Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries

In this episode we catch up with Renée Orr to discuss the recently acquired privately-published book of prints by the Japanese woodblock artist Hiroshige (1797-1858).

Renée shares the back story of the book to include reference to the front ex libris bookplate of Hilda Wiseman and the intersection of interests with the book’s creator Percy Neville Barnett.

For images and to read more go to: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/03/awekura-hiroshige.html

Books about Japanese woodblock printing and Hiroshige in the lending collection:
Japanese woodblocks : masterpieces of art
https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=e36bdd9e-611c-5d58-82e6-43ea6cb2d187&entityType=FormatGroup
Japanese woodblock prints artists, publishers, and masterworks, 1680-1900
https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=3982e56a-1106-5e03-9b22-5d6ae823939c&entityType=FormatGroup
Hiroshige : 1797-1858 : master of Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints
https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=8672e9c2-887f-5952-b655-20dec9edb785&entityType=FormatGroup
Hiroshige : 1797-1858
https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=474de03c-8fb5-53d4-9f5c-2ffa5decc512&entityType=FormatGroup

Hilda Wiseman collection

https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=d712d073-8ee7-5001-9fcd-9487dd240255&entityType=FormatGroup
In another dimension : Auckland bookplates 1920-1960 (PR:PURI 2002)
Link to blog: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2015/06/bookplates-hilda-wiseman-and-auckland.html

Awekura is a kupu drawn from Māori weaponry, particularly the taiaha. It refers to the arero, the tongue of the taiaha, which is adorned with kura, red feathers. The term reflects both the physical beauty and their deeper spiritual and narrative significance. Awekura is the name given to our blog and podcast series that showcases treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, presented by our library specialists.

In this episode we kōrero with Robert Eruera - Pou Whakarae Taonga Tuku Iho Māori and Maureen Ned - Poukokiri Whakatapoko Tapaenga about a project that, through headsets and augmented reality , we bring to life Heritage Collections and the stories related to the sites of signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

To read more about this material in the blog here: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/02/awekura-te-tiriti-ki-tamaki-makaurau.html

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Explore the unpublished heritage collections via Kura Heritage Collections online www.kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz and printed material via the Auckland Libraries Catalogue - www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

In this Pride, Love is Love edition, Alison is joined in the studio by poet and actor Dan Goodwin, to discuss the tropes and folx of three recently published queer romance novels.

All three books can be borrowed from the Bestie collection displays or requested from the Auckland Libraries catalogue.

The broposal by Sonora Reyes https://bit.ly/3NMbRmJ

The thrill of the chase by Kathryn Nolan https://bit.ly/3LP8if0

Isn’t it obvious? By Rachel Runya Katz https://bit.ly/4sIH2zx

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Send an email to [email protected]
Find out more about our Bestie collections at www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

Orlando Furioso was the focus for the talk delivered by Dr Jack Ross, the first of the scholars to speak at the Don Smith Symposium.

In 2024 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections gained an important collection with the gift of 183 titles collected by the late Professor Emeritus Donald Ian Brice Smith (Don). The collection of early modern books published before 1801 comprises several hundred volumes. The collection is now housed in archival boxes, each with a label which features Don’s signature, to show the provenance from the library of Professor Smith.

To honour this significant collection Auckland Libraries invited academics from across the country to talk about books in this collection. The event took place on 8 November 2025.

All forty-six plates in this copy of Orlando Furioso can now be accessed on Kura Heritage Collections:
https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/rarebooks/id/14958/rec/1

You can read more in these Heritage et AL blogs:
https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2025/10/discovering-dora-carrington-in-dons.html

https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2025/12/five-hundred-years-of-books-collector.html

And additionally in this blog by Dr Jack Ross
https://mairangibay.blogspot.com/2025/10/auckland-central-library-seminar-81125.html

This track features Dr Mark Houlahan. In his talk he addresses the question:
‘Why should members of the Auckland Free Public Library bother with religious and political quarrels from 17th century England? Can these handsome 300-year-old books still speak to Aotearoa in 2025?’

In 2024 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections gained an important collection with the gift of 183 titles collected by the late Professor Emeritus Donald Ian Brice Smith (Don). The collection of early modern books published before 1801 comprises several hundred volumes.

The collection is now housed in archival boxes, each with a label which features Don’s signature, to show the provenance from the library of Professor Smith.

To honour this significant collection Auckland Libraries invited academics from across the country to talk about books in this collection. The event took place on 8 November 2025.

Ref: To explore the text discussed see: Andrew Marvell / The Rehearsal Transpros’d (1673). Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections MARV 1673
https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=3d966467-b312-5c96-9dda-754ba25af1df&entityType=FormatGroup

You can read more in these Heritage et AL blogs:
heritageetal.blogspot.com/2025/10/disc…in-dons.html

https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2025/12/five-hundred-years-of-books-collector.html

And additionally in this blog by Dr Jack Ross
mairangibay.blogspot.com/2025/10/auck…r-81125.html