I started at Katikati Heritage Museum in 2011. We then took a quantum leap into the real museum world with the creation of Western Bay Museum in 2015, the museum you see today.

I have a background in Sales and Marketing and a love of people and public relations.

In my role as Manager of the Museum I have support and guidance from Te Papa National Services Te Paerangi, while Museums Aotearoa provides our Code of Ethics and our highly skilled Board of Trustees support my bold ambitions for the Museum.

It is a privilege to lead our team of volunteers and employees as we aspire to build the best little museum in Aotearoa. I’m proud to be part of a museum created for the community, by the community.

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I moved to Katikati in 2012 and really enjoy working within my local community and meeting people from all walks of life whether it be volunteers or visitors to the museum.

My career background is Human Resources, Health & Safety, Payroll and Office Management, all of which are being utilised in my role as Office Manager at Western Bay Museum along with finance and assisting with funding.

I have not worked in this sector before and now realise just how much work goes on behind the scenes of running a museum as well as educational and group experiences ,several exhibitions per year and other community events.  No two days are the same and I enjoy learning new tasks and turning my hand to anything that needs to be done. There is definitely plenty of variety in my role.

We have a great team of volunteers and a very supportive Manager and Trustees which make the museum the success it is today. I look forward to being part of the future growth and development of the museum.

Rosemary joined the Western Bay Museum in 2022. She has worked for over 20 years in Collections, Library/Archive and Exhibition curator roles and holds a PGDip in Museum Studies from Massey University. Rosemary has extensive museum experience in a variety of Museums including MOTAT, Rotorua Museum, Te Awamutu Museum, Cambridge Museum and Te Toi Uku, the Crown Lynn and Clayworks Museum.

Rosemary is looking forward to working with Paula and the team, and the challenge of cataloguing the collection and setting up collection policies and procedures.

Michelle Crook MNZM has been a marketing consultant for more than twenty years and her passion is improving the performance of businesses or charitable organisations.  

Michelle’s marketing journey began when she joined the marketing team at EziBuy in Palmerston North in 1997. Five years later she moved to Tauranga where she continued working in marketing as an external Marketing Consultant. 

Michelle is currently Project Lead (New Build) Tauranga Moana Night Shelter Trust  and Director and Marketing Strategist for Metro Marketing. She has served as a Rotarian for over 15 years and has sat on multiple boards, including Creative Bay of Plenty, Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Trust, Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga Trust and more. 

Not only has Michelle completed all of the Great Walks of New Zealand, she has also finished seven marathons on seven continents and in 2020, after completing Antarctica, Michelle joined the Seven Marathons Continent Club.