Family Membership

• We know of many families who visited Body in Action more than three or four times - we think the record is held by Sophie and her mum at ten visits. That's fantastic.
• Would you and your family like to be able to visit any of our exhibitions; whether they are free or paid, as often as you like?
• Would you like to have special member only events and activities?
• Would you like special early notice of family events so you are able to make preferential bookings?
• Would you like the opportunity to be invited to the opening of new exhibitions?
• Likely COST is $60 per year, it would cover the children you name on the card and any two accompanying adults.
• Let us know please. Email ceo@museumnp.org.nz with either YES or NO in the subject line.
• If you respond YES and we get enough people to suggest that the idea is worth doing we will follow up with more information.

In the News

NZ Fossils - Dead Precious is now open and proving to be popular with Museum visitors. Just prior to the opening Nelson Mail Journalist Tracy Neal and Chief Photographer Martin de Ruyter paid a visit to see the finishing touches being applied prior to the opening on Friday 8th of May 2009. Read the full Nelson Mail article here.

A fossil of 47 million-year-old primate Darwinius masillae, dubbed Ida, was unveiled by scientists at a ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History on Tuesday 19th May 2009

A team of researchers have unveiled an almost perfectly intact fossil of a 47 million-year-old primate they say represents the long-sought missing link between humans and apes. Source and for more information click the following link http://www.nydailynews.com

Over a hundred people attended the opening on Friday 8th May. Ross Butler from GNS and Dr Mike Johnston led everyone into the gallery. The reactions of the visitors suggest that all the hard work of mounting the exhibits and arranging for the display of additional items such as the Giant Eagle and the Plesiosaur was worthwhile.

Since that evening nearly a hundred people a day have walked up the stairs past the eagle and have been captured by the fossils on display. These fossils are the remains and evidence of things that lived in or near the land, we now call New Zealand, millions of years ago. The stories of how they were discovered in road cuttings and buried in rocks are well told and you can bet there will be another crop of children wanting to be palaeontologists when they grow up. We hope the fascination lasts and The Nelson Provincial Museum is more than happy to encourage children in their science studies. We have some great programme ideas lined up; some for parents, some for families and some especially for children. The Nelson Science Society held a pre-lecture function in the Museum last week and we are happy to offer more opportunities like that. We have plans for a FOSSILS ROADSHOW in the July School Holidays with experts on hand to tell you about your special treasures.

Have you wondered about the spelling? Palaeontologist OR Paleontologist - is there a difference?

Coming Soon

A NEW ADDITION TO THE FOSSILS EXHIBITION

Eagle model sponsored by The Lion Foundation

Special Offer For Queen's Birthday Weekend Only

Check out the Nelson Mail insert with details of the Queen's Birthday holiday weekend special and you'll find this advert allowing adults to come to the NZ Fossils - Dead Precious! exhibition at the same $2 entry fee as their children. This offer applies for Queen's Birthday weekend only and you must have the advert with you. You can print this copy and use that if you like.

Ferdinand von Hochstetter
Father of New Zealand Geology
150th Anniversary of his survey of the Nelson Region
Described by many scientists as "the father of New Zealand geology" Ferdinand von Hochstetter arrived in this country in 1858 as a member of an Austrian scientific expedition and spent most of his time in this country describing and mapping newly discovered mineral fields.

In 1859 The Nelson Provincial Government invited Hochstetter to investigate the region's mineral deposits and report on their potential for commercial use.

The Hochstetter exhibition traces the work of this remarkable young scientist during his visit to New Zealand. It includes reproductions of his watercolours and maps and has some of the original specimens he arranged for the Nelson Institute on display.

A Curious Image

by Dorothy Cookson

Among the more unusual photographic images in the care of The Nelson Provincial Museum is this picture of two artificial legs made by Nelson wood turner Jabez Ambrose Packer.

Jabez came to Nelson in 1843 at the age of seven and sometime before 1861 opened his successful business premises in Hardy St. Initially manufacturing table legs and bed posts, he later became involved in the construction of artificial legs. We have no record of what prompted him to learn this new skill but there is no doubt that he was one of New Zealand's early pioneers in the field.

In 1873 he was awarded a medal at the Nelson Exhibition and a testimonial in the same year from Dr Farrelle states

"I can safely recommend Mr J A Packer's artificial legs. They are very light and strong, and the apparatus which secures motion at the knee, ankle and toes is, in my opinion, better than in most of the imported articles" (signed) W. K. Farrelle, Nelson, November 15, 1873.
Source: The Nelson Provincial Museum, Archives Collection: Packer, Biog File 1.

A newspaper article from 1966 quotes the recollections of an elderly man who remembered, as a boy of about ten, being fitted by Jabez with an adjustable wooden leg. It was designed to be extended as he grew taller, the drawback being the additional metal rods made the leg heavier than the usual 6lbs (2.7 kg).
Source: The Nelson evening Mail November 8 1966.

Jabez moved his family and business to Wellington in the late 1890's where his wife later died during the great flu epidemic of 1918. Jabez is buried in the Karori Cemetary.

'Our Stories' Project

Film Fest Grand Finale - May 13th

More than 200 people turned out to the Film Fest celebrations to mark the end of the Our Stories Project in Nelson. The red carpet was rolled out, the paparazzi snapped away as the guests, students, family and friends arrived at the Victory Community Centre. The students from Upper Moutere school and St Josephs school had worked in small groups to document the lives of people living with disabilities from the Nelson region. The students interviewed each person about their life taking photographs and then produced a DVD. The film makers worked under the direction of documentary photographer Bridget Anderson to produce the films. All guests and student film makers were presented with an ‘I am a Star’ badge before they walked the red carpet.

The image to the right shows: Pam Mahuika and dog Ipo walk the red carpet with St Joseph's School pupils from left, Josh Scott,12, Rebecca Nott, 12, and Alex Kroch, 12, at the Victory Community Centre during the Film Fest Grand Finale held on May 13th. Photo by Colin Smith, The Nelson Mail.

School Education Programme

New Zealand Fossils - Dead precious! Why do they call this exhibition Dead Precious? Students from all over Nelson are discovering the reasons. We did have dinosaurs and huge sea reptiles. We had gigantic sharks and tiny trilobites. In the school programme students have a chance to explore the exhibition and to have hands on experiences with real fossils and modelling exercises.

Senior students will also gain information about the work of Ferdinand Hochstetter in this region back in 1859. He is known as the ‘father of NZ geology'.

There are lots of spaces available next term for classes. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Education Resources Online

The Nelson Provincial Museum's Education Services team have a number of online resources available to the region's schools and educators. more

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