What's On at the National Library Summer (Jan & early Feb) 2022
Kia ora everyone
Below is our suite of free events for January and the beginning of February 2022, including online events at the National Library, Thorndon. For more information visit our website: natlib.govt.nz
We also have our permanent exhibitions on in our galleries that include:
He Tohu - a declaration, a treaty and a petition
Trouble in Paradise: Climate change in the Pacific - running to 30 April. See photographs documenting the effects of the climate crisis in the Pacific, artworks by Sheyne Tuffery, and a selection of historical rare books from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library.
and
Imagining Dante: Illustrated editions of the ‘Divine Comedy’ closing on 28th January. ‘Imagining Dante’ showcases some of the illustrated editions of the Divine Comedy held by the Alexander Turnbull Library from the sixteenth to twentieth centuries.
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E oho! Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Tamariki:
What does the Treaty of Waitangi have to do with children? Hear Glenis Philip-Barbara, mother of seven, connect her work as Assistant Māori Children's Commissioner with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Date: Tuesday 25 January 2022, 12:10pm to 1:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: Taiwhanga Kauhau — Auditorium, (lower ground) National Library Wellington. Entrance on Aitken Street.
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Tea and tours:
Join our Kaiārahi for tea and scones, watch a short film compilation by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision and take a tour of the exhibitions He Tohu and Trouble in Paradise.
Date: Thursday 27 January 2022, 10am to 12pm
Cost: Free
Location: Programme Rooms, Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library, corner Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington
A supporting event of the free Trouble in Paradise exhibition series.
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Of Priests, Nuns, & Books:
On the centenary of the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses, three scholars from Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington share surprising new stories about the book, its owners, and its readers.
Date: Wednesday 2 February 2022, 12:10pm to 1pm
Cost: Free. RSVP required.
Location: Taiwhanga Kauhau — Auditorium, (lower ground) National Library Wellington. Entrance on Aitken Street.
Contact details: ATLOutreach@dia.govt.nz
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Waitangi Day at He Tohu
Come to the National Library this Waitangi Day to see the original Treaty of Waitangi and engage with Aotearoa’s history.
Date: Sunday 6 February 2022, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library, corner Molesworth and Aitken St, Thorndon, Wellington
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Lunar New Year whānau day:
Come and join us at our whānau day to celebrate the 2022 Lunar New Year! Experience many aspects of Asian culture with performances, lantern crafting, traditional costumes, trinkets, arts, and much more!
Date: Saturday 12 February 2022, 10am to 12:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library, corner Molesworth and Aitken St, Thorndon, Wellington
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Voices of the Pacific: The voice of change:
Learn about how the Pacific Islands are developing programmes to combat climate change through environmental solutions and economical sustainability with Kosi Latu, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
Date: Monday 14 February 2022, 12:10pm to 1pm
Cost: Free
Location: Taiwhanga Kauhau — Auditorium, (lower ground) National Library Wellington. Entrance on Aitken Street.
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Chinese footprints: a walking tour of Wellington’s history:
Oral history advisor Lynette Shum and historian Nigel Murphy will take attendees on a walking tour exploring the rich history of the Chinese in Wellington.
Date: Tuesday 15 February 2022, 10am to 12pm
Cost: Suggested koha $5 on the day
Location: 150 Vivian Street, Wellington
Limited numbers - Contact: ATLOutreach@dia.govt.nz
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Dr H B Turbott, ‘the Radio Doctor’:
Hear Dunedin PhD graduate and researcher Claire Macindoe talk about Dr H B Turbott — New Zealand’s first health communicator and disease-prevention expert.
Date: Tuesday 15 February 2022, 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Cost: Free. Koha from non-members appreciated.
Location: Taiwhanga Kauhau — Auditorium, (lower ground) National Library Wellington. Entrance on Aitken Street.
Contact details: turnbullfriends@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing you at the National Library
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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