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Between skin & shirt: The photographic portraits of William Harding

Explore ‘Between skin & shirt’

26 May to 29 October 2022 | National Library Gallery, Ground floor
Mon to Fri – 9am to 5pm | Sat – 9am to 1pm
Free entry

Te Puna Foundation are thrilled to support ‘Between skin & shirt: The photographic portraits of William Harding’. We would like to say a special thank you to Stout Trust, without whose generous support this exhibition would not have been possible.

The photographic portraits William Harding took in his Whanganui studio from the 1850s to the 1880s come to us with such startling immediacy that we find ourselves looking, it seems, at someone we might know.

French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson said that ‘The most difficult thing … is a portrait. You have to try and put your camera between the skin of a person and his shirt’. William Harding achieves just that.

Harding diligently applied his art to reveal the person behind the formality of appearances. In the setting of his studio, his subjects are luminous.

The portraits in this exhibition have been selected from the nationally significant Harding collection of over 6,500 glass-plate negatives held by the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Explore the world of William Harding at the Alexander Turnbull Library.

This online exhibition was created to accompany the exhibition of William Harding portraits held at the Library from 26 May to 29 October 2022.


Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers Phase 1: 2019 – 2021 Summary and Insights Report

Te Puna Foundation is proud to support the mahi of the Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers programme.

We are thrilled to present the findings from the Phase 1 Pūtoi Rito Communities of Readers Summary and Insights report which reinforces proven good practice and details conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand that inspire and encourage young people to read for pleasure and wellbeing.


In The Vault on Seven Sharp

Recently, the team from Seven Sharp visited the National Library to explore the New Zealand Music Collection held within the Alexander Turnbull Library.

In the Vault, a curated collection of contemporary Māori and Pacific music is now being featured on Air New Zealand’s inflight entertainment service, available on their long-haul flights.

Te Puna Foundation are thrilled to be able to continue this collaboration with Air New Zealand to showcase this wonderful collection of iconic New Zealand music.

The playlist renews every three months so check it out in-flight or online!


2022 Helen Zwartz Scholarship - Applications Now Open

2021 Helen Zwartz Scholars with National Librarian, Rachel Esson.

The Helen Zwartz Scholarship provides funding for librarians or staff working in a public library serving one of NZ’s smaller communities or Māori and Pacific communities, to undertake a residency at the National Library of New Zealand.

Applications for the 2022 open on 2 May and close at 5pm on Friday, 10 June.


2021 Helen Zwartz Scholarship Reports

2021 Helen Zwartz Scholars Michelle Kupenga (middle left) and Rauhine Coakley (far right) with Te Puna Foundation Chair Kate De Goldi and National Librarian Rachel Esson.


New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme Funding Recipients Announced

On 9 July, Minister Tinetti announced the recipients of the $5m New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme. Te Puna Foundation received funding to continue to support the Communities of Readers initiative.

“The future for the wellbeing of our people and our communities lies in collaborations like these – between families and communities, with cultural institutions, across government agencies, with private sector and with other governments,” Minister Tinetti said.


Ben Brown; Inaugural ‘Te Awhi Rito’ New Zealand Reading Ambassador Appointed

The eagerly awaited 'Te Awhi Rito New Zealand Reading Ambassador' was announced on Tuesday 4 May. Te Puna Foundation congratulates Ben Brown, acclaimed New Zealand author, writer, producer and reading advocate, for being named the inaugural Reading Ambassador for children and young people.

Te Puna Foundation are proud to fund this important initiative lead by National Library of New Zealand and we look forward to working closely with Ben to champion reading across Aotearoa.

'Ben offers a unique set of attributes to this new and very important role,' said Te Puna Foundation Chair, Kate De Goldi.

'He writes for children and adults across a number of forms and works closely with young people in Read NZ's youth justice writing programmes. He is a lifelong reader with a profound belief in the importance of language and story in all our lives. He brings a lifetime of work and wisdom to what will be a significant position in our reading culture. And he is rearing to go!: to represent and advocate for reading across Aotearoa New Zealand, to nurture and to inspire reading for pleasure in our tamariki, our young people, their whānau and communities.'

Images above: (1) Ben Brown & Ruki Tobin, (2) Kate De Goldi & Ben Brown, (3) Ben Brown, Rachel Esson & Hon Jan Tinetti, (4) Ben Brown & Rachel Esson.

Photos taken by: Mark Beatty, Imaging Team, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand


In Tranzit…

On April 1 2021, Te Puna Foundation is proud to announce our partnership with Tranzit Group Ltd.

The transport provider, Tranzit, will be co-supporting the He Tohu Travel Fund for schools within their Wellington and Auckland catchment zones. This exciting partnership will enable Te Puna Foundation to support more tamariki to visit He Tohu and engage with the documents that shaped our nation through our 2-hour He Tohu Learning Programmes.

If your school is in the Wellington or Auckland region and keen to visit He Tohu, get in touch with us as you may be eligible for co-support from our partner, Tranzit.


Te Puna Foundation Chair, Bill Macnaught retires

Bill retirement

Bill Macnaught retired in December 2020 from his position of National Librarian of New Zealand and therefore has stepped down as Chair of our Foundation. We’d like to thank Bill for his commitment, fortitude, vision and kaitiakitanga over the last five years as Chair and wish him all the very best for the next chapter of his life. Bill’s story continues with his return to Nelson where he will no doubt spend his days reading and enjoying the sunshine.

Te Puna Foundation welcomes Trustee, Kate De Goldi, as the new Chair.


New Zealand Reading Ambassador Role Announced

Te Puna Foundation are thrilled to support the New Zealand Reading Ambassador for children and young people. This exciting new role was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Internal Affairs, Tracey Martin at a Celebration of Reading event at the National Library of New Zealand on Wednesday 5 August.

The Reading Ambassador role will focus on exciting and educating our rangatahi about the wonder and benefits of reading with the ambition of creating a ‘nation of readers’, whilst promoting reading and literacy throughout Aotearoa.

“We know from research that reading for pleasure makes a huge difference to a child’s wellbeing and their potential for life-long success - in personal relationships, education, health and employment.” - Jacinda Ardern.

With declining rates of children and young people reading for pleasure, now more than ever it is important to celebrate reading and encourage our future generations to recapture the wonder and joy of books. This role aligns with the Governments wider efforts to support child wellbeing and reduce child poverty.

“You could say I live by reading. And I believe most fervently in the importance of reading in the lives of all young people, their whānau and communities. I believe equally fervently that the very best of New Zealand literature – our stories, in all our languages – and literature from the wider world should be readily available to all our tamariki in Aotearoa New Zealand.” - Kate De Goldi.

Te Puna Foundation saw this role as a unique opportunity to champion the National Library’s strategic direction and something that is widely agreed as important across the literary, education, library and cultural sectors.

The New Zealand Reading Ambassador will be appointed part time for two years, funded by Te Puna Foundation and supported by National Library in collaboration with key partners, including Creative NZ and ReadNZ.  The inaugural recipient will be announced in early 2021.

Images above: (1) Kate De Goldi; (2) Jean Cleaver-Paris, from Wellington High School, Katie-Rose Janmaat from Huntly College, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Bill Macnaught, National Librarian and Chair of Te Puna Foundation, Ira Compton from Rāroa Normal Intermediate School, Tien Ngahere from Huntly College, and Minister Tracey Martin; (3) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Bill Macnaught (4) Ira Compton; (5) Richard Foy, Chief Archivist, Bill Macnaught, and Peter Murray, DIA Deputy Chief Executive of Information Knowledge Services; (6) Jean Cleaver-Paris, from Wellington High School, Katie-Rose Janmaat from Huntly College, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Bill Macnaught, Ira Compton from Rāroa Normal Intermediate School , Tien Ngahere from Huntly College, and Minister Tracey Martin.; (7) Prime MInister Jacinda Ardern; (8) Ira Compton from Rāroa Normal Intermediate School, Katie-Rose Janmaat from Huntly College, Tien Ngahere from Huntly College and Jean Cleaver-Paris, from Wellington High School.

Photos taken by: Mark Beatty, Imaging Team, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand


Communities of Readers Grant & Launch of Te Puna Foundation Gallery

On April 10, 2019 Te Puna Foundation hosted an event to open the new Te Puna Foundation Gallery and launch the Bird fancy exhibition, which is the first to be held in the new Gallery, formerly the Turnbull Room. In attendance was the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Tracey Martin who announced a $1 million Communities of Readers grant. The initiative will work with a small number of communities to strengthen reading engagement of young people, based on each community’s aspirations, strengths and identified needs. The ‘Communities of Readers’ initiative is also the first step towards the Library’s strategic goal of growing a nation of readers and builds on the National Library’s current role and services supporting literacy and learning in schools.

The ‘Communities of Readers’ will be funded through Te Puna Foundation, the National Library’s fundraising body, and will be led by the National Library of New Zealand.

Media Release

Images above: (1) Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Tracey Martin; (2) Kate De Goldi; (3) Hon Tracey Martin & Kate De Goldi; (4-9) Images new
Te Puna Foundation Gallery and the Bird fancy exhibition; (10) Hon Tracey Martin, Bill Macnaught & Peter Ireland; (11) Hon Tracey Martin & Bill Macnaught; (12) Tui Te Hau, Bill Macnaught, Hon Tracey Martin, Elizabeth Jones, Paul Atkins (Zealandia) & Kate De Goldi; (13) Image of attendees.

Photos taken by: Mark Beatty, Imaging Team, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand


Image: Bill Macnaught, Chair Te Puna Foundation (left) and John Meads, Chair ATL Endowment Trust (right)

Image: Bill Macnaught, Chair Te Puna Foundation (left) and John Meads, Chair ATL Endowment Trust (right)

ATL100 Exhibition Programme Blessing

Two major Turnbull Library exhibitions were given the green light this week, thanks to the Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust (ATLET) and the Te Puna Foundation (TPF), which confirmed generous joint funding. John Meads, Chair of ATLET, and Bill Macnaught, Chair of TPF, spoke at a small ceremony to bless the work of the exhibition team members and a new collaborative planning space at the National Library in Wellington. The blessing was given by Watene Kaihau, and was followed by an overview from exhibition curators, Paul Diamond and Peter Ireland.

The exhibitions in the National Library Gallery will celebrate the ATL100 centenary. The first will open in September this year. Pūkana! (a working title) will take a dynamic look at the interplay between Māori and Western performing arts traditions. The second exhibition, due to open in June 2020, will highlight the Turnbull Library as a collection-house of other libraries, objects and talismans, all with personal, cultural and historical meanings; and the ways it has been shaped by their creators and donors