Celebrating Paritutu

Since being in New Zealand I have had a few opportunities to put into practise some of the theories I learned at school last year. As a newly graduated public historian, I am very aware of instances where the introduction of some kind of public history could greatly benefit an institution or natural setting.

I am thinking particularly of Paritutu rock in New Plymouth. Paritutu is what remains of the rim of an ancient volcano. It is 153m tall and its steep surface can be climbed in about 30 minutes (there and back). At the summit, climbers can experience vast and breathtaking views of New Plymouth and Mount Taranaki, and the Taranaki Region.

Paritutu and the land surrounding it was once occupied by Maori who used it as a source for food, water and shelter. Other similar mounds of rock in the same area, called the Sugar Loaf Islands, were used in a similar manner and as a result, villages formed around Paritutu and the Islands.

Paritutu was discovered by Europeans in 1770 and just over 100 years later, the leading men of New Plymouth proposed to blow up Paritutu and use its rock for a breakwater at the port. The breakwater would encourage trade in New Plymouth as ships could easily sail into and dock at the harbour. Despite protests, workers went ahead with plans to make quick use of the ancient landmark. Only a small amount of stone was quarried from Paritutu as the explosion was largely unsuccessful. It was decided that Paritutu would not provide the necessary amount of stone needed for the project and the breakwater was made with the rock of one of the Sugar Loaf Islands.

Paritutu remains today, only slightly marred by the human interference of the 1870s. An even bigger travesty, however, is that Paritutu's story, an important part of New Plymouth and Taranaki history, remains relatively unknown. Neither the summit nor the base showcase any sort of information regarding Paritutu and its surrounding Sugar Loaf Islands. New Plymouth's museum, Puke Ariki, has a brief history online as part of its Taranaki Stories initiative but considering Paritutu stands so proud and tall at the city's port, it deserves a little more public history.

Kiwi Courage

As you can see, I updated the 'about me' section of my blog this evening. I'll be travelling to New Plymouth, New Zealand on Thursday to work at a museum and I am, to say the least, nervous and scared. It's a big deal flying 20 hours to a destination where I won't know a soul and will be 16 hours ahead of the people who I regularly rely on keeping me calm and happy.

Tonight, however, my mom gave me my graduation present (NZ dollars!) and a card with an appropriate quote by Vincent van Gogh: "What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" My mom and Vincent are right (leave it to moms to give just the right amount of encouragement). My New Zealand excursion will be a wonderful, educational experience. I will discover different cultures and histories while observing and practicing Public History at a local museum.

Life will always require us to be courageous. In fact, it wasn't that long ago that I was entering into a similarly scary and new period of life: this time last year I was a timid grad student, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to learn the ropes of Public History. Now, a year older, I am ready to put into practice all the knowledge and experience I gained during my MA. I am confident in my skills and abilities and look forward to an international foray before settling down. Of course, despite my upcoming independence and sense of adventure, it still helps to have that little push from mom. : )