Heritage Month celebrated in Waipā
Back by popular demand for Heritage Month 2021 are the guided walking tours, with local experts sharing their knowledge of buildings and landmarks around the district.
Waipā residents are invited to step into the past and learn about the district’s history for Heritage Month 2021.
Waipā District Libraries and Te Awamutu Museum are hosting a range of activities, including walks, talks, displays and creative workshops from 2 February to 3 March.
Strategy and community services group manager Debbie Lascelles said a likely highlight of Heritage Month would be the walking tours.
“The walking tours, back by popular demand, are a fantastic opportunity for residents to get out and about in our amazing district to learn more about what makes our towns unique.”
The walking tours will be run in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, with local experts sharing their knowledge of buildings and landmarks.
Te Awamutu Museum has developed two scavenger hunt activity trails around Te Awamutu to highlight historic and heritage landmarks around the town.
“These self-guided trails are a great family-friendly activity, allowing parents and children to take their own time exploring the district.”
Several heritage talks are also being held across the district to celebrate Heritage Month.
The first talk is based on the book The Plough of the Pakeha by Eric Beer and Alwyn Gascoigne, at the Cambridge Library on Tuesday 9 February.
The event will be hosted by Waipā councillor Roger Gordon and Greg Gascoigne, the son of Alwyn Gascoigne.
Historian Alan Hall will be speaking at the Te Awamutu Library on Wednesday 17 February about Te Awamutu's iconic buildings.
Residents are invited to share their own knowledge of local commercial buildings at public displays in the Te Awamutu Library and Cambridge Library.
Te Awamutu Museum is running creative workshops to support learning and understanding of Māori culture and its place in our nation’s history.
Two workshops about the Tī Rākau Stick Game are on Saturday 6 February, with participants designing their own tī rākau and learning waiata and movements.
Residents can also learn how to make their own Māori design badge at two workshops on Monday 8 February. The workshops cost $5 and are open to all ages and skill levels.
The full list of activities and workshops at Waipā District Libraries and Te Awamutu Museum during Heritage Month 2021 include:
- Tuesday 2 February – Friday 5 February: Commercial Building Display, Cambridge Library
- Saturday 6 February, 10am and 12pm: Tī Rākau Stick Game workshops, Te Awamutu Museum
- Monday 8 February, 10am and 12pm: Māori design badge workshops, Te Awamutu Museum
- Tuesday 9 February, 6.30pm: Cambridge, The Growth of a Township: First 10 Years, Cambridge Library
- Wednesday 10 February, 10am and 6pm: Cambridge Suburban Heritage Walk
- Friday 12 February – Saturday 13 February: Building Social History display, Te Awamutu Library
- Wednesday 17 February, 10am: Cambridge Suburban Heritage Walk
- Wednesday 17 February, 6.30pm: Modernism - The New Look of Architecture in Te Awamutu's Commercial Buildings 1930 – 1950, Te Awamutu Library
- Thursday 18 February, 10am: Cambridge Central Heritage Walk
- Saturday 20 February, 10am: Cambridge Central Heritage Walk
- Tuesday 23 February, 6.30pm: Cambridge, A Wealth of Built Heritage, Cambridge Library
- Wednesday 24 February, 5.30pm: Te Awamutu Central Heritage Walk
- Saturday 27 February, 1pm - 4pm: Kihikihi Summer Stroll (self-guided) and concert
- Wednesday 3 March, 1pm: A Stroll on Main Street Kihikihi (guided)
To find out more about Heritage Month activities and to book your spot, visit waipalibraries.org.nz and tamuseum.org.nz
