“Taonga o te Marama/Object of the Month allows us to build on that success by highlighting different parts of our collection and reaching audiences who may not be as drawn to fashion or textiles. It also gives our visitors the chance to hear from curators and specialists with a wide range of expertise.”
The new series will be held on the second-to-last Friday of every month and will follow the same format as Outfit of the Month, which is on the first Friday.
The 15-minute session will start at 12.15pm in the museum atrium with attendees then gathering around the feature object to hear a member of the curatorial team share its story.
The inaugural talk will be presented by Eruera Rerekura, kaihāpai taonga Māori, curator taonga Māori. His kōrero/conversation will focus on Te Koanga o Rehua, the carved cenotaph in the museum atrium.
Created to honour the rangatira Te Mahutu of Pīpīriki, the waka whakamaumahara once stood as a memorial along the Whanganui River. Taken during the conflicts of the 1860s, it spent more than a century away from home before being returned to Whanganui in 2023.
Rerekura will explore its history and the significance of its return.
The talk starts at 12.15pm on Friday, February 20. Visitors are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to gather in the atrium.
It is free to attend and bookings are not required.
