what's on
Permanent displays
We have many permanent exhibits to
see, these are just a few:
Maori settlement
private bath room from the bath house's heyday
Te Aroha's (surprising) sporting champs
farming and agriculture including the story of Gladys Reid, "The Zinc Lady"
geology and mining
medicine in Te Aroha
communications room
history of Te Aroha and Lemon
We also have an impressive Mergenthaler Linotype 14 hot metal machine which has a very interesting international story.
The Museum has over 350 pieces of its souvenir china collection on display; its a fine collection and well worth seeing.
Changing displays
We refresh our displays on a regular basis creating centre-pieces about people, stories or artefacts:
Celebrating Te Aroha's rugby history
Calamity!
Bottles from the past
Pioneer days
The Home Guard
Domestic life
Theatres of Te Aroha
Te Aroha's railway history
Local bands of yesteryear
A place to stay
Honouring our People
The story of Te Aroha West village
Still to come this year:
- Governance
- Then and now
NEW DISPLAYS INCLUDE:
EMERGENCY PRECAUTIONS SERVICE
Come and find out about the EPS set-up by the government in 1935 to coordinate a response to a natural disaster - initiated after the earthquake in Napier.
EARLY SCHOOL DAYS
Items familiar and items new (depending on your age). A fascinating glimpse into school days, before computers, around the early 1900's. There are some surprising artefacts.
OUR AVIATION STORY
An often unknown story about Te Aroha's Aero Club. Did you know that Jean Batten flew here in 1934? Read about famous long-distance aviator Charles Kingsford-Smith, and also pilot Clarence Waite.
FROM CHINA TO TE AROHA
Meticulously researched with information provided by relatives, learn about the fascinating story of early settler Wong Foo and his family who became well known in the area.
Our Museum hosts are local, very knowledgeable and can answer questions on our displays and general history. All our displays
are researched and created by our volunteers.
We stage special exhibitions and have both permanent and revolving displays, all of which are updated frequently so that the Museum continues to provide a relevant and informative place for interaction for regular and new visitors alike.