Story: Public history

New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) board members Ormond Wilson (left) and John Cawte Beaglehole clear weeds around a NZHPT plaque on the site of the first government house at Okiato (also known as Old Russell) in the Bay of Islands. Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson lived in the house in 1840. Marking such sites with plaques was an early focus of the trust, but identifying, researching and maintaining historic places was often carried out by voluntary members of the trust rather than employees.