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.

Monday, 10 February 2025

Story of the Day

Emma Heke

Director, Film-maker: Red Heke Productions, Nelson Within our small community here in Nelson there are people who are passionately working on projects to inspire and empower, not just our own locality, but people far and wide across the globe.

Read More
Emma-Heke-Facebook.jpg

Recent Stories

ketel-family-on-boat-compressed-0001.jpg

Dutch Settlement in Nelson

Apple-and-Pear-Board-Processing-Factory.jpg

Orchards of the Nelson region

mapua-wharf.jpg

Māpua's Changing Tides

The-abandoned-Fruit-growers-Chemical-plant-site.jpg

Māpua apple-growers chemical plant

Lines picking machine. Roger Batt

Over a Century of Hops

Bartletts Creek IMG 0777

Bartlett's Creek Cottage

HoctonAppo1876.jpg

Appo Hocton

Brian Neill and interviewers

Brian Neill

trathen demolition

Trathens Store

Nelson-Yacht-Club2.jpg

Nelson Yacht Club

Explore our Stories