Welcome to Family History Month – August with your host Ruru!
On the Back Porch Gallery you’ll find a big family tree waiting for you to add your name to a leaf and attach to the tree! Get your whole family involved and create your family tree!
Don’t forget to do all the Family History activities this month of August to receive your Ruru mascot sticker to add to your Tui & Tama Activity Passport!
SHOWING ON THE BACK PORCH FOR JULY 2023 – MATARIKI STAR CONSTELLATION
Join in with Kākāpō and friends to celebrate Matariki 2023!
All you have to do is write your name on a star and add it to this Matariki Constellation!
Come on in and learn more about our special Aotearoa holiday coming up 14th July 2023!
Create a colourful Kākahu – Māori Cloak!
The Back Porch Gallery is showcasing an interactive kākahu activity where you get to choose a feather, write your name on it and attach it to the traditional kākahu illustration on the wall. The image above is harakeke (flax) leaf blades that can be harvested, hand processed then twisted to make muka – the fibre strands, handwoven aho (weft) and whenu (warp) of a kākahu.
The image to the right is an example of a kākahu from the Museum collection made from contemporary materials and feathers.
Kākahu feathered cloak by Pare Hughes from the Te Awamutu Museum Collection: #12615
Aotearoa New Zealand has two living species of endemic bats, found here in Aotearoa. The short-tailed pekapeka is endangered, at risk and declining. The long-tailed pekapeka is also endangered and classified as nationally vulnerable. A third species; the greater short-tailed bat is thought to be extinct. Pekapeka are known to habitat in the Waipā, however, with Waikato undergoing rapid development bat habitats are decreasing due to loss of roost trees, increase in street lighting and an increase in predators like domestic cats.
Find out more information on these amazing mammals in the display on the Back Porch Gallery. Lots of information, images and activities. Part of this exhibition is in collaboration with local school Pekapekarau. As part of their learning about the local curriculum, they connection with Project Echo to find out more about pekapeka and the original name of the school which led to a hui with local Māori that signalled a change their school name to Pekapekarau – multitude of bats! We have some great artwork from pupils and some amazing videos showcasing pupils stories about pekapeka.
On display from October 2022 – January 2023.
A celebration of man’s best friend and the work they do in our community. Learn all about Police dogs, Detector dogs and Search & Rescue dogs.
Lots of FREE fun activities – make your own puppy finger puppet, games and a trail hunt! We’re also collecting for Waipā District Pound, so please bring in some new toys and treats!
An amazing display of our favourite river omnivore – the long fin eel. See why we think this amazing eel is so special here in the Waipā! Get to know its lifecycle where mature eels swim all the way to Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean to lay their eggs. Then the elvers drift on the currents back to Aotearoa New Zealand to rivers where their parents grew up. An amazing lifecycle and journey to grow up in the Waipā rivers.
Enjoy activities like gauging how strong you are to pick up an 80 year old toy long fin eel! There are more activities for all the whānau to do and share their love of this very special eel by participating in a wall mural made up of lots of long fin eels!
