Dive deeper into the Maritime Museum collection with these bite-sized short talks highlighting special objects and their stories, as told by our volunteers.
Monday 21 June: The Home Boats
Barry Parsons, long-term museum volunteer of 19 years, kicks us off with his in-depth knowledge of The Home Boats. He gives particular reference to The New Zealand Shipping Company's Rangitata, of which he's a former crew member.
Monday 28 June: Going into the unknown
Early European migrants had little idea of the hardships that awaited them in New Zealand. Miriam Dunningham explores household objects considered precious enough to be carried halfway across the globe. She looks at the shared experiences women would have endured, such as the long, arduous, weekly wash day.
Monday 5 July: Leading the way in...
Phil Lodge unpacks the development of maritime technology, from traditional Fijian drua to the America’s Cup foils.
Monday 12 July: The Tasman Trespasser
June Bartrom recounts Colin Quincey's incredible solo journey rowing across the Tasman in 1977, navigating by sextant and the sun.
Monday 19th July: Navigating the Pacific
Chris Grant speaks on the fascinating Marshall Islands stick chart, passing on knowledge of traditional Pacific navigation.
Monday 26th July: Selling the dream
Some settlers who came to Aotearoa were cajoled into writing back home about how wonderful it was. Peter Dawson unpacks a rose-tinted book on the advantages of coming here, Brett’s Colonists Guide and Cyclopedia of Useful Knowledge.
