West Auckland Heritage Conferences
YOUR CHANCE TO DELVE INTO THE RICH, VARIED AND OFTEN HIDDEN STORIES OF THE WESTWest Auckland Heritage Conferences
Your chance to delve into the rich, varied and often hidden stories of the west Past conferencesAbove: Trampers performing at cave mouth, Whatipu, 1895.
Photographer: Percy Trenwith. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, JTD-18E-00791
The West Auckland Heritage Conference has become a day-long tradition. The inaugural conference in 2016 was themed New Stories of the Old West and was held at the War Memorial Hall in Titirangi. Then the conferenced focussed on The People of the West at the Henderson Council Chambers, returning to Titirangi in 2018 and 2019 titled respectively The Creative West and Destination West. The 2020 edition of the conference was moved to April 2021 due to covid restrictions and was themed The Hidden Stories of the West.
Most presentations from the conferences are available on this website to view and the 2021 edition was fully recorded (see below for the link).
The conference is a collaborative effort by many in the community and council, and is brought to you by the Waitakere Ranges Local Board with support from the Whau Local Board.
Jack Diamond with his camera at the entrance to a cave, Maori Bay, 1957.Photographer: John Thomas Diamond. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, JTD-01E-00495
2021 Conference
The third West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 11th April 2021, themed Hidden Stories of the West. To view the recording of the whole conference, view individual presentations or see some impressions of the day, click on the link below.
2019 Conference
The third West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 20th October 2019 in Titirangi. The theme was Destination West. Have a look at the programme, and some photos and recordings from the conference.
Doris Morgan on Tom Pearce’s Rex Acme Speed King at Waiatarua, on the way to Piha, circa 1935. Private collection.
View of a scene from a theatre production by the Prospect Players showing Gladys Prior and Dr. Roberts in ‘Sinbad the Sailor’. Photographer: John Thomas Diamond. J.T. Diamond Collection, JTD-12K-02023-1. Auckland Libraries West Auckland Research Centre
2018 Conference
The third West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 7th October 2018. The theme was The Creative West. Have a look at the programme, and some photos and a video from last year.
2017 Conference
The second West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 8 October 2017. The theme was The People of the West. Have a look at the programme, the presentations and some photos from the conference
Women fishing from wharf at Whatipu. 1941. Auckland Libraries. West Auckland Research Centre. J. T. Diamond Collection. JTD-06K-03148.
2016 Conference
The first West Auckland Heritage Conference was held on 2 October 2016. The theme was New Stories of the Old West. Have a look at the programme, and some photos and a video from last year.
Conference News
Read about some of the sessions in our 2017 conference programme.
A Whale of a Tale
End Event by Sir Bob Harvey Every year the last presentation is a very special one - sometimes poetry, music or video all inspired by our West Auckland heritage. This year it will be very special: Sir Bob Harvey and Moby Dick! Is it possible the whale which stranded...
We’ve got a date!
Sunday 11th of April from 10 am to 3.30 pm is the date set for our fifth Heritage Conference! The format will be slightly different, with all the speakers at the Titirangi War Memorial Hall. This way we hope to be able to still go ahead with the conference in case we...
What’s your story?
Submissions are now open for the West Auckland Heritage Conference, on Sunday 7 October 2018 at Titirangi War Memorial Hall. The theme for this year is: The Creative West. Submissions close Saturday June 9. Let’s discover the threads that weave together...
