Mokau Museum needs your help

Birdtalk Magazine Oct/Nov 2023
THE Mōkau Museum – established by the Tainui Historical Society in 1985 - and its team of volunteers collect, preserve, document, research, and display natural history and cultural heritage artefacts from the wider Tainui region.

The Museum Committee commissioned Taranaki builder Aaron Collins Builders Ltd to construct an accessibility ramp and accompanying roof structure following an extensive design and planning process. However, unexpected additional build and architectural costs have exhausted the project contingency.
Mōkau Museum Chairperson Murray Seamark explains, “The old building facades were rotten, the power supply rusted out and the building boundary was different to what is documented in the plans, which resulted in more design and foundation works.”

“We need to raise an additional $50,000 by December to complete the project, and we need the help of our community. “Contributions from major and ongoing sponsors are fixed, and while we’re grateful for their support, we’ve exhausted these funds. Seamark continues, “Our community museum punches above its weight. Many of the taonga in the museum have been donated or are on loan from local families and it’s our duty as Kaitiaki to ensure we’re able to continue to preserve, care for and share these precious taonga with our community.”

The current refurbishment project will enable people of all abilities access, opening the museum to a wider audience, in addition to revamping some of the existing displays.