Coal-hearted

The Brunner Mine Disaster of 1896 remains New Zealand's worst worksite incident. Gail Romano, Associate Curator History and Wilma Blom, Curator Marine Invertebrates re-tell the stories of some of our country's worst mining tragedies and interrogate the social and economic repercussions of coal mining.

A Khaki Valentine

Even at the height of the war in South Africa with no access to romantic stationery, enterprising young soldiers made do. Associate Curator (History) Gail Romano examines a heartfelt note written on a torn piece of uniform.

Sea change

For Tokelau Language Week, Curator Pacific Fuli Pereira reflects on some lessons she’s learned, how change is made, and what she hopes to see happen next.

Niue in Pictures

For Niue Language Week, our Documentary Heritage team takes a closer look at the photographic collection of Harry Coleman, who was based in Niue from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Exploring the first book known to be published on Kiribati culture

O le Manumea: Samoa's Little Dodo Bird

The Manumea is the national bird of Samoa and is found nowhere else in the world. A species of ground pigeon, the Manumea has a large head and hooked beak. One of the closest living relatives of the extinct dodo, the scientific name for the species (Didunculus strigirostris) means little dodo.

One island, one book, many stories

2020 marked the first year that Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm – Rotuman Language Week, officially joins the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Language Week celebrations. In this blog we look at Tales of a Lonely Island (1939), an early twentieth century collection of Rotuman legends.

Excavating Otata Island: A Midden Revealed

In March 2020, Auckland Museum archaeologists carried out a small excavation in a large coastal midden on Otata Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Tikapa Moana.

Who am I? The mystery of the forgotten photographs

Help us uncover the mystery of these 110-year-old New Zealand photographs. Who are the people in them and who were they taken by?

Polar Bear on the Move

With the transformations happening at Auckland Museum at the moment, you might be wondering what has become of some of your favourite objects and displays! Auckland Museum’s Collection Technician for Relocations Libby Neumann gives us some insight into just how much care and effort goes into moving precious Museum objects.