Public Archive.
The pottery has closed, but the record stays open. Morris & James now has a place in public libraries and along the walkway from Matakana to Point Wells, where anyone can go and find it.
Where to find itThe Clay That Connects Us, on the shelf.
The book is held in public libraries around New Zealand, including the National Library, so the stories and the final production catalogue stay available to read long after the edition has gone.
- National Library of New ZealandTe Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, Wellington
- Whangārei District LibrariesNorthland
- Warkworth LibraryWarkworth
- Auckland LibrariesAuckland
- Auckland War Memorial Museum LibraryAuckland
- Hamilton City LibrariesWaikato
- Waikato District LibrariesWaikato
- Ngātea LibraryHauraki District Libraries
- Tauranga City LibrariesBay of Plenty
- Rotorua LibraryRotorua Lakes Council
- Taupō District LibrariesTaupō
- Hastings District LibrariesHawke’s Bay
- Palmerston North City LibraryManawatū
- Porirua City LibraryWellington region
- Upper Hutt City LibraryWellington region
- Nelson Public LibrariesNelson
- Tasman District LibrariesTasman
- Christchurch City LibrariesCanterbury
Ceramic Wayfinders.
The Point Wells and Matakana community groups jointly applied to Auckland Council for funding for a series of sculptural way markers along the new walk and cycle track between the two communities. The Morris & James proposal, led by Nick Charlton, was chosen from a number of submissions: terracotta columns inscribed with stylised topographical maps, charting the journey along the walkway.
The columns were made on site from clay dug from the fields around the village, so the soil itself maps the land. Stacked in segments, 60 in all, they recall the core samples geologists take, rising from the ground to expose some of the history of the district. They were finished to weather and age gracefully, and to become part of the landscape.
A cluster of columns and a seat stands at the Point Wells end. Resting places at the highest point of the seven-kilometre path look north across the Omaha Flats to Little Barrier Island on the horizon.
On record.
The closure, the fire and the book, as reported at the time.
- NZ HeraldMatakana business Morris & James Pottery closes after 47 years
- RNZMorris and James set to close after half a century of pottery sales
- RNZFire breaks out at Morris and James pottery factory in Matakana
- Local MattersEnd of an era as iconic pottery forced to close its doors
- RNZ Culture 101Morris and James pottery to be immortalised in a limited-edition book
Historic artefacts.
The Warkworth Museum acquired many historic Morris & James artefacts. Enquire with them directly about future displays.
- Where
- Parry Kauri Park, Tudor Collins Drive, Warkworth
- Open
- Daily, 10am to 3pm
- Enquire
- warkworthmuseum.co.nz