NEW TEMPORARY EXHIBITION ON DISPLAY:

"100 YEARS DOWN THE TRACK"

May 3rd to November 08

train enthusisast and former radio personality Merv Smith was giving a talk in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition on May 3rd, to view a video of that talk, please click here:

http://www.tatv.co.nz/index.html?dfile=2008-05-03_480x270.flv

Te Awamutu Station 1890

In 1880 Te Awamutu became the railhead of the Auckland line, although it took a further 28 years to complete the final link through the King Country to open the NIMTL in 1908.

The exhibition, which includes pictures, artefacts and stories, divides into three parts :

- the building of a railway line between Auckland and Wellington that started simultaneously

- Te Kooti, Ngati Maniapoto and the negotiations to allow the railroad to go through the King Country.

- and the opening of the new service, the stations (with particular emphasis on Te Awamutu) and special services like the mobile radio studio 5ZB and the postal sorting car.

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The stories of Te Awamutu and its people are told through a range of permanent and temporary exhibitions. 
 

The Tangata Whenua Gallery features a range of taonga Maori, including the figure of Uenuku - one of the most treasured taonga of the Tainui people.


View of Tangata Whenua Gallery 
  
 
The True Colours exhibition tells the story of Te Awamutu's own Tim
and Neil Finn, and their rise to fame in the bands Split Enz and Crowded
House. True Colours features film, video and Finn family memorabilia.


True Colours exhibition