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Resilience: The Auckland Māori Community Centre
The Māori Community Centre, set up in 1947, was an important component in the reestablishment of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s community identity. During a period of significant upheaval and devastation for...
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Albrecht to Zusters: Aotearoa artists’ books exhibition
For those who draw with wordsAnd write in images - Inscription from The Visionary The Albrecht to Zusters Aotearoa artists’ books exhibition displays stunning works of visual and written arts, and...
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Toilets for all: a brief history
November 19 is officially the United Nations World Toilet Day, a day about ‘inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis’. 4.6 billion people worldwide live without access to a safe toilet...
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Stepping back into the shed: Westfield Freezing Works, 1916-1989
"Westfield workers turned a place which was often physically strenuous, monotonous, hot, cold, bloody and smelly work, into a workplace of whānau, camaraderie and whanaungatanga." - Ross Webb, “Your...
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John Barningham: Local stories on stage and screen 1960s - 1980s
John Barningham was a successful producer-director in the formative years of New Zealand’s television and stage industries. Highly motivated, with enormous creative energy and a touch of irreverence,...
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Robinson Crusoe: legacies that must be displaced
2019 marks 300 years since the publication of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, or, to use the full title: The life and strange surprizing adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner: who lived eight...
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Urban renewal and town planning in Auckland and Wellington – then and now
During the late nineteenth century, uncontrolled urban development in Auckland resulted in cramped inner-city houses built along narrow streets and lanes. These small houses were usually serviced by...
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Fun & games exhibition
Fun & games is a free exhibition of games, books, photos, manuscripts, and more drawn from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections around the region. It opens on 11 December and runs to 1 March...
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Sixty Years of Wedding Bouquets
Summer in New Zealand also means wedding season, and who doesn’t love a good wedding? A chance to don your fanciest dress, celebrate your loved ones and kick up your heels. We all know that weddings...
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Learning through organised play in Auckland
Fun & Games is a free exhibition of games, books, photographs, archives and more drawn from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections around the region. It opened on 11 December 2019 and runs to 1...
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Kai Tiaki: Nursing in New Zealand
Nursing has a long and varied history around the world. Nurses offer essential skills and experience that help to supplement the work of doctors and physicians when it comes to the care for the sick or...
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There is no standing still: The Auckland City Corporation’s 'Municipal Record'
In 1924, Auckland City Council began publishing the Municipal Record, to promote the progress of the “Queen City.” Inspired by publications abroad, and encouraged by central government to publish...
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An archival celebration for Auckland Pride 2020
To celebrate Auckland Pride 2020 (1–16 February) and support the library’s events for this festival, I have selected three Archives & Manuscripts collections from Auckland Libraries’ Heritage...
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The Tantalizing Language of the Arts
Parallax, Vol. 1 No. 2, Summer 1983. Cover: Richard Killeen, 1982. Antic, Issue One, June 1986. Cover: Jenny Doležel. Arts journals have been published in Aotearoa since 1928 - two began as humble...
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“The Time of Natures Trial”- Childbirth in New Zealand
Every day, there are around 168 new babies born in New Zealand. 2020 is the International Year of the Midwife and to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that midwives demonstrate in their work, I...
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Family history research from home
This list of Auckland Libraries family history resources will help you progress your research during lockdown. Our expert family history librarian Seonaid has provided great tips for getting the best...
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Hats off for the ostrich feather! A transcription tale
Transcription tales – long and short. While we are working from home the Heritage Collections team are transcribing many of the nineteenth century letters in the collections. This makes them much more...
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Products of greater Japan: Ukiyo-e illustrations showing the world of work in...
Otherworldly creatures, geisha in exquisitely detailed kimono, and views of Japan’s natural beauty: such images likely come to mind when thinking of the ‘floating world’ of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints....
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“Don’t kiss”: advice on how to dodge the ‘flu in 1918
The influenza pandemic which struck New Zealand at the end of 1918 was the most fatal disease outbreak of our country’s history. Between October and December of that year around 9000 people died, out...
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Tally Ho! Thrills and spills hunting in New Zealand
Among the traditions toffee-nosed English emigrants brought with them to New Zealand was the ancient upper-class custom of hunting with horses and hounds. The ‘sport’ of hunting was popular in most...
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