National Library of New Zealand

12/06/2026

An exhibition suggesting the idea that to be is to travel; be that real, in person, with a destination in mind or without, or simply in the imagination. To look into the Library collections and select images becomes a journey: travelling, travelling, travelling. Where will you go next?

👉 Broken River Train / dreams of travel
📍Te Puna Foundation Gallery, National Library, Wellington
🎟 Free entry

https://natlib.govt.nz/visiting/wellington/exhibitions/broken-river-train-dreams-of-travel-exhibition

12/06/2026

Old news, new life 📰✨

continues to open up Aotearoa’s history — making it easier than ever to explore the stories that shaped our communities.

Check out RNZ’s coverage of our latest release that included nearly 15,000 additional pages of the Wairarapa Times-Age👇

About 1700 editions of the Wairarapa Times-Age - covering between 1944 and 1950 - have been made available online.

12/06/2026

On 25 April 1918, the Academy Theatre at Waihi screened the movie “The kid from Timaru”, a film based on a poem by Barry Marschel, depicting the evolution of a soldier proud of his Timaru roots above all else, from the time he enlists until he ends up in hospital after the first big fight on Gallipoli. Advertised as having a cast of 5000 New Zealand soldiers, the film did the rounds of New Zealand cinemas in 1918, but before then the poem it was based on had been recited live by actors in Australasia and in Britain.

The ‘Ashburton Guardian’ praised the film: “The film has been linked together with considerable ingenuity, and the way in which the motion pictures fit in with the words is most effective. As the speaker’s voice describes the fall of men on the shores of Gallipoli Peninsula they fall, and so with every incident of the popular verses, even to the appearance of the hospital clock, which appears to strict time”.

— Ashburton Guardian, 15 January 1918, Page 2 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19180115.2.7

Thursday & Friday next, in conjunction with “The flame of the Yukon”. Special starring engagement … Barrie Marschel and “The kid from Timaru” in motion pictures. Told as the film unfolds by the man who wrote it. Produced under the direction of the author … playing to thunderous applause and crowded houses everywhere. See the landing at Gallipoli! Wright & Jaques, printers, Auckland [Academy Theatre Waihi, April 25 1918]

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/32200240
Eph-A-CINEMA-1918-01

12/06/2026

Congratulations to our Te Rua and Te Hono architects for their wins at the 2026 Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Regional Awards!

Warren and Mahoney and Tihei won the Public Architecture Award for Te Rua.

And Studio Pacific Architecture and Tihei won the Small Project Award for Te Hono - the bridge between Te Puna and Te Rua.

He hōnore nui mō tātou katoa — it’s a privilege to work in these award-winning spaces every day.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1FuSiQ5L94/

12/06/2026

Change to reading room hours Monday 15 June

The Library reading room hours will change on Monday 15 June due to operational requirements.

👉 Te Wai (general reading room) will be open from the usual time, but self-service only until 11.30am (no staff on desks).

👉 The Katherine Mansfield reading room will remain closed until 11.30am, then open from 11.30am to 5pm.

If you’re visiting to view collections onsite, please allow extra time, as your items may not arrive until early afternoon.

https://natlib.govt.nz/researchers/the-reading-rooms

11/06/2026

Our Pictorial Research Librarian Kimberley Stephenson has curated a small exhibition, now on display in Te Wai Reading Room: Lest We Furget – The Dogs of War.

Drawn from the Alexander Turnbull Library photographic collections, Lest We Furget commemorates 10 of our wartime kurī and their tails of heroism and misadventure. The display also features a field of beautiful handmade felt poppies representing the exhibition subjects: white for the civilian dogs, purple for the service dogs, and red for the service people who worked alongside them.

But that’s not all! It is a universally acknowledged truth that behind every great dog is a great cat: the display also includes a secret companion exhibition viewable from within the Katherine Mansfield Reading Room. From the Cat-alogue features some favourite photos of our furry feline friends from the ATL and Archives New Zealand collections.

Look out for our blog next week, where the stories of each of these furry guys will be shared along with their photographs. And if you’re at the Library, drop into the reading room to see these wonderful images up close.

https://natlib.govt.nz/researchers/the-reading-rooms

11/06/2026

Recently, Seven Sharp visited Turnbull House in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington to check in on its restoration. The team is now around halfway through this major, multi-year project, which includes seismic strengthening and careful conservation of this important heritage landmark. Have a look at the progress they've made!

10/06/2026

The latest Papers Past newspaper release is now available!📣📰

See the latest updates: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers

This contains:
• Hawera Star (1936-1950)
• Hutt News (1949-1960)
• Matamata County Mail (1953-1965)
• Matamata Record (1951, 1953-June 1954)
• Matiere Gazette (1920-1921, October 1924-1936)
• Ohura Mail (July 1917-1921, October 1924-1936)
• Waikato Times (1946-1950)
• Wairarapa Times-Age (July 1944-1950)
• Wanganui Herald (1921-1927)

Thanks to the Hawera Genealogy and Local History Group, Hutt City Libraries, the Matamata Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, the Taumarunui and Districts Historical Society, and Masterton District Library and Wairarapa Archive for their support in the digitisation of these titles.

Thanks also to the publishers for their permission to extend the date ranges of their titles.

09/06/2026

Marking International Archives Day by celebrating Te Rua, our new archival building in Wellington, part of the Te Kahu heritage campus.