Honouring the Legacy of Aotearoa’s Rangers: The National Rangers’ History Archive Project
Project Tongariro is proud to be supporting a unique and meaningful initiative: the National Rangers’ History Archive Project. This ranger-led kaupapa is being driven by a passionate team of retired Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers, many of whom dedicated their lives to protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Aotearoa.
The goal? To collect, preserve, and share the stories, voices, and experiences of New Zealand’s conservation rangers - many of which would otherwise be lost to time. These are the stories behind the mahi: the evolution of conservation in Aotearoa, told through the eyes of the people who lived it.
Project Tongariro’s Role
To be eligible for funding from the Lotteries Environment and Heritage Fund, the rangers needed to partner with an established charitable organisation that met the fund’s criteria. Project Tongariro was delighted to step in - not just to act as a ‘bank account’ for the funding, but to stand alongside a project that aligns so closely with our values.
Our support has helped secure funding to develop the Archive’s infrastructure and conduct oral history interviews across the motu. We’ve also provided project governance and financial management, allowing the rangers to focus on what matters most: capturing and sharing the stories.
A Living Archive
We’re thrilled to share that the project has reached an exciting milestone: the official National Rangers’ History Archive website is now live!
Visit the National Rangers’ History Archive
The website will be the heart of this living archive. It already hosts some incredible stories, with many more to come. This is just the beginning of a powerful, evolving platform that will continue to grow over time—an enduring taonga for future generations.