aotearoa NZ histories curriculum. We have two seats available in the second 'Manawatū Time Machine'. 🕰

We meet on Tuesdays from 3.30 - 4.30pm in the school house at Te Manawa Museum of Art, Science & Heritage on the following dates:
Term 3: 30 July, 13 & 27 Aug, 17 Sep
Term 4: 22 Oct, 5 & 19 Nov, 3 Dec

Cost $199pp on invoice
Contact us by messenger or email [email protected] for our information flier or to book your seat.

📢 A local principal says, "Can thoroughly recommend. We had staff in the first programme and have signed up more staff for the second programme based on how pumped the original attendees have felt about it."

24/07/2024

160th anniversary
Yesterday uri o Rangitāne journeyed to Te Whanganui a Tara to Archives New Zealand to view the Te Ahu a Turanga document signed by ancestors on 23 July 1864. The trip included connecting with Rangitāne taonga at Te Papa. We provided the "160" edition of biscuits by Griffin's. (Coincidentally they were founded by John Griffin in Nelson in 1864.)

📷 Warbricks in the back seat of the fancy chartered bus!

22/07/2024

It's that time of the year when we ponder various aspects of the 23 July 1864 transfer of land by Rangitāne ki Manawatū to the crown. This week we have written about Parahaki Island for the Manawatū Standard's Back Issues series.

A block sale to the Crown 160 years ago did not include Parahaki Island in the Manawatū Gorge.

10/07/2024

Did you know that the clock face and chimes were named Kerei Te Panau in honour of a Rangitāne rangatira born at the beginning of the 19th century?

Warren told the Manawatū Guardian, "Because there are four faces on the clock tower, we feel that [Te Panau] is still watching over us as a people and a number of us older ones when we hear the chimes going we like to think that he is having his say ... We stop and listen to what he has to say.”

Rangitāne view the clock as a symbol of rangatira Kerei Te Panau.

04/04/2024

March was Heritage Month in Pāmutana. We gave a talk about earth-bound mahi toi inspired by Rangitāne pūrākau, and another talk about Palmerstonians named on the Palmerston North War Memorial. We created videos for a six-location tour (The Toi Tour), we announced the start of our Face to a Name project, and led a group around Te Uru Karaka. We also installed signs on lampposts directly opposite key locations, such as a castle and bullring, in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Spain (see more info at toiwarbrick.com): IYKYK.

If you participated - what did you enjoy most? If not - which of these activities would you be keen to see repeated? Or do you have suggestions or requests? Comment below or PM us!



📷 Warren joined Prof. Giselle Byrnes, Assoc. Prof. Geoff Watson, and Prof. Em. Russell Poole for a panel discussion on whenua, surrounded by Back Issues features (Manawatū Standard), at Palmerston North City Library during the highlight week of Heritage Month - 'Local History Week 2024'.

05/03/2024

📢 Local History Week runs until Sunday 10 March. Are you interested in hearing Rangitāne ki Manawatū pūrākau and perspectives?

🚗 Today, 12.30-1.30pm: Te Ahu a Turanga highway with Waka Kotahi NZTA staff Terry Hapi and Grant Kauri Library

🌿 Thursday, 5.30-6.30pm: Taiao with Prof Jonathan Procter Library

🌳 Saturday, 4-5pm: Karaka Grove with Craig Kawana Grove

✏️ Sunday, 1.30-2.30pm: Panel discussion on writing about land, includes Warren Warbrick Library

📷 Warbricks step back in time by taking the 'Tokomaru' rail car through Te Āpiti during Local History Week 2024.

27/02/2024

Heritage Month begins on Friday! There are 80 talks, walks, guided experiences and workshops across March. We are giving two talks this weekend, we've devised two tours and we are running a workshop. Stay tuned for more ...

📢 Heritage Month announcement! Opening weekend activities for your diary …
🌳 Take part in a pōwhiri at the beautiful Rangimarie Marae (Sat 2 Mar), stay for lunch and hear Warren Warbrick talk about Rangitāne artworks in the city. ✏️
🚐 It’s your last chance to nab some tickets for the historic rail car trip through Te Āpiti – Manawatū Gorge (Sun 3 Mar). ✏️
🌿 Join Geoff Watson & Mike Roche for a walk in the Victoria Esplanade (Sun 3 Mar) and find out what happens to green waste at the Awapuni Resource Recovery Park (Mon 4 Mar). ✏️
✏️ Register to participate: https://bit.ly/HeritageMonthRegistrations
See the full programme: https://citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/whats-on/programme/local-history

22/02/2024

We have run some sessions in recent weeks with kaiako or students on the reasons and meanings behind names we use every day in our rohe. Featherston Street, Fitzherbert Avenue and Ferguson Street were named after these 19th century politicians? Only Scotsman Alexander Ferguson (c. 1846-1931) ever lived in Palmerston North, arriving in 1878. He was Mayor from 1885-86 and left town a couple of years later.