Ambrotype, probably of Ida Eleanor Lysnar (nee Tiffen) as a child with her mother Lucy Eleanor Tiffen (nee Monteith)
Set in ornate copper work and housed in a daguerreotype Union case.
The item was found in the attic of the Westrup House in Peel Street, a building used by the Lysnar businesses. Ida married William Douglas Lysnar in 1893.
Gifted to the museum by Don Millar.
Ambrotype, Collection of Tairāwhiti Museum, 2018-26-1b
Ambrotype, Collection of Tairāwhiti Museum, 2018-26-1c
Ambrotype, Collection of Tairāwhiti Museum, 2018-26-1a
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 5 and 7
Hoe paddles
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 4
Pākē rain cape
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 12
Te Pou o Hinematioro
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 8
Mētara Koroneihana a Hōri III George III Coronation medalet
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 10
Tātua belt Heru Comb Rei-puta whale-tooth necklace Aurei cloak pin Poro-toroa Albatross toggle Kapeu ear pendant
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 6
Kaitaka cloak
Aurei
Aurei cloak pin Rei-puta, muka harakeke Whalebone-tooth, flax fibre
Ham Hannah’s Breadbasket
The museum is offered many interesting items for the collection over the course of the year. Often they are seemingly ordinary, everyday objects, but what makes each of them special and worthy of collecting is the wonderful stories they can tell us about our region’s history. This wicker basket is certainly one such object. This basket was used by William Hamilton (known as Ham) Hannah (b. 1920, d.1967) to deliver bread for Walter Findlay’s Bakery in the 1930s. Ham would have delivered bread around Gisborne by horse and cart. A few people out there may remember having bread delivered by him, perhaps using this basket! Ham served as a Driver in the Army Service Corps in the Second World War and continued to work as a driver when he returned to Gisborne after the war. In the 1960s, he was the Custodian at Churchill Park. He was married to Sarah (Sadie) and they had four children. We would like to thank Julie Hannah for gifting her father-in-law’s breadbasket to the museum.
Ham and two of his four children, Kevin (left) and Gareth (right), posing in the basket in the garden of the family’s home.
Walter Findlay’s advert, The Gisborne Herald, 20 October 1941
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 2
Patu ōnewa weapon Wahaika weapon Patu Parāoa weapon Kotiate weapon
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 13
Patu Parāhe Brass patu
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 1
Pouwhenua weapon Tewhatewha weapon Taiaha weapon
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 9
Tātua belt Kahu kurī dog-skin cloak
The museum’s collections are always growing and on this page we share some of the highlights. Our thanks to the donors for their support.
Donating to the collection
Visit our Donations page for more information.
Research and access
Researchers can view collections that are not on display by making an appointment with the Museum Collection Manager. Staff can also take small group tours through the collection storage facilities by appointment. Please note that staff are not always available immediately and it is advisable to make arrangements as far in advance as possible, particularly if you are only visiting Gisborne for a short period.
Researchers who are unable to visit in person can make their enquiry by email, letter or telephone
