Tuesday 29 May 2012

Ancestry.com Training

The Winton Genealogy Group is presenting a demonstration on the use of ancestry.com at Winton Library on Sunday, 10 June, from 10am to 3pm. Learn how to start the search for your family at home or using ancestry at the library. Book your place now by phoning Joan McConachie on 03 236 1737. Cost is $5.

We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!

Friday 25 May 2012

Beautiful Rock Art Stamps

NZ Post will be releasing a set of beautiful rock art stamps in June in time for Matariki. These evocative images are a Ngai Tahu taonga and have been authorised by Ngai Tahu for NZ Post. They are really stunning!

We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!

Sunday 20 May 2012

Our First Peoples

Our First Peoples: Ngāi Tahu in Otautau & Districts display is taking shape. We're awaiting a few more loans to complete our display but we're open for all who want to have a look. The display covers creation stories, origins of Ngāi Tahu, the use of Otautau as a hohoaka site and its mahika kai (resources), and whakapapa of local residents who have Ngāi Tahu ancestry.

Some of the more prominent taoka on display are a mokihi (reed canoe) and a korowai (cloak) - both on loan from Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka. In fact, they contributed so hugely to this display that it would not have been a reality without them. So thanks to the Rūnaka!

Speaking of Ngāi Tahu, the tv show Waka Huia on TVone have featured taiaha training in the South Island in a recent episode. There are two videos on YouTube so check them both out.

We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!

Monday 7 May 2012

Wanted - Shelving

We have fast outgrown storage space for our collection so we are looking for two or three sets of steel shelves to provide more useable space. Preferably, the units would be about 2m high x 1m-1.5m wide x 600-800mm deep. They need to be powder-coated and not rusty. Shelves should be solid, not slatted like the picture. If you have anything like this or would like to make a donation, please contact us!

We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!

Sunday 6 May 2012

Maori Display

The Māori display is well underway thanks to the kind generosity of Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and the Wallace Early Settlers Association. Among the artefacts loaned are a mokihi (river canoe) and korowai (cloak). The mokihi takes up our whole middle room. Wish we had a bigger place! The mōkihi would've been used by early Māori to travel on our local streams and rivers. And the korowai has a Gladfield/Drummond connection.

We always learn fascinating things as we put displays together. With this display, we went to Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka for information on placenames. As they are descendants of early Māori who knew our area, they are best-placed to have this kind of information. Of particular interest to us was the story of the meaning of 'Otautau' relayed from a descendent of Waimatuku (a person). I won't spoil the ending. You'll just have to come in.

We're still adding finishing touches - like labels! - but it should be ready soon. In the meantime, everyone is welcome.

And if you'd like to help out, please do. We're looking for attendants - people to open the museum for two hours on a Wednesday or Sunday, or to get involved at any level of our work.

We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!