Uenuku - Pride of Te Awamutu Museum

Soon after the first Te Awamutu Museum opened, many of the local taonga including Uenuku, which had been deposited at the Whanganui Regional Museum, were returned here. This was done in accordance with arrangements made by Richard William Bourne who had uncovered them at Lake Ngaroto. Uenuku was housed in a tall glass locked cabinet and was the focus of much attention.

When the present Museum opened, Uenuku was brought to its new home. The management committee for Te Maori asked the Museum Trust Board to release Uenuku for the exhibition. Their request impacted on both the Bourne family and Board members.

The Board agonised over whether to release Uenuku. Within the Bourne family those in favour outnumbered those against!! Dame Te Ata, the Maori Queen was duly consulted and her wishes (that Uenuku should be part of the exhibition) were respected and complied with. Richard William Bourne’s great-nephew Norris Hall was the Museum Trust Board’s secretary at the time.

The rest is history.

Norris Hall