sharing the past - Auckland Museum

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Sharing the Past The oxygen free environment will minimize photooxidation of the susceptible organic materials and reduced lighting levels will further decrease deterioration. Likewise mould and insect attack will not be a threat in controlled conditions such as these. The Museum's team of conservators has had many years of specialised training. The training for conservation is a degree in the Conservation of Cultural Materials and at present is not available in NZ. Our conservators trained in Australia and Canada. They are Objects Conservators which means that they have an understanding of the makeup of all sorts of materials e.g. the mummy is a combination of organic (wood, textile, gums, resins, human remains) and inorganic substances (pigment, clay, calcite). Conservation involves both remedial work, i.e. treatments -which prima- TE TOKI A TAPIRI 13 Teacher Background Auckland Museum Te Papa Whakahiku rily involve preservation through stabilising the deteriorative factors, and preventative, which encompasses things like control of environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, pollution, pests), correct handling, etc. At times it can be dangerous because of the necessary use of chemicals, and residual materials left on objects from past treatments, but they take safety precautions like wearing gloves, goggles, masks and work in the fume cupboard when necessary. Conservation training also involves the study of materials, and this includes not only the chemical and physical makeup of objects, but of adhesives, solvents and other chemicals that they may use so that they know how things are going to be affected by various materials. Our brave conservators don't seem to believe in the mummy's curse!!! Stoic but foolish people. Te Toki a Tapiri is the last of the great Maori war canoes. With the hull adzed out of a single huge totara log, the canoe is 25m long and can carry 100 warriors. It was built about 1836 for Te Waka Tarakau of Ngati Kahungunu, who lived near Wairoa in Hawkes Bay. Its name commemorates Tapiri, a famous ancestor of Tarakau. Before it was finished, the canoe was exchanged for a famous cloak. After the prow, stern and side strakes were carved the canoe was presented to Tamati Waka Nene and his brother Patuone of Ngapuhi. In 1853 Te Toki a Tapiri was sold to members of Ngati Ata. In 1863, following the outbreak of war in the Waikato, Government forces seized the waka, even though Ngati Te Ata had not taken part in the fighting. Ngati Te Ata accepted crown compensation for this transgression. A British sailor made an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the canoe while it lay on a beach at Onehunga. In 1869 the canoe was restored, and teacher background became the highlight of a regatta on the Waitemata Harbour organised for the visit of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Ngati Whatua of Orakei later looked after the canoe until it was presented to Auckland Museum by the New Zealand Government in 1885. To move the canoe from its Orakei landing place to the Princess street building required cunning strategy. Firstly a cart was wheeled onto the beach at low tide over a corduroy slab track. At the next high tide the floating canoe was manoeuvred onto the cart and dragged inland at low tide. Its
teacher background home was to be a lean-to structure built onto the side of the main building as there was no room inside as yet. This was not the end of its travels however and the move to the Museum on Domain Hill proved just as tricky and involved some knocking down of walls. Fortunately the uncompleted back wall of the latest Museum allowed easy access for such a long craft. Since then it has been a key component of the impressive Maori galleries, diligently guarded from harm especially during World War II when carefully placed sand bags cushioned Te Toki against any possible bomb damage. Auckland Museum Te Papa Whakahiku Sharing the Past Te Toki a Tapiri, resting on a specially modified flatbed truck, is manoeuvred through a gap in the Princes Street annex wall. This the first small step in the drive to the new Museum on the hill. Auckland Museum art school's tutor Kenneth Watkins probably used Te Toki a Tapiri as a model for his 1888 painting of the Phantom Canoe of Lake Tarawera which is now held in the Auckland Art Gallery. Te Toki a Tapiri during W.W. II carefully cushioned against falling debris in the event of enemy attacks on Auckland. Teacher Background 14
Page 1 and 2: Te Papa Whakahiku AUCKLAND WAR MEMO
Page 3 and 4: introduction Auckland Museum Te Pap
Page 5 and 6: teacher background The Institute's
Page 7 and 8: teacher background BOTANICAL MEANDE
Page 9 and 10: teacher background some tens of tho
Page 11 and 12: teacher background strata to be slo
Page 13: teacher background rial has been us
Page 17 and 18: teacher background MITSUBISHI ZERO
Page 19 and 20: teacher background reluctantly acce
Page 21 and 22: teacher background Elliott Street O
Page 23 and 24: teacher background burial chamber b
Page 25 and 26: curriculum links carvings, painting
Page 27 and 28: curriculum links *Explain why peopl
Page 29 and 30: activity sheet Auckland Museum Te P
Page 31 and 32: activity sheet Looking at a 'Big Ma
Page 33 and 34: activity sheet Auckland Museum Te P
Page 35 and 36: activity sheet CLASSROOM ACTIVITY S
Page 41 and 42: gallery activity sheet Find the cla
Page 43 and 44: gallery activity sheet Auckland Mus
Page 51 and 52: BOOKING INFORMATION: All school vis

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