Talks at the National Library - 15 & 16 July 2020

The Team from Alexander Turnbull Library

MEMORIALS, NAMES AND ETHICAL REMEMBERING
How do we remember the past? What place do colonial memorials have in public spaces? How can we better represent diverse histories in the landscape? Though these debates are not new, the current climate provides an opportune moment for open dialogue about the place of statues, street names and monuments which commemorate New Zealand’s colonial era.

Date: Wednesday 15 July 2020, 12:10pm to 1:30pm
Cost: Free event.
Location: Taiwhanga Kauhau, auditorium lower ground floor, National Library, corner Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington

How do we remember the past? What place do colonial memorials have in public spaces? How can we better represent diverse histories in the landscape? Recent debate on these matters has occurred in response to the police killing of George Floyd in the United States of America and the major anti-racism protests around the world that followed. Though these debates are not new, the current climate provides an opportune moment for open dialogue about the place of statues, street names and monuments which commemorate New Zealand’s colonial era. As part of the 2020 series of Public History Talks, Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage and Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, National Library of New Zealand, have convened a panel to discuss these issues and offer a facilitated conversation with the public on colonial memorials, history and memory.

These free public history talks are a collaboration between the National Library of New Zealand and Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Speaker Biography:
Morrie Love (Te Atiawa ki te Upoko o te Ika a Mauī, Taranaki, Ngati Ruanui) is Director Raukura Consultants, a writer and historian. Morrie is also former Chair Wellington Tenths Trust and Waitangi Tribunal Director.

Councillor Jill Day (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Kaikaunihera o Pōneke). Wellington City Councillor, Takapū/Northern Ward, Māori Partnerships. In 2018, Jill led the adoption of Te Tauihu, Wellington City Council’s Te Reo Māori policy to make Wellington a Te Reo Māori city.

Ewan Morris (Pākehā) is a historian with an interest in public memory and cultural contestation over symbols. He writes about history and public memory at pastword.blog/, and his publications include work on how history is used in place-name debates; memorials in Pākaitore/Moutoa Gardens, Whanganui; the Boulcott’s Farm memorial in Lower Hutt; and contested symbols and memorials in Ireland.

Joanna Kidman (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) is Professor of Māori education at Victoria University. With historian, Vincent O’Malley, she is currently working on a Marsden Fund research He Taonga te Wareware? Remembering and Forgetting Difficult Histories in Aotearoa/New Zealand, a three-year study into how the nineteenth century New Zealand Wars have helped shape memory, identity and history.

TAUNAHA WHENUA - NAMING THE LAND
Join Honiana Love for Taunaha Whenua — Naming the Land. Learn about the names used by mana whenua and what they can tell us about the historic uses of places in the Wellington region.

Date: Thursday 16 July 2020, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Cost: Free event.
Location: Programme Rooms, Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library, corner Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington

Hear about the old names coming out of the landscape

There’s been a resurgence, Love says, with old names coming out of the landscape. Discover the link to the past in place names including Pipitea, Owhiro and Kaitoa, and hear about areas that were traditionally gardens, food gathering areas, refuse and swamps.

This kōrero is a joint presentation between Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, the National Library and Wellington City Libraries to mark this year’s celebration of Matariki.

About the speaker
Honiana Love (Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngā Ruahinerangi) is Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision’s Chief Executive — Tumu Whakarae.

Nau mai, haere mai, all welcome.