Puke Ariki is sending out an SOS. No, they're not in danger. SOS is the catch-cry for their "Support our Stories" campaign. The campaign involves making requests to the community to gift, or loan, specific items of interest to assist with the telling of Taranaki's unique stories.
Business Development Manager for Puke Ariki, Eve Kawana-Brown, says "Taranaki can be proud of its special place in New Zealand, and in the world. We have great stories to tell, and judging by the size and success of film and media industries the world over, stories are of immense interest to people today. They always have been."
Museums and other cultural institutions have often been collections-driven. What they have been lucky or resourceful enough to obtain in the way of objects has determined what is shown in their exhibits. Indeed, both the Taranaki Museum and the New Plymouth District Libraries would not have developed into what they are today without the generous benefactors and supporters who have given of their collections, time, support and money throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today Puke Ariki has adopted the philosophy of being story-driven instead. "Our purpose is to tell the stories of Taranaki, of our land, our sea and our people" says Ron Lambert, who heads a team researching the detail of those stories. He says "that means that where our collection does not have sufficient material to tell that story, we will try to obtain it so we can tell a story completely". Museums have often concentrated on 19th century objects, but it is the 20th century stories which often have most resonance for our community and for visitors to our region.
Puke Ariki is working also with organisations and businesses in the region in long-term partnerships to support the telling of these stories. Eve Kawana-Brown says, "We are delighted with the resources being provided by our Partners to help us to tell Taranaki's stories. This support includes their local knowledge, their business acumen, their people resources, items for display and, of course, their financial contributions."
Puke Ariki's Foundation Partners are Taranaki Regional Council, TSB Community Trust, Taranaki Electricity Trust and the New Zealand Government). Their Foundation Corporate Partners are Shell (Petroleum Mining) Co Ltd and Westgate Transport Ltd. Taranaki Newspapers Ltd is a Foundation Business Partner and Methanex New Zealand Ltd is a Foundation Corporate Sponsor.
Puke Ariki's SOS campaign will be used from time to time to source materials and information. Right now they are looking for items which will help tell the story of marching in Taranaki, and inevitably, New Zealand.
Marching as a sport had its origins in New Zealand, but the story has not been fully told to date. Some love the sport, some loathe it, but it is undeniably a part of our heritage. Ron Lambert says "the first record of marching we have is of a demonstration for the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 1901, and by 1980 there were 350 teams registered throughout New Zealand".
He also describes how Puke Ariki is "especially keen to source examples of marching uniforms, boots, and regalia such as medals, bibs and sashes (especially from the 1950s and 1960s). And if anyone has any film footage or photos of marching in Taranaki, or of Taranaki marching teams, that would be awesome. We're already in contact with several key members of the sport who are providing a valuable contribution to the story, but we're sure that there will be more wonderful objects hiding in the back of cupboards and wardrobes throughout the province."
If you are able to help with objects, archives or photos related to marching, which can be used in exhibitions, or for the historical record of the sport in Taranaki, please phone 0800 Puke Ariki (0800 785 327) and we'll talk marching with you.