Recognition for Taranaki Historian

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongawera has bestowed a significant honour on a Taranaki historian.

Kelvin Day, Manager Heritage Collections at Puke Ariki, has been named an Honorary Associate of Te Papa for his outstanding contribution to anthropology in New Zealand.

The appointment comes after Mr Day was invited by Te Papa Director of Collections and Research Dame Claudia Orange to apply.

“Basically, being an Honorary Associate means that I’ll have more access to Te Papa’s archives and collections for my research,” says Mr Day.

“As there aren’t that many Honorary Associates in New Zealand, it brings a bit more mana to Puke Ariki.”

Says Manager Puke Ariki Fiona Emberton: “It’s come as no surprise that Kelvin has been acknowledged in this way. His knowledge and dedication are highly valued by not only the Puke Ariki team but more importantly out in our Taranaki community.

“He is highly respected.”

For a number of years Mr Day has been researching Taranaki collectors of taonga Maori and is currently researching Les Mackie, of Otakeho, who was a significant Taranaki collector of Maori artefacts and also a carver.

“He was unusual for a collector in that he produced work as well, such as a couple of bed-ends which were in the New Zealand part of the Wembley Exhibition in the UK in 1924/25. He was also a very keen horticulturalist and an expert in New Zealand ferns, and he had a pet yellow eel,” says Mr Day.

“While Puke Ariki does hold some of his collection, the bulk of it is at Te Papa.”

Mr Day has authored Maori Wood Carving of the Taranaki Region (2001), edited the award-winning book Contested Ground: Te Whenua I Tohea – The Taranaki Wars 1860-1881, had research about 1900s artefact dealer James Butterworth published in Te Papa’s journal, and written a number of scholarly journal articles on Taranaki archaeology and material culture.