Imagine if you could borrow Taonga pūoro – Maori traditional musical instruments – just as you would borrow a library book.
Members of Awa Puoro ki te Ao Photo: Supplied
The Alexander Library in Whanganui is a heritage and research library sitting beside the Sarjeant Art Gallery. It’s a beautiful art deco building with rimu fittings and furniture throughout – open to the public – with collections including voluntary group archives, clubs, societies, business archives, art and literature, military records, personal papers and Māori archives.
Now, local community group Awa Pūoro ki te Ao and the Library have worked together to provide a selection of Taonga pūoro that can be borrowed by members of the public.
Jasmin Ratana, Māori Information Librarian at Whanganui District Library, explains.
