October Feature: Wanganui/Petre Petition

What’s in a name?

Why did local residents in 1844 want the name of their town changed from Petre to Wanganui — and why did it take a decade for the change to happen?

Join Kaihāpai Taonga / Curator, Images and Manuscripts, Sandi Black, for a fascinating look at an 1844 petition signed by 36 local European men calling for the town’s name to be changed.

The petition is featured in the Museum’s new Protest! exhibition and is the Object of the Month for October. Sandi will explore who signed the petition, why it was written, what happened as a result, and why the change took so long.

Taonga o te Marama/Object of the Month is a free 15-minute lunchtime talk held on the third Friday of each month. Visitors meet in the Museum atrium for the talk, then view the featured object in the gallery.

Everyone is welcome. No need to book. Admission is free. Koha for the Museum is always appreciated.

Every month, discover a different object, meet the curators, and hear the stories that bring our collections to life!