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Remembering the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving British monarch in history, and ruled over a period of history that saw Aotearoa New Zealand establish its distinct identity. Here, we reflect on the Queen's time as head of state, sharing some interesting items from our collection.

The Mystery of Auckland Museum's Rooftop Residents

When you think of a Tuatara's natural habitat, a war memorial museum is probably the last place that comes to mind. In this blog, Grace Yee, Collection Technician for the IDEA project shares with us the peculiar story of Auckland Museum's rooftop tuatara, who lived on top of the Museum until the mid 1940s.

Children's collections

Childhood collections are nothing to be toyed with. A hobby collection can be serious business, helping future generations get a glimpse into by-gone days and sometimes from the unintended unique perspective of a child. Having recently processed a collection of 182 pencils gathered up by a young lad during the late 1960s-early 1970s, Sarndra Lees - Collection Manager, History, examines what this little treasure trove can teach us today.

Digitisation and Beyond

Without proper record keeping, the stories behind our taonga would be at risk of being forgotten. Digitising collection records is not only a way of preserving the identities of collection items, but also a way to improve access for people across the world to engage with their taonga and maintain those connections. In this article, Lauren Boesley, team member of the IDEA (Improved Documentation Enhanced Access) project shares her work digitising the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander collection, and the complexities of that mahi.

Reading a vase

People have always found a way to tell stories. As well as the oral and written traditions; music, performance and art have been used through the ages. One particularly beautiful form of storytelling can be found in Ancient Greek vase painting. Combining the poetic with the practical, Greek vases can depict myths, legends, or stories through the use of symbols and people easily recognisable to contemporary audiences. In this article, Deirdre Harrison Collection Manager, Archaeology, examines a well-known tale depicted on a hydria from our collection.

Unique to your Museum

There are over 4 million items in our collection, but every item has an individual story and particular significance. In this blog we're shining a spotlight on some our more unique items, presented by those who know the collections best.

O le Sulu Samoa
A legacy of light in the archives

For Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa - Samoan Language Week we take a closer look at O le Sulu Samoa, one of the oldest and longest-running news periodicals in the Pacific. ʻSulu’ means ʻtorch’ or ‘light’ in Samoan. Published primarily in the Samoan language by the London Missionary Society from 1839, early issues of the Sulu are rare and difficult to access today with holdings largely held in archives outside Samoa. In this blog, our guest contributors Litara Ieremia-Allan, Wanda Ieremia-Allan and Rev Dr Featunaʻi Liuaʻana reveal myriad ways the Sulu continues to shine its light, and the intellectual inheritance this measina (treasure) continues to bestow upon present and future generations.

The Crowning Glory of Samoa

For many Samoan families the Tuiga (ceremonial headdress) is an icon of tradition and a priceless family heirloom. In this blog Collection Manager Pacific Talei Tu'inukuafe examines the building blocks of Tuiga, and how they come together to form a distinct symbol of cultural and national identity.

Improving our galleries:
new WWI stories

'Doing our Part' is a collection of cases in our WWI galleries that have just undergone improvement. In this blog, some of the team behind the project talk about their process.

Carving continuity:
Rocky Ralifo, Rotuman wood carving artist

Rocky Ralifo is the only Rotuman club carver in Aotearoa, and likely one of very few in the world. Collection Manager, Pacific Ruby Satele explores Rocky’s work within the traditional art form and his aspirations for its greater recognition and resurgence.

Getting a better IDEA of our collection

A new three-year project aiming to digitise over 80,000 of the Museum's 4.5 million items is shedding new light on the country's largest collection of specimens, objects and archival documents. Project Coordinator Ian Proctor discusses the Improved Documentation Enhanced Access (IDEA) project.

Sharks: Reality bites

As summer arrives, the perceived threat of sharks is once again being brought into our collective consciousness. But are sharks really a threat to you, or do they just have a case of bad PR? Auckland Museum’s new shark-damaged surfboard tells a curious story of our misguided fears about the species and acts as a starting point for exploring opposing perspectives.

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