^ Land - Mana Whenua Mana Tangata

  
is an exhibition that describes the development of the wider Whanganui region, community and city during the 19th century through experiences of tangata whenua and European settlers, with particular reference to land, spirituality, conflict and alliance. Land – mana whenua, mana tangata illustrates some of the physical, spiritual, economic and social consequences of European contact and settlement on Māori in Whanganui in the 19th century – Christianity, Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi, 1848 Whanganui land sale, and the New Zealand wars of the 1840s and 1860s. The exhibition also describes settler experiences and the later 19th century boom of city expansion, river tourism and rural development.
Koriniti, 1885, Burton Brothers, (M/S/K/39)
Alexander Cavalry Camp Lakeside 1877 (M/G/2L)

^ Te Pihi Mata: The Sacred Eye

  
 

Ka pihi te mata hei matapihi ki te ao ō-mua, ō-muri e

The Partington photographs – windows to the past connecting to tomorrow

From 1892 -1908 photographer W H T Partington lived and worked in Whanganui. His photographs were used to promote the wild and romantic Whanganui River to the world.

Today they have special meaning for the Māori people of Whanganui who have opened their hearts to share with you the remarkable stories of life here 100 years ago.

The saying ‘I am the river and the river is me’ expresses the deepest feelings of the people of the Whanganui River. When these ancestral photographs came up for sale their descendents fought to bring them home. This exhibition shows why they mean so much and welcomes you into a world seldom seen from the outside.

Visit the Whanganui Regional Museum and enter our wharepuni, the great meeting house of our people. Traditionally, carvings of ancestors told the history of the tribe. Today we use Partington’s photographs as windows into the lives of our ancestors. Step through the picture frame and we will share with you the stories that are usually only told in this intimate family context; stories of leadership, tattooing, weaving, song and dance, women, love and war.

Hear the stories directly from our guides. They will show you how to weave flax and teach you games, songs and dances. Dress up and picture yourself in the photographer’s studio 100 years ago.

We will tell you their stories and you will experience the wild and beautiful Whanganui River and meet the people who call it home.

Let us take you back through the windows of the past to the time of our ancestors.

  

The mighty Whanganui River around the turn of the 20th century

The Whanganui iwi (tribe) takes its name from the sacred river that flows from the mountains of Ruapehu, Ngāuruhoe and Tongariro down to the sea. Partington made several excursions up the Whanganui River, enduring some extraordinary difficulties while trying to maintain professional and technical photographic standards. With these trips Partington gained a better appreciation of the lives of the people of the river. He admired and photographed the scenery, as you would expect, but he also did something less common among photographers of his time; he used his camera to record everyday life.
 

^ Whanganui

  
 

“He pūkenga wai, he nohoanga tāngata, he nohoanga tāngata, he putanga kōrero.” Where there is a body of water, people settle, and where people settle, legends unfold.

Ever wondered how long people have been living here or where they came from?  What’s so special about Whanganui anyway?  A new exhibition at the Museum introduces you to a few of the things that make our place a great place to live or visit.  Meet some outstanding people from here, discover some icons from the Museum collection and find out about some extraordinary events that helped shape the land and the way we live.

 
 

^ Also On View

 
 

Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāparangi, The Māori Court
Features the war canoe Te Mata o Hoturoa and an internationally renowned collection of taonga Māori.

Ngā Manu: Birds of New Zealand
Features many endangered and extinct New Zealand birds such as the kiwi, moa and huia.

The Street - Wanganui 1900-1920
Re-creates the impression of early 20th century Wanganui businesses from this prosperous time.

Te Pataka Whakaahua - The Lindauer Gallery
Portraits of prominent Māori personalities from the 19th century by renowned artist Gottfried Lindauer.

The Bug Room
Butterflies and creepy crawlies from around Whanganui and beyond.

School Days
Experience a classroom as it might have looked in the early part of the 20th century.

Gotta Go
A light-hearted look at transport and communication.