ABOUT US

Guardians of the Kauri story, past, present and future.
Ngā kaitiaki ō ngā kauri kōrero ō nehera, ō wātu me te wāheke.

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With 4,500m2 of undercover displays, The Kauri Museum is the largest undercover attraction in Northland. It is a community Museum governed by a Charitable Trust, the Otamatea Kauri and Pioneer Museum Board. 

 

The Kauri Museum is self-funded through admission and shop revenue, and receives no local or central government operational funding.

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Kauri Museum appoints Dr Jason Smith as Director

(23 September 2023)

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Following an internal recruitment process, the Board of the Kauri Museum in Matakohe is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Jason Smith to the permanent position of Museum Director, effective immediately. Dr Smith has been Acting Director at the Kauri Museum since August following the resignation of previous Director Barbara Hilden who returned to Canada for family reasons.

 

The recruitment panel comprising Board Members Pam Goode, Terry Moyle and Mel Juer explained their confidence in Dr Smith saying “We believe Jason is the right fit for leading the Kauri Museum following its recent successful redevelopment and rebranding. Jason brings a highly suitable combination of experience and understanding of the cultural sector and of tourism, the Kauri Museum and the place of the kauri in the New Zealand story. With his wide networks, trusted relationships and the mana we believe is necessary for the Kauri Museum now and ahead, we believe Jason brings exciting leadership to this important institution. We look forward to Jason leading the museum forward from here.”

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Dr Jason Smith is a fifth-generation local descendant of Matakohe Albertland pioneers for whom the Kauri Museum was dedicated. Very familiar with the kauri story, Jason had a Matakohe-based small eco-tourism business called “Kauri Country” which was a New Zealand Tourism Award Finalist for Eco-tourism in 2000. His doctorate is about New Zealand’s creative economy and the importance of non-city places in that, inspired by the fact the Kauri Museum is a success “in the middle of nowhere” which defied popular global economic development theories. In 2011 Jason was Senior Policy Advisor (Auckland) at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, focused on museum and cultural space strategies in the city. Most recently Jason was two-term Kaipara District Mayor until 2022. Kauri tourism, economic development, cultural policy and a strong sense of local place are in his DNA.

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The Board is delighted to appoint Museum Director Dr Jason Smith and is working closely with him to ensure smooth handover continuity for Kauri Museum staff and volunteers as the busy visitor season approaches.

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​​​OUR HISTORY

 

The Kauri Museum - Guardians of the kauri story, past, present and future.

The Kauri Museum was opened in 1962 to commemorate the arrival of the Albertland Settlers to the district. Initial called a Pioneer Museum the museum quickly developed, through the support of the community, and our many visitors, into an unmissable stop on the Kauri Coast. The focus on the kauri tree and the stories relating to the kauri industries, industries that founded the nation of New Zealand, speak of the visionary leadership of the founders of the Museum.

From its small beginnings the Museum continued to grow and now encompasses more than 4500m2 of covered displays. We continue to explore the story of the kauri tree past, present and future.

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​​FOUNDERS

 

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Mervyn Sterling QSM (1916-1992)  (Above left)

Mervyn Sterling (Merv) founded the Museum, roundly supported by a team of community volunteers. Merv also co-founded the Old Time Transport Preservation League, the Museum of Transport & Technology (MOTAT) and helped set up Wagener Museum. It was his vision which motivated the community and his determination was rewarded as he watched the museum gain international repute from its small beginnings in 1962. This story is told in the publication 'The Museum Makers', which is available to purchase in the Kauri Museum gift shop.

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Tudor Collins (1989-1970)  (Above right)

The stunning work of Tudor Collins, bushman and photographer extraordinaire, is seen throughout the Kauri Museum and his photographs are of immense importance in documenting the history of the kauri and the people of the North.

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A. H. Reed CBE (1875-1975)  (Above middle)

A. H. Reed was a New Zealand publisher, author and entrepreneur, who migrated from England in 1887. The foundations of The Kauri Museum greatly benefited from Reed’s kauri gum digging experience, great expeditions and work as an author.

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BOARD MEMBERS

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Hinurewa Ngahiwi Tame Kawe te Hau

Chair

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Terry Moyle

Trustee

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Melanie Juer

Trustee

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Shannon Wilson

Trustee

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Phil Ashton

Trustee
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Sherry Reynolds

Trustee

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STAFF

 

​Dr Jason Smith 

Director 

 

Andrea Hemmins, Aaron Philips, Chris Wardle*, Yvonne Lockett*, Charlie van der Graaf*,

Collections

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Ian Powell*, Ralph Poulger*

Machinery

 

Marion Walsh

Volunteers 

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Leanne Sterling, Dianne Fowlie, Valerie Bushell, Suzanne Cooper, Donna Mackie

Admissions & Retail

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Pablo Garcia*

IT

 

Bruce Fox

Buildings & Grounds Manager

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Pete Panhuis, Rose Pooley, Lyvia Fitzgerald

Property

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Sue Botica

Finance
 

​​* volunteers