News

Hidden lives and remarkable characters revealed for Taranaki Heritage Month

The voices of early 20th-century teachers, forgotten Taranaki women, a pioneering plantswoman, and generations of Ōpunakē locals will be rediscovered at NPDC’s Puke Ariki this Taranaki Heritage Month.

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1 OCT 2026

Help Puke Ariki name the faces of Ōpunakē and South Taranaki

NPDC’s Puke Ariki Museum is calling on the community to help identify the people, places, and stories captured in thousands of historic photographs through Rekindled: Ōpunakē Life through the Feaver Collection. 

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Feaver Collection

7 SEPT 2026

First-ever writer in residence brings stories to life at Puke Ariki

Local children’s author Steph Julian (Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga) has been announced as Puke Ariki’s first‑ever writer in residence, with the residency coinciding with Aotearoa New Zealand Children’s Book Week, 15–21 August 2026.

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Puke Ariki First Ever Writer In Residence Steph Julian Photo Credit Tammie Pittwood 1200X627

11 AUG 2026

The detective work of researching family history.

A surname scribbled on the back of a photo. A headstone with unfamiliar names. A question that has lingered across generations.

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29 JUL 2026