Our stories

25/08/2026 | Waitaha Canterbury

Ng King Bros Market Garden: a family endeavour

From its earliest days as a family business and settlement, to its reinvention as a listed heritage site, public reserve and Tohu Whenua, whānau connections are central to the Ng King Bros Chinese Market Garden Settlement's history.

17/06/2026 | Otago

Eagle embroidery has flown home to Olveston

In honour of National Volunteer Week: meet Jan Wilson and Mary Flaherty, the skilled craftspeople who have lovingly restored this eagle embroidery at Olveston Historic Home in Ōtepoti Dunedin.

14/05/2026 | Otago

Shore stories: discover Huriawa Peninsula

On the dramatic Huriawa Peninsula, Claudia Babirat is taken on a journey of history, culture and connection by mana whenua, who bring this coastal landscape to life.

10/03/2026 | Te Tai Poutini West Coast

Denniston and Brunner Mines: solidarity through adversity

Did you know that two of Tohu Whenua’s West Coast sites are connected through solidarity in disaster?

14/08/2025 | Te Tai Tokerau Northland

Northland's historic places part of defence strategy in World War II

Three of Northland's Tohu Whenua sites were part of Aotearoa New Zealand's first line of defence against an anticipated Japanese invasion from the north during World War II.

02/07/2024 | Te Tai Tokerau Northland

Tohu Whenua sites provide insight into early Northland schooling methods

Kerikeri Mission Station (Kororipo Heritage Park) and Te Waimate Mission Station were able to provide helpful information to Kaitaia Primary School about how the first Northland schools educated their students.

20/05/2023 | Te Tai Tokerau Northland / Te Tai Poutini West Coast / Otago / Waitaha Canterbury

Learn history where it happened with Tohu Whenua

Tohu Whenua landmarks tell some of our nation’s defining stories, which makes them ideal for students learning our history.

13/05/2023 | Te Tai Poutini West Coast

Denniston - Life on the hill

A gathering 30 years ago of hundreds of former Denniston residents sparked the idea of Friends of the Hill, a community group that’s still actively connected to the coal-mining town – despite it being home to just a handful of people today

31/05/2022 | Te Tai Tokerau Northland / Te Tai Poutini West Coast / Otago / Waitaha Canterbury

Royal visits to Tohu Whenua

Did you know that Queen Elizabeth II has visited Aotearoa New Zealand on ten occasions, between 1953 and 2002? Here are some of the Tohu Whenua sites she included in her itineraries.

15/02/2022 | Otago

The first frozen meat shipment from Totara Estate

In 1882, a revolutionary new system of refrigerating meat for export was introduced, which would go on to transform Aotearoa New Zealand's agricultural economy.