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.

Pigskins and Grass Stains

There's a fun new programme available at Aotea Utanganui for our South Taranaki schools.

You might remember the Puke Ariki exhibition It's Not Just a Game: Whanāu, Whakapapa, Whutupaoro, which was so popular with schools and visitors during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Now It's Not Just a Game is on show at Aotea Utanganui, and our educator Rob has developed a fantastic programme for schools in support of the exhibition.

Pigskins and Grass Stains will explore the history of rugby in Taranaki, and consider the social impact of rugby on the wider community. Students will have a fantastic time discovering more about the traditions and histories of this famous game.  It's available for all year levels and runs for 75 minutes.

Contact us to learn more or book online.

New programmes available at Puke Ariki

We delivered several one-off programmes last term, and enjoyed developing these lessons. We received fantastic feedback and would like to now offer these programmes to all schools in 2012:

Taranaki Detective Trail

Put on your detective hat to discover the unique Taranaki identities hidden in the museum. Who are our icons? Why are they famous?

Taranaki Tourism

See Taranaki through the eyes of a tourist. Visit the iSite and museum galleries to investigate key Taranaki tourist attractions.

Parihaka

An introduction to the history and legacies of Parihaka. Ideal for secondary students of history, art, drama and te reo Māori.

A full list of the current programmes are on the Puke Ariki website.

Upcoming education events at Puke Ariki

Stuck for something to do these holidays? The Puke Ariki education team is involved in a series of family friendly educational events. Bring your whole family along for some fun learning, offered in partnership with the Taranaki Regional Council.

Spaces are limited - we recommend you register early on 06 759 6060.

Coastal Birdtrackers
Wednesday 11 April, 9.00am-10.30am - meet outside Chaddy's Charters
Join educator Nathan Hills to consider the impact of urbanisation on coastal environments. Come and learn how to identify birdtracks! This event is weather dependent and may be cancelled due to bad weather.

Volcanic Taranaki
Thursday 19 April, 2.00pm, Opunake Library
Explore the geological history of Mt Taranaki and learn about some of the emergency procedures you should know when living under our very own volcano!

Safe Fun in the Sun
Saturday 21 April, 10.30am-12.00pm, Noel and Melva Yarrow Education Room, Puke Ariki
Margaret Amore presents a session on having fun in the water. Families will enjoy learning about different techniques for surviving in the sea. Please bring a hat and a towel!

Check out the Puke Ariki website for more information about school holiday events.

Bert Crenca on 'the Art of Community'

Check out this link for details of a free presentation by Umberto Crenca, the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of AS220, a non-profit centre for the arts in Providence, Rhode Island.

Umberto will visit Puke Ariki on Friday 13 April to discuss 'the mechanics of creating vibrant communities by providing space and tools for self realisation through self expression'.

The talk will be of special interest to arts organisations, youth organisations, educational institutions, artists and community development organisations. Puke Ariki will provide drinks and nibbles afterwards to allow for networking and meet & greet with Umberto.

 Please RSVP to pukearikiadmin@pukeariki.com or phone (06) 759 0894.

Join the Ruru Revolution!

Join the Ruru Revolution...and take over the museum!

This is your chance to make your mark in Puke Ariki. On Saturday 14 April we're running a special event, where you can create your own labels for items in the museum collection. What stories do you have to tell about the items in the museum? What memories or ideas do they evoke? This is your chance to tell the world!

It's simple...grab a Ruru post-it, write your own personalised label, stick it up for all to see and collect a gold Ruru badge. There will also be music, mask making, scavenger hunts, spot prizes and more!

Join us for this fun family event on Saturday 14 April from 11.00am-2.00pm in the Puke Ariki foyer. Be part of the revolution!

Term 2 programmes

It's hard to believe it's the nearly the end of term one already! We have two exciting new programmes available at Puke Ariki in Term 2: Wild Foods and Puke Ariki Pā.

In Wild Foods, students will discover a world without supermarkets and become a great food gatherer. They'll learn about the variety of natural food sources on land and water and develop an appreciation of the customs around gathering wild food.  Wild Foods compliments our very popular Tools and Traps programme.

Puke Ariki Pā will make you see the land that Puke Ariki sits on in a whole new light. The art of storytelling will make students aware of the significance of awa and moana in this area, while learning the origins of local Māori names and their connections to tangata whenua. If you've visited us for Model Pā you'll appreciate the links with this new programme.

Both programmes are adaptable for any year level. Please contact us for more information, or book your visit online today. We'd love to see you!