Blog

For plants, fungi, and lichens, gender and sexual expression have a wide and sometimes surprising variety compared to those of the animal kingdom. Dan Blanchon, Curator Botany and Rob Vennell, best-selling author and Project Curator on the Natural Sciences team takes a look at some of the quirks of reproduction in botany, mycology, and lichenology.

Though many of us may spend Christmas over-indulging and afternoon napping, one man had very different ambitions for his Noël. Charles E. Clark was a 1900s amateur entomologist and had a personal Christmas tradition of bug-hunting. Explore some of his festive findings in this blog by Melissa Kirk, R T Shannon Assistant Curator Entomology of the Natural Sciences team.

In this blog by Thomas Stolberger of the Museum's Natural Sciences team, discover the stories of 20th century collectors C.R Laws and H.J Finlay, and their legacies that live on through their extensive collections and invaluable contributions to the understanding of Aotearoa's marine invertebrate history.

Although old shell collections can and often do make for beautiful displays, their true value lies not in their visual potential, but in the data that they hold. Historical shell collections can provide a rich source of historical baseline data, and provided it is accurate and analysed correctly, it can be used to make significant contributions to scientific research and conservation today.

Auckland Museum's international exhibition Egypt: In the Time of Pharaohs has been a runaway hit, with over 100,000 people flocking to see the wonders of the ancient world. This isn't the Museum's first Egypt exhibition however, with two other international exhibitions hosted in 1997 and 2007, proving the enduring interest in one of the most prolific cultures in human history.

Egypt was the first stop for most New Zealand service personnel on their way to the two world wars. Whether passing through, or staying for longer periods of time, the work of Egypt's textile artisans became popular mementos of a time spent in a unique country, and as gifts to let loved ones back home know that they were being thought of and missed. From cushions to cloths, we explore the embroidered textile souvenirs purchased by service personnel in this blog by Gail Romano, Associate Curator

To archaeologists, one man's trash really is another man's treasure. So much can be learned about a person by examining the things they've left behind, even if the original owner didn't think they were particularly important. Read on to discover a story of a 20th century teenager, pieced together from the contents of a rather unconventional rubbish bin.

Growing collections that connect with the communities of Tāmaki Makaurau is important gahua (work) here at the Museum. Adding items that can provide connection and inspiration relating to akau magafoa (genealogy), vagahau Niue (language) or koloa (cultural objects) is part of an ongoing conversation with community, artists and academics immersed in everything Niuean.

We all enjoy the bounty of botany everyday – perhaps without even realising it – in the form of our 5+ a day. While working on a research project in Fiji, Ricky-Lee Erickson and Yumiko Baba of our Natural Science team encountered a rich botanical diversity in a range of delicious forms. Read on to discover Fijian botany at its most flavourful.

Aotearoa is now a world leader in conservation and particularly protecting islands from the ravages of the invasive hordes, but did you know that it is in the Hauraki Gulf that the dream of a predator free New Zealand first began?

Ancient Egyptian religion was complex and polytheistic, with multiple deities representing and controlling aspects of the natural environment and concepts such as love and creativity. The worship and rituals associated with these deities formed a core part of ancient Egyptian life and maintaining Ma’at, or divine order, peace and balance.

During a recent collection shift, Paula Legel, Associate Curator, Heritage Publications stumbled upon ‘The Homeopathic Echo’ and immediately knew she had found something special. To find a specialist health magazine published in Auckland as early as 1855 was astonishing. Read on to discover the unlikely story of this unique taonga.