News & Events

When popular actress Mary Bellamy dies during her fiftieth birthday party Inspector Roderick Alleyn is called in when foul play is suspected. How did the insecticide get into her perfume spray? In this intriguing tale, Ngaio Marsh uses her first-hand knowledge of the London theatre scene to create fascinating, dramatic characters and a surprising denouement. Recommended by our Deputy Chairperson, Robyn Peers. Ngaio Marsh House is offering preloved copies of many of Ngaio’s

The daffodils are out and the daphne smells divine so now is the perfect time to visit and enjoy the Ngaio Marsh House. On a clear day a view of the snowy Southern Alps adds to the splendour of the garden that Dame Ngaio enjoyed through the seasons.

On 30 July 1924 readers of The Press would have found this advertisement on page 15. Fred Reade Wauchop and William Simon Wauchop were a multi-talented pair; both having studied dance abroad and William going on to serve as Paliamentary Librarian for which work he received an OBE in 1964. In July 1914 Ngaio and William, along with Ngaio's mother and father, had appeared in Preserving Mr Panmure, a farce by English playright Arthur Wing Pinero that had first been staged in Lon

News that the BBC is creating a crime solving television series centred on the early years of The Detection Club, brings to mind the visit to the Ngaio Marsh House by Martin Edwards and his wife Helena Shanks early last year. Martin is the current president of the Detection Club, which was established in 1930 by a group of British mystery writers, among them Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. The oath of the invitation-only club was written by its first president GK Chest

It's great to be able to update our friends and supporters about what's been going on at the house and what we are looking forward to. If you would like to receive a copy of our digital newsletter please email <info@ngaiomarsh.org> and we will be delighted to send you the link.

The Ngaio Marsh House and Heritage Trust was very well represented at this week's Volunteering Canterbury awards ceremony. Our awesome tour coordinator Jane Ryder [at right] received an award for her 15-year contribution to the house. Also honoured was tireless trustee Robyn Peers [at left] for her work supporting Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City Making, which organises Open Christchurch each year. And presenting awards was dynamic trustee Cass Flutey [centre], who

The weather was perfect on the Sunday of King's Birthday weekend for a combined training day with the guides of Riccarton House, Kate Sheppard House and Ngaio Marsh House. As part of our Her City alliance, the tables were turned on a group of guides who became tour visitors at each historic house museum in turn. Ngaio Marsh guide and Deputy Chairperson Robyn Peers briefed the group in the garden before everyone headed indoors on the last stop of a fascinating day.

With winter fast approaching the garden at the Ngaio Marsh House is starting to retire before it bursts into life again come spring. But there's one plant, right by the path up to the house, that is breaking out all over and it's a West Australian native. The pincushion plant (Hakea laurina) is known as kodjet by the Noongar people and it is a visual delight. Judging from my grandmother's garden books it was in vogue for New Zealand gardens in the 1950s and 1960s. There's som

With funding from the Roger Wait and Norah Wait Charitable Trust we have been able to install UV film on the north and west-facing windows in the house. Glen and Sam from Solar Control took great care to achieve an outcome that has been a long time in the making. Protection for the house's historic artefacts, including the beautiful dining room curtains, is a key part of the trust's mission. We are very grateful to the Wait Trust for supporting Canterbury heritage projects li

The Clocks Bookshop in Strowan's Normans Road holds the largest number of new Ngaio Marsh classic crime fiction of any bookshop in the country. Pick up one of Dame Ngaio's novels on the GBC as the perfect 'homework' before a guided tour of her former home.

April 18 is World Heritage Day and this year's theme is "Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters". All of us involved in the Ngaio Marsh House would like to acknowledge the heritage kaitiaki who are working to protect and preserve the world's heritage at this difficult time. We are all richer for the architectural, creative and artistic heritage that is distinctly different in every nation but also reminds us of our shared humanity.

In March, artist Jen Alexandra installed a series of sculptural forms throughout the house and garden as part of her doctoral research. Jen's work explores a simple but compelling question: what happens when objects made for gallery spaces are brought into somewhere as storied as the Ngaio Marsh house? "I wanted to see what happened when my work was experienced within the richly layered context of the house," she explains. Embracing the constraints of the heritage site, Jen's

A tour of the homes of three iconic women who shaped Christchurch's history through settlement, politics and the arts. Discover the lives and legacies of three remarkable Christchurch women on this guided journey through the historic homes of Dame Ngaio Marsh, Jane Deans and Kate Sheppard. This unique day-long experience takes you inside Ngaio Marsh House, Jane Deans and Kate Sheppard House - homes rich with history, character, and story. These are the places where ideas wer

As part of our Deadly Deals Book Sale , we’re giving you the chance to win one of THREE incredible prize packs – with a combined value of...

Christchurch book lovers – mark your calendars! On Saturday 20th September, from 10am to 2pm , the Ngaio Marsh House and Heritage Trust...

Tour series Ain't Nothing Like a Dame will offer an opportunity to get 'hands on'. Ngaio Marsh House and Heritage Trust is delighted to...

UPDATE : Fully Subscribed. We've had a fantastic response to our call out and have closed the registration form. Our collection of books...

Join us for a special celebration at Ngaio Marsh House on Tuesday, April 23rd, as we commemorate the 129th anniversary of Ngaio's birth!...

Drive into History: Reserve your spot for Dame Ngaio Marsh's Jaguar XK150 Tour at Ngaio Marsh House. Image: Ngaio Marsh sitting in her...

We had a wonderful afternoon at Okains Bay Museum setting up “Ngaio’s Christmas Tree” for the museum’s annual “Christmas at the Museum”...