The Costume and Textile Association of New Zealand is delighted to announce Dr Patricia Te Arapo Wallace (Ngāti Porou) as a keynote speaker for our special 21st Anniversary Symposium in Ōamaru. A longstanding member of CTANZ, Dr Wallace specialises in Māori traditional textiles.

The theme for the symposium is Traditions: Observance or Departure. We have a varied and exciting line up of papers that explore contemporary research on Māori and Pacific dress, cherished institutional textile objects, medical attire, and rites of passage—weddings and the debutante ball. You can access the draft symposium schedule here https://drive.google.com/file/...

We’re very excited to be heading to regional New Zealand for our anniversary symposium and thrilled to have the event take place in the beautiful Oamaru Opera House (https://oamaruoperahouse.co.nz), a significant heritage-listed building. Ōamaru is a heritage destination which has a long and vibrant costume history. It is best known for its preservation of its Victorian Precinct and being the home of Steampunk HQ. The Oamaru Woollen and Worsted Mills (1881–1960) played a significant role in New Zealand’s successful woollen manufacturing industry, while two former Waitaki High School pupils, Maritza Tschepp and Sharon Ng have carved out successful careers in the fashion industry. Maritza Tschepp won the supreme award at the 1977 Benson and Hedges Fashion Design Awards; while Sharon Ng won the events Lifestyle Award in 1991.

Symposium Dinner

Our symposium dinner will be at the wonderful Loan and Merc in Ōamaru. Both the dinner venue and our conference venue at the Oamaru Opera House can cater for most dietary needs you may have such as vegetarian, gluten free, lactose intolerant. Please just note them when completing your registration. The Loan and Merc Oamaru - Weddings, Functions, Events Venue hire, Catering

Getting to Ōamaru

Ōamaru is just under 2 hours drive from Dunedin Airport. Intercity runs a bus service from Dunedin Airport to Ōamaru. https://www.intercity.co.nz/

Ōamaru is just over 1 hours drive from Timaru Airport.

Ōamaru is around 3 hours drive from Christchurch Airport. Intercity runs a bus service from Christchurch Airport to Ōamaru.
https://www.intercity.co.nz/

Getting around Ōamaru

Ōamaru has no public bus service. There is a taxi service (but no Uber!) The symposium venue is located centrally in Ōamaru near to several accommodation providers. If transport around Ōamaru may be an issue for you, please note this when registering so we can assist.

Staying Ōamaru

Ōamaru has accommodation to meet a variety of budgets and needs. Please visit https://waitakinz.com/stay/ to see some of the local accommodation on offer. You may also contact Nancy at the Bella Vista 03 434 2400 who can assist with specific accommodation enquiries for the symposium such as options to room share and discounts available for symposium attendees.

Visting Ōamaru and the Waitaki District

If you are looking for other things to do while you are in the Waitaki District please visit https://waitakinz.com/ to see where you can dine, visit and shop.

If you have any questions please contact the symposium committee via email to ctanzoamaru@gmail.com