Ngā Pātaka Kōrero - Auckland Libraries

Auckland Libraries

Welcome to Ngā Pātaka Kōrero Auckland Libraries podcast page! Catch up on author talks, events and concerts, and hear more in-depth commentary from the curatorial team behind our taonga treasured collections and exhibitions.

  1. Change and Impact: The Future of Tāmaki Music Venues

    2d ago

    Change and Impact: The Future of Tāmaki Music Venues

    The Encore! exhibition looks at ways connection happens through live music: being emotionally moved by a performance, connections between those on stage and those in the crowd, and the feeling of being connected to others in a music community. Some featured music venues in the exhibition include the Auckland Town Hall, Powerstation, Galaxy, Temple Bar, Crystal Palace and more. Join us for a conversation on how central Auckland venues have influenced the city over time, and what challenges and opportunities will define their future role. This panel talk consists of some well-known names such as Taylor MacGregor, Savina Fountain, MP Chlöe Swarbrick, and will be moderated by 95bFM breakfast host Rosetta Stone. Come listen to this fascinating kōrero on the future of our music scene in the city. Recorded Live on April 18, 2026. This Tāmaki Untold talk was part of the 'Opening Act" programming and was held at the Whare Wānanga, Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero | Central City Library Introduction by Julian Backing Track is Coffee Talk by Dusty Melody

    1h 1m
  2. Conversations with my Bestie: K.J. Holdom

    5d ago

    Conversations with my Bestie: K.J. Holdom

    Alison is joined in the studio by the author K.J. Holdom to discuss her recently published historical novel The End and the Beginning This book can be borrowed from the Bestie collection displays or requested from the Auckland Libraries catalogue. https://bit.ly/3SfuiT2 Enjoyed this episode? Follow for future episodes. Send an email to reading@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Find out more about our Bestie collections at www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

    31 min
  3. Auckland Voices: Tracing the history of the New Zealand accent with Dr Brook Ross

    May 28

    Auckland Voices: Tracing the history of the New Zealand accent with Dr Brook Ross

    Where did the New Zealand accent come from and why does it sound the way it does today? Surprisingly, Auckland, NZ’s largest urban centre, has been notably underrepresented in research on the origins of our accent. Past work has been largely South Island and rurally focused, however newly rediscovered historical writings suggest the NZ accent may have developed fastest in the North Island, particularly in Auckland. To tell us more about this we welcomed Dr Brooke Ross who is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Auckland. With a background in Linguistics and Speech Science, her interdisciplinary research uses speech technology to understand how and why the New Zealand accent is changing over time. This research used Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections at the corpus of material from which to study the accent. You can access the collections via the Oral History tile here: https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/ This is a recording of the Tāmaki Untold talk delivered at the Central City Library on Saturday 23 May 2026.

    50 min
  4. Going West: listening to the archive with James Littlewood

    May 24

    Going West: listening to the archive with James Littlewood

    In this episode, we talk with James Littlewood about his work on the Going West Writers Festival archive. James reflects on the experience of working with the voices that make up the 30 years of sound and photographic records housed at Auckland Libraires Heritage Collections. This track illustrates the treasure which is this archive through James' playing favourites. To read more about access to the archive and the work of Going West Trust see the Heritage et AL blog here: The tracks appear in order include: Glenn Colquhoun, poetry performance, with Richard Nunns and Bob Bickerton, 2009 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5117/rec/8 Dianne Bardsley and John Reynolds, discussion, 2008 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5105/rec/1 Margaret Mahy and Catherine Chidgey, discussion, 2000 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/4913/rec/3 Dave Dobbyn, Chris Knox, discussion, 1998 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/4863/rec/1 Taonga Puoro: Singing Treasures, presentation and performance, 2006 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5052/rec/1 Dr Joanne Drayton, interview, 2008 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5099/rec/1 Graham Brazier and Harry Lyon, in conversation, 2014 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5249/rec/3 Graham Brazier and Harry Lyon, play Gutter Black, 2014 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5249/rec/3 Thank you to all the authors and artists for their generosity in sharing this material from the archive. Copyright permissions are required for further replay of this material. Please request access via Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. The archival project work with the Going West Trust was supported by a Lotteries Grant and the support of the Auckland Libraries Heritage Trust. See Going West Trust for additional podcast material and matters pertaining to the current work of the Trust https://www.goingwestfest.co.nz/

    49 min
  5. Needle on the Record - Dance Music in Auckland 1990s-2000s

    May 21

    Needle on the Record - Dance Music in Auckland 1990s-2000s

    Revisit Auckland in the 1990s and early 2000s, when dance music culture in Aotearoa was finding its pulse. Warehouses, nightclubs, bush parties and late-night radio built a scene that was energetic, resourceful and distinctly local. Interviewed by Emma Jean Kelly, five DJs and producers reflect on their experiences of a formative period in the evolution of dance music in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Hear the voices of Tiopira McDowell (Miso / Mokotron), Grant Marshall, Chris Chetland, Tim Checkley (Jizmatron / Go Nuclear) and Matt Mariu. Read more here: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/05/needle-on-record-dance-music-in-tamaki.html Needle on the Record is produced from long-form oral history interviews commissioned by Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections. https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/oralhistory/id/5352/rec/1 Created in support of the Encore! exhibition, this collection adds vital voices to the history of gigs, venues, genres and music production. https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/en/encore.html Interviews, selected clips and podcast script by Emma-Jean Kelly. Narrated and mixed by Julian Lubin. Produced by Sue Berman. Photo credit: Needle on the Record, Sue Berman, 2026 Music credit: DIMMYSAD free use https://pixabay.com/music/drum-n-bass-jungle-waves-drumampbass-electronic-inspiring-promo-345013/ Copyright restrictions apply. Please request permission for further use of material. https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/en/heritage-and-research/research-enquiry.html

    45 min
  6. Salvaging a hidden history with Sue Bradford

    Apr 30

    Salvaging a hidden history with Sue Bradford

    In this episode, we talk with Sue Bradford about her work on the Auckland Unemployed Workers Rights Centre (AUWRC) archive. Sue reflects on the experience of sorting through long‑held boxes of papers, magazines, minute books, photographs, and posters. This work was supported by the 2025 John Stacpoole Scholarship, awarded by the Auckland Libraries Heritage Trust. https://www.alht.org.nz/blog/post/160688/aucklands-unemployed-fightback-history-public-talk/ You can read Sue Bradford's written reflections on the project here: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/05/auckland-unemployed-workers-rights-centre-archive.html The archive will shortly be accessioned by Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection.

    22 min
  7. Heritage maps with Katrina Laan

    Mar 22

    Heritage maps with Katrina Laan

    In this episode we navigate heritage maps with maps librarian Katrina Laan. Katrina shares with us five of her favourite maps including the first printed map of the Pacific in 1601, a 1946 tourist map, the fabulous Thomas Wing’s map of the Kaipara Harbour 1835, early city fire insurance maps 1915 and we learn 'just what is a cadastral map'? Listen in to a lively discussion to learn more about these maps and more. You can read more here: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/03/awekura-maps.html And check out an earlier podcast on the Wings maps here: https://soundcloud.com/auckland-libraries/chart-of-kaipara-harbour-by-thomas-wing?in=auckland-libraries/sets/real-gold-treasures-of-the Links to Auckland Libraries Heritage Maps via Kura Heritage Collections online: https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps Maris Pacifici, 1601, Abraham Ortelius, Map 9588 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps/id/9743/rec/1 Auckland and environs : sheet no.4., 1924, New Zealand Department of Lands and Survey, Map 77 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps/id/1972/rec/2 Tourist map of New Zealand, 1946, New Zealand Government Tourist Department; Map 9091 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps/id/9134/rec/1 Chart of the entrance to Kaipara Harbour, Captain Thomas Wing, January, 1836. Map 4613 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps/id/1211/rec/3 Fire insurance maps, 1915, Council of Fire and Accident Underwriters' Association of New Zealand, Map 9128 https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/maps/id/9340/rec/1

    35 min
  8. Hiroshige's woodblock prints & Hilda Wiseman's bookplates

    Feb 26

    Hiroshige's woodblock prints & Hilda Wiseman's bookplates

    In this episode we catch up with Renée Orr to discuss the recently acquired privately-published book of prints by the Japanese woodblock artist Hiroshige (1797-1858). Renée shares the back story of the book to include reference to the front ex libris bookplate of Hilda Wiseman and the intersection of interests with the book’s creator Percy Neville Barnett. For images and to read more go to: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2026/03/awekura-hiroshige.html Books about Japanese woodblock printing and Hiroshige in the lending collection: Japanese woodblocks : masterpieces of art https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=e36bdd9e-611c-5d58-82e6-43ea6cb2d187&entityType=FormatGroup Japanese woodblock prints artists, publishers, and masterworks, 1680-1900 https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=3982e56a-1106-5e03-9b22-5d6ae823939c&entityType=FormatGroup Hiroshige : 1797-1858 : master of Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=8672e9c2-887f-5952-b655-20dec9edb785&entityType=FormatGroup Hiroshige : 1797-1858 https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=474de03c-8fb5-53d4-9f5c-2ffa5decc512&entityType=FormatGroup Hilda Wiseman collection https://discover.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/search/card?id=d712d073-8ee7-5001-9fcd-9487dd240255&entityType=FormatGroup In another dimension : Auckland bookplates 1920-1960 (PR:PURI 2002) Link to blog: https://heritageetal.blogspot.com/2015/06/bookplates-hilda-wiseman-and-auckland.html Awekura is a kupu drawn from Māori weaponry, particularly the taiaha. It refers to the arero, the tongue of the taiaha, which is adorned with kura, red feathers. The term reflects both the physical beauty and their deeper spiritual and narrative significance. Awekura is the name given to our blog and podcast series that showcases treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, presented by our library specialists.

    20 min
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Welcome to Ngā Pātaka Kōrero Auckland Libraries podcast page! Catch up on author talks, events and concerts, and hear more in-depth commentary from the curatorial team behind our taonga treasured collections and exhibitions.

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