Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki facts for kids

The Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki is a cool place to learn about history in Patea, South Taranaki, New Zealand. You can find it right on State Highway 3 as you drive through Patea. The main part of the museum is actually the oldest colonial building in South Taranaki, built a long time ago. The museum got a big makeover between 2008 and 2011 to make it even better!

A Look Back in Time

How the Museum Started

The building where the museum is now was first built in 1869. Back then, it was a general store called Taplin and Muir's. This was around the time when the first town sections in Patea were sold in 1870.

The idea for the museum came from the Patea Historical Society. A person named G Livingston Baker, who was the first leader of this society, really helped make it happen. He wanted a special place to keep the history of the Patea area and the families who lived there.

What You Can See

The museum has many interesting things in its collection. One famous painting is called Arrival of Turi by Hay-Campbell and Haddon. It was painted in 1933. This painting celebrates the arrival of Turi, an important ancestor for the Ngati Ruanui and Ngā Rauru people, who arrived in the 14th century.

You can also find items related to the Pātea Māori Club in the museum's collection. This club is famous for its music and performances.

How the Museum Works

Working Together

Since 2001, the South Taranaki District Council has given money each year to help the South Taranaki District Museum Trust. The Museum Trust and the Council decided to work together. They wanted to make sure that heritage services were available across the whole South Taranaki District.

The Trust is in charge of taking care of all the items in the museum's collection. They do this for everyone in the South Taranaki District. The Council helps by providing the professional staff who work at the museum.

Big Changes and Upgrades

The museum closed its doors on September 13, 2008, for a huge renovation project. It cost a lot of money to make these improvements! The museum reopened on April 30, 2011, looking brand new.

An architectural company from Wanganui called BSM Group Architects Ltd designed the new museum. They made sure to keep the old artifacts and important history safe in the new design. The building was blessed later that year. The museum now has a new roof, a bigger archive for old documents, and a public room for research and reading. There are also new spaces for exhibitions and better storage for the collection.