As this extraordinary time unfolds, the library is keener than ever before to engage with the local community to document the history of Tauranga and surrounding areas. With your help, we’d like to create an archive of the pandemic’s impact on local people – an archive that will be preserved and shared with generations to come. It may be a challenging time, but we can work together to create this significant record.
Read on to find out how you can help …
What we’d like you to collect
- Diaries
One-day diaries, video diaries, visual diaries... Just choose a format you prefer. These can be from one person’s point of view of a whānau perspective.
- Leaflets/flyers/posters about the pandemic
Created by local organisations.
- Material about community efforts to support vulnerable and isolated individuals
- Information from local schools regarding closures and home-schooling
- Photographs that show the pandemic’s impact
Please note, material must be in a written, printed, or digital format. We cannot accept objects.
Stay safe!
When documenting events, ensure you follow Ministry of Health guidelines: stay home and stay in your bubble!
Think of others
When taking photographs or recording videos, make sure those involved are happy to be recorded or are unidentifiable. Similarly, consider whether individuals in your written diary can be identified.
What do I do with the material I collect?
Please email research@tauranga.govt.nz before bringing your material into the library. In our reply, we’ll ask you to provide information about what you've created and/or collected. We'll then work out how you can get it to us.
Helpful resources