Titokowaru's Dilemma

A new exhibition opened at Puke Ariki this week: Titokowaru's Dilemma.

 

Titokowaru’s Dilemma shines light into the murky world of myth making. Marian Maguire’s beautiful lithographs and etchings explore Taranaki history, challenging simplistic readings of the past by taking Riwha Tītokowaru and placing him with the gods and philosophers of ancient Greece, showing him in debates that have a timeless significance. The prints are complemented by items from the Puke Ariki heritage collection which expose some fertile gaps in the accounts surrounding Tītokowaru and his enemies;  gaps in which colourful myths have sprouted. This exhibition asks ‘What is myth?’, ‘What is history?’and ‘Who decides?’

This is a self-guided programme, of particular interest to secondary school teachers of art, history and classical studies.

Anne Frank: a History for Today

A special touring exhibition opens at Puke Ariki in February. Anne Frank: A History of Today tells the life story of Anne Frank family, juxtaposed against world events before, during and after the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party.

Anne Frank

Anne Frank: a History for Today has toured galleries and museums throughout New Zealand since 2010, and we're thrilled that it will be exhibiting at Puke Ariki.

The educational programme for Anne Frank is a self-guided lesson. Excellent pre and post visit supporting material, as well as an exhibition guide, is available online. While this lesson is self-guided (teacher-led rather than by a Puke Ariki educator), we do request you book with us to avoid clashes with other groups.  

Have you visited this exhibition elsewhere in New Zealand? What did you think?

Transport us...to Aotea Utanganui

Did you know that Puke Ariki has an educator based at Aotea Utanganui, Museum of South Taranaki? Rob Groat offers a variety of interactive educational programmes at the newly reopened Aotea Utanganui in Patea, working with primary and secondary schools throughout South Taranaki.

Check out Rob's programmes here or contact Rob to discuss a programme that suits your needs.

Rob checks out a Suzuki RG400 currently on display in the Aotea Utanganui exhibition Easy Rider.

Easy Rider is the new exhibition at Aotea Utanganui featuring a fascinating collection of historic bicycles, motorcycles, photographs and memorabilia, including items from the Aotea Utanganui collection. The supporting educational programme is Transport Us, which examines the history of different types of transport in South Taranaki. Transport Us is adaptable for all ages and year levels and is an excellent complement to Easy Rider. 

Contact us to make a booking for Transport Us or any other programme.

Mutunga: our legacy, our challenge, our future

Mutunga: our legacy, our challenge, our future is the new exhibition at Puke Ariki. Mutunga tells a story of the North Taranaki iwi, Ngāti Mutunga, who have maintained their iwi through war, mass migration, land confiscation and wholesale changes to their world.

This exhibition brings together, for the first time, a collection of historical and contemporary taonga, manuscripts, paintings and artworks that help tell the story of the people. Walk into a world seen through Ngāti Mutunga eyes - a world largely inaccessible to those without tribal connections.

We're offering an education programme for Mutunga in Term 1 next year, This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the long and proud history of this Taranaki iwi.  Book your class online or contact us for further details.

Our very popular programme focusing on the history of Taranaki rugby Rucks, Boots and Bulls kicked off at the start of September. Focusing on the history of Taranaki rugby and based in the fantastic new exhibition It's Not Just a Game, we've had several excited classes take part in the programme. The feedback so far has been brilliant: one teacher said "this has been the best visit - ever".

Educator Hoani teaches a class from Devon Intermediate. The amber and black looks great!

We really encourage you to bring your students to enjoy this fun programme, filled with interactive and engaging activities for students of all ages. Rucks, Boots and Bulls is available until Week 7 of Term 4 (week beginning 7 November): book online or contact us for more information.

Did you visit us for Rucks, Boots and Bulls ? What did you think? Leave us a comment.

Rucks, Boots & Bulls

Our education office is abuzz with all things rugby in preparation for the launch of our new programme 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' on Monday 29 August. The reaction from schools to this programme has been fantastic, and we're thrilled that so many classes will visit us to participate. 

'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' supports the upcoming Puke Ariki exhibition It's Not Just a Game: Whanau, Whakapapa, Whutupaoro - A Social History of Taranaki Rugby, which opens on Saturday 27 August. Check out the Puke Ariki website for details.

Click here to book your class for 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' at Puke Ariki.  Meanwhile, here's a sneak peak at one of the very important lesson resources:

Our thanks to the Taranaki Rugby Football Union for their generous loan of several authentic Taranaki jerseys to use with students.

What does the amber and black jersey mean to you? Leave us a comment!

New exhibitions at Puke Ariki

Calling all art students and teachers! Check out the fantastic variety of art exhibitions currently on show at Puke Ariki. Several of these exhibitions - such as Renegade: Taranaki Independent Art Groups - have a strong Taranaki focus and will appeal to a variety of ages. Check out the full details of what's on here. You'll need to be quick to see Renegade, as it closes this Sunday 14 August.

Have you experienced these exhibitions? What did you think? Leave us a comment.

Stranger than...?

Our programme on the fantastically weird and wonderful exhibition Stranger than Fiction finishes next week with the end of Term 3. We've had brilliant feedback from kids, parents and teachers who have loved the opportunities for 'thinking outside the square' that the exhibition provides.

Recently a class of enthusiastic students visited from Manukorihi Intermediate in Waitara. These hats look good enough to be worn to a royal wedding...



Stranger than Fiction closes on Sunday 31 July - don't miss out on this quirky, interactive exhibition. Fun for the whole family...especially during those rainy school holidays!

It's Stranger than Fiction!

Have you checked out the kooky new exhibition at Puke Ariki?

Opening on Friday 13 May, Stranger than Fiction promises to get you exercising your imagination like never before! Stranger than Fiction features the weird, wacky, and unusual items from our museum collections but asks you, the visitor, to tell us all what these oddities are by writing your own museum labels. You're encouraged to speculate about what the specimens might be, consider where the curiosities came from, or ponder how these peculiar things were used. There's only one rule: the stranger the better!

We're offering a fun, interactive education programme for Year 1-8 pupils to complement Stranger than Fiction, with fantastic feedback received so far from teachers and parents.  Please contact us if you'd like to book your class or visit the Puke Ariki website for more information about the Stranger than Fiction programme.

Check out photos of the exhibition and creative labels here.