History of a thousand different hands: heritage websites in New Zealand

Abstract

‘History of a thousand different hands: heritage websites in New Zealand’ is an examination of the New Zealand heritage websites the 28th Māori Battalion, Quake Stories, and High Street Stories. The dissertation is centred around one question: what is the heritage experience that these websites offer? These websites are relatively new to the heritage scene, and they have never been studied in an academic context before. By defining the activities occurring in this unexamined area, this dissertation gives an understanding to the area of online heritage in New Zealand, especially within an institutional context. This study draws on multiple sources of data to examine the heritage experiences offered by the websites. Interviews were conducted with the heritage professionals that either created the websites or are now responsible for them (or both). The websites themselves were analysed in detail. Together, with heritage theory framing the investigation, the dissertation provides numerous perspectives on the subject. A picture emerges of a rich, vibrant, and responsive heritage form. The websites are shown to perform multiple functions, while engaging large communities in the heritage process. The dissertation ultimately establishes that the websites are a valuable form of heritage and provide a unique and multifaceted heritage experience.