#Auckland museum

[shortfineel]

He penis gone :(

That moment when christians lop off the dick of an artwork because it's not prude enough...

[airandangels]

Basically, rainbow kaimahi (workers - the Māori term is increasingly used by institutions wanting to set a progressive and inclusive tone) kept expressing that they were deeply concerned about the implications of hosting the exhibition, and eventually management listened. Very interesting to see the process and the sorts of views expressed on the way.

I think the headline is in error and should say “pulled the plug” - pulling the pin would be going ahead with it come what may.

[faggotfungus]

Actinidia deliciosa (A.Chev.) C.F.Liang and A.R.Ferguson. Date: 6 May 1994 ¹ ²

[polwarth]

I was not expecting rats inside the exotic mammal box

[luigicappel]

Back to the Future

A school holiday job at Auckland Museum imprinted 100-year-old songs in my head. W Notting. 1896. Albion Type Press, 1978.927. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). At the closing of 1971, my father got me a job at the Auckland Museum, working a 100-year-old printing press, reproducing articles published by the NZ Herald of 1871. In my role as a printer’s apprentice, I printed…

[talented-ela-2021]

[guy60660]

Faith Museum | Bishop Auckland | © Julian Germain | FT

[purplecuriosityblog]

Auckland War Memorial Museum

The Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand Day 2 I love visiting museums. Be it a war memorial, art, music, etc… but I really love visiting museums that showcase the country’s history. New Zealand’s history is a rich and a traditional one, they have natives that started the culture through songs and dance, which is then passed down to generation to generation. Luckily enough, not…

[ramenkingsworld]

[fiendslothful]

It's my birthday 💜

[aucklandexpat]

Auckland War Memorial Museum, free for kiwis, fun for all ages, learned lots #aucklandwarmemorialmuseum #auckland #visitauckland #aotearoa #museum #family #travelwithkids #sky #art #history #maori #educate #nz #newzealand #aucklandcity #aucklandnz #aucklandlife #newzealandfinds #newzealandlife #newzealandguide #newzealandphotography #newzealandtravel #travelphotography #travel #architecture #dayout #citylove #cityphotography #kidsatplay https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpq05Try0GE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[polwarth]

Look how it spins

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

Not an exhaustive list, but for any Brits who see this, there's expected rioting tonight in:

Cleveland, Thornaby. Likely to be at the mosque in Westbury Street at ~5pm

Durham. Both in the city centre and apparently at the Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

Leicestershire, Coalville. Potentially starting at the clock tower.

Manchester. Potentially the police station in Salford.

Peterborough. Some talk about gathering outside the prison.

Rochdale. Outside the Broadfield Hotel on Sparrow Hill.

Scunthorpe. Reports of it starting at Scunthorpe Museum on Oswald Street moving off to Frodingham Road. Late to posting this as reports said it would start at 12.

Sheffield. The Holiday Inn is a suspected target. I believe it's off of Victoria Station Road.

Stoke-on-Trent. Potentially at the Best Western Hotel on Audley Road.

Also in Northern Ireland, there's expected to be one at Chimney Corner in Belfast, and in Newton Abbey.

[talented-ela-2021]

[ltwilliammowett]

The wreck of the Josephine Willis

The Josephine Willis, a packet ship launched in 1854, undertook a voyage to New Zealand under the command of Captain Edward Canney. During the voyage, there was an attempted mutiny by the crew. Twelve crew members deserted in Auckland, while others were dismissed in Calcutta on the return voyage. However, the second voyage, which started on 1 February 1856, was interesting. With a crew of 44 and 66 passengers, the ship again travelled to New Zealand. The ship had various general cargoes on board, including a large quantity of utility ceramics destined for the emigrant market in New Zealand.

The sinking of the Josephine Willis (x)

The ship was first towed to Margate Sands by a steam tug before sailing on to the Downs. After reaching South Foreland, the Josephine Willis travelled down the English Channel and at 20:10 a light was sighted. It was believed to be the Dungeness lighthouse and the helm was put to starboard. However, the light belonged to an approaching steamer, the SS Mangerton, an iron-hulled screw steamer en route from Limerick to London. The Mangerton struck the Josephine Willis just forward of the main mast on the starboard side and is said to have cut the ship in half. Some of the crew and passengers were able to climb aboard the Mangerton, while others escaped in the ship's boats. However, it happened that the two ships involved did nothing to rescue the other passengers, which is why the captains responsible were later held responsible and sentenced for reckless behaviour. During the incident, however, the Josephine Willis later capsised and sank. Between 69 and 70 people lost their lives in the accident, including Captain Canney.

3D image of the 'Josephine Willis' wreck (x)

Dives were quickly undertaken to salvage the passengers' cargo and luggage. Amongst other things, a mahogany chest containing the ship's board and Captain Canney's personal belongings were recovered and handed over to his widow. Salvage work on the wreck continued until 1861.

Ceramics in situ (x)

The wreck was rediscovered by divers in approximately 2018. Diving investigation revealed that a large quantity of the ceramic cargo was still in situ. The ceramic assemblage is principally comprised of wares from three Staffordshire based potteries - Mexborough, Charles Meigh, and Davenport. Several of the ceramic types discovered are unknown in current museum collections, or have previously only been seen in the form of wasters.

Recovered ceramics (x)

Interpretation of geophysical data indicates that the full length of the vessel survives in situ, with a maximum length of 46m, and a maximum width of 10-11m, which is consistent with the known dimensions of the vessel. A potential vertical break in the hull is located approximately halfway along the wreck mound. This corresponds with the position which the Mangerton was reported to have collided with the Josephine Willis. It would appear that the wreck has broken it's back and the remaining structure lies in two halves.

Recovered toys and caramics (x)

[drhoz]

#2534 - Heteralocha acutirostris - Huia

The Moa, unfortunately, wasn't the only extinct bird on display at the museums we visited. Aotearoa has suffered an appalling rate of extinctions since the arrival of humans, and the rate only accelerated after the introduction of rats, cats, dogs, stoats, brushtail possums, and other predators.

One loss was New Zealand's largest wattlebird - the last credible sighting of one was a century ago. It was considered sacred by the Māori, with the skins and feathers worn only by those of the highest status, and traded long distances across the islands. Ornithologists also considered it remarkable, on account of the sexual dimorphsm in the beaks. The male used its shorter beak to pry apart rotten wood, and the female probed deeper.

The bird lived only in forests of the North Island - land clearing, overhunting, and rats rapidly reduced their numbers. Their extinction rapidly loomed after the arrival of Europeans, who assumed that anything not native to the British isles was inferior anyway, and exacerbated after the future George V and Queen Mary visited New Zealand in 1901. At an official Māori welcome in Rotorua, a guide took a huia tail feather from her hair and placed it in the band of the Duke's hat as a token of respect, and many fuckwits in both countries wanted to emulate the fashion.

The handful of attempts to save the bird did not go well - The Kapiti Island attempt is documented as being particularly bad. A live pair destined to be transferred to the island in 1893 was instead appropriated by Sir Walter Buller, who took them back to England as a present for Lord Rothschild, along with the last known pair of laughing owls.

 In May 2024 a single huia feather sold at auction in Auckland for NZ$46,521.50, making it the most expensive feather ever sold in the world. The previous record in 2010 was another huia feather.

Whanganui Regional Museum, New Zealand