12 May 2016

Masterpieces: Michael Fitzgerald on colonial history

From Afternoons, 3:08 pm on 12 May 2016

Michael Fitzgerald, Te Papa's curator of colonial history, is retiring this month, after 46 years at Te Papa and its predecessor institutions. He is steeped in New Zealand's history from military to social history. Recently he was one of the curators of Te Papa's Gallipoli exhibition.

He talks about some of his favourite objects from the Te Papa colonial history collection

Colenso’s printing press & the New Testament in Te Reo

Prime Minister Richard Seddon’s Privy Counsellor’s uniform

This 1902 Fred Hiscocks cartoon makes fun of Richard 'King Dick' Seddon's domineering personality and love of imperial pomp and show.

The Britten motorbike as example of NZ creative genius and a very popular exhibit

Ko te Kawenata Hou o to tatou Ariki te Kai Wakaora a Ihu Karaiti : he mea wakamaori i te reo Kariki

Michael at his desk in the 1970's