Morimoritia Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho | Treasured: Objects of Mana and Significance on now until July 9th: Nelson Provincial Museum

See the extinct Whēkau or laughing owl on display in our special exhibition, Morimoritia Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho | Treasured: Objects of Mana and Significance.
On now until July 9th
10:00am – 5:00pm weekdays
10:00am – 4:30pm weekends and public holidays
Corner Trafalgar and Hardy Streets, Nelson
FREE for Nelson Tasman ratepayers and residents

What causes you to treasure something? Perhaps it’s beautiful. Or it belonged to someone special. Maybe it has a story that touches your heart.

This exhibition brings together an outstanding and diverse selection of objects from Nelson Provincial Museum’s collection that have all of these qualities. They may have a significant history, possess splendour, or retain great mana. What they all share is that they’re Treasured.

These range from medals that tell the story of a World War One heroine, through a rangatira – Atama Paparangi – in a painting by Goldie, to a stunning cloak gifted to a Riwaka local a few short years before he became Prime Minister of New Zealand – Keith Holyoake.

Then there are objects that will elicit moving memories to many in the region. Reminders of the much-loved cafe Chez Eelco, the famous windows of a much-missed Nelson department store, and a hand-written recipe for gingernuts from the original Griffin’s factory.

The Museum has worked closely with iwi and the Tongan community to tell the story of their taonga in their own words. Morimoritia Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho | Treasured: Objects of Mana and Significance is our first fully-bilingual exhibition, with all labels in both English and te reo Māori.

Click here to find out more…