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The Story Behind the Redevelopment

Every visitor who's ever bumped into a staffroom door mid-exhibition already knows it: our beloved fire station has outgrown its second life.Over the next few months, we want to take you behind the scenes of how we got here - the complete refurbishment and redevelopment of Western Bay Museum. We're calling it The Why, The How, The Who and The What, and this edition is about The Why: the building itself.It's been a journey, and it's one we want you to be part of. Follow these editions, ask us que...

Closed for $1 million refurbishment.

After ten years of extraordinary growth, determination, and community partnership, Western Bay Museum is embarking on the most ambitious chapter in its history. On Sunday, 30 August, the Museum will temporarily close its doors for six months to undergo a comprehensive $1 million redevelopment and refurbishment.This major initiative represents far more than a physical renovation – it is a bold investment in the future of the region, the community, and the diverse heritage stories shared within ...

Matariki tui taonga - Threading taonga for Matariki

Matariki reflects on the past, celebrates the present and prepares for the future. All of those tenses seemed to flash before my eyes after a recent trip to Manaaki Whenua in Lincoln, Canterbury to their pā harakeke. I then dove into a quest to reconnect with woven taonga in our museum collection.My trip to Manaaki Whenua was with five kairaranga from the three northern marae of Tauranga Moana - Te Rereatukāhia, Tuapiro and Otawhiwhi. We had identified missing cultivars from the respective k�...