Christine Fernyhough will talk with Vanessa Owen from 'the Merchants of Kerikeri' about Christine's amazing collection of 4000+ mid-century New Zealand objects, which is the subject of her latest book, Mid-Century Living: The Butterfly House Collection.

Before the event at the Turner Centre, Christine will visit ‘the Merchants of Kerikeri’ to have a look at their collection of mid-century pieces. She will pick her favourites and take them to the Turner Centre for discussion. Guests are also invited to bring along a mid-century piece of their own. 

The talk will be followed by book signing. The retail price for the book is normally $60, but for this event Paper Plus will be selling the books for $48. 

This event will be head in the Turner Centre Theatre Bar and seats will be available. 

About Christine Fernyhough

Christine Fernyhough is well known as a leading Auckland philanthropist, having co-founded Books in Homes with Alan Duff 1994 and, in 2000, the Gifted Kids Programme for high achieving children in low-decile schools.

The best-selling author of The Road to Castle Hill, Christine Fernyhough’s passion for interior decorating morphed into the obsession of a serious collector in 1994. Life’s tides had brought Christine and her family to a classic 1960s Kiwi bach at Northland’s Mangawhai Heads. Steeped in history, it recalled a golden era in our history – mid-century New Zealand.

Calling their bach the Butterfly House, the family set about making it their own. Inspired by childhood memories, 1950s interior design magazines, and her passion for the crafted, the local and the handmade, Christine lovingly incorporated the classic design elements and Kiwiana kitsch of yesteryear into the humble rooms and spaces at Mangawhai.

Acquiring everyday objects and memorabilia for the Butterfly House at car boot sales, garage sales, op-shops and auctions became a family sport. Christine’s collection grew like topsy and now forms an extraordinary repository of memories. Today, the bach has been transformed into a beguiling mid-century fantasy that never fails to delight visitors.

Not for Christine the clinical online purchase; objects must be carefully researched, discovered and held, with serendipity often playing a part. As Christine says, ‘What started as kind of interior decorating developed as my interest and passion grew for ‘things’ – fine art as well as decorative and applied arts of mid-century New Zealand. It became more about rescuing history, a wonderful history lesson spoken in objects.’

Her writing has been described as inspirational, warm-hearted, funny and honest and her books have received rave reviews. Christine remains active in both rural and urban communities, is in demand as a public speaker, and in 2011 was made a CNZM for services to the community. In 2015 Christine established the Museum of the Everyday, based on her personal collection of more than 5000 New Zealand craft, design, folk art and social history objects from the twentieth century, built up over 30 years. Her latest book shares that collection, all housed in her charming 1950s seaside bach, the ‘Butterfly House’.

This event is proudly sponsored by The Merchants of Kerikeri