“Ōpoutama is an amazing microcosm of New Zealand heritage.
“It's a very early Māori settlement, it witnessed the arrival of the Endeavour and Tupaia who left his mark on the land, years of farming and increased environmental protection. This has all been set against a background of the land which has been in continuous Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti ownership.
“Our heritage is what makes our country what it is today, warts and all. Everyone's stories and associations with heritage places contribute to understanding who we are. And it is different for everyone. Acknowledging those connections and differences is important.”
Pam has held the role of director for regional services of Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga for almost two years.
She describes it as an exciting position, which followed five years as the senior archaeologist for Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga.
This new role allows her to be innovative and creative in working with others to protect heritage, and tell important heritage stories, she says.
It is the only position of its kind in the country and was Wellington-based, like her previous role.
Commuting for six years between Gisborne and Wellington was hard work as you never felt properly engaged in either community, says Pam.
Last year Pam convinced her bosses she could work from home.
So, for the past year Pam has been based in Tairawhiti (her home of more than 30 years) to manage eight staff spread right around the country.
Pam says lockdown hasn't been a huge adjustment as she already worked from home.
“Everybody is living my life at the moment.”
Her home office is set up away from the rest of the house, and she makes sure to get fresh air with either a swim or a “trot up the hill” every day.
It is important to keep in touch daily with people over zoom, skype, or phone conversations, she says.
Pam has been zoom'ing before we all did, but has discovered its merits in other ways as well.
“I have to say I quite like zoom drinks, it's quite a good concept. You can't drink and drive these days so you can have zoom drinks and have a couple.”
But she does miss the people in person.
“It will be nice to go and have cup of coffee again when the world opens up.
She says it is fantastic to be back in Tairawhiti, to be part of the exciting things that are happening in our region — and pre-lockdown, she loved the Pub Choir at Smash Palace Bar.
Her professional role requires lots of engagement across the organisation and with the wider community.
“I have been involved in some great projects nationally and locally.
“Recently I was involved with our regional staff and Ngāpuhi in nominating the Kerikeri Mission Te Reo slates for inscription on the UNESCO's Aoteoroa/New Zealand Memory of the World Register.
“These slates are significant early examples of te reo written by Māori women around 1830. Once accepted on the register, we celebrated this recognition with an amazing event at Kerikeri attended by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
“I was also lucky to be involved in supporting the funding application, public open day and filming of the archaeological Mangahawea excavation in the Bay of Islands.”
Engagement with the wider community to promote heritage is extremely important, says Pam.
“We are increasingly focusing on making heritage accessible and interesting to a wider audience so we can all be involved in the stories and places around us.”
Before her role with Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga, Pam had a 20-year career with the Department of Conservation in Gisborne.
After she finished at DoC, she spent 18 months working on another passion of hers — water safety.
Pam has swum her whole life and has been involved in surf lifesaving.
This project was called Water Safety NZ and Pam helped roll out a Swim for Life programme giving kids access to swimming lessons.
“Kids having access to be confident in the water is really important. They call drowning the New Zealand disease — we're an island nation and people are often more confident around water than they are skilled. This was an opportunity to be involved in getting kids in the water.”
Pam has been married for 30 years to Anthony (Ant) Blackburne, who was born in Gisborne, while Pam was born in Oamaru.
Their daughter Katie, 25, lives in Wellington where she is completing her masters in cognitive behaviour neuro science.
