Keeping Northland’s Photographic Treasures Safe

Digital photography and paper conservation workshop
Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 September 2009, 9am–5pm
Parawhenua Marae, Ohaeawai.

Iwi have come to recognise the risks to photographs hanging in wharenui on marae around the country. The destruction of wharenui in recent fires has highlighted the trauma and loss suffered by whänau, especially when there are no copies, or records kept of the photographs. This two-day workshop, which was developed in response to these concerns, will show participants how to copy tupuna/whänau photographs, and how to care for and store paper works and photographs at home, or on marae.

National Services Te Paerangi (NSTP) of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa) is running the workshop, in partnership with Te Puni Kokiri, Te Runanga Iwi O Ngapuhi and Parawhenua Marae.

Local coordinator, Hinerangi Himiona, said today “This is a wonderful opportunity to give some new skills and knowledge to our home people to help them do the job they do so well, and that’s care for our marae and taonga. Paper based taonga such as photographs and books are not media that originated from our culture but we have adopted and integrated them as an integral part of our culture and tikanga. Learning how to care for them at this hui, I am sure, will help shape people’s thinking about future technologies and media that can further assist us into the future.”

Participants will learn the basic theory and techniques behind capturing good quality copies with a digital camera, techniques and methods for the care and storage of paper taonga, and how to make appropriate storage containers.

Workshop presenters from Te Papa include photographer Norman Heke (Nga Puhi) and paper conservator Vicki-Anne Heikell (Te Whänau-a-Apanui), who have many years experience between them, and who are looking forward to the opportunity to share their knowledge with the community.

National Services Te Paerangi works in collaboration with local iwi, museums, community, and heritage organisations to provide training opportunities that help with the long-term care and preservation of taonga held in the community. Gavin Reedy, Te Papa’s Iwi Development Officer, said today, “We understand that iwi and museums in small communities can’t always come to Wellington to participate in our workshops, so we are on the road around Aotearoa bringing the support to them. Our aim is to raise awareness among iwi of the practical ways that National Services Te Paerangi can help them care for their own taonga. We can also let them know of the strategic relationships that we have with other agencies that further enhance and support that mission.”

National Services Te Paerangi has a series of marae-based workshops planned around Aotearoa New Zealand in 2009 and 2010.

Background
National Services Te Paerangi works with museums, galleries, iwi (tribes), and related organisations to enhance museum services, and support these to become self-sustaining. Our goal is for museums and iwi to be significantly strengthened by increased participation in our programmes, and by working collaboratively at a local and national level.

As well as an Iwi Development Officer, NSTP has a Museum Development Officer in the South Island and another in the North Island. These staff members spend the majority of their days in the field, meeting museum personnel and assisting them, and then returning valuable information to the hub at Te Papa about the needs in the sector.

For more information about National Services Te Paerangi and our workshop calendar, visit www.nationalservices.tepapa.govt.nz

ENDS