Weaving together the stories of our region

‘Unknown after Heaphy, Charles (1820-1881).’ Nelson Haven, Tasman Gulf, New Zealand, 1841. Watercolour. Nelson Provincial Museum, Bett Collection: AC1025

Nelson Historical Society
Te Manatōpū Hītori o Whakatū
records, presents, visits, gathers information on, and promotes the history and heritage of
Te Tau Ihu o te Waka-a-Māui,
the top of New Zealand's South Island.

A stylized logo with five colorful overlapping icons, each representing a different aspect: People, Place, Culture, Heritage, with corresponding text labels underneath.

What we do

  • Events

    Find out about upcoming monthly meetings featuring a range of interesting guest speakers, field trips, lectures and events.

    Events
  • A concept drawing of the Nelson Provincial Museum's Archives Research and Collections facility, 2025.

    Projects

    From time to time Nelson Historical Society supports projects of historical significance. Find out more about current and past projects we have been involved with.

    Learn more
  • Two people working in a library or archive with many shelves filled with books or records. One person, standing on a ladder, is reaching for a book, while the other person, standing on the floor, is handing a book to the person on the ladder.

    About us

    Learn more about who we are, what we do and our history. Check out the timeline from 1954 through to the present.

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  • Cover page of the Nelson Historical Society journal, volume 9, issue 4, 2024, with botanical illustration of green leaves and pinkish flowers.

    Journal and Other Publications

    The society publishes an annual Journal of researched and written stories of historical interest from the Top of the South Island.

    A number of local history books have been published by or received support from the society, including the society's own 50-year history.

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  • A large black informational signboard with white text and illustrations, located along a waterfront promenade, with boats and a marina in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Resources and Links

    Resources and links for researchers including: Online Resources, Local Historical Societies, Local Museums, Genealogical Societies and Local Council Resources.

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  • An early photo of Freeman & Sons, Nelson

    News

    Back issues of Society newsletters from 2025 onwards are available here. The newsletters feature reports on events, monthly meetings and guest speakers.

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Join us

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Photo Gallery

  • Group of older adults sitting inside a tour bus, some smiling and looking at the camera, with sunlight streaming through the windows. Outside trees and a parking lot are visible.

    Nelson North Field Trip 2026

    All aboard the bus for our 2026 field trip to the Nelson North area.

  • A man standing next to a human anatomy model, which is a torso with half of the face, shoulder, and chest exposed to show muscles and internal structures. The man is wearing a blue T-shirt with 'HERO RATS' written on it and a black cap.

    Ari Edgecombe with anatomical torso

    Curator and artist Ari Edgecombe delighted everyone with his remarkable 1945 anatomical torso, an item in the Founders Heritage Park collection at our February 2026 meeting.

  • Group of people in outdoor jackets gathered around a historical site in a wooded area, with some looking at an informational display.

    Coalfields of Golden Bay

    Laurie Dale Memorial Field Trip, 2018

  • Two men standing behind tables displaying various archaeological artifacts, including stones and tools, inside a room with stained glass windows.

    David Watt and Darran Kerei Keepa

    Darran Kerei-Keepa (Ngati Kuri- Ngai Tahu), Pouarahi, Pouhere Taonga – Heritage NZ was the guest speaker at our February 2024 meeting. Darran is pictured here with David Watt (left) from Heritage NZ and some taonga.

  • Golden Bay author Gerard Hindmarsh with Nelson Historical Society life member Ken Wright, 2026.

    Gerard Hindmarsh & Ken Wright

    Golden Bay Author Gerard Hindmarsh (left) with Nelson Historical Society life member Ken Wright. Gerard spoke to the March 2026 meeting about his latest book Hard-Case Heroes.

  • Group of people on a guided tour inside a wooden shipwreck or historic boat, listening to a female guide explaining.

    Inside the hull of the Edwin Fox

    Laurie Dale Memorial Field Trip, 2015

  • An image by photographer Melissa Banks from a photographic exhibition about kapa haka.

    An image from photographer Melissa Banks exhibition

    Te Ara o Hine Rēhia is a homage to kapa haka in Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui (the top of the South Island). Photographer Melissa Banks spoke to our July 2025 meeting about the exhbition.

  • Annabel Schuler with her book on Constance Barnioat

    Annabel Schuler with her book on Constance Barnioat

    Writer/researcher Annabel Schuler was a guest speaker at our August 2024 meeting, on A Cool Head and a Sharp Pen - a biography of Constance Barnicoat.

  • A man dressed as a historic fire brigade officer holding a calendar in a wooden room. The calendar shows a photo of a fire engine house. The man is smiling and wearing a black uniform and hat, standing next to a bed with white sheets.

    Ghosts of Albion Square Event

    Ken Wright inside the old fire station, as part of the Ghosts of Albion Square event, 2018.

  • People standing outside a small white church with a green roof and tower, under a blue sky with some clouds, surrounded by trees.

    Nelson North Field Trip 2026

    A visit to St John the Evangelist Church, as part of the Nelson North Field Trip March 2026

  • A man in a gray shirt and black vest sitting at a table in a storage or archives room, surrounded by shelves filled with gray boxes, with an open book, photographs, a laptop, and a mouse on the table.

    Darryl Gallagher

    Darryl Gallagher, Senior Curator Photography, Nelson Provincial Museum has spoken to the society about the world-renowned Tyree Collection and photographer F.N. Jones. Image: Darryl Gallagher, courtesy of Nelson Provincial Museum

  • Theater performance with four women dressed in costumes on stage, two holding a long rope, with a large projected image of a ship and mountains in the background, and an audience watching.

    An Armchair tour of Wakefield Quay

    Tuku Event, 2022

  • Mike Hutcheson

    Mike Hutcheson

    Guest speaker Mike Hutcheson shared his research into the alchemy of innovation and creativity at our 2025 James Jenkins lecture at The Suter.

  • Two women sitting at a table displaying open botanical illustration books with various plant and flower illustrations.

    Catherine Field-Dodgson and Michelle Leggott

    Authors Michele Leggott and Catherine Field-Dodgson with their beautifully illustrated book, Groundwork: The Art and Writing of Emily Cumming Harris. The authors were our 2023 James Jenkins speakers.

  • Sarah Arnold

    Sarah Arnold

    Sarah Arnold with her WW1 installation Beyond Measure. Sarah spoke at our June 2024 meeting on the Post Memory Heritage Trail Project. See more at www.postmemory.nz

  • Wayne Logan & Murray Biggs

    Wayne Logan & Murray Biggs

    Wayne Logan and Murray Biggs shared an entertaining presentation on the Tahunanui Beach Races at our November 2025 meeting. Wayne’s yellow shirt is an original from 1949!

  • Darren Guard, owner of Guard Safety

    At the August 2026 meeting, Darren Guard shared his family’s almost 200 years of involvement in the fishing industry in Te Tau Ihu.

Let’s Stay in Touch

Have a question? Reach out today and one of our members will get back to you shortly.