Images from the 2011 SETTLER'S DAY
Don Brooke and Peter Herbert demonstrating their skill at model boat making
Peter Coatsworth showing his intricate Maori carving work
"The Eccentric Ukes" playing a medley of songs
The Cullen Family from Tinopai posing in old fashioned clothes
Visitor looking at the 3D stereoscopes
Selwyn Semenoff in the Standing Chop Competition
Winners of the Axeman Competition - Underhand Event
From left to right: Campbell Hastie, Bill Carter, Graeme McDonnell, with Betty Nelley, CEO
Dr Jonathan Palmer - Scientist in Residence
The Kauri Museum recently announced the arrival of Dendrochronologist Dr Jonathan Palmer.
Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the scientific method of dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree-rings.
With the support of United Kingdom's Exeter University and University of Auckland, Dr Palmer will develop an archive of ancient kauri samples for use in research worldwide.
Based at The Kauri Museum, Dr Palmer will assist in furthering The Kauri Museum's Mission Statement. He will develop displays that will chronicle scientific research involving ancient kauri, and share his knowledge on the mighty kauri tree.
It is a privilege for The Kauri Museum to host Dr Palmer in his ancient kauri research and to be able to play a part in unlocking the secrets of the past.
LOVE AT THE END OF THE ROAD
The Museum staff were present at the book launch of "Love at the End of the Road" by Rae Roadley.
78 books were sold at the launch.
The launch was held at Batley House at the end of the road!
Books available at The Kauri Museum Souvenir Shop.
Rae Roadley at the Book Signing at The Kauri Museum
2011 WESTPAC NORTHLAND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The Kauri Museum has been named as one of the finalists in two categories in the cocktail event held at Salut, Whangarei on 5th October 2011.
The categories are:
- Destination Northland – Excellence in Tourism Award
- Roadsafe Northland – Workplace Safe Driving Award
Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 28th October.
NORTHLAND REGION PICKS UP AWARDS - July 2011
Northland tourism businesses have again scooped most of the prizes in a touring company's national awards.
Australian firm Grand Pacific Tours ia luxury coach holiday operator which brings thousands of Australians to New Zealand annually.
Each year it hands out awards to Kiwi hotels and attractions, based on the results of satisfaction surveys which passengers complete at the end of the tour.
The Grand Pacific Tours Awards for 2010-11 were announced in Melbourne, with Northland businesses taking out five of the nine category awards, including three best hotel awards and favourite North Island attraction.
Destination Northland General Manager Brian Roberts said the result was fantastic for Northland, and reflected the efforts of tourism operators to make their products and experiences first class.
Grand Pacific Tours General Manager Stacey Morris said the awards were highly competitive and widely recognized.
"Once again the region of Northland has scooped the pool," she said.
The Northland winners are:
-Best Hotel, 16-day Highlights Tour: Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge, Paihia
-Best Hotel, 19-day Grand New Zealand Tour: Scenic Hotel Bay of Islands, Paihia
-Best Hotel, 19-day Rail, Cruise and Coach Tour: Ipipiri overnight cruise, Bay of Islands
-Favourite North Island Attaction: The Kauri Museum, Matakohe
-Driver's Hotel of Choice: Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge, Paihia
FORGOTTEN FILMS COME TO LIGHT - June 2011
Rare film footage that has lain forgotten in archives for generations has been compiled into a series of three video movies on the kauri industry and are now on permanent show at The Kauri Museum, at Matakohe in Northland.
They have been launched across five interactive television screens at a 'premiere' with House Speaker, the Rt. Hon Lockwood Smith, making a keynote address, citing the movies as a vital educational resource.
The Kauri Museum Curator, Bet Nelley, says the movie display is "a technological advance to tell the story of the past."
The videos, on DVD are the work of Kiwi film-maker Tom Williamson.
Kauri - The Timber tells of how the huge trees were felled in the bush and transported to the sawmills; Kauri - The Gum relates how the swamps were worked and the product was collected and sold while Kauri - Heart of the Forest, Soul of a Nation, tells how attitudes changed from ruthless timber extraction to total protection.
"The kauri DVDs started for me when I received a commission from the Department of Conservation to make a video record of work begun in 1999 to stabilise the driving dam on the Kaiarara stream on Great Barrier Island," Mr Williamson said.
"But the audience needed to know something about the kauri logging days to know why driving dams were used at all, and therefore why it was important to preserve the best and largest surviving example of an uniquely New Zealand idea."
"There were several important chunks of kauri history missing so I approached The Kauri Museum. That led to searches in the national archives, Alexander Turnbull Library and National Film Unit and there I found material that had not been seen for four and five generations."
Ms Nelley said the story of how the kauri resource was exploited "is essential to understanding New Zealand's history. There are several fine books on the subject, but this new video history taps into libraries and archives and presents the past in ways never published before.
"Interviews with survivors who worked during the last days of the tree felling, and with people involved in restoring the damage today, offer very personal perspectives on the events of the last 150 years.
"These videos on display are hugely important. We cannot stop still - we have to be forever reaching out and continually strengthening the Kauri story and to be searching, researching and filling any gaps in the story. We aspire to be the centre of excellence for Kauri research.
For me personally the 'film stars' are Northland people i.e. Bruce Alexander on Kauri Timber or Milan Jurlina on Kauri gum who are the last living who share the most amazing stories from those industries.
The DVD (Kauri - the history) is available exclusively from The Kauri Museum.
House Speaker, the Rt. Hon Lockwood Smith making a keynote address.
From left to right: The Kauri Museum Board Chairman Derek Hope,
Rt. Hon Lockwood Smith, Curator Betty Nelley and filmmaker Tom Williamson.
MATARIKI AT THE KAURI MUSEUM
The 2011 Matariki Competition and Exhibition was opened with a powhiri on Friday, 3rd June, at The Kauri Museum Volunteers Hall.
Board Chairman Derek Hope and Curator Betty Nelley expressed the museum's appreciation to all participants, sponsors, supporters, and also to Friends of The Kauri Museum who provided the morning tea.
Judging was done by Kaipara artist Colleen Urlich. A total of 62 entries for the different categories were received for the art and design competition. 9-yr old Terewai Neil was highly commended for her entry "The Stars". This led to the introduction of a "Youth Category" in future competitions.
The variety and amazing interpretation of Matariki by the entrants in this year's competition shows that Kaipara has a lot to offer in the art world!
TRULY......A MUST SEE DISPLAY!
2011 Matariki at Matakohe judge, Kaipara artist Colleen Urlich (center) with Dennise Brownlie and Andrea Hemmins
Chairman Derek Hope congratulates the youngest entrant Terewai Neil.
PHOTOS OF WINNING ENTRIES:
Photography - "Mangawai Duo" by Ann Bolton Textiles - "Reflections of Matariki" by Ruth Smellie
Painting - "Nga Whetu e Whitu o Matariki" by Valynda Chadwick
Carving - "Rere ki te Rangi" by Robyn Harper Freeform - "The Family" by Rick Taylor
Adornments - "Fruits of a Matariki Sea" by Donna Shadwick
Kete and other Weaving - "Pukoro Toenga" by Mandy Sunlight
Bowls and Platters - "Food Offering No 2" by Graeme Rigden
Ceramics - "Tane and Tangaroa's Children" by Pat George Metalwork - "Mother & Child" by Elena Nikolaeva
GIFTING OF "TARA", the last Logan-built boat
"TARA", the 16ft kauri clinker dinghy designed and built by well known NZ boat builder Arch Logan in 1938 was presented at a gifting ceremony by owner Tony Jennings to The Kauri Museum on Wednesday, 4th May 2011. This was followed by a Victorian Afternoon Tea at the Boarding House.
"TARA" is now on permanent display in the Volunteers Hall together with the other kauri boats on display from Don Brooke's model collection.
Tony Jennings (left) with Robert Brooke
2011 MINI CHARITY RUN
The Kauri Museum is one of the sponsors of Chris and Cherie Westlake of Matakohe in the 2011 Mini Charity Run for Starship Children's Hospital.
Chris and Cherie with Bet Nelley, Curator of The Kauri Museum
Photo was taken as they were about to leave on their journey from Kaitaia to Invercargill.
MERVYN STERLING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Over many years The Kauri Museum has provided thousands of dollars of funding for university study. These scholarships are given in memory of Mervyn Sterling who, with a group of enthusiastic volunteers, founded The Kauri Museum.
The Mervyn Sterling Memorial Scholarships are offered by the Otamatea Kauri and Pioneer Museum Trust Board to encourage undergraduate study and applied research in New Zealand in the field of environmental conservation, ecology, natural heritage and Northland history (especially Otamatea County).
Any person with strong affiliation with the old Otamatea County Area is eligible to apply. The scholarship details are available through the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee and Universities New Zealand - Te Pokai Tara handbook.
In 2010 scholarships weres won by Amber Hallimore from Otamatea High School and Calvin Ball from Ruawai College.
Amber left Otamatea High School in 2007 and for 6 months worked at The Kauri Museum as a volunteer. This gave Amber in insight into museum work while she pondered what she wanted to study. In the second semester she began a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Ancient History at Auckland University and the success of winning the Mervyn Sterling Scholarship followed. These holidays, Amber has won a $5000 scholarship at Auckland University Summer Research School and is working on a project on "Cultural Wetlands - Conservation of a Finite, Diminishing Resource of Aotearoa".
Calvin also has had a background of voluntary work at The Kauri Museum while undertaking his Duke of Edinburgh Award. He is studying at Massey University for a Bachelor of Agriculture. It is his wish that he become an Agriculture Research Scientist.
The Museum Trust Board feels a great deal of pride in being able to help the young people of our Northland Community and they look forward to helping others in the future.
Information about the scholarship programme is available at www.nzvcc.ac.nz/scholarships.
2010 scholarship winner, Amber Hallimore
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THIS HUGE KAURI LOG!
Visitors look in amazement at the 5m kauri log (2.44m in diameter; 7.93m girth; weight 14.2 tonne)
Large containers sitting on the top of the logs have been a talking point with visitors at The Kauri Museum. What is happening to the kauri logs? Some of the huge kauri logs have been stored in an inside environment for as long as forty years. It has been a challenge to stop them drying out and to stop them cracking. Where in the world would you find such large logs stored in a Museum? We had to call in experts and scientists to help. Bet Nelley, Curator of the Museum said that scientist Dr Jonathan Palmer and experienced saw miller Nelson Parker who has a wealth of experience preserving ancient kauri are working together on this project talking with other conservators. The dilemna has been how to carry out preservation with such a huge article that is on display to the public. Generally, to stop old timber drying out, it is put in a bath but this was impossible for such a giant log. We are unable to shower it with water. It is our responsibility to preserve these precious logs and to keep the logs looking good for many more decades.
The trunk or log of a living tree has water being pumped through part of it (sapwood) and oils and resins being stored in other parts (heartwood). When a tree is cut down the log starts to dry out. Frequently, one of the side effects of this are cracks appearing in the wood. It is a bit like your skin getting too dry and also sometimes cracking. These logs have been on display for several decades and have dried out. In order to try to prevent more cracks from forming we are injecting back into the log some wood "moisturizing lotion" called polyethylene glycol (PEG for short). From each canister there is a feed pipe leading into a hole which has been drilled about one third of the way through the trunk. We are monitoring how much PEG is being stored but expect this process to take over six months. Another thing we have done is "seal" the ends of the logs so that further moisture loss is prevented.
This is an ongoing project that is carefully being measured and monitored.