Wikipedia:GLAM/Timaru
This is the project page for a Wikipedia collaboration between Venture Timaru, the Timaru District economic and tourism agency, and Wikipedian Mike Dickison (User:Giantflightlessbirds) to improve the content in Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata.
Scope
The project begins in October 2026 and continues on a part-time (one day a week) basis until December 2026. It is funded by Venture Timaru, but their role is to identify topics of interest, supply reliable published sources, and donate photos under an open licence: they have no editorial input into the work Wikipedians choose to do.
Participants
- Giantflightlessbirds (project coordinator)
- Paora
- Marshelec
Add your username if you're keen to help with the topic list below. If you have ideas or other suggested topics please discuss them on the Talk page first before we add more work to the To Do list. If you're a newbie Mike will be in touch to discuss strategy and any help needed.
Note down contributions you've made in small type with the date and your username e.g., (created 23 Aug Giantflightlessbirds). The topics of most interest to Venture Timaru are indicated in teal.
Timaru
Topics to improve in the main Timaru article:
- Revising the economy section to cover historical and modern economy; currently mostly about SCF and Smithfields which aren't there any more.
- Photos of the Carnegie library (and better ones of the current library in Commons)
- Photos and a section on the three main churches
- The new stadium at Fraser Park (formerly Alpine Energy Stadium, its article also needs fixing)
- The redevelopment of the Theatre Royal, reopening in May
Useful sources
- McKenzie, Patsy. 2003. Theatre Royal, Timaru: A Short History. Timaru [N.Z.] : Friends of the Theatre Royal
- Hamilton, Derek. 2017. Early Churches in and Around Timaru. Christchurch : Judith and Derek Hamilton.
- Johnson, David. 1996. Timaru and South Canterbury: a Pictorial History. Christchurch, N.Z. : Canterbury University Press
- Button, John. 2010. A Century of Carnivals: the Caroline Bay Story. [Timaru, N.Z.] : Caroline Bay Association
- Dunham, Laura. 2022. Aigantighe: Timaru's Home of Welcome. Timaru : Aigantighe Art Gallery
- Hamilton, Jack and Keith Bartholomew. 2011 (2nd ed.) Streets of Timaru. Timaru: South Canterbury Museum and South Canterbury Historical Society
- Bartholomew, Keith (2015), From waste land to a garden of national significance: Timaru Botanic Gardens 1864-2014, Timaru District Council, Wikidata Q141917917
- Harper, Henry William. 1914. s:Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911. (Letters 13–15, 17–19, and 24–25 deal with early Timaru, including the building of St. Mary's)
Geraldine
Peel Forest
| Wikidata | Wikipedia | Quality | Wikimedia Commons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peel Forest (Q7160217) | Peel Forest |  |
Category:Peel Forest | This is the community itself; check all articles linking to "Peel Forest" to see if they get this right. More photos needed. |
| Peel Forest Park (Q7160219) | Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve |  |
— | Should this be Peel Forest Park as per Wikidata? Fix Wikidata. Photos, category. |
| Mount Peel (Q30507913) | Mount Peel |  |
Category:Mount Peel (Canterbury) | Perhaps this is the place to talk about Mt Peel Station and the Aclands? More photos needed. |
| Church of the Holy Innocents (Q77975859) | Church of the Holy Innocents, Mount Peel |  |
Category:Church of the Holy Innocents, Mount Peel |
Photos
To support this project, some photos will be released under an open licence by Mike acting on behalf of Venture Timaru from their photo library. For any questions on copyrights and licensing of photographs, contact Di Hay of Venture Timaru (di
venturetimaru.nz, +64 3 687 2682).
- Professional photos of the Vicarage Geraldine donated by Michael Barker (see category) (August 2026)
- Photos of the South Canterbury Museum interior, Caroline Bay, and Blackett's Lighthouse
Progress
- Project list created after trip to Geraldine (25 Oct)
- Better-resolution photos of St Mary's found and uploaded. Improved Sacred Heart Basilica. (27 Oct)
- Created Wikidata item for Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre (Q141896408) and Category:Te Ana Māori Rock Art Centre. (Paora, 28 Oct)
- Created Wikidata items for Trevor Griffiths (Q141896600) and Trevor Griffiths Rose Garden (Q141896747). (Paora, 28 Oct)
- Created Wikidata item for Walter Panton (Q141897086) and expanded Wikidata item for Victor Panton (Q141795346), father and son architects who designed the Timaru City Council Offices and Former Public Library (Q79312425) (Carnegie Library) and Public Trust Building (Q79303676) in Timaru, both Heritage New Zealand-listed buildings. (Paora, 28 Oct)
- Created Wikidata items for architects Maurice de Harven Duval (Q141913651), James Turnbull (Q141922649) and Percy Rule (Q141923146), who designed many of the notable listed buildings in Timaru and South Canterbury. (Paora, 30 Oct)
- Created Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve (Giantflightlessbirds, 2 Nov)
- Created Wikidata item for St Andrew's Church (Q142108333), Geraldine, and architect of same, C. B. Wells (Q142108406). (Paora, 11 Nov)
- Created Wikidata items for the Roger Mahan Heritage Centre (Q142116898), its founder Roger Mahan (Q142116855), the National Carriage Museum (Q142116981) and its founder Peter Lyttle (Q142117035). (Paora, 12 Nov)
- Expanded South Canterbury Museum to Start class and found images to upload. (Giantflightlessbirds, 12 Nov)
- Selection of photos of Timaru uploaded from Venture Timaru photo library (Giantflightlessbirds, 15 Nov)