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Far North Regional Museum |
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Our Stories Our Museum was established to preserve and keep safe the treasures of the local district and through them to interpret the stories and histories of times past. Behind most of our display pieces is a fuller, deeper tale referenced in our exceptional archives and records store. Through our past we better understand our present time and place. |
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Maori
occupation began between 800 and 1200 A.D. With a warm climate and
abundant seafood resources, settlement became intensive in pre-European
times and our collection reflects this. Tools fashioned in stone, wood and
bone trace out food-gathering methods. Cultural aspects of life are
revealed in skilfully woven flax items and carved ornamentation.
The Kaitaia carving is a priceless treasure or taonga. |
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Gumdigging and collecting was an important early export industry which peaked in the 1890’s. Extensive kauri forests from ancient times left large deposits of gum, prized in Europe as a best quality natural varnish. Men came from Dalmatia to join in the hunt for kauri gum and their descendants are still a vital part of our community.
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Alongside
the gum was the timber industry,
the bush camps, the logging and hauling of the mighty kauri. Ingenious
methods were devised to move these massive logs. Photographer, Arthur
Northwood took his cameras into the field to capture hundreds of images of
pioneer activity and the Museum holds an extensive photo |
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You will find many other displays. French explorer, de Surville’s mighty anchor, the earliest European item left in New Zealand. Pioneer aviator, Charles Kingsford Smith’s epic landing on Ninety Mile Beach. The construction of our early wireless station and the laying of the intercontinental cable to Doubtless Bay. Missionary settlers, their journals and letters. The extinct moa and the Polynesian dog or kuri. |
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There have been many shipwrecks on the shores of our part of New Zealand, especially on the West Coast. Among the notable are the Osprey, which tried to enter the wrong harbour in 1846, the Elingamite which struck an island of the Three Kings in 1902 and the Forrest Hall, which survived a dramatic near-disaster off the English coast in 1899 only to be totally wrecked on Ninety Mile Beach ten years later. The Captain had achieved the difficult task of sailing directly at and onto the beach in clear daylight with tide and wind running against him. The ship's rum barrel had played its part. Ninety nine years later, the underwater wreck released a main mast section, which is now undergoing preservation treatment at the museum.
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Joseph Matthews, a young Anglican missionary on the voyage to New Zealand had a vision so clear and powerful that it caused him to journey north from the Bay of Islands in 1832. He survived the cooking pot and at the invitation of the local paramount chief, Panakareao, established a mission station in what was soon to be called Kaitaia. In seeking land on which to set up, he was offered some on a knoll above the present town. He immediately said, 'This is the place' for it was the place so vividly seen in his vision. He was joined in this venture by William Gilbert Puckey, brought in as the practical partner. They married sisters, Mary Ann and Matilda and through all of their endeavours, the mission station flourished in a great spirit of Maori/European co-operation. Photo: Rev Joseph Matthews and daughter.
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There are thousands of fascinating stories in the museum's archives collection. They interweave with the stories and objects on display and add extensive background insights. Alongside them are the district's newspaper records, that put our past into context. We have a growing reference library available to our research visitors and we are close to completing an extensive digital photo gallery for visitors to delve into.
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