Category: News

New Zealand Music Month at Wellington City Libraries

MarkLeave a comment

It’s New Zealand Music Month we’ve planned a few community performances at the Johnsonville, Tawa and Te Awe Libraries to help celebrate local music — find links to each event on Facebook below. Nau mai rā tātou katoa – everybody is welcome!

Community Performances at Te Awe Library


Tāmira Pūoro – Saturday, 11 May 2024, 3 – 4pm
For New Zealand Music Month Te Awe Library will be hosting a special performance by Tāmira Pūoro, featuring the taonga pūoro and vocals of Ruby Solly, alongside Orchestra Wellington’s principal harpist, Michelle Velvin.

 

Community Performances at Tawa Library


Testore Jazz Trio – Saturday, 4 May 2024, 11 – 11:30am
Testore Trio is a jazz trio that also likes to squeeze a few Neapolitan (Italian) tunes into its repertoire to mix things up a little. The line-up is Richard Prowse – violin, Daryl Prowse – guitar and George Prowse – six string bass.

 

 

Prog Folk with Patrick and Bradley – Saturday, 11 May 2024, 11 – 11:30am
Hear a combo of original numbers and covers of eclectic folk/prog tunes from the 1960s and ‘70s as well as some originals. Featuring acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, flute and voice.

 

 


Gemma Nash and Marianne Wren Duo – Saturday, 18 May 2024, 11 – 11:30am
Enjoy a musical conversation between Gemma and Marianne as they swap seamlessly between instruments and harmonies. Expect to hear some fun and lilting covers of great female artists interspersed with original material.

 


Tiffany Baker Plays Harp – Saturday, 25 May 2024, 11 – 11:30am
Tiffany Baker is an accomplished harpist who performs and teaches throughout the Wellington region. She’s passionate about demystifying the harp by offering hands-on harp sessions and community performances.
Expect to hear a variety of pieces on a variety of harps! Everything from classical and Celtic, to folk and modern.

Community Performances at Johnsonville Library


Tūhura HIVE Recording Studio Open Day – Friday, 17 May 2024, 10am – 4pm
Ever wonder how a fully functional recording studio works? Enjoy a tour of the equipment and instruments that make up the Tūhura HIVE recording studio. No appointment necessary. Just come to the HIVE Makerspace at the Johnsonville Library between 10am and 4pm and a staff member will show you around.

 


Ukulele Jam! – Saturday, 18 May 2024, 2 – 3pm
Join library staff for a musical jam, learn some chords, sing some songs, and unleash the inner muso! Ukuleles are provided, but if you have your own, you are welcome to bring it to this session. Registration essential, numbers are limited.

 

 


Tiffany Baker Plays Harp – Wednesday, 22 May 2024, 3:30 – 4pm
Tiffany Baker is an accomplished harpist who performs and teaches throughout the Wellington region. She’s passionate about demystifying the harp by offering hands-on harp sessions and community performances.
Expect to hear a variety of pieces on a variety of harps! Everything from classical and Celtic, to folk and modern.

 

Accordion Magic with Xinxin – Wednesday, 29 May 2024, 3:30 – 4pm
Join us on the library terraces to hear library specialist, Xinxin, play a variety of songs and ballads from around the world on the piano accordion.

Magazines free to borrow, 10 – 28 May

wclstaffLeave a comment

In a special offer:  from 10 – 28 May, you will be able to borrow magazines free of charge!

Free magazine rentals! 10-28 May. Browse our full collection on our catalogue. Pictured are three of our many titles -- Harper's Bazaar, North & South and The New Yorker

Wellington City Libraries has over 500 magazine titles for you to borrow.  From Mother Jones to Forbes to Quiltmania to NZV8 – our collections cover a huge range of subjects and styles.  We have four varieties of Vogue and seven titles on model making!

Not forgetting the fascinating back-runs of some classic magazines that we care for at our Off-site Storage site.  If you want to relive New Zealand from years past, Dish magazine has foodie trends since the earliest days of MKR, and Wilderness magazine is literally a walk in the park.  We also have constant favourites, like National Geographic, New Zealand Geographic, Time, Rolling Stone and The Economist.

Seek a new point of view, try a new hobby, or look back in time to how the world used to be.  You’ll be surprised at what we have!  If you are looking for a magazine on our catalogue but you don’t find what you are looking for, just ask one of our staff, and they will help you.

  • This free offer applies to loans and renewals made from 10 – 28 May at any of our branches or online.
  • Any loans or renewals outside of this period will be charged the usual 50c.
  • Magazines are borrowed for 7 days.
  • Reserves are free, but there is a $2 fee if you don’t collect your reserve items.
  • For more information, please contact your local library or email us at enquiries@wcl.govt.nz

WCL eBook Club celebrates ComicFest 2024

NeilLeave a comment

One of the most popular non-fiction books recently is The Observologist by artist and writer Giselle Clarkson, a captivating book that has quickly become a firm favourite of children and adults alike. It has continued to be featured in bestseller lists, both here and abroad, since its release and is one of our most heavily borrowed and reserved titles here at the library.

Gisella Clarkson is coincidently one of the many guests taking part in our celebration of all things comic and graphic related, the extravaganza that is ComicFest 2024! For full details and to reserve your spot at any of the free ComicFest events, including a live panel with The Observologist creator Giselle Clarkson, visit our website here.

To celebrate both the book and ComicFest 2024, we are offering access to an unlimited number of downloads of The Observologist as our eBook club pick of the month on Libby, available May 2 – 15.

For free and without any waiting.

Download your copy here through Libby.

Continue reading “WCL eBook Club celebrates ComicFest 2024” →

Te Tiriti: Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 29 April 1840

AnnLeave a comment

Te Tiriti books pictured against a backdrop of Te Whanganui-a-Tara

184 years ago, in early April 1840, Henry Williams arrived at Te Whanganui-a-Tara aboard the Ariel with sheet 8 of Te Tiriti to be signed by mana whenua. It took him 10 days to convince 34 Rangatira at ‘Port Nicholson’ to add their marks/signatures to the document.

Here are listed eight of the Rangatira and signatories who resided at Pipitea Pā: Te Rira Porutu, Tamati Te Matoha (Napuna), Wi Kingi Wairarapa, Te Ropiha Moturoa, Takata Ingo, Hohepa Kopiri, Reihana Reweti/Te Kamo, Te Kahu/Hone Te Iwikau/Matoha).

Te Wharepouri and Rawiri Matangi resided at Ngauranga; Ngatata-i-te-rangi at Kumutoto; Taringakuri, Te Whakakeko, Hore Pakihi – probably at Kaiwharawhara; Honiana Te Puni, Kopeka (Te Puni’s uncle), Rerewha-i-te-rangi (father of Honiana Te Puni), Pamariki Paaka at Pito One; Te Puakawe and Hirini Te Tute at Waiwhetū.

Eight or more local Rangatira eventually signed Sheet no. 8 at Queen Charlotte Sound and Manawatū. Te Manu Toheroa and Tu-te-rangi-pouri of Queen Charlotte Sound had close whānau links to Pipitea and Waiwhetū and Ngakirikiri was also closely associated with Waiwhetū Pā.

Wi Hape Pakau (Pipitea and Waiwhetū) signed the sheet at Manawatū.

Continue reading “Te Tiriti: Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 29 April 1840” →

Tūhono 2024 Submissions Are Now Open!

Stephanie ALeave a comment

We have officially opened submissions for Tūhono 2024, our annual poetry journal for children and teens! This year’s theme is “Tūmanako | Hope”. We are so excited to read your entries this year — just make sure you get them in before the 12th of May! Use the button below to submit your entry.

Submit your poem for Tūhono 2024!

Continue reading “Tūhono 2024 Submissions Are Now Open!” →

Win tickets to local family film ‘The Mountain’, in cinemas now

MarkLeave a comment

From the Producers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople & Jojo Rabbit and directed by Rachel House, ‘The Mountain’ is a heartfelt drama about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga, and discover friendship in the spirit of adventure. A childhood cancer narrative is explored in this film, so we encourage you to view gently, especially for those with childhood cancer stories close to their hearts.

The Mountain is now showing at these cinema locations.

Win double passes to The Mountain over on our Facebook page.