Karen Stade
Nelson-Marlborough
Following a journalism career in Nelson I elected to focus on what I loved writing about – history. Several books written to mark school anniversaries followed, along with a commission to research and write history stories for The Prow http://www.theprow.org.nz/.
Meet You At The Church Steps, an illustrated history of a city landmark, followed.
A Nelson Provincial Museum commission led to a book and exhibition about Appo Hocton, New Zealand’s first naturalised Chinese immigrant. I then curated an exhibition about New Zealand Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake and a series of World War I centennial exhibitions, with particular focus on the home front.
A five year project with fellow writer Karen Price to document the story of Nelson’s Italian community resulted in the publication of Pasta, Prayer & Promise, which was highly commended in the J.M. Sherrard Award (Recognising Excellence in New Zealand Local and Regional History).
I accept genealogical commissions and write family histories, including Driven by the Wind, the story of a Victorian sea captain, Henry Rose.
In 2017 I received a Queen’s Service Medal for services to historical research and the community. I am a former president of the Nelson Historical Society and the current editor of the society’s annual Journal.
PUBLISHED BOOKS
- Driven by the Wind
Published by River Press – 2019
ISBN: 9780994123459
- Daring To Be Different
Published by Nayland College – 2016
ISBN: 978047334118
- Pasta Prayer & Promise
Written with Karen Price
Published by Karen Price & Karen Stade – 2015
ISBN: 9780473302146
- Meet You At The Church Steps
Published by Karen Stade – 2013
ISBN: 9780473254100
- Appo Hocton
Published by Nelson Provincial Museum – 2010
ISBN: 9780473161989
- The School by the Sands
Published by Tahunanui School – 2008
ISBN: 9781877333040

Skills
- Exhibition preparation
- Heritage trail preparation
- Indexing
- Oral history
- Research
- Writing
Specialities
- Education
- Family
- Genealogy
- Heritage
- Immigration
- Local
- Regional