History & Archives
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Welcome to the Whakatōhea Research and Archives Trust. Our enthusiastic and highly skilled team share a passion for bringing visitors and local people in our district an inspirational display of historical and culturally significant treasures, for our future generations to learn and pass on. The Whakatōhea Research and Archives Trust hold an extensive collection of archive materials which include Taonga Māori, social history, photography and historical documents from the Ōpōtiki district and the eastern Bay of Plenty region. The Whakatōhea Research and Archives Trust maintain important relationships with our local community. These groups contribute immensely to the Archives and Museum with their time, hard work and support towards helping us with our artifacts, exhibits and funding
The Whakatōhea Research and Archives Trust are a dedicated group which support our activities and programmes through volunteering their time and knowledge. If you have any taonga or history that you would like to share with us and the generation to come please contact us.
Whakatohea Archives & Research Trust |
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Events & ExhibitionsOur Taonga room at the Ōpōtiki Museum at present displays the carvings of Muriwai and her son Tanewhirinaki along with the Te Tarata Cavalry war, and Te Kaha Whaling exhibitions. We also have a Maori Battalion exhibition on C & B Company. Tanewhirinaki’s Meeting HouseTanewhirinaki’s Meeting-house opened in 1886, at Waioeka pa until the 1920’s. It no longer stands. The carvings on display are those that we brought back from the Auckland Museum. The complete collection stands at Ngati Ira Marae. The first meeting –house stood at Waioeka pa. It was named Tanewhirinaki after the eldest son of Muriwai, ancestress of Whakatohea. Te Whare Taonga o te Moana a Toi (Opotiki Museum, top floor)Tanewhirinaki our Whare Tipuna from Ngati Ira stands as the heart of our exhibition. The examples on display were returned to Opotiki in August 2009, from the Auckland Museum where they had been since 1971. Throughout 2010, Mr Riiki Kurei of Ngati Ira completed the first full photo catalogue, inventory, complete re-fit of the storage shed at Waioweka & began the process of Conservation, with the support of The NZ Historic Places Trust. There are 138 carvings belonging to Tanewhirinaki, with 14 on display here, & the remainder are properly housed & stored at Waioweka Pa. Matariki 2011, Whakatohea Research & Archive Trust will have Mr Kurei working at the Museum, every Friday from 10am – 2pm, as part of the events planned for Matariki 2011, continuing the Conservation work, tutoring in the cleaning & preservation work. There are several carvings that are extremely fragile; these will be returned to Waioweka Pa in specially made cases. Mr Kurei is ensuring the patterns & significant detail are recorded. Tanewhirinaki was opened, Matariki 1888 1 July. He is deeply connected to Te Kooti a Rikirangi te Turuki, and the only extensive fully carved house in Whakatohea from this era. Te Whare Taonga o te Moana a Toi will be holding events to celebrate Matariki 2011, including a static display, weaving etc every Fridays, from 3 June – 29 July 2011. Te Whare Taonga o te Moana a Toi is based on the the 3rd floor of the Opotiki Museum, church st Opotiki. Maori Battalion on ANZAC dayWe welcome everyone to come and share your memories and your stories with us at our Maori Battalion C & B Company Salute on ANZAC day at the Opotiki Museum. The Maori Battalion was organised on a tribal basis where the C. Company was comprised of men from an area between Torere in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to Paritu, located 40 kilometres south of Gisborne. Nearly one thousand men served with the C. Company, including Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery. Thank you to the C. Company Trust Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust for helping us to honour and remember the men and memories of the C. Company, Maori (28) Battalion.
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