Friday, August 15th 2003 – Day 178
It was pouring rain and it was cold. I was not too happy about walking around in the mire. I decided to drop into the City Gallery Wellington. Its a nice building in the Civic Square with free admission.
City Gallery has a reputation for challenging viewers with the best of contemporary visual art–everything from painting, sculpture, film, and video to industrial and graphic design and architecture. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you want to find out what’s happening in the New Zealand world of contemporary art, it’s one of the best places to start. The gallery has a fully licensed cafe, bar, and restaurant.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – City Gallery (15-08-2003)
The gallery was taken up by exhibitions by Shane Cotton – A Maori artist who was quite good even thought I did not get many of the references.
Upper Hutt born with Maori affiliations to the Nga Puhi tribe, in the past six years, Shane Cotton has emerged as a major presence in New Zealand art. His work is highly sought after by both private collectors and museum galleries. He has exhibited extensively in both New Zealand and Australia with highlights including the much coveted Seppelt Art Award at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and receiving the prestigious Frances Hodgkins fellowship at the University of Otago. More information on Shane can be found here.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Shane Cotton Painting. (15-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Shane Cotton Painting. (15-08-2003)
I then walked to the National Archives Office. It was a 15 minute walk in the rain.
The real beginnings of a National Archives came in 1926, however, when Dr Scholefield, Librarian of the General Assembly Library was in addition appointed Controller of Dominion Archives, although he was given no extra resources to carry out the additional functions!
We are able to ensure preservation and access to this material by acquiring, describing and preserving significant public archives relating to almost every aspect of New Zealand life, and to the individual lives of New Zealanders from the beginning of British government in 1840 to the present day. The materials we hold take many forms including manuscripts, photographs, films, maps, tapes, plans, video recordings, books, paintings, drawings, and prints.
The Government records held at Archives New Zealand are a precious and unique resource. It is our aim to ensure that they are kept in the best possible condition and made available to the widest possible audience, not only to professional researchers, but also to the general public. This homepage is designed to give an overview of the services and facilities we offer.
It was free admission. There was an exhibit on the design and construction of the Beehive (one ugly Building) Parliament building. The most important exhibit on show is The Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi has been a significant document – especially for Maori – since it was signed in 1840.
The Treaty of Waitangi has two texts, one Maori and one English. The English text is not an exact translation of the Maori text. Despite the problems caused by the different versions, both represent an agreement in which Maori gave the Crown rights to govern and to develop British settlement, while the Crown guaranteed Maori full protection of their interests and status, and full citizenship rights.
In 1975 The Treaty of Waitangi Act established the Waitangi Tribunal. This forum was created to investigate Treaty grievances by Maori against the Crown.
Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi
Background
In the late 1830s, there were approximately 125,000 Maori in New Zealand and about 2000 settlers. More immigrants were arriving all the time though, and Captain William Hobson was sent to act for the British Crown in the negotiation of a treaty between the Crown and Maori. The Colonial Secretary, Lord Normanby, instructed Hobson that:
“All dealings with the Aborigines for their Lands must be conducted on the same principles of sincerity, justice, and good faith as must govern your transactions with them for the recognition of Her Majesty’s Sovereignty in the Islands. Nor is this all. They must not be permitted to enter into any Contracts in which they might be the ignorant and unintentional authors of injuries to themselves. You will not, for example, purchase from them any Territory the retention of which by them would be essential, or highly conducive, to their own comfort, safety or subsistence. The acquisition of Land by the Crown for the future Settlement of British Subjects must be confined to such Districts as the Natives can alienate without distress or serious inconvenience to themselves. To secure the observance of this rule will be one of the first duties of their official protector.”
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – the Treaty of Waitangi. (15-08-2003)
On 6 February 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands by Hobson, several English residents, and approximately 45 Maori rangatira, Hone Heke being the first. The Maori text of the Treaty was then taken around Northland to obtain additional Maori signatures and copies were sent around the rest of the country for signing, but the English text was signed only at Waikato Heads and at Manukau by 39 rangatira. By the end of that year, over 500 Maori had signed the Treaty. Of those 500, 13 were women.
After the National Archives visit, I walked to the New Zealand’s National War memorial. This is a fine structure and very atmospheric. With the wind and rain howling outside, I was alone inside it was very serene.
New Zealand’s National War memorial consists of the War Memorial Carillon and the Hall of Memories. It commemorates the New Zealanders who gave their lives in the South African War, World Wars I and II and the wars in Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam. It is planned that an Unknown New Zealand Warrior will be interred in a specially constructed Tomb at the National War Memorial.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – New Zealand’s National War memorial. (15-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – New Zealand’s National War memorial (15-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – New Zealand’s National War memorial (15-08-2003)
The building was finished in 1932. The website is great and has all the relevant information. I found another great site about all the heritage sites and walking trails in Wellington. If you visit Wellington, check it out. There are hundreds listing in the index and reasons for their significance is given.
After that it was still raining but not as bad. I headed back to town for something to eat. I was going out tonight but many people (most people do not go out until midnight). I headed back for a shower and shave and decided to go and see American Spendor at the Rialto Cinema.
This is a great movie (read a review here and more resource’s here). He even has his OWN BLOG.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Flyer for film. (15-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Flyer for Film. (15-08-2003)
He about a guy who writes comics! I will say no more.
The movie ended around 11.00pm and I headed out to the town. It was very quiet and I stayed until 3.00am in the Courtenay Place. I visited most bars in the area with none been more than 1/3 full. Beer or a handle is between four and five NZD. For bar reviews visit Lucid and check out issues 3, 4 and 5 for reviews of different types of bars (rugby, trendy, sleazy). Issue 3 is pretty good.
Pretty quite night and I was in bed by 3.00am. Five people in my dorm tonight.