13/06/2018

The Tairawhiti Museum building will soon get a new roof, with design concepts underway.

It is one of several key activities planned for the 2018/19 financial year, outlined in the museum’s annual plan presented at Council’s Community Development and Services committee meeting today.

Cultural activities manager Pene Walsh says the museum roof had been fraught with leaks as internal guttering and complex rooflines had deteriorated in the 40-year-old building.

“Simplified roof lines and materials will help protect the building and treasures held within. In time it will host special exhibitions associated with national sestercentennial commemorations, marking the arrival of HMS Bark Endeavour and the meeting of two peoples in 2019.”

Another big project is the redevelopment of the long-term regional history exhibition, which will be closed throughout and reopen in 2019.

A programme of temporary art and history exhibitions is planned for the year, starting with a contemporary art group exhibition entitled ‘Pou Whare Te Kooti rikirangi Te Turuki’ to open on 1 July, followed by a touring exhibition called ‘The 80s Show’ opening on 13 July.

Learning Outside of The Classroom museum education programmes will continue to be delivered to meet the targets set by Ministry of Education. This service is offered to all of the 65 schools in the region, with around 8600 participating students.

They will also continue the delivery and development of 2019 sestercentenary related projects including exhibitions, events and education programmes.

Tairawhiti Museum has a target of achieving 45,000 museum users per year.

Council provides the museum with an annual grant of $722,495 for operations and $18,600 for insurance. Funding for the roof is additional to this.

ENDS

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