Help protect our taonga
Submissions close Friday at noon - please have your say, all submissions help!
Taonga need protection. Please lend your voice and have your say right now! Consultation closes Friday at noon.
The Nelson Provincial Museum’s collection is at risk.
Thousands of taonga, archives, and historical records are in danger at the current Isel Park facility, which is no longer fit for purpose. The museum’s collection of taonga Māori includes adornments (heru, hei kuru, hei tiki), tools (toki, whao, kō, patu), taonga pūoro (pahū, pūtātara, pūkāea), and other treasures like poi, kākahu, piupiu, manu, and Te Rongo a Matangi Āwhio.
As iwi, we remain connected to the museum, which acts as kaitiaki for these taonga and our shared heritage. The proposed ARC (Archives, Research & Collections) facility in Richmond will provide a safe, modern, and dignified home for these treasures.
This project has involved iwi for over a decade, and relocating to Richmond is now the most achievable option after rising costs and the closure of central government funding left a $7 million shortfall. We support this as the best way to protect our collections for future generations.
Public forum at vote next Thursday
On Thursday 4 September, Nelson City Council will decide whether to contribute $3 million towards the ARC project.
If you can, join us at the public forum as iwi to show your support — Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson, 9am start.
Submissions to the Council also close Friday (tomorrow) at noon — whānau, we need your voice!
