New Zealand Land Wars

New Zealand Land Wars

“E hoa! Ka whahwai tonu mātou, mō Ake, Ake Ake!”

When called upon to surrender by the British Troops at Ō-rākau Pā in 1864, Rewi Maniapoto uttered those famous words translated into English – “Friend! We will fight on for ever and ever!”  Ō-rākau Pā was sacked 2nd April 1864, the last of a trail of battles littered across the Waipā district between February – April 1864 by British soldiers. These events at Ō-rākau were largely unknown until a monument was erected at the Pā site in 1914 for Māori heroism, 50 years after the siege. Since then the most prominent memorial event was held in the Waipā at Ō-rākau in 2014, 150 years after the sacking of the pā. Local and national interest grew to ensure local history be included in the education curriculum. In 2017, students from the Ōtorohanga High School, sought through a public petition, to have local history taught in schools with the main aim to create a day of remembrance of the New Zealand Land Wars.

On the Front Porch Gallery this month highlights He Rā Maumahara: National commemoration of the New Zealand Land Wars. The flag created to highlight this event in the Waipā reminds locals and visitors of this incredible time in history. On show are projected images of the graphic novel as seen on Te Ara Wai Journeys, archival photographs and objects from the Museum collection pertaining to the 1863-1864 Waikato Wars. In the display case is a map and ephemera from past commemorations held at Ō-rākau.

For more information on He Rā Maumahara, and Waikato Wars click the links below:

New Zealand Government

NZ History online

Te Ara Wai Journeys

Front Porch Gallery

October 2022

Te Wiki o Te Reo 2022

Te Wiki o Te Reo 2022

Nau Mai, Haere Mai ki te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu!

Join us for the month of September as we take this opportunity to celebrate, promote and encourage Te Reo Māori during Māori language week.

On the Front Porch Gallery we have chosen amazing and unique taonga objects from the Museum collection to project, and added their Māori kupu word for each item. We also have some great whānau activities to help with your introduction to, or learning of, te reo Māori.

If you’d like some resources and information about Te Wiki o Te Reo click here!

Front Porch Gallery

12th September – 1st October 2022

Ancestry Month August 2022

Ancestry Month August 2022

To support Ancestry Month August 2022, we’re showing the Queen Victoria Lithograph – a portrait of The Royal Family Queen Victoria, Price Albert and their five children. 1846.

The New Zealand Society of Genealogists Te Rangapū Kaihikohiko o Aotearoa observes Family History Month in August. If you have any interest in finding out more about researching tips, how to start, or finding specific information about your family history click the link: https://genealogy.org.nz/Family-History-Month/11216/

The history of the lithograph is an amazing story. How does a Museum in Te Awamutu hold such a significant object in its collection? Through information we know and accounts that have been verified, we now know most of its history and why it came to be here in Te Awamutu. In this exhibition we showcase four specific timeframes of events that brought this lithograph from England to Te Awamutu. If you haven’t read this story, come in today and see the real artefact today!

On display for a limited time, August 2022 for Ancestry Month.

Objects of Adornment

Objects of Adornment

An amazing display of unique jewellery-type artefacts from the Museum collection.

On show now for the month of July 2023!

Wooden Collectibles

Wooden Collectibles

Wooden Collectibles

A digital and artefact display of an amazing variety of objects from the Museum collection made specifically from wood.

What makes these objects interesting is their connection to the social history of a place and its people.

  • Who make the object and for what reason?
  • When was it made?
  • What types of tools were used to make it?

These are all the things Museum’s try to answer, however, most objects come into the Museum with virtually no information. This can be a hard place to start from, although, it doesn’t detract from the beauty or ornate nature of the objects themselves.

ANZAC 2022

ANZAC 2022

How do you commemorate ANZAC?

ANZAC is a special time of our calendar year when we remember those who fought in the World War II. Most recently, it is also a time to remember and reflect on all those who have lost their lives in wars New Zealand soldiers have participated in.

This exhibition shares how ANZAC first came about, when and who were involved. It also highlights the memorials around the Waipā district and how our local RSA supports our ANZAC commitment.

Alongside this exhibition we ran ANZAC activities for all the whānau which prompted younger visitors to ask questions about ANZAC and the meaning of the poppy. We’re honoured every year to have this exhibition as a staple on our calendar. This year we also created a virtual exhibition that we shared on our Facebook page.