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Te Awamutu Museum showcases the rich social history of Waipa District in the Waikato, New Zealand.
It is a registered archival repository with full research services and is home to the internationally significant taonga Uenuku, and the Finn Brothers, New Zealand Wars and Waikato Campaign collections.
The Museum provides educational programmes to over 4000 children each year and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. A close liaison is maintained with many local and national groups including iwi and Tainui representatives.
History of the Museum
Established in 1935 by the Te Awamutu Historical Society, its nucleus the private collection of Gavin Gifford, the Museum today is a far cry from the collection of treasures sited in rooms above Gifford's bookshop in the main street of Te Awamutu.
The aims of the Society were to establish and carry on a Museum in Te Awamutu which would collect and display objects of value or interest to the history of the district. As the Museum grew it became obvious that a dedicated team was required to manage the business. On May 9th 1987 the Te Awamutu and District Museum Trust Board was formally incorporated to manage the operation of the Museum. Ownership of the collection transferred from the Society to the newly established Board at this time.
Governance
Negotiations with Waipa District Council in 2005 resulted in a formal transfer of operational responsibility from the Museum Trust Board to Council. Today a small team of professional staff employed by the Waipa District Council manages the Museum. Ownership of the collection remains in community hands under the governance auspices of the Te Awamutu Museum Trust Board. A group of volunteers provides invaluable assistance with ongoing and specific projects.
The Museum is currently housed in a building in Roche St constructed in 1975, however plans are proposed to develop a new cultural centre for the district incorporating museum, art gallery, performing arts theatre, research and educational spaces.
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Our Team
Manager Museums and Heritage
Jan White
Museum Assistant / Volunteer Coordinator
Nathalie Metz
Museum Assistant
Debbie Courtney
Senior Curator
Stephanie Lambert
Educator
Alan Reilly
Registrar
Claire Orbell
Archivist
Catherine Jehly
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