Waipa mayor welcomes funds for land wars museum
The kitty to build a museum acknowledging the New Zealand Wars has grown by $1 million.
Waipa¯ mayor Jim Mylchreest warmly welcomed the donation from Trust Waikato, which will bring the Te Ara Wai museum, telling the history of the district, closer to fruition.
It will include detailed acknowledgment of the New Zealand Wars, their role in the district, and other social, cultural and natural changes spanning across the years.
‘‘This is such an important project for our district and we are sincerely grateful for the support Trust Waikato has shown for this project, and other Waipa¯ District Council projects over the years,’’ Mylchreest said.
‘‘No one in New Zealand has attempted a project this ambitious before, weaving together different perspectives on the New Zealand land wars.
‘‘There is simply nowhere else in New Zealand where you will be able to have this type of experience.’’
The intention is for Te Ara Wai to be of both national and international significance, protecting and sharing the stories of Aotearoa to everyone, including the good and the bad.
Mylchreest said Te Ara Wai will cover Waipa¯ ’s entire history, stretching back to its geological beginnings, history of tangata whenua prior to the arrival of European colonisers, and the struggles that ensued as Ma¯ ori and Pa¯ keha¯ warred for sovereignty.
‘‘We’re also meeting a growing demand for New Zealand history to be part of the national curriculum, where we teach the stories of our country, rather than learn about the history of everywhere else in the world,’’ he said.
‘‘New Zealanders are already strongly invested in this project and the support and generosity of Trust Waikato will help us to achieve something the district and New Zealanders will be proud of.’’
Trust Waikato chief executive Dennis Turton said the Trust granted significantly towards this project because it will have an ‘‘important impact for our communities at a regional and national level.’’
‘‘We believe Te Ara Wai will deliver transformational change,’’ Turton said.
‘‘This initiative will provide employment and training opportunities, and most importantly increase people’s connection to the land and our history so that we can acknowledge the past and move forward with collaborative solutions into the future.’’