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An author and historian responsible for recording and preserving the history of Tauranga is to be remembered with a special gathering at Tauranga City Library.
Alister Matheson passed away a year ago and to mark the one year anniversary an extended invitation is being offered to those who knew Alister.
The event is being held at the New Zealand Room at the Tauranga City Library on Wednesday, February 29, at 5pm.
Alister’s work and artefacts from the Otumoetai Pa will be on display.
Tauranga librarian Stephanie Smith believes the New Zealand Room is the right place for the display and the gathering.
“Alister was regarded as a kind of honorary staff member in the New Zealand Room of the Tauranga Library.
“He assisted unofficially in the on-the-job education in local history of all our new librarians as they arrived over the years, myself included. His depth of knowledge was hard to match.”
Alister wrote several publications on different aspect of the Western Bay of Plenty.
He wrote for the Bay of Plenty Historical Review and contributed to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
Stephanie says he played a big role in preserving the region’s history including ensuring the remaining portion of the Otumoetai Pa site would be accessible to future generations.
