2026 inscriptions announced
August 2026
Three collections across four repositories have received recognition by Aotearoa New Zealand’s UNESCO Memory of the World Trust.
Unique collections recognised by UNESCO
Seán McMahon, Chair of the Trust, congratulates the repositories for the care taken by them in the preservation, digitisation, and research accessibility of their collections and taonga. “These heritage collections represent a diverse range of peoples, places, and histories across Aotearoa New Zealand.”
“The range of materials this year is quite phenomenal and includes photographs, manuscripts and ephemera, through to cartoons, illustrations, and korowai. These collections align with UNESCO’s vision of recognising significant documentary heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
The Trust is especially pleased this year to inscribe collections for the first time from the Kauri Museum and MOTAT.
The successful 2026 nominations are:
The Coates family of Ruatuna
A rich collection of over 3,500 items, one that includes letters, diaries, farm ledgers and stock books, photographs, ephemera, korowai and inscribed objects.
Documents 123 years of family, farming and community from 1877 to 2000.
Most of the material held at Ruatuna by HNZPT is digitised and listed with a selection available on their collection database.
30% of the material held by the Kauri Museum is digitised and available online.
The Ron Vine Collection
A collection of over 1,400 photographs and manuscripts.
It traces the earlier period of Vine’s career from 1934 to 1947.
The bulk of this collection documents farming and agricultural practices of state and private land development and the Native Land Development Scheme, as well as architectural, domestic and garden photographs.
The growth of the Māori farming industry, particularly in the eastern Bay of Plenty, is a strength. Vine candidly captures the minutiae, changes and successes, and the harshness and struggles of agricultural life.
The Avis Acres Cartoons and Illustrations Archive
Avis Acres was a cartoonist, illustrator, author and environmentalist, championing the flora and fauna of Aotearoa.
The archive covers the period 1927 to the 1980s, the collection includes original illustrations, sketchbooks, watercolours and pencil drawings for Acres’ ‘Hutu and Kawa’ comic strip and books, and correspondence, papers, and ephemera.
Charts the career of an exceptional woman pioneering the place of women in the creation of comics, one who highlighted the natural environment of Aotearoa New Zealand and educated generations of children in environmental knowledge.
