Te Awamutu Museum

Hear historian Vincent O’Malley in Te Awamutu

Join us at The Regent Theatre Te Awamutu on Thursday 22 October, 6.00pm–8.30pm, for a free public talk by Vincent O’Malley. His scholarship has helped deepen public understanding of the New Zealand Wars and their continuing impact in Aotearoa.

The evening will be followed by a book signing with Paper Plus Te Awamutu. While you are in town, visit the Waikato Wars Gallery at Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum to view costumes from Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle Without End.

Reserve your seat and add Thursday 22 October to your calendar.

Calling all curious young detectives! 🔎

Join Kiwi at Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum and become a Collections Detective. Pick up an activity booklet, search for historic sewing machines and use the clues to uncover their stories.

You will investigate machines that are more than 100 years old, discover how people sewed before electricity and find out how museums care for objects so their stories can be shared with future generations.

Look closely, ask questions, colour in your favourite sewing machine and complete your mission to earn a Collections Detective Award. Families can explore the objects and clues together.

Every object has a story. What will you discover?

Plan your visit: www.tamuseum.org.nz
Bring your curiosity and share this with a whānau planning a museum visit.

A closer look behind the story

From 1 October, visit the Museum and explore the display connected with the AKE, AKE, AKE programme.

As part of the Waikato Wars gallery, visitors can view up close a selection of costumes from the film Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle Without End. Discover the exceptional craftsmanship, design, and creativity behind these garments, created by talented costume designers and makers. Worn by actors portraying the tūpuna of our local whānau and communities, these costumes help bring the stories of the past to life.

Look closely at the materials, research and creative work that help stories move from screen and collection into public conversation.

🎁 HERITAGE BUS TOUR GIVEAWAY
Every person who joins an AKE, AKE, AKE heritage bus tour receives one free entry into the draw to win a signed copy of Vincent O’Malley’s Great Wars of New Zealand book. The winner will be announced on our social media channels on Monday 26 October.

Visit the Waikato Wars gallery at Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum.

📣 Reminder: FREE BUSIT Travel for Hamilton Schools!

Have you booked your museum education programme yet?

Kirikiriroa Hamilton schools can still enjoy:

🚌 **FREE return travel** on Route 24
💰 Programmes from **$3 per student + GST**
📚 Curriculum-connected learning
🤲 Hands-on experiences with taonga

Don't let Term 4 pass without giving your students this opportunity!

📧 [email protected]

Please note: Free Busit at off peak times, catch the No. 24 bus from the Hamilton Central Bus Depot to Gorst Street, Te Awamutu.

Connecting people with the stories of Waipā!

It was great to be out in the community yesterday sharing the free services available through Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum—from access to Ancestry.com and help digitising your precious photos and documents to great activity trails for tamariki.
Whether you're interested in local history, taonga, family stories, exhibitions, education programmes, or upcoming events, our team is passionate about helping people discover the rich heritage of Waipā and the wider Waikato region.
A big thank you to everyone who stopped by for a kōrero, picked up information, and shared their own connections to our district.

We look forward to welcoming you into the museum soon.
📍 Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum
🌐 tamuseum.org.nz

EXPLORE | DISCOVER | RESEARCH | CONNECT

📸 A special museum visit this week connected the past with the present.
We were delighted to welcome one of the great-grandchildren of Te Awamutu's first mayor, Andrew Smith Wallace, to the museum. Through our collections and archives, we were able to share family photographs, historical records, and objects connected to Mayor Wallace, including the Te Awamutu Borough Mayoral Chains.
These chains were worn by successive mayors from 1915 until local government reform in 1989, when the Te Awamutu and Cambridge Boroughs amalgamated with much of Waipā County to form the Waipā District.
Moments like these remind us that our collections are more than historic objects. They are connections to people, families, and stories that continue across generations.
Did you know our archives and collections are available for research? Appointments can be made to view material in our research room.
📍 Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu Museum
📞 Contact us to arrange a research appointment.

Created through community partnership

AKE, AKE, AKE brings together mana whenua interpretation, historical education, transport, film, books, local venues and community participation. We acknowledge the partners helping make this free public programme possible.

🎁 HERITAGE BUS TOUR GIVEAWAY
Every person who joins an AKE, AKE, AKE heritage bus tour receives one free entry into the draw to win a signed copy of Vincent O’Malley’s Great Wars of New Zealand book. The winner will be announced on our social media channels on Monday 26 October.

Explore the full programme on our website or FB event.