New Mangawhai Museum to open in December

New Mangawhai Museum to open in December

In 2003, six years before actual building on the new museum began, the displays it would contain were being planned, and Chris Currie a specialist museum designer was engaged.

When the building plan was finalised with its unique stingray shaped design and commanding location the display planners knew that they had to come up with displays to match.

The Mangawhai harbour is the theme of the new museum and has played a central part in the history of the area. The harbour provided a landing place for Hongi Hika on his way to the battle of Te-Ika-a-Ranganui near Kaiwaka in 1825. It provided a shelter for a thriving ship-building industry and a firm beach for early air services to land. The harbour enabled early european settlers to farm the land and export kauri gum. Today it provides shelter for critically endangered birds such as the Fairy Tern - but mostly the harbour and surf beaches are known as a great place to visit and enjoy the great kiwi tradition of holidays at the beach.

It has taken almost eight years to gather all the display material and create the exhibitions. The displays capture the life of the harbour and some of the exciting stories of people and events. In all there are eleven stories to be told including “The Big Dig” where a group of locals and their heavy machinery defied regulators to save the harbour.

Long-time beach lovers will enjoy the trip down memory lane to revisit the holidays of yesteryear. There’s even a long-drop - for display purposes only!

With only one employee the museum has relied on volunteers and businesses willing to provide goods and services at favourable prices.

The forty or so volunteers donate time and expertise, at the museum or at homes and workshops round the district. Many volunteers start by spending three hours on a Tuesday or Thursday morning cleaning and cataloging the many items donated to the museum. “ I am new to the area and it has been a great way of meeting people, and providing an interest in my retirement” says volunteer Rose Peters.

Other groups are preparing the shop and cafe and keen gardeners are busy transforming the outside of the building. The grounds will form part of Mangawhai Park, which is also being developed by local volunteers.

In common with many volunteer organisations, a small group of volunteers are committed to the extent their involvement becomes a full time job. Many members of the management team and the building team have kept up this high level of work for a number of years.

Christine Bygrave as Chair of the Historical Society is one such person, but she says her job is made much easier by the fact that there is a wealth of specialist skills in the area that she can call on.

“We are very grateful to our major funders; ASB Community Trust, The Lotteries Commission, Pub Charities and Kaipara District Council who have supported the $1.8 million build, and we start life as a debt-free entity.”

Only an hour or so from Auckland, visitors can enjoy the displays, cafe and gift shop at the museum or try one of the other great eating and gift-buying experiences that Mangawhai has to offer. The harbour and beaches are here too, as well as many inland and coastal walks.

The museum, cafe and shop are located on Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai Heads, between Mangawhai Village and the Wood Street shops and from Sunday 7th December will be open 7 days, 9 - 4 all summer long.

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