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Clio’s Armada: Ngātokimatawhaorua and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

I spent almost two years in New Zealand/Aotearoa and found some magnificent examples of heritage boat-building among the Indigenous Maori and the settler Pakeha peoples. One of my favourite stories was Ngātokimatawhaorua, a waka (canoe), built in the 1930s. It taught me so much about how heritage boatbuilding can be meaningful to communities, both toContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: Ngātokimatawhaorua and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds”

Steal this Idea: History on the Street

Museums and historic sites are magical places where people come to explore and learn and interact. But history should never be limited to these buildings. There are myriad ways to tell stories across the urban and rural landscape. Here are a few of our favourites. This one was especially impressive. The footprint of the now-vanishedContinue reading “Steal this Idea: History on the Street”

Steal this Idea: Visitor expectations

If your museum isn’t interested in being a safe space, then what are you even doing? This is only a starting point but it signals your intentions. Here is the program. Your staff have a code of conduct, it’s not unreasonable for visitors to have one too. And you can do it with humour, too.Continue reading “Steal this Idea: Visitor expectations”

Steal this Idea: Fly Your Flag

Your entrance should help tell a visitor who you are every chance it gets. This could include awards and mission statements telling you who they are as a workplace and employer (especially for potential employees or volunteers)… …or stroller parking that makes it clear you are welcoming to parents and families… …or statements that youContinue reading “Steal this Idea: Fly Your Flag”

Steal This Idea: Themed Playgrounds

At North Wind we are a big fan of the maxim “sufficiently advanced learning is indistinguishable from play” (even if we don’t remember who originally said it!). Recently we have started to see a lot of museum-adjacent playgrounds and museum playspaces who have created infrastructure for play that resonates with appropriate themes. Ship-shaped play structureContinue reading “Steal This Idea: Themed Playgrounds”

In the News: Barbara and Tom return to Canada

North Wind Heritage Consulting founders Tom and Barbara have called their New Zealand/Aotearoa adventure to a close after nearly two years. Family concerns have led to a return to Canada and North Wind will be based in Vancouver for the foreseeable future (Although presentations virtually continue to spread our reach around the globe). Barbara hasContinue reading “In the News: Barbara and Tom return to Canada”

New training module: Tools for Inclusivity and Accessibility for Neurodiverse Audiences in Heritage Interpretation

How do you prepare your interpreters, tour guides, and educators to support neurodiverse students and audiences? We have a new module that can help. Through our careers, Barbara and I have met and associated with many diverse professionals with expertise and presenting skill. One of them has recently developed a presentation that will be ofContinue reading “New training module: Tools for Inclusivity and Accessibility for Neurodiverse Audiences in Heritage Interpretation”

New training presentation: Beyond the Box and Panel

Barbara and I have relocated to New Zealand, but we’re still finding ways to continue training tour guides and telling stories. Having recently assumed the Manager position at Mangawhai Museum, I was asked by the local Rebus club to fill in for a cancelled speaker. The talk I gave was a new one. Beyond theContinue reading “New training presentation: Beyond the Box and Panel”

New training module: Giving Great Guided Tours

It’s interesting that some of our best modules come out of museum’s specific requests. In this case, Barbara’s new workplace, the Kauri Museum had a specific need. They only had two staff-members who knew how to give an introductory tour to the frankly massive facility, yet demand was only increasing. Tom sat down with BarbaraContinue reading “New training module: Giving Great Guided Tours”

In the News: Barbara takes a new job

We recently caught a south wind. Barbara, one half of North Wind Heritage Consulting, has accepted a position as Director of the Kauri Museum in New Zealand/Aotearoa. The museum is an exciting one, having started a transition from a traditional settlers’ museum to one that focuses on the amazing story of New Zealand’s indigenous KauriContinue reading “In the News: Barbara takes a new job”