Our Health Journeys Aotearoa

Our Health Journeys Aotearoa A national e-Museum to showcase and celebrate the unique medical and health heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Auckland Medical Museum is building an e-museum showcasing our unique medical heritage and its relevance for today. We have just received a grant from NZ Lotteries so we are about to launch our project.

29/09/2025

Could you climb for your heart and walk to the top of the volcanic cone, as heart transplant patients were once required to do? ⛰💚

➡️ Explore our self-guided audio and map to follow in the steps of the early heart transplant patients' route to recovery. Use SoundCloud and Google Maps to enjoy this content at your leisure, during Auckland Heritage Festival 2025.

🔈 Listen to Heart and Lung Transplant Coordinator of Cardiovascular Services Helen Gibbs and physiotherapist Sue Webb recount a fascinating slice of Auckland’s medical heritage: the history of Hearty Towers, the hub and home for heart transplant patients.🫀

🎉 In partnership with Auckland Heritage - Auckland Heritage Festival 2025: on until 5 October 2025.

Link in bio to audio history and suggested walking route through Cornwall Park. 🌳 Full content: https://www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/hearty-towers

📷 Image credits: First image - Aerial view of One Tree Hill, looking north towards Waitematā Harbour. Photography by Robert John Tucker, 1980s. Reproduced with permission from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1423-0430. Second image - photo reproduced with permission from “Hearts Hands Minds: The Cardio-thoracic Nurses of Green Lane Hospital” by Margaret Horsburgh and Heather Spinetto.

24/09/2025

🔈 Listen to Heart and Lung Transplant Coordinator of Cardiovascular Services Helen Gibbs and physiotherapist Sue Webb recount a fascinating slice of Auckland’s medical heritage: the history of Hearty Towers, the hub and home for heart transplant patients.🫀

➡️ Use SoundCloud and Google Maps to explore this content at your leisure. Link in bio to audio history and suggested walking route through Cornwall Park. 🌳

🎉 In partnership with Auckland Heritage - Auckland Heritage Festival 2025: on until 5 October 2025. Full content: https://www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/hearty-towers

📷 Image credits: First image - photo reproduced with permission from “Hearts Hands Minds: The Cardio-thoracic Nurses of Green Lane Hospital” by Margaret Horsburgh and Heather Spinetto. Second image - Aerial view of One Tree Hill, looking north towards Waitematā Harbour. Photography by Robert John Tucker, 1980s. Reproduced with permission from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1423-0430.

18/09/2025

🎉 Celebrating a new partnership project with Auckland Heritage - Auckland Heritage Festival 2025! The Festival opens tomorrow, and is on until 5 October.

🔈 Listen to Heart and Lung Transplant Coordinator of Cardiovascular Services Helen Gibbs and physiotherapist Sue Webb recount a fascinating slice of Auckland’s medical heritage: the history of Hearty Towers, the hub and home for heart transplant patients. 🫀

➡️ Use SoundCloud and Google Maps to explore this content at your leisure. Link in bio to audio history and suggested walking route through Cornwall Park.

Full content: https://www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/hearty-towers

📷 Image credit: photo reproduced with permission from “Hearts Hands Minds: The Cardio-thoracic Nurses of Green Lane Hospital” by Margaret Horsburgh and Heather Spinetto.

24/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Find out about the history of specialist dental services during the early years of Wellington Hospital.

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/our-stories/dental-department

📸 Image credit: Dental Department Staff, 1938. Photograph courtesy Joan Frances McKenzie Loeber, wife of Wellington dentist Cyril Charles Sterland Loeber. As gathered by Ron Easthope, honorary archivist and retired cardiologist. Further image details unknown; reproduced with permission from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

21/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Read about Wellington Hospital’s services for sick children 1912 – 1988 (Part 2): the first children's hospital - King Edward V11 Memorial Hospital for Children.

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/our-stories/first-childrens-hospital

📸 Image credit: Inside one of the two brand new main wards, photograph taken before patient occupation, 1912. Wellington Hospital Archives, as gathered by Ron Easthope, honorary archivist and retired cardiologist. Further image details unknown; reproduced with permission from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

19/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Not enough beds: Discover Wellington Hospital’s services for sick children 1886 – 1912 (Part 1) - before the building of a children's hospital.

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/our-stories/not-enough-beds

📸 Image credit: The original hospital: elevated view of north face of Wellington Hospital, Newtown, Circa 1890. The suburb of Newtown is in the background. The two streets going up the hill are Daniell Street on the left and Riddiford Street on the right. Wellington City Council Archives, 00138-13459. Image reproduced with permission.

17/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ View the early expansion of Wellington Hospital. From 1888 - 1910, a great deal of rapid development was undertaken at Wellington Hospital as the facilities were put under increasing demand. 🏩

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/early-expansion

📸 Image credit: The laundry at the Wellington Hospital. Published in The New Zealand Graphic and Ladies Journal, 20 July 1901, p.119. Archived by Papers Past in partnership with Auckland Libraries. Image reproduced with permission from Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-19010720-0119-04.

14/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Explore the history of the first Newtown Hospital. 🏩

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/newtown-hospital

📸 Image credit: This photograph, taken in 1902 or 1903, shows the interior of Ward 3 decorated for the Christmas period. Ward 3 was also known as Arawata Ward. Wellington Hospital Archives, as gathered by Ron Easthope, honorary archivist and retired cardiologist. Further image details unknown; reproduced with permission from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

12/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Discover the history of Thorndon Hospitals. 🏩

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/first-colonial-hospital

📸 Image credit: “Proposed Provincial Hospital Wellington, April 1875”. Wellington Hospital, section of infectious ward, C.J. Foxward, scale 4 feet to 1 inch, one tracing - Copies of original drawings in Mr Foxward’s possession. Item Code: R25272049, Series Code: 24411. Archives NZ. Image reproduced with permission.

Tomorrow: The Doctor's Wife - a film about Dr Alan Kerr and his wife Hazel in Palestine. 🗓 Wednesday 13 August 2025, at...
12/08/2025

Tomorrow: The Doctor's Wife - a film about Dr Alan Kerr and his wife Hazel in Palestine.

🗓 Wednesday 13 August 2025, at 7pm
📍 At Ernest and Marion Davis Library (EMDL), Building 43, Auckland City Hospital Campus.
☕Doors open 6.15pm for tea and coffee.
This is an Auckland Medical History Society special event.

➡More info: scan the QR code or go to https://whitioraproductions.com/the-doctors-wife

10/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Find out about the matrons of Wellington Hospital in times gone by.

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/our-stories/lady-superintendent-to-matron

📸 Image credit: This 1964 photograph shows three matrons from the period 1964-1971. Left - Right: Mary Barry, Irene Tolerton (Matron), Miss Jeffreys, Nell Kidd, Mavis Paton (Matron), Dorothy Price, Ngaire Barrett, Betty Cook (Matron), Helen McCombie, and Mhairi MacKenzie. Wellington Hospital Archives, as gathered by Ron Easthope, honorary archivist. Further image details unknown; reproduced with permission from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

07/08/2025

New content! ⬇️ Candidates must provide the following... Read a selection of fascinating historical nurse recollections from Wellington Hospital.

➡ Read more: www.ourhealthmuseum.org.nz/short-exhibition/nurse-recollections

📸 Image credit: Nurse Edna Pengelly. Wellington Hospital Archives, as gathered by Ron Easthope, honorary archivist. Further image details unknown; reproduced with permission from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

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