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Public Displays of The New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt in the North Island
The first Unfolding of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt
School displays in the North Island and the South Island
Public Displays in the South Island
International Displays which include the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt
The 1992 tour of Northland of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt
Now that The Quilt is housed at Te Papa in Wellington, most of the following is for historical information only.
Since its inception, the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt has been displayed on many occasions, from one end of the country to the other.
Because of its size and the logistics involved in transporting it, (plus costs) the entire Quilt has only rarely been on display at the one location at the same time.
Sometimes, especially around World AIDS Day (on December 1st every year, and at the time of the International Candlelight Memorial (3rd Sunday in May each year), the requests to display The Quilt mean that some blocks are on display in one city while other blocks are on display in another part of the country, while other blocks could be somewhere else, with up to seven or eight displays being held at the same time.
On several occasions, one or two blocks at a time have been taken overseas for special displays, and for displays to mark a new Quilt Project in another country. Photos of some of these Displays can be seen here.
Below are photos from some of the many Displays of The Quilt held in the North Island. Some are from private photograph collections while others were taken by NZ Quilt Project personnel.
The photos are arranged in approximate chronological order.
Auckland Aotea Centre, October 1991
After being Unfolded for the first time two days earlier at Auckland's Art Gallery, the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt went on public display at Auckland's Aotea Centre for the week of October 7th - 14th, 1991.
Block 2 (in its original layout) on display.
Block 4 (in its original layout) on display.
Block 1 (in its original layout) on display.
Fundraising is an ongoing mission, even from the very first display. Part of one of the Australian Blocks brought over for the Display can be seen behind the sales table.
Wellington, World AIDS Day, 1991
The Quilt was on display for the first time in Wellington on World AIDS Day, December 1st, 1991, on the Sound Shell Lawn in the Botanical Gardens. This was followed by a display a couple of days later in the Manners Street Mall.
Part of the crowd at the Botanic Gardens to view The Quilt on what was a bitterly cold day.
This photo (and the following two) are of the Display in Manners Street, a section of which was permanently closed to traffic in the 1980s to form the Mall.
Hawkes Bay, February 1992
This Display was at the Hastings Mall, Hastings, on Saturday, 22 February 1992.
The Blocks are carried out on to the Display area.
The Blocks are carried out on to the Display area.
The blocks are laid out unfolded during the speeches.
Patrick Tahuparae's panel was presented to by his mother for addition to The Quilt.
The first Block is finished being Unfolded while behind it (on the left) the Unfolders are getting ready to Unfold the next one.
The people gathered for the occasion take a closer look at the Quilts.
Wellington, September 1993
This display was held in the Michael Fowler Centre near the Wellington waterfront, with the Unfolding taking place on September 23, 1993.Note that the blocks have been reassembled into their present configuration during the preceding 6 months, and have had edging and grommets for hanging added.
Katherine O'Regan, M.P. addresses the gathering.
Getting ready to start unfolding the Blocks.
Most of the Blocks are now unfolded.
Unfolding Block 7.
This photo and the next three are of the Display in general and people viewing the Quilts.
Auckland Coming Out Parade, October 1993
The Quilt was on display at the park where the Auckland Coming Out Parade ended on October 10 1993.
The Photo Display Board.
An 'advertising banner' for The Quilt, the same size and shape as a Panel.
Aotea Centre, Auckland, January 1994
Manukau City, Auckland, October/November 1994
In late 1994, The Quilt was on display in some of the main shopping centres around Auckland, spending a week in each, starting with Manukau City from October 31st to November 6th.
Block 4 on display
Waitakere City, Auckland, November 1994
In late 1994, The Quilt was on display in some of the main shopping centres around Auckland, spending a week in each. Waitakere City was the next one to be visited for the week 7 - 13 November.
The finishing touches being put to hanging Block 3.
The latest in step ladders is employed when hanging Quilts - in this case, a supermarket shopping trolley.
Block 6 on display.
Block 8 on display.
The information area and fundraising stand are never far away. Quilt Project Convenor, Nicki Eddy is hard at work here behind at the Waitakere Display Information Centre.
North Shore City, Auckland, November 1994
In late 1994, The Quilt was on display in some of the main shopping centres around Auckland, spending a week in each. The North Shore Display was held in the Shore City Galleria in Takapuna from 14 - 18 November.
Quilt Project Convenor, Nicki Eddy (centre) talking with the North Shore City Mayor, Paul Titchener (on the left)
Following is the text of the speech given by The Mayor, Paul Tichener, at the opening of the Display.
This gathering marks a symbolic and solemn occasion but one which I hope has rays of hope.
I can still remember the very first time I heard about the disease AIDS and the HIV virus.
It took me quite some time to realise the implications and the enormity of the problem.
I can remember someone telling me that in a few years time everyone will know someone who has contracted the virus, and a few year after that everyone will know someone who has died of AIDS.
Quite frankly, I thought it was media hype and wildly exaggerated.
This is not so.
In a small country like New Zealand, it has touched many lives and divided families and friends and I think that is the greatest sadness.
The divisions have been caused - not so much by the illness itself - but from the prejudices and fear of those who do not understand.
I am thankful that the younger generation which has grown up with knowledge of the illness do not appear to greet it with the same panic as their parents, but nevertheless the divisions are still there.
I would like to think that this event to mark HIV Awareness Week will help those who must face the reality of living with what must be one of the most difficult illnesses in our society.
The Quilt is symbolic - a threading together of many patches of society of different hues - different backgrounds - different cultures and beliefs.
If we can achieve that, we will have taken a great stride forward.
I thank you for the opportunity to be present at this launch and hope that the people working towards a future for tolerance and understanding will succeed.
Thank you.
Auckland, World AIDS Day, 1994
To mark World AIDS Day, December 1st 1994, The Quilt was taken from Aotea Square, down Queen Street (Auckland's main street,) to the Ellen Melville Hall where new panels were presented. Most of those marching with The Quilts carried a number representing a New Zealander who had died with AIDS. As can be seen by some of the photos, there was also a lot of media interest in the march.The following day, and every day until the 9th of December (except for the 3rd when it was at the Walk For Life - see below), The Quilt was on display outside the Ellen Melville Hall.
Gathering at Aotea Square before heading off down Queen Street.
Gathering at Aotea Square before heading off down Queen Street, with the Aotea Centre behind. The Aotea Centre has hosted a number of Displays of The Quilt.
Gathering at Aotea Square before heading off down Queen Street. Note the large number of nurses that took part. They are from Ward 9C in Auckland Public Hospital where a large number of those represented on The Quilt spent the last days of their lives.
Starting to leave Aotea Square.
Leaving Aotea Square.
Gloria Taylor (left foreground), Paul Holes (NZ TV personality, right foreground), Les Mills (Mayor of Auckland, behind Paul) carrying Eve's block before presenting it to The Quilt Project. Eve was Gloria's daughter who was infected at birth through a blood transfusion and was 11 when she died, after spending most of her life in the media spotlight. This block is Block 13 of the New Zealand Quilt.
Mana's panel leaving Aotea Square prior to being presented to The Quilt Project at the end of the march.
Robert's two sisters carry his panel prior to presenting it to The Quilt Project at the end of the march.
Alistair's panel leaving Aotea Square prior to being presented to The Quilt Project at the end of the march.
Rodger's panel leaving Aotea Square prior to being presented to The Quilt Project at the end of the march.
And it's on down Queen Street
The tail end of the march down Queen Street, with those carrying the rest of the numbers representing New Zealanders who had died walking together
A black and white photo of part of the display outside the Ellen Melville Hall
Manning the information table at the display outside the Ellen Melville Hall.
The information table and display board outside the Ellen Melville Hall.
Auckland Walk For Life, December 1994
Waverley, May 1995
In May/June 1995, The Quilt toured Taranaki, after having spent some time in Nelson, on the South Island. Waverley is a small community in southern Taranaki where a public display was held in the local Community Hall on 31st May.
Hawera, June 1995
The Display on 4th June in the Hawera Community Hall is where Richard Noonan's panel was presented to The Quilt Project, by his mother, Shirley, who is shown below holding the panel up.
Auckland, World AIDS Day, 1995
To mark World AIDS Day (December 1st) in 1995 The Quilt was displayed in Queen Elizabeth II Square at the bottom of Queen Street, before being carried up Auckland's main street (Queen Street) to the Aotea Square where it was displayed again.
The Quilt on display in Queen Elizabeth II Square. Money donation buckets make very effective weights to hold down the Blocks in the near constant breeze that blows here.
The march up Queen Street begins.
Glenfield Mall, Auckland, September 1996
The Glenfield Mall is on Auckland's North Shore.
Block 2 on display.
For this display, the shortened version of the information display board was used.
Hunter's Plaza, Auckland, October 1996
Hunter's Plaza is a shopping centre in Papatoetoe, Auckland. The Quilt was on display for the week of 14 - 20 October 1996.
Auckland Aotea Centre, March 1997
Block 9 on display
Christopher's Panel was presented to The Quilt at this display.
Centrepoint, Hastings, World AIDS Day, 1998
The information table.
This photo is the only clear photo we have of this panel.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of this panel (it may be on long-term loan to the family) or any other information about it, please let us know as we have no information about it other than this photo and parts of it showing in photos of a couple of other displays.
Somewhere behind those people is the information table.
10th Anniversary Display, Auckland City Mission, 2001
This special display was held in the Auckland City Mission chapel building in central Auckland, to mark the 10th anniversary of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt in October, 2001. The whole Quilt was on display, and three new panels were presented.
Pan Pacific AIDS Conference, Aotea Centre, Auckland, October 2005
In late October 2005, Auckland hosted the Pan Pacific AIDS Conference in the Aotea Centre. All of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt was on display in the entrance to the Aotea Centre for the four days of the conference.
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