Railway, arts centre team up
Waihi Goldfields Railway and Waihi Arts Centre and Museum Association have sealed a milestone agreement.
Chairs of the respective organisations, Rusty Fryett and Pam Keall, met last Thursday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to work more closely together.
In future, Goldfields will be a ticketing agent for the local museum.
Goldfields operation manager Chris Hale says the agreement will strengthen tourism opportunities between the two organisations.
“If you ask people what do they want to do in Waihi, they don’t really know the full scope of the activities available unless we team up and promote each other.
“It means we have our own people in town using word of mouth to promote it as opposed to printing lots of brochures.
“Brochures are fine and used to be the way, but today people look at these on their phone,” he says.
Waihi museum is also looking at future opportunities, and to make the best use of its space.
President Pam Keall says volunteers are working on developing the gallery.
“We have hosted exhibitions in this room and are looking at developing the art side by having ongoing art displays.
“For instance, we could have an exhibition staying up for months,” she says.
Pam says that the museum might also reciprocate by selling train tickets. in the future.
Goldfields is also looking to partner with other organisations such as the Victoria Battery and Museum in Waikino and the Martha Mine Education Centre.
“We are trying to cover all our potential partners with the same sort of arrangement,” Chris says.
He says the organisations are already working alongside Waihi Discovery Centre, which is a ticketing agent for Goldfields.
“We have to keep re-inventing ourselves all the time, upgrading and looking constantly to improve what we provide for people.
“Train rides are great but can we do something a bit more special?” he says.
Goldfields has a couple of hosts who work on the train to guide visitors during the ride and explain more about the local scenery and local stories.
“We found that it is what visitors find interesting, and it is part of the whole experience,” he says.