Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom facts for kids
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| Location | 92 Main Street, Foxton, New Zealand |
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| Visitors | 150,000 (2018) |
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is a special place in Foxton. It's a community hub where different cultures come together. This building is in the southern part of New Zealand's North Island.
About 150,000 people visit this place every year. They come to see the Māori and Dutch museums, use the library, or visit the community rooms. There's also a gallery and a heritage room. Local people can even use the Council Service Centre here.
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom was created by three groups working together. These were the Horowhenua District Council, the Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust, and the Dutch Connection Museum Trust. Signs in the building are in three languages. The goal is to be a place where local people, the Māori people of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, and Dutch immigrants can all feel connected to their cultures.
The Piriharakeke museum shows the history, language (reo), and treasures (taonga) of the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga people. The Oranjehof museum shares the story of Dutch people who moved to New Zealand (Aotearoa). This building is part of the Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park. You can also find cafes and other fun places nearby.
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Discover Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom first opened its doors on November 18, 2017. Important guests attended the opening day. These included Māori elders (Kaumatua), government ministers, and the Dutch Ambassador.
A Hub for Community and Visitors
The idea for this multi-cultural and multi-language centre was very popular. It received over $1 million in funding from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Since 2018, the building has won many awards for its design and cultural importance. One award judge said Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom was "a ground-breaking three-way cultural partnership." They also felt that the community truly felt like they owned the centre.
The building has two museums, a gallery, and a heritage room. It also includes a library, a cafe, and an i-SITE (a visitor information centre). There's also a Council service centre for local needs. Around 150,000 people visit the building each year. This includes locals, visitors from other towns, and tourists from around the world.
The community areas are very welcoming. The foyer often hosts art classes and computer help sessions for older people. There's a large reading area with comfy chairs and power outlets. Kids have a special play area with educational toys. You can also rent rooms for learning, exercise classes, meetings (hui), and business events.
A Place for Many Cultures
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom was created by three main groups working together. These were the local Māori people (Iwi), the Horowhenua District Council, and Dutch immigrant groups.
The Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Hon Maggie Barry, praised the centre. She said that local museums and galleries are very important. They help New Zealanders understand their identity in a multi-cultural country. She called Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom a "world-class facility."
The Shared Gallery has shown many different exhibitions. These include art from Māori artists and weavers. There was also a Māori art exhibition called 'Nga Hau Ngakau' with paintings and traditional musical instruments (taonga puoro). Dutch exhibitions have featured famous figures like Abel Tasman, Anne Frank, and Rembrandt. There have also been exhibitions about local history.
Exploring the Museums
The Piriharakeke Inspiration Generation Centre helps visitors learn about the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga people. Here's what you can discover:
- Whakapapa: Stories about where the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga people came from.
- Whenua: A digital look at important places and people in the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga area.
- Ko Manawatū te awa: The special connection between the people and the Manawatū River.
- Kaumātua: Learning about the important leaders of the iwi (tribe).
- Taonga: Seeing special and important treasures shared with visitors.
The Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre tells the story of Dutch people in New Zealand. Here are some things you can explore:
- Tasman's Travels: Learn about the first meeting between Māori and European (Pākehā) people.
- Nederlandse Taal: You can listen to the Dutch language on Dutch radio.
- Traditional Games: Play old Dutch games and try on costumes for fun photos.
- Why They Came: Discover why many Dutch people decided to move to New Zealand.
- Dutch Influence: See how Dutch culture has influenced art, design, coffee, cheese making, and farming in New Zealand.
Images for kids
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Dutch and Māori cultures together.
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The historic Foxton Flax Industry.
