The Otago Daily Times will feature in a nationwide embroidery project depicting the history of New Zealand in more than 100 panels.
The design for the first panel was revealed at the recent opening of the Otago Embroiders' Guild's 50th anniversary "Golden Stitches" exhibition at the Otago Settlers Museum.
Given the setting, it was fitting that the first panel depicts the settlement of Otago. The Otago Daily Times, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, is expected to appear in a yet-to-be-designed panel which will show its status as the country's oldest surviving daily newspaper.
The venture was the brainchild of the late Fred Haslam, of Dunedin, who died late last year.
He became enthused with the idea several years ago after seeing a display in Geraldine about the famous Bayeux tapestry.
The Bayeux tapestry celebrated the Middle Ages events surrounding William the Conqueror, the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings. Like the proposed New Zealand work, it is not a true tapestry as it involves embroidered rather than woven cloth.
He and his wife, Doreen, had no connection with embroidery, but she recalled him being impressed with how popular the Bayeux tapestry was centuries after it was produced.
He had asked, "Why don't we have something similar about the history of New Zealand?
" "What could I do except agree with him?
" she told more than 70 gathered for the launch of the project.
Mr Haslam got the involvement of representatives of the Otago guild and their national body, roped in his long-time friend businessman Barry Clarke and a charitable trust, the Tapestry Trust of New Zealand, was set up for the project.
University of Otago historians were asked to identify particular significant events which could be depicted in the project and from that initial list about 100 have been chosen.
The hope is that the 59 guilds throughout the country will choose events which are appropriate to their areas, but Mr Clarke, who chairs the trust, said the home of the completed panels will be Otago.
However, at this stage, it is not known where that home might be.
Each panel is 100cm by 67cm, to be completed on 70m of specially woven background made by a Wellington firm.
Mr Clarke said he had seen a similar work in Edinburgh which took up two sides of a cathedral.
It is estimated the basic cost of completing one panel would be about $5000 and the trust is fundraising for that.
The panels are being designed by University of Otago designers Alex Gilks and Michael Findlay.
The second design to be completed will be of the history of motoring in New Zealand and its social implications.
Mr Gilks said it was likely the project would take several years to complete.
The designers are liaising with the embroiderers over the designs to ensure they are workable.
Designs which were too realistic would be too time consuming to complete and "wouldn't look very good", he said.
He felt it would be possible to maintain a style with such a big project.
• The Golden Stitches exhibition runs until November 27.
Until tomorrow, the hours are 10am-4pm and for the remainder of the time the hours are 1pm-4pm.
It includes work by the founder of the guild, Miss Helen Moran, who came to Dunedin from Scotland and spent 30 years as a full-time tutor in embroidery at King Edward Technical College. She began the guild after her retirement. By the end of its first year the guild had 88 members who paid a 1 annual subscription.
Today, the guild, the third in the South Island to reach its 50th birthday, has more than 140 members.
