13 January 2009
The Nelson region’s history is being recorded digitally on a new website featuring a collection of stories and pictures preserving history and culture online.
Two local librarians had a vision and four years later it’s become a reality with The Prow: ngā kōrero o te tau ihu being launched on Sunday 15 February at Nelson’s 150th anniversary celebrations at Founders’ Park.
Cathy Vaughan and Susan Price (from Tasman District and Nelson Public Libraries respectively) saw a need for a high-quality, accurate local history source. Their sheer hard work and dedication has paid off.
The Prow is collaborative effort by libraries and museums across the top of the South. It is funded by the Government’s Digital Strategy which aims to increase New Zealanders’ skills with digital media, via the Community Partnership Fund through the Department of Internal Affairs.
The website’s name reflects the Māori name for the region. The top of the South Island is the prow of Maui’s waka (te tau ihu o te waka a Maui) from which he fished up the North Island.
“This waka is a container for our stories,” said project manager Nicola Harwood. “There are some wonderful resources in the top of the South, from the photograph collections at the Nelson Provincial Museum and the Marlborough Museum, to collections of local history books in the libraries.”
The whole project has been created locally with library and museum staff drafting bibliographies, editing and providing research materials and photographs. Research and writing has been undertaken by local journalists, and a local web development company has created the website.
Tasman District Libraries Manager Lisa Oldham said The Prow would fill a need for local information for students as well as benefiting teachers, iwi, tourists, and local people. The website will feature stories such as the Aorere Goldfields and Maungatapu Murders.
It will not only be authoritative, with lists of resources used in the stories, but also give many references for further research including newspaper articles, websites, images and books.
“It is great that we have been able to find all of the resources, skills and experience we need locally, and that we are able to use local people to present the region’s stories,” said Ian Littleworth, Nelson Public Libraries manager.
He said one of the most exciting aspects of the project was that people would be able to add their own stories to the website. “This project will be a starting point for a resource which will connect all kinds of local stories,” he said.
“This will be a tremendous tool for all people to learn more about our heritage” said Lisa.
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