The Legends of Mohua Aorere / Golden Bay Tasman exhibition tells the story of Tasman’s ports and wharves from the early 1800s to the mid‑1900s, via a journey across the region’s coastal shipping network.
Its photographs, maps and stories attracted large numbers of visitors at this year’s Port Nelson 125th Anniversary Open Day in March 2026.
Legends follows the coastal trade between the river ports and the wharves that dotted the coastline from Māpua to Mangarākau, trade that laid the foundations for the Port Nelson of today. From small jetties and beach landings to busy government wharves, this network linked isolated communities to each other, to Nelson, and to markets across Aotearoa and the wider world.
That historic relationship continues in institutional form. Port Nelson is jointly owned by Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council through Infrastructure Holdings Limited, giving the region both a financial stake and strategic influence in how this regional gateway is managed. Our shareholding means local people benefit directly from dividend income and from a port focused on long‑term regional wellbeing, not just short‑term profit.
Legends would not have been possible without the support and generosity of local curators, researchers and collectors. We acknowledge the Māpua Wharf, Nelson Provincial and Collingwood Museums, Motueka Historical Association, authors Maui John and Hilary Mitchell, Alexander Turnbull Library, National Libraries, Archives New Zealand, and the Tyree, Rob and Lynn Packer, and Sean Garwood collections, whose taonga bring this coastal story to life.
The Legends exhibition will tour the Tasman District Libraries later this year.
You can download a pdf version of the exhibition here (pdf 8.4 MB).
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