Its been great to receive so much positive feedback about Edwina Ehrman’s wonderful talk at Te Papa last week about Unveiled: 200 Years of Wedding Dress. From the comments we’ve received, it sounds like you are as excited as we are! Behind the scenes it was great to have Edwina hereRead more
The V&A’s stunning new exhibition on 200 years of wedding dress has just opened across the ditch at the Bendigo Art Gallery, which is about a two hour drive from Melbourne. ABC news filmed some of the installation and interviewed the curator, Edwina Ehrman. It provides a great preview of theRead more
The V&A’s wonderful wedding dress exhibition is just about to open in Bendigo, Australia. We are delighted that the exhibition’s curator, Edwina Ehrman has agreed to extend her trip to the Southern Hemisphere for a few extra days in order to pop across to Wellington. Next Tuesday evening, 9 August 2011,Read more
30 years ago the South African rugby team is welcomed to New Zealand at the Poho-o-Rawiri marae, Gisborne, at the start of its tour of the country (17 July 1981). Rugby Union has long had a prominent, if not undisputed place in New Zealand culture. Kia Ora Rugby Team, Photographer Unknown;Read more
110 years ago the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York visit New Zealand (10-27 June 1901) A royal tour of New Zealand was mooted by arch-imperialist Premier Richard Seddon in 1897, during the Diamond (60th) anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. By 1900, such a visit had assumed greater importance. ByRead more
This week New Zealand in Vogue was installed in the Eyelights gallery on the 4th floor. Its simple 1960s lines replaces the razzle dazzle of Enriching Fashion. As I mentioned in my last post on Wool Week, the exhibition is inspired by Vogue New Zealand, the pages of which haveRead more
As the freshness of autumn turns into the chill of winter, it is time to dig out the winter woollies and the Ugg boots. Fittingly, this Friday kicks off ‘Wool Week’ (10-17 June). We are thrilled that Mary-Annette Hay, the subject of Te Papa’s 2007 exhibition Queen of Wool and whose elegant all-wool wardrobeRead more
We are currently in the throes of preparing for our upcoming exhibition New Zealand in Vogue, which opens in the Eyelights Gallery on 24 June. The exhibition is inspired by the decade during which New Zealand had its very own Vogue magazine – 1957 to 1968. The exhibition features garmentsRead more
Model Tooth (Human), 1900s, Maker unknown. Gift of the Wellington School Dental Service Training School, Department of Health, 1994. Te Papa 90 years ago: the first intake of School Dental Service nurses began their training (4 April 1921). The School Dental Service was a response to theRead more
As the day of the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton draws near, Te Papa too has found itself in the grip of ‘wedding fever’. While the media continues to whip themselves into a frenzy trying to uncover the bride’s best kept secret – the name of her dressRead more
I am currently working on a fashion exhibition entitled New Zealand in Vogue, the content and layout of which is inspired by Vogue New Zealand, which graced magazine stands between 1957 and 1968. Each case is inspired by a Vogue headline. One of my favourites is ‘Unbeatable All-Blacks’ – aRead more
As the History Team prepares to bring out William Colenso’s magnificent printing press for the forthcoming exhibition Oceania – Early Encounters (opening 6 August 2011), I am reminded that the Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery are planning ‘to celebrate the life and ideas of Colenso – one of the fathersRead more
102 years ago: Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward announces that New Zealand will gift a ‘first-class battleship’ to the Royal Navy (22 March 1909). Prime Minister Ward was positioning New Zealand as a loyal and active participant in the defence of the British Empire. This was a time of increasing navalRead more
This pair of boots belonged to historian Dame Judith Binney, who will be remembered for her monumental contributions to New Zealand history over the last four decades through her writing, research and teaching. These boots were the historian’s favourites, and had a colourful history of their own. The question is: whoRead more
Tīkoki ana te waka o Aoraki! Ko Rūaumoko e ngunguru nei! He parekura! He parekura! He parekura e! Ko te motu whānui tonu kua pani. Kei te hunga kua riro ki te pō, moe mai rā. Kei ngā makorea, he aha rā he kōrero mō koutou? Ko te Atua heiRead more
