Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao

🌟 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Jens Hansen 🌟 A heartfelt thank you to Jens Hansen for their generous support of Gala Royale. Their sponsorship is helping bring this black-tie midwinter fundraising evening of fine dining, entertainment, and premium auctions to life, all in support of the new ARC (Archives, Research and Collections) Facility in Richmond, Tasman. The ARC Facility will provide a secure, fit-for-purpose home for the Nelson Tasman regional heritage collection, safeguarding precious taonga for generations to come. We’re grateful to have Jens Hansen alongside us, championing Nelson Tasman heritage and helping make our auction one to remember. 💛 📅 Saturday 13 June 2026 | 5.30pm 📍 Rutherford Hotel 🎟️ Secure your spot via the link in bio #GalaRoyale #MuseumGala #ARCFacilityRichmond #NelsonTasmanHeritage @jenshansen.co.nz

Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting researcher Dr Amber Aranui at our research facility as she undertook provenance research relating to kōiwi tangata. This mahi involved working through museum archives, museum cards, and associated documentation to support provenance research, with the purpose of helping return tīpuna home by deepening understanding of the histories and connections held within these records. This research was supported by the Ngākahu Ruruhau National Repatriation Fund. Ngā mihi nui, Dr Aranui. We loved having you with us.

Behind every museum object is a story worth protecting. Last week, we opened the doors to our Isel Park Research Facility for a special farewell open day, giving our community a rare chance to go behind the scenes before the move to the new ARC (Archives, Research and Collections) facility in Richmond, Tasman. Visitors saw firsthand the scale and significance of the collection cared for by Nelson Provincial Museum, from deeply personal taonga to nationally significant archives. Thank you to everyone who came along, supported the museum, and shared memories, family histories, and connections to the collection. These stories remind us why this project matters. Money raised through fundraising and this year’s gala will support the collection relocation and storage project, helping protect irreplaceable taonga, archives, and objects in a facility designed to care for them properly. This is a once-in-a-generation project. Your support helps preserve our shared history for the future. Find out how you can support ARC: https://www.nelsonmuseum.co.nz/about-arc Book tickets to the museum gala: /ticketsales

This ANZAC Day, we pause to remember. Within our collection are stories of service and sacrifice. The UNESCO Memory of the World registered Tyree Studio collection holds portraits of many who served, alongside diaries, letters, journals and medals that speak to their experiences. One of these is Cyril Spear, a journalist with the Nelson Evening Mail who enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He recorded vivid accounts of his time in Egypt and on the Western Front. As we commemorate, we invite you to share a story, photograph or memory of someone who served, helping to ensure these histories continue to be remembered. Lest we forget. Kei wareware tātou Today at the museum, we have a display of First World War images from our collection. 📷 Bombardier Cyril Saunderson Spear, New Zealand Field Artillery, circa 1915. Nelson Provincial Museum Collection: 282541

This Anzac Day the museum will be open 10am–4.30pm, with the same hours on Monday’s public holiday. Taken on 25 April 1916 by F N Jones, this photograph shows a crowd watching a military parade led by a brass band in Trafalgar Street. The first Anzac Day was observed as a half-day holiday on 25 April 1916, marking the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. More than a century later, it remains a powerful reminder of collective remembrance and reflection. Image: Anzac Day, Nelson. N.Z., 25 April 1916. Nelson Provincial Museum, F N Jones Collection: 311334

🎨 Toi Ahiahi is back next week, starting Wednesday 29 April! Join us every Wednesday during term time, from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, as our amazing Workshop Coordinator Jolie sets up a fantastic array of materials for tamariki to create, build, and let their imaginations run wild! These fun-filled sessions are Koha entry and open to children of all ages. There’s no need to book. Just drop in to the Museum on Wednesday afternoons during workshop hours. Come get creative with us!

For Conservation Week / Te Wiki o te Taiao (20–26 April), we’re celebrating one of Te Waipounamu’s remarkable alpine survivors: tīkumu. Tīkumu lives where few plants can, shaped by wind, snow, light, and stone. Found across alpine slopes and ridgelines from Kā Tiritiri o te Moana to Kahurangi, Fiordland, and the southern highlands, it shows us that survival in these environments depends on balance. In the alpine world, tīkumu grows alongside snow tussocks, taramea, astelia, and other hardy plants that help anchor soil, hold moisture, and create shelter in exposed places. Together, they form delicate communities shaped by season, weather, insects, and the land itself. Our current exhibition explores tīkumu and the harmony of alpine life, alongside kārearea, kea, and a huia taxidermy specimen. Visit us during Conservation Week to discover the beauty, resilience, and interconnectedness of our alpine taonga. Plan your visit: https://www.nelsonmuseum.co.nz/what-is-on/takurautikumu 📷 Naomi Aporo-Manihera #ConservationWeek #TakuruaTīkumu #Tīkumu #AlpinePlants #TeWaipounamu

Tomorrow, we open the doors to the Isel Park Research Facility for a special farewell before the Nelson Tasman regional collection begins its move to the new ARC (Archives, Research and Collections) facility in Richmond. As part of Tuku 2026, this is a rare chance to step inside the building that has played an important role in the museum’s history since it officially opened on 25 February 1973. To mark the occasion, we’re sharing historic images from the opening day of the Nelson Provincial Museum at Isel Park, including a photograph of Minister of Internal Affairs Henry May speaking at the ceremony. Join our Collections team for guided tours through selected collection stores and hear stories about some of the remarkable items in our care. OPEN DAY at Isel Park Research Facility Wednesday 22 April | 11am–3pm Free entry Tours start on the hour and half-hour No bookings required Image credits: 📷 Official opening of Nelson Provincial Museum in Isel Park, 25 February 1973. Geoffrey C Wood Collection: GCW2.8923_fr1 📷 Official opening of Nelson Provincial Museum in Isel Park, 25 February 1973. Geoffrey C Wood Collection: GCW2.8923_fr7 📷 Official opening of Nelson Provincial Museum in Isel Park, 25 February 1973. Geoffrey C Wood Collection: GCW2.8923_fr11

🌟 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Getaways and Travel 🌟 A huge thank you to our generous Getaways and Travel supporters for Gala Royale. These businesses are helping us bring some seriously awesome escape style auction packages to the night. Their support helps make this unforgettable night out with purpose possible, raising funds for the new ARC (Archives, Research and Collections) Facility. 💛 Thank you to Awaroa Lodge, The Muse Christchurch, Waiheke Golf Club, Christchurch Attractions, and Golden Bay Air for backing Nelson Tasman heritage and helping make our auction one to remember. 📅 Saturday 13 June 2026 | 5.30pm 📍 Rutherford Hotel 🎟️ Secure your spot: /ticketsales #Galaroyale #Museumgala

Individual tickets are now available for Gala Royale. Join us for an elegant evening of purpose, connection and celebration. Enjoy a welcome drink and canapés, a three-course dinner, live entertainment, premium auctions, and guest speaker Nathan Fa’avae ONZM, all while supporting the new ARC (Archives, Research and Collections) Facility and the care and relocation of the Nelson Tasman regional heritage collection. Gather your friends, colleagues and family, dress for the occasion, and be part of a memorable night that will make a lasting difference. 🎟️ Book your ticket here: /ticketsales 📅 Saturday 13 June 2026 | 5.30pm 📍 Rutherford Hotel #Galaroyale #Museumgala

[ON NOW] TAKU RAU TĪKUMU: He whetū i te rangi, he whetū ki te whenua A star in the sky, a star on the earth Major new exhibition Taku Rau Tīkumu explores the enduring relationship between people and alpine landscapes through the story of tīkumu, a resilient mountain plant bound to generations of knowledge, skill, and care. Featuring a significant collection of tīkumu taonga, the exhibition weaves together mātauranga Māori, science, oral histories, photographs, and rare records from across Aotearoa. 💡 Supported by He Aka Ka Toro through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and Creative New Zealand 📅 On display until 19 July 2026 🔗 Plan your visit: https://www.nelsonmuseum.co.nz/what-is-on/takurautikumu 📷 @shernadephotography #nelsonprovincialmuseum #newexhibition #takurautīkumu #tīkumu

🎨 Join Jolie for a drop-in rock painting session this Thursday from 1–3pm at the Museum. No booking needed, koha appreciated, and all materials are provided. Best of all, you can take your painted creations home with you. Come along, get creative, and make something special.