Overview
The New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt consists of 16 quilt blocks in total, most consisting of 8 panels stitched together. Each panel represents a person who died of AIDS, and was made by family members, partners and/or friends. The Quilt is supported by an archive, held at Te Papa Archives.
The New Zealand Quilt dates from 1988 and is part of a worldwide movement that grew from communities most affected by HIV and AIDS. The Quilt concept originated in San Francisco in 1987 in response to the devastating impact of AIDS. Its intention was to raise awareness and enable loved ones to express feelings of love, loss and regret in a permanent and tangible way.
The quilt panels are moving, creative and positive memorials to those who died, and testaments to love and community support. Their presence and endurance reminds both of the need for remembrance and compassion, but also the need for continued awareness and education in response to HIV and AIDS.
How the Quilt came to Te Papa
The New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt and archive were gifted to Te Papa in 2011. The Quilt was formally farewelled and handed over at a moving ceremony at St Matthew-in-the-City,
The Quilt is now re-housed at Te Papa, after several staff (with volunteer help) repaired, cleaned, and wrapped each Quilt block carefully for storage. The Quilt has been photographed in high resolution, and these images are available on Collections Online and can be zoomed into in great detail. Note that the original Quilt website is linked below where viewers can see detailed biographical details of many of the people named in the panels.