Ngatokimatawhaorua Launch (09-01-2010)

Ngatokimatawhaorua in Aurere

As we arrived more and more people started gathering and waiting for the powhiri to begin. There were the Ngati Kahu people from Peria and Whangaroa practising there kapahaka ready for the day after. After the powhiri the Ngaituteauru people from Otaua started rehearsing as well, til midnight, as they wanted everything  perfect for the launch of their waka.

Everyone was up at 3am Saturday 9th of January and the people of the marae had put on a beautiful meal for breakfast before we went to Aurere, where the waka awaited us. It was a small trip to get there from Peria.

It was a special day for many people of the Ngapuhi tribe as Ngatokimatawhaorua had not been on water for about 70 years.

To see the Waka that i had grown up with for many years at my marae and seeing it looking so beautiful and seeing it being rowed was an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. It was well worth waking up at 3am in the morning..

Ngatokimatawhaorua in Aurere

Sits and awaits for launch

The new end

The Launch

Carried onto the waters of Aurere

First time on waters in 70years

Into the sunrise

Ngatokimatawhaorua

Heritage Kaikohe win best stand at Kaikohe A&P Show

Trevor, and his mechanical team won the Best Trade Stand award at yesterday’s Kaikohe A&P Show.

MP visits Heritage Kaikohe

Kelvin Davis, Northland Labour MP, visited us today to get a first hand account of our plans to develop the Heritage Kaikohe  Complex and to encourage 3rd Party business opportunities on the site from artisan craftspeople.

Many thanks for your interest and warm support Kelvin, looking forward to welcoming you and your whanau back soon.

HERITAGE KAIKOHE @ KAIKOHE A&P SHOW

The team from Heritage Kaikohe will be in attendance at the Kaikohe A&P Show on the 9th January, with working machinery from the Pioneer Village up and running, including our much loved Traction Engine, a Farmall Tractor and a Stationery Bailer.
Board members, Volunteers and the interim Director, Grant Collie, will be there throughout the show to answer any questions on the development of Heritage Kaikohe, the Pioneer Village and the historical collections under our care.
It will also allow people to find out how to get involved in the exciting plans for the the Heritage Kaikohe Complex, from Volunteering to help with the collections, guiding and/or greeting visitors, archiving the collection, etc – to running your own artisan craft business on the complex!
See you there……

INTRODUCING OUR NEW CURATOR/MANAGER

The Trust Board is delighted to announce the appointment of IAN DAY as our new Curator Manager.

After 4 years as Director of the Huntly Based, Waikato Coalfields Museum, the challenge and potential of the ongoing development at Heritage Kaikohe was too interesting to resist.

Ian commences around the 18th January and we look forward to his arrival.

Our new logo

Bruce Gillies, one of our longest serving members and current Deputy Chair of the Trust has designed a new logo to highlight the refocussing of our collection to tell the history of the whole of the Kaikohe community.

Cruise Passengers now visiting Heritage Kaikohe

its official!

8th December 2009
HERITAGE KAIKOHE
PRESS RELEASE EMBARGOED TO 9pm Monday 7th December 2009
HERITAGE KAIKOHE IS BORN ……………………………..
www.heritagekaikohe.co.nz is the new website, and there is an interactive blog attached to the site that will feature news updates on a regular basis.
The Kaikohe Pioneer Village has evolved to become part of the HERITAGE KAIKOHE Complex as part of the development plans to revitalise a much loved but slightly underwhelming Northland attraction.
At todays Trust meeting, the renaming was enthusiastically accepted unanimously by the new Trust Board, headed by Heather Ayrton QSM JP, when presented by interim Director Grant Collie.
The Pioneer Village, will now be the part of an evolving, dynamic museum and visitor attraction that will aim to tell the story of the whole community, from the days of first contact between Maori and European, to our more recent shared history. For example, a display is planned to celebrate Kaikohe Speedway and the iconic Demolition Derby!
Currently, expressions of interest are invited for an entrepreneur to operate the cafe in the Complex, with the theme of Bush Tucker being suggested.
Also, expressions of interest are being welcomed from artisan craftspeople (ie smithy, leatherworker, carver, weavers, etc) to use the original authentic facilities in the complex to make their wares for sale and display.
All of these opportunities, along with the highly successful Community Max programme we already have working here, are aimed at providing employment in our community and opportunities for sustainable business partnerships – all going to show that an interest in heritage is an important part of the life of a community.
Today saw the 3rd Cruise Ship party to visit the museum in the past few weeks and, much to the chagrin of their drivers, they don’t want to leave at their appointed time. A great sign for the future as they have only seen a small taste of what we have planned.
Moves to appoint a permanent, highly experienced curator/manager are well advanced and we hope to be able to announce the successful candidate before Xmas.
The iconic Bush Railway, with the little engine ‘Kaimai’, that has lain unused for over 12 years is now undergoing final testing and rail certification before becoming available for both the local community and our visitors to enjoy. A lot of blood, sweat and tears have been spent getting it to this stage and everyone at Heritage Kaikohe is very excited. Keep an eye on the website for news on our launch date. The Trustees wish to put on record their warm thanks to the Department of Corrections team, under the supervision of Clive Hiscocks and Maurice Brown – with kind assistance from Mike Bradshaw from the Kawakawa’s Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust for the upgrade of the track.
What is needed now are members of the public to join the Trust to help is define the range of stories we want to tell as a community, and we are looking for new volunteers to work in specific areas. Its not just for the retired to enjoy – young people with an interest in history or technology can find projects to enjoy and it is possible to work towards museum and tourism qualifications even as a volunteer.
So, pop in for a cuppa and a chat and see if we can offer you an exciting experience……
ENDS
Contact: Interim Director- Grant Collie 0275396150
director@heritagekaikohe.co.nz
www.heritagekaikohe.co.nz

a new milestone reached…..

After almost 12 years, and some backbreaking work in the last few months, the Bush Tramway is back on the rails.

Should be in full operation by early December.

Well done guys….

Greetings from Grant

Just introducing myself. My name is Grant Collie and I am the interim Director for Heritage Kaikohe and have been tasked with developing the strategy for the future of the complex, which includes the long established Pioneer Village, the soon to reopen Begonia House and a fascinating and eclectic collection of Northlands agricultural and social history.