blurry placeholderprow heading

Historical
& Cultural
Stories

From Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

Submit your story

Stories from the Top of the South

Welcome to The Prow, a website featuring historical and cultural stories from Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Māui is the Māori name for the top of the South Island. Legend tells us that Te Tau Ihu was the prow of Māui's waka, or canoe, from which he fished up the North Island.

Join our voyage and discover more about the history and stories of Te Tau Ihu. Search or browse the theme pages, our timeline or the map location feature, add your own story, or comment on any story. Contact us for further information or to provide feedback on our stories.

The Prow is a collaboration between Nelson Public Libraries, Tasman District Libraries and Marlborough District Libraries, the Nelson Provincial Museum, and the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.  Images are supplied by supporting institutions, please check their terms of use.

Sunday, 4 May 2025

Story of the Day

The Rise of the Motor Vehicle in Richmond

In 1923, John Warring (known as Jack) opened a bicycle shop near Queen Street’s intersection with Gladstone Road.

Read More
Warrings Garage 1

Recent Stories

Brown Barretts Cannery in Picton 7817

Brown Barrett's Cannery in Picton

shipatPicton.jpg

The Edwin Fox

Giblin2

Ernest Guy Giblin

Jewish-synagogue-Goldman.jpg

Early Jewish Settlement in Nelson

rocks-road.jpg

Construction of Rocks Road and sea wall

Branford Park

Branford Park and the Richardson holdings

Memorial to victims of Maungatapu murders

Maungatapu Murders - The notorious Burgess Gang

Thomas Cawthron

Thomas Cawthron 1833-1915

Dun-Mountain-Railway-C2634.jpg

Dun Mountain Railway (1862-1907)

182158-3.jpg

The Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade

Explore our Stories