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Come along to our next Public History talk featuring Cybèle Locke discussing her recently published biography of Bill Andersen, Comrade, which examines labour activism, communism and social change, from the 1930s until the turn of the twenty-first century. This talk offers possibilities for how Bill Andersen’s Communist, working-class life might speak to us in the current moment. Join us via Zoom or at the National Library on Wednesday 05 April at 12.10pm.
Public History talk featuring Cybèle Locke - Wednesday 05 April
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On Tuesday 14 February 2023, Te Papa celebrated 25 years since opening with a new Rautaki | Strategy to take it forward into the future. The museum’s co-leaders, Kaihautū | Māori Co-leader Arapata Hakiwai and Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive Courtney Johnston, and its Board led by Dame Fran Wilde have embraced a new vision for Te Papa to carry it forward for the next 25 years and beyond.
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Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has published its inaugural Long-term Insights Briefing for the cultural sector. The Briefing explores five key areas that will influence the vibrancy and resilience of the cultural sector ecosystem in the future.
Long-term Insights Briefing highlights opportunities for future of Aotearoa’s arts, culture and heritage

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Home What We Do Projects Completed Roadside Stories

Roadside Stories

Roadside Stories is a series of 140 audio guides that follow major road trips in New Zealand. The stories cover the places you’ll pass along the way – their people, their history, their cultural and natural significance.

Roadside Stories was produced by Manatū Taonga in 2010 to provide place-based information about New Zealand for visitors to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The individual stories are available on YouTube and as downloadable mp3 files. They were uploaded to iTunes (now Apple Music). A Google Map gives the location of each of the Roadside Story sites and links to the related YouTube video.

On YouTube

You can view all the Roadside Stories, with added photos, on YouTube. Each tour of a New Zealand route is grouped as a playlist, so you can watch the whole tour, one story after another - or just the stories that most interest you.

On Google Maps

Tour New Zealand with Roadside Stories on a Google map. The stories are arranged by location and route, so you can follow the tours around the country.

Google Map Image

Download kml file to take the tours on Google Earth.

On Apple Music

Download the Roadside Stories iBook or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music, then sync the stories to your mp3 player and take them on the road.

Download the MP3s

Roadside Stories a la carte. Download every story, a whole tour, or select individual stories.

DOWNLOAD ALL (140 MP3’s, 680mb)

Archival audio sourced from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Sound files may not be reused without permission from Ngā Taonga

Auckland to Taupō

Download all 26 stops (134.8mb)

Hamilton to New Plymouth

Download all 9 stops (46.9mb)

New Plymouth to Wellington

Download all 17 stops (85.8mb)

Taupo to Napier

Download all 7 stops (37.6mb)

Taupo to Bulls

Download all 7 stops (40.2mb)

Napier to Wellington

Download all 8 stops (32.1mb)

Wellington to Nelson

Download all 6 stops (32.4mb)

Picton to Christchurch

Download all 11 stops (56.6mb)

Christchurch to Invercargill

Download all 14 stops (69.5mb)

Invercargill to Queenstown

Download all 5 stops (24.3mb)

Auckland to Kerikeri and back

Download all 18 stops (81mb)

Nelson to Wānaka via West Coast

Download all 12 stops (56mb)

Updated on 10th March 2023