Heritage et AL

Andrew Henry recording the podcast track, Photographer: Julian Lubin, 2026. Last year we were offered a special donation of Aotearoa New Zealand children’s books from Diane and Gary Hebley. Diane and Gary, writer and illustrator, wife and husband, have been involved for many years in reading, creating, teaching and writing about NZ books for children. In 1997 they received the New Zealand Children’s Literature Association’s Joint Award for Distinguished Services to Children’s Literature - now known as the Storylines Betty Gilderdale Award . Diane was awarded the first doctorate in Aotearoa on children’s literature, culminating in her book, The Power of Place: Landscape in NZ Children’s Fiction, 1970-1989 (1998) .  We discussed the collection in the podcast below:   Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries · NZ children's book collections with Andrew Henry Whilst the library only very selectively accepts offers of formed research collections there were many reasons wh...

Awekura is the name given to this blog and podcast series that showcases treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, presented by our library specialists.  Awekura is a kupu drawn from Māori weaponry, particularly the taiaha. It refers to the arero, the tongue of the taiaha, which is adorned with kura, red feathers. The term reflects both the physical beauty and their deeper spiritual and narrative significance.  The Heritage Maps collection is an essential resource for researchers, historians, and cartographic enthusiasts. Many of the 10,000 strong map collection items are available to explore on KURA under Heritage Maps . Because their formats vary widely, maps require careful storage; at Auckland Libraries, they are housed in cabinets, tubes, drawers, and specially designed folders. Over her years as Maps Librarian, Katrina helped catalogue the collection and played a key role in establishing the heritage maps presence on our digital platform, KURA .  In ...

Awekura is a blog and podcast series that highlights treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. In this series, library specialists provide a window into the world of these special collections. What happens when we bring 21st century technology to the heritage collections? The Mātauranga Māori team at Auckland Libraries has explored this question through an augmented reality (AR) experience focused on Te Tiriti ki Tāmaki Makaurau | Places where the treaty was signed in Auckland . We are familiar with the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi on 6 February 1840. What people are less aware of, is how the treaty was then taken around the Bay of Islands and Hokianga before being sent around the motu for additional signatures, including Tāmaki Makaurau. Before becoming an augmented reality (AR) experience, the project began as a print booklet which drew on research and heritage collection items to explore the story of the signing of the Te Tiriti in Tāmaki Makaurau. In Auckland, we...

Awekura is a blog and podcast series that highlights treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. In this series, library specialists provide a window into the world of these special collections.  We kick off the series with Renée Orr, rare book specialist and Curatorial Services Team Leader here at Auckland Council Libraries. The spotlight today is on a rare book recently donated to the library: The Memorable Works of a Son of Thunder and Consolation: Namely, that True Prophet, and Faithful Servant of God, and Sufferer for the Testimony of Jesus, Edward Burroughs, who Dyed a Prisoner for the Word of God, in the City of London, the Fourteenth of the Twelfth Moneth, 1662.  It’s a bit of a tongue twister of a title, but 17th century people really knew how to name their books, highlighting the premise and value in under 50 words. This book was printed in 1672 in London and is a collection of the writings of a man called Edward Burrough. Find the book on the  lib...