Howick Local Board is bringing the area’s history in to the 21st Century with the launch of the Howick’s Heritage mobile app.
The interactive walking app allows users to discover the history of Picton Street and explore some of the nearby landmarks through a range of historic images, interactive maps and audio commentary. And on Stockade Hill people can take in a digital panorama using augmented reality technology.
“It’s an exciting development for us because it brings Howick’s rich history to life, opening it up to a whole new audience of both locals and visitors,” says Howick Local Board member its culture and heritage portfolio lead, Adele White.
“In a world where people seem to live their lives through their phone or tablets, if we want to keep our heritage alive for future generations we need to move with the times so we hope people embrace it.”
For those wanting more stories about the Howick area, with the app there is a link to download STQRY – another mobile device application that features more detailed history of the area across several topics.
The project is one of several identified in the Howick Heritage Plan, adopted by the local board in 2016.
“Already we’ve included the names of four soldiers with Howick connections to the war memorial on Stockade Hill, historical images are etched on to the glass panels of the new Half Moon Bay ferry and over the next few months we hope to have interpretative signs and plaques installed at several sites,” says Ms White.
It is available for both Android and Apple devices, just search Howick’s Heritage in your app store .
About Howick Heritage Plan
The plan is a guiding document and includes a set of principles to help the local board assess and make decisions on future heritage initiatives. These principles are:
- To explore Howick’s intertwined Māori and European history and where appropriate, link it with that of Tāmaki Makaurau
- To capture and record the area’s varied written, cultural, oral and visual history as it has evolved up until present time
- To identify, preserve and protect natural features, historical places, property and relics with the wider Howick area.
