Nau Mai, Haere Mai – Welcome to our New Space!
In this centre you will find a range of information and interactive activities designed to engage and inform visitors about the history of Waipā. We offer a range of small internal exhibitions and public programming that engage with local artists and crafters for visitors of all ages. We’re also excited to showcase short term national touring exhibitions.
The Museum building on Roche Street was closed in October 2022 following a seismic assessment which showed the building was vulnerable in an earthquake.
We opened our temporary space in March 2023. You may notice that we don’t have a lot of objects and taonga from our Collection on display in our temporary space. This is because we are not able to meet the stringent Museum standards of climate control, pest control and security designed to keep objects safe.
This is temporary space focuses on our Education, Research and Public Programme offerings, designed to cater to adults and children.
In addition to pursuing what we have on display you can access a range of activities and information:
Search the collection online
Search over 18,000+ objects from the Collection.
Make a Research Enquiry
Access the Museum Archives and download the current brochure.
Access our Education Programmes
We have a wide range of programmes for students enrolled in the New Zealand School Curriculum and ECE.
Take a Journey across the Waipā
Te Ara Wai Journeys self-guided tour of culturally significant sites.
Our new exhibition is now open and will run through to April 30 2025 – Ka Whawhai tonu mātou Ake, Ake, Ake! Based on events leading up to the final battle at O-Rākau in 1864 between Maori and the invading British Military.
The exhibition features photographs by Cinzia Jonathan and costumes by Te Ura Taripo-Hoskins from the film ‘Ka Whawhai Tonu’ – ‘Struggle without end’ directed by Michael Jonathan.
Exhibition open Monday – Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday and Public Holidays 10am-2pm.
CURIOSEUM
Visitors can explore a range of unique objects nested in drawer and cupboards, from the Museum collection. These are a bit more robust and able to contend with fluctuations in temperature. Open the drawers and cupboards to reveal amazing wonders!
BACK PORCH GALLERY
This caters as a slow activity space for younger children and whānau. You can chill and read one of our many books on offer, play with some games aimed for different ages and capabilities, and participate in monthly interactive connected to our public programmed themes.
FRONT PORCH GALLERY
Consists of three LED-lit frames that present researched exhibitions on various social history, local stories, and events that connect to either the overall public programme theme, touring exhibition or a significant object within the Museum Collection. This is changed monthly and can include specific objects in cases to explain or expand upon what’s on show.
TE ARA WAI JOURNEYS GALLERY
This is your first stop on your free self-guided journey of culturally significant sites through the Waipā District. On show are images of taonga objects related to the amazing stories connected to this landscape. Map out your journey from here and don’t forget to ask about the new Te Ara Wai Journey merchandise especially created for your trip around the district.
Keep up to date with what’s happening at the centre!
Sign up to receive our FREE E-Newsletter, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, join your children up to the Tui & Tama’s Kids Club or just drop in! We’d love to see you at our new whare!
PAST EXHIBITIONS
Mātakitaki
Te Mātakitaki i te hara i a Te Haranui Exhibition on show at Te Awamutu Museum! A significant exhibition commemorating 200 years since the battle Mātakitaki in 1822. At that time, Mātakitaki was the metropolis of Ngāti Hikairo, with the site being made up of three...
Raukawa
Ngā Kura o Tua Whakarere A collaborative exhibition with Raukawa, portraying the history and journey of Ngāti Raukawa. An immersive display of stories, images, taonga, audio, video and educative animations. Open mid April - June 2022
He Marangai ki te Whenua Exhibition
He Marangai ki te Whenua An exhibition by Karangawai Marsh of abstract kōwhaiwhai aho paintings informed by Māori language that reflects a concept describing language immersion and the intimate relationships shared between mātua (parent) and tama riki (children)....
Puāwai Exhibition
"Poipoia te kakano, kia puāwai" "Nurture the seed and it will blossom" Puāwai is an engaging creative studio workshop environment where audiences participate in various creative activities and art development practise with an artist's creative space. Oriwa Morgan-Ward...
Formal Friday 2.0 Exhibition
Due to popular demand, we have extended this exhibition until July 2021. This is a great opportunity for all that missed out on visiting this exhibition during Covid change of levels, to see textiles from the Museum collection up close and personal. As this is...
Formal Friday Exhibition
Our latest exhibition is what I would like to call a rapid response show- one that was created on a very short timeline in response to what is happening in the world around us the moment. Formal Friday became a whimsical trend in New Zealand during our response to...
Te Kōpuni Kura – Te Wananga o Aotearoa
Te Kōpuni Kura: Collected Treasures of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Te Kōpuni Kura is the name of the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa art collection. The name reflects what the collection is - “kōpuni” a group or body of “kura” treasures. First initiated in the late 1980’s through the...
TE OHONGA AKE
Te Ohanga Ake is a PHD exegesis exhibition describing visually, intergenerational knowledge exchange through Māori fibre arts. Te Kanawa, based in Te Kuiti, acknowledges her mother Diggeress Te Kanawa and her kia, Rangimarie Hetet as her primary sources of knowledge...
Whatu Manawa – Matekino Lawless
Whatu Manawa...
To The Dogs!
Back by popular demand! Explore the special relationship we have with dogs in all aspects of life! It is amazing how man's best friend has been part of our lives throughout history. Do you have a great working dog on your farm, a much loved furry family friend, foster...
The Divine Remains
Something blooming wonderful is here! Don't miss this beautiful blooming exhibition by David Lupton, who has been photographing pressed flowers for the past six years, constant experimenting and refining his craft. This comes with some amazing and interactive public...
Pā Harakeke – Oriwa Morgan-Ward
The Open Artist Studio Project Te Awamutu Museum has developed a unique opportunity for artists to work with their collection. The Open Artist Studio project offers an artist the opportunity to set up a working studio in one of the Museum galleries and be on site to...
It’s all about US!
A co-creative, community led exhibition! You're invited to participate in understanding what you want to see in YOUR Museum. You are asked to 'leave your mark' with coloured dots, drawings, and messages at each of the colourful stations. Help us grow the...
Through His Eyes – Phil Brown
Captivating imagery on show for a limited time! Phil Brown photographic exhibition curated by the Te Awamutu Museum staff, showing at the Te Awamutu Library, Community Room: Selwyn Lane, Te Awamutu. every images has a story behind it - a day waiting in the rain for...
Toi Manawa: Celebrate the heart of the Landscape
For this exhibition, the landscape is defined as a visual interpretation of the artists' creative process. New, emerging and well-known artists who have ancestral connections, work or live in the Waipa district are part of this group exhibition. Each artist is...
Dambusters – salute to local hero!
Dambusters Exhibition created by Air Force Museum Te Awamutu museum staff believe an upcoming exhibition celebrating World War II’s famous ‘Dambusters’ will be one of its most popular ever. The museum will be hosting ‘Dambusters: Boffins, Bravery and Bouncing Bombs’...
‘And When He Was Called, He Went’
This stunning touring exhibition by Hamilton based artist Elwyn Stone opens at Te Awamutu Museum on February 1st. Don't miss this limited time exhibition! [aesop_image img="https://tamuseum.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/P1050783-e1611095787262.jpg" panorama="off"...
Generation Gap
Our latest exhibition, Generation Gap is a collaborative art exhibition with the Webster Family. Eddy, who works with wood and paint, has exhibited with us before, but never on this scale! This time, he is joined by his granddaughter Eliza, who works with acrylic on...