Remembering Romance

On February 14 – a day for lovers, romantics and the young at heart, Patea Library Plus celebrated by inviting everyone to a Remembering Romance morning tea. Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki contributed to the occasion by taking along a wedding dress from the collection.

Ruth Merrigan who wore the dress to her wedding in 1943 started the reminiscences off by recalling her special day. Her husband was working as a seaman on the Royal New Zealand Navy hospital ship Maunganui and had only three days leave. The wedding took place in St Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Oxford St, Patea. There are no photographs because film was rationed and they could not get any.

About thirty years later Ruth McKay was looking for costumes for the Hawera Players and Ruth Merrigan offered her wedding dress, which was gratefully accepted. It graced the stage in many productions and was even worn by Ruth McKay in a fashion parade. Eventually she donated the gown to the museum in 1997.

The gown is made from cream satin. The slim fit and simple styling would have suited the austerity of the times. The principal adornment is a series of self-covered buttons along the forearms and down the back. There is a delicate gesture to a train in a slight flare at the foot of the gown.

This elegant yet modest dress would have been fitting attire for a bride at that time. What makes it special to our collection is the story that belongs to it, of a young woman, still resident in Patea by the way, whose hopes and dreams of romance and married happiness were embodied in this wedding dress.



See you all on April 30 at 11.00am for the Grand Opening of the new museum!

Ka kite ano.

15th Century Artefacts Return Home

Monday March 7 was a significant day for South Taranaki as the Waitore Artefacts, 15th century relics of human habitation in the district were returned to Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki.

The taonga were first discovered by the late Livinsgston Baker in the 1960s. He found pieces of wood protruding from the mud on his farm after a creek had been in flood. Over the next eight years more taonga were found. He eventually managed to organise a dig with a team of archaeologists from Auckland University. Carbon-dated to the 15th century, these artefacts are among the earliest evidence of humans living in New Zealand.

At that time the museum in Patea did not have a suitable environment for storing or displaying these precious treasures, so they were cared for by Puke Ariki in New Plymouth. With the new museum building having appropriate temperature and humidity controls, it was time for these taonga to return home. They were accompanied on their journey by Puke Ariki staff and members of their Kaumatua Kaunihera.

A rapturous welcome awaited them – kaumatua and representatives of four local iwi, children from the Wai-o-Turi Kohanga Reo and students from Patea Area School, along with museum staff were waiting in brilliant sunshine to receive these taonga. After an emotional powhiri, the taonga were passed into the care of the museum. They will play an important role in the exhibitions that are currently being readied for display.

The new museum opens to the public on April 30 at 11am. All welcome!