Work to share region’s stories happening behind-the-scenes at Te Unua Museum of Southland

Work to share the stories of Southland’s past, present, and future is progressing rapidly behind-the-scenes, as the development of Te Unua Museum of Southland continues.

The new regional museum was set to open in Invercargill in 2027. With physical construction of the build on track – and within budget – to be completed later this year, those involved in the development are now well underway in producing the narratives that will be shared within the facility.

Te Unua Museum of Southland Team Leader Experience David Dudfield said kaimahi had been working alongside experience designers Gibson International and members of the Southland community to develop the storytelling that would be shared within the facility.

Among them, representatives from Marching Southland had been tapped on the shoulder to help prepare video content that would be used in the western experience building, Dudfield said.

“Museums are places created to reflect the wider history, identity, and culture of the place they call home. We are really pleased with how the narratives within our museum are shaping up. I think the people of Murihiku Southland are going to be delighted to see how our people, our places, and our stories will be reflected the moment they step through the doors of Te Unua,” he said.

“Storytelling is at the heart of our new regional museum, and the mahi to develop the narratives within Te Unua Museum of Southland is an enormous process, which is why it’s so important we work with the community to tell them. We can’t say too much more at this stage, because we want to ensure our community experiences that full gamut of emotions – from surprise to delight – when we open.

“At the end of the day, though, our aspiration for Te Unua is to create a place where the stories of Murihiku Southland are shared and celebrated in the way they deserve. We can’t wait for our community, and our visitors, to experience them in all of their glory,” he said.

Marching Southland Publicity and Promotions Officer Sheree Hall said the organisation felt privileged to have been asked to take part in the storytelling and experience development of Te Unua.

“It was such a huge honour, truly. From a Marching Southland committee point of view, it was really exciting to have an opportunity to showcase marching in that kind of way,” she said.

Twelve marchers, aged between 13 and 18 years old, from the Hokonui Under-18 marching team had taken part in filming as part of the experience. The team had won three consecutive national and South Island titles.

“A lot of the girls have only just moved up from the Under-13 group, so for them it was a real honour to pay homage to the team that came before them. They worked really hard. For the girls to do a display over and over, a good 15 or 20 times, was actually quite a hard thing to do. Even the fittest of marchers will get a bit puffed after a while – so it was a credit to them. The girls left the day still in really good spirits – it was a great experience for them.

“It’s quite easy to forget that marching is quite a historical part of Southland. I know for myself, when I was working in a care home, so many of the older ladies would be really proud to tell me ‘I used to be a marching girl!’ It’s something that sticks with you throughout your life.”

The oldest team within the association, Blue Jay Marching, had been active for more than six decades, Hall said.

“There are about 11 teams active in the association at the moment. Marching as a whole has declined over the years for various reasons – the cost of living, the roles of mums juggling work with family responsibilities, time constraints, and the fact that there are lots of different sports available to kids these days,” she said.

“We loved having the opportunity to show our community that we are still here, and to remind people that marching is a great experience for kids – there’s travel, there’s friendship, there’s growth and personal development. Marching just gives so much to the kids, and we loved being able to show everybody what it means and gives to us. We really can’t wait to see it come to life at the museum.”