A rosebud for Fido , 26 December 1914, Hastings, by Leslie Adkin. Gift of G. L. Adkin family estate, 1964. Te Papa (B.022231)

Summer holidays are over. Some schools have re-opened and offices have filled up with workers returning to their routines. As for Christmas – well that feels like ancient history now. But you can relive past holiday happiness by reading these joy-filled diary entries written by Horowhenua farmer, Leslie Adkin, describingRead more

Brian Brake Wanaka Motor Camp 1960

We are the Wellington Caravan Club / So we don’t have to stop in a pub, / We bring our vans from far and near, / And this is what you’ll hear, / When we go caravanning, caravanning, / With the Wellington Caravanning Club. These are the words of aRead more

What will you find at the beach this summer? Join Te Papa scientists online at 1.30pm today, as they show you some of the amazing animals and plants you can find on your beach holidays. We’ll be talking about glow-in-the-dark invertebrates, how to tell the difference between coastal birds, andRead more

Some of my favourite social history images in Te Papa’s photography collection are of trampers taken by Leslie Adkin (1888-1964). A man of many talents and interests, Adkin was a founding member of the Levin-Waiohepu Tramping Club, which was established in the 1920s.  This was one of the first tramping clubsRead more