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, a town in the lower part of New Zealand's North Island. It's a big building where people can learn about different cultures, visit museums, use the library, and join community events. About 150,000 people visit every year!
This amazing centre was created by three groups working together: the Horowhenua District Council, the Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust, and the Dutch Connection Museum Trust. Because of this partnership, the signs in the building are in three languages. Its main goal is to be a place where everyone feels welcome and can celebrate their culture. This includes the local Māori people (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) and Dutch immigrants.
Inside, you'll find two main museums. The Piriharakeke museum shares the history, language (reo), and treasures (taonga) of the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga iwi. The Oranjehof museum tells the story of Dutch people who moved to New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa.
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is part of the Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park. This park also has cafes and other fun attractions to explore.
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Discover Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom first opened its doors on 18 November 2017. The opening day was a big event, with important guests like Māori elders (Kaumatua), government ministers, and the Dutch Ambassador attending.
A Place for Everyone
The idea for this multi-cultural and multi-language centre was so good that it received over $1 million in funding from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage. This shows how important the project was considered!
Since 2018, the building has won many awards for its design and cultural impact. One award, the Project Excellence Award from Museums Aotearoa, praised Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom as a "ground-breaking three-way cultural partnership." The judges felt that the centre truly belongs to the community.
The centre has many different areas. There are two museums, an art gallery, a heritage room, a library, a cafe, and an i-SITE (a place for tourist information). It even has a Council service centre where locals can get help. About 150,000 people, including locals, visitors, and tourists, come to the building each year.
The community areas are very active. The foyer often hosts art classes and computer help sessions for seniors. There's a large reading area with comfy chairs and places to charge your devices. Kids can also enjoy a special play area with educational toys. You can even rent rooms for classes, exercise, meetings, or other events.
Celebrating Different Cultures
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom was created by a special partnership between three groups: local Māori (Iwi), the Horowhenua District Council, and Dutch immigrant groups. This collaboration makes it a truly unique place.
The Hon Maggie Barry, who was the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, said that places like this are super important. She mentioned that museums and galleries help us understand who we are as New Zealanders in a multi-cultural world. She called Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom a "world-class facility."
The Shared Gallery often shows art from different cultures. It has featured exhibitions by Māori artists and weavers, including the 'Nga Hau Ngakau' Māori art exhibition with paintings and traditional musical instruments (taonga puoro). There have also been Dutch exhibitions about famous figures like Abel Tasman, Anne Frank, and Rembrandt. Plus, the gallery shows local art and history.
Explore the Museums
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is home to two fantastic museums, each telling a unique story.
Piriharakeke Inspiration Generation Centre
This museum is all about the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga iwi. It helps visitors understand their rich history and culture. Here's what you can discover:
- Whakapapa: Learn about the origin stories and family connections of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.
- Whenua: See digital displays of important landmarks and people from the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga area (rohe).
- Ko Manawatū te awa: Understand the special connection the iwi has with the Manawatū River.
- Kaumātua: Learn about the important leaders (iwi leaders) of the Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.
- Taonga: See special and important treasures shared with visitors.
Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre
The Oranjehof museum tells the story of Dutch people in New Zealand. It's a fun way to learn about their journey and influence:
- Tasman's Travels: Discover the first meeting between Māori and European (Pākehā) people when Abel Tasman arrived.
- Nederlandse Taal: You can listen to Dutch language on Dutch radio, helping you hear how it sounds.
- Traditional Games: Have fun trying out traditional Dutch games and even dress up in costumes for cool selfies!
- Why They Came: Learn the reasons why so many Dutch people decided to move to Aotearoa (New Zealand).
- Dutch Influence: Find out how the Dutch have influenced art, design, coffee culture, cheese making, and farming in New Zealand.
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