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Collectors call - NPDC’s Puke Ariki needs you! 06 July 2018 NPDC’s Puke Ariki is seeking out collectors for a new exhibition and wants to hear from people with a passion for the peculiar. Whether it is collecting teddy bears (arctophiles), cheese labels (tyrosemiophiles) or medals and military badges (falerists), Puke Ariki wants to share collectors’ stories and learn about why they stockpile their beloved treasures. “We are looking for collections of all shapes and sizes, from collectors of all ages, no matter how weird or wonderful, to be part of next year’s exhibition,” says Puke Ariki Manager Kelvin Day. The exhibition celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Taranaki Museum with an exhibition of Taranaki collections, starting with the collection by W.H. Skinner that launched the museum in 1919. The W.H. Skinner collection laid the foundation for what is now the regionally and nationally significant Puke Ariki Heritage Collections. Skinner’s work as a surveyor brought him into contact with many Māori in Taranaki and he developed a life-long interest in Māori culture and history. Concerned that Taranaki lacked a proper museum and that items were being lost to the province, he and his son, Henry Devenish Skinner, offered the collection to the New Plymouth Borough Council in 1913 on the proviso that a suitable, fire-proof building was built. The newly built museum extension to the Carnegie Library opened in August 1919 with the Skinner Collection on display. Meanwhile, local mountain man Derek Andrews has an incredible collection of more than 30,000 items he has found on Mt Taranaki during his 800 ascents of the mountain. His collection includes 16,292 pieces of glass as well as items from a crashed aircraft, crampons, coins and golf balls. “I’m still finding things each time I go up the mountain which are brought to the surface,” he says. And music mad David Clark’s entire home is filled with 45s, CDs, DVDs and more than 4,000 LPs. “My favourite band is Madness and I guess my collection is a bit mad as well!” Collectors wanting to take part can get in touch with the museum to include part of their treasured items in the new display. If you want more information, please email chanelle.carrick@npdc.govt.nz. Puke Ariki fact file • It first opened on 15 June 2003. • The total number of visitors to Puke Ariki and district libraries in the 2016/17 year was 809,036. • In that same period, Puke Ariki and community libraries issued 792,563 items. • It is the world’s first purpose-built, fully integrated museum, library and visitor information centre. • Puke Ariki has three long-term galleries (Takapou Whāriki, Taranaki Naturally and the Gallery of Taranaki Life) and components of these get changed out regularly. • The temporary exhibition space shows touring exhibitions that are either curated in-house or brought in from other museums. • Te Pua Wānanga O Taranaki/Taranaki Research Centre is also housed at the site.

Elvis always on the mind for elderly NPDC tenant Gladys 29 June 2018 Gladys Hopkinson doesn’t have a pair of blue suede shoes, but at home in her NPDC Housing for the Elderly flat she does put her feet up in her favourite Elvis slippers. She’s been sharing her home with The King for more than 10 years, with Elvis memorabilia covering walls and shelves, and filling her wardrobe too. Gladys, 81, has lived in an NPDC unit for 22 years and says it’s helped her stay independent and keep serving the community as a volunteer driver for other elderly folk. “I’ve always loved music and there’s something about Elvis that’s just so fascinating. After I became interested in him, friends and family started giving me things related to Elvis,” Gladys says. NPDC has 140 units to let to elderly residents in New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara and Inglewood. The service is entirely self-funded from rents, with no money from rates, and tenants have to prove their financial need and be 65 or over to qualify. The number of elderly in the New Plymouth District is rising and demand for the units is high, with a waiting time of up to three years. “All our units are well cared for and we encourage the tenants to take pride in their homes,” NPDC Chief Financial Officer Alan Bird says. “NPDC’s Housing for the Elderly gives tenants security that enables them to live independently and remain active in the community,” Mr Bird says. “It also gives them a home close to family in communities across the district.”

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