Autumn 2019 NORTHERN REGION (LEFT) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern views the Kerikeri Mission Slates with Heritage New Zealand’s Collections Advisor, Belinda Maingay, and Kerikeri Mission Visitor Host, Millie Harris Webb. (RIGHT) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presents the UNESCO certificate to kaumātua Owen Kingi, representing Ngā Uri o Hongi. (CREDIT: HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND) The mana of two early taonga that The Prime Minister formally acknowledged capture a period of empowerment the significance of two exceptionally rare Slates writing slates dating back to the 1830s, by for Māori through literacy, was presenting a certificate to kaumātua Owen recognition further enhanced on 4 February Kīngi of Pupuke representing Ngā Uri o Hongi. by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern The certificate records the inclusion of the two a grand at a ceremony at Kemp House Kerikeri Mission Te Reo slates on the UNESCO in Kerikeri. Memory of the World documentary heritage occasion register which took place late last year. CONTINUED OVER > heritage.org.nz 1 The slates were found in 2000 during restoration work under the floorboards at Kemp House in Kerikeri where they had lain for around 170 years. Both slates have words Contents in te reo permanently and deliberately etched into them. The first slate is signed Na Rongo Hongi a(ged) 16. Rongo Hongi was the daughter of Ngāpuhi chief Hongi Hika, and later married Hōne Heke. The second slate is an early waiata 1 NORTHERN REGION 12 NATIONAL FOCUS whakautu [a song in reply] etched on it. Slates recognition a grand occasion Exciting events planned for Archaeology Week “The joint submission developed with Ngā Uri 2 CONTENTS o Hongi and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere 13 NORTHERN REGION Taonga underlined the mana of the slates, resulting in its listing by UNESCO,” Acting 3 EDITORIAL Great results from Daring rescue Chief Executive of Heritage New Zealand, Heritage New Zealand Chief Claire Craig, said at the ceremony. Executive Andrew Coleman 14/15 NORTHERN REGION Clues to early settlement 4/5 FEATURE INTERVIEW unearthed in the Bay of Islands Job a triple treat for Amy 16 CENTRAL REGION 6/7 SOUTHERN REGION Famous war horse remembered Dunedin Symphony Orchestra settles into new home 17 CENTRAL REGION Second Taranaki War Trail app 8 NATIONAL FOCUS well received Incentive fund grants meeting conservation needs 18/19 SOUTHERN REGION Celebrations had at Highfield “It’s wonderful that this mana was further 9 SOUTHERN REGION Woolshed reopening acknowledged by the Prime Minister at the Esk Head restoration very place where the slates were discovered. reaps rewards 20 SOUTHERN REGION Conserving buildings in “The slates are two unique and irreplaceable 10/11 NATIONAL FOCUS expert hands taonga that Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga has the privilege of caring for on Tohu Whenua launched on behalf of the Crown and Ngāpuhi. Both are West Coast on permanent display at Kemp House and are the only known slates with te reo Māori writing of this era. Together they represent the cultural shift of te reo from a verbal to Heritage Quarterly is printed with mineral oil-free, soy-based written expression of language.” vegetable inks on Sumo paper. This paper is Forestry Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified, manufactured from pulp from The slates are associated with a small room responsible sources under the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. Please recycle. within Kemp House which served as a classroom where missionary Martha Clarke CONTRIBUTORS: taught daughters of rangatira literacy, Jamie Douglas, John O’Hare, David Watt, Michele Hollis, Rosemary Baird numeracy and domestic skills. and Mui Leng Goh (designer). Kemp House is a Tohu Whenua cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Members of Heritage New Zealand can visit its properties for free, visit www.heritage.org.nz (ABOVE) The slate featuring Rongo Hongi’s signature. (CREDIT: HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND) 2 heritage.org.nz EDITORIAL Being positive about heritage How can one not be inspired by the work heavily reported the story of the find – they of archaeologists and others working at the know what people are interested in because it Mangahawea Bay excavation in the Bay of attracts viewers and sells. Islands and also on the Daring shipwreck near These examples get you thinking about other the Kaipara Heads? Inspiring because they are possible headlines. How about ‘Professional adding to our wealth of knowledge about our ANDREW COLEMAN archaeology uncovers New Zealand’s history’ history, with heritage helping our stories to be or ‘Heritage inspires’? We will look to introduce better understood and told. these positive heritage headlines during the upcoming New Zealand Archaeology Week in SO OFTEN IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA late April and early May this year. WE HEAR ABOUT HERITAGE IN A There is no better place to start NEGATIVE CONTEXT. Headlines, in particular, than the truly remarkable finding The stories of how the National Heritage Preservation Incentive Fund helped revitalise can be quite sensationalist to draw the reader of what are now known as the in. As a result of this accuracy can be a casualty the historic Esk Head Station homestead as a subeditor explores his or her creativity. Kerikeri Mission Te Reo Slates. near the Hurunui River, and the Category 1 There are two positive strands listed Highfield Woolshed at Highfield farm Negativity also creeps in when heritage in Waiau, highlight the positive approach property owners are confronted with the reality to this. Working in partnership to heritage from owners and also the of seismic strengthening. The costs are always with Ngā Uri o Hongi has shown government assistance that is provided. highlighted, downplaying what the economic that the aspirations of both can Both examples provide headline opportunities benefits of strengthening and adaptively be realised. This was achieved emphasising positive heritage outcomes. How reusing heritage properties can actually bring about ‘Heritage owners commit to preserving to the owner. with the acknowledgement of and protecting properties’ and ‘Repurposing In the face of this it is so pleasing that our significance with listing on the heritage properties brings great benefits’ as heritage publications, including Heritage UNESCO Aotearoa/New Zealand two possibilities? Quarterly, offer so much that is positive about Memory of the World Register Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and heritage. This edition is no different. late last year. the many heritage advocacy groups and There is no better place to start than the truly organisations nationwide are committed to remarkable finding of what are now known the conservation, preservation and protection as the Kerikeri Mission Te Reo Slates. There Mangahawea Bay has the potential to be a of heritage. There are many positive stories. are two positive strands to this. Working in very significant find of early Māori settlement There is a lot of positive effort. The shared partnership with Ngā Uri o Hongi has shown in Aotearoa New Zealand and may, in time, commitments are positive. that the aspirations of both can be realised. prove a significant part of the navigation story. Heritage Quarterly allows for these stories This was achieved with the acknowledgement It is a great heritage example of partnership, to be told. The challenge is to make this of significance with listing on the UNESCO with the Arakite Charitable Trust, formed more of a mainstream message and we Aotearoa/New Zealand Memory of the World by Ngatikuta Patukeha, the Department of will be working to achieve this in the Register late last year. The Kerikeri Mission Conservation and Heritage New Zealand coming years. n Te Reo Slates sit alongside the likes of the Pouhere Taonga working together. Treaty of Waitangi, the 1835 Declaration of ANDREW COLEMAN The recording and removal under an Independence and the 1893 Women’s Suffrage CHIEF EXECUTIVE archaeological authority of the Daring is a Petition with UNESCO recognition – illustrious story that has very broad reach and interest. company indeed. Who does not like a shipwreck discovery? This edition is full of the promise and added The judgement that mostly everyone is value of heritage – sharing stories of people interested in finds such as the Daring comes and places. from the fact that the media recorded and heritage.org.nz 3 FEATURE INTERVIEW for – Alberton, Highwic and Ewelme Cottage. What makes Highwic, Alberton Job a triple treat My role is varied and involves day-to-day Q: and Ewelme so special, and why administration, selecting stock for our shop, are their heritage values so important? for Amy liaising with gardeners, collections research The houses are an important part of the and care, working with our fabulous team story of the foundation of Auckland and of volunteers, welcoming visitors to the were built for the families who occupied History and heritage has been a properties, planning events, hanging curtains, them continuously until they were passed into the care of Heritage New Zealand. They passion for Amy Gaimster from a moving furniture, supervising film crews … I could go on. offer us a picture of how families were living relatively young age. Today she is and adapting when they first arrived in New Property Lead Auckland for Heritage What were you doing before you Zealand. They are a treasure trove of objects, came to Heritage New Zealand? New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Q: paintings, furniture and books that are I moved to Auckland in April last year, and connected with their occupants. They were all overseeing three properties. She after six months was asked to teach the built within a few years of each other (Highwic talks with John O’Hare. history module at the Nanette Cameron 1862, Alberton 1863 and Ewelme 1863-64). School of Interior Design, which suited my Despite this they are all very different. Visiting background of working with and studying all three gives a wonderful insight into the amazing interiors.