The Celtic spirit is strong in Waipu, 40km south of Whangarei.

 


Museum manager Patsy Montgomery shows the redevelopment plans.

The town’s Scottish heritage is already celebrated at the Highland games each year, but now the Waipu Museum is being transformed into a major year-round tourist attraction.

Museum manager Patsy Montgomery says the shop has already been brought up to modern standards and now, reknowned museum developer Chris Curry is helping turn the exhibits into a modern hi-tech experience that will bring the district’s story to life.

Waipu was the final destination for hundreds of dispossessed Highlanders in the 1800s, who left Scotland for a new start in the New World. First they settled in Nova Scotia, Canada, before famine forced them back on to their boats and on to Australia and finally to New Zealand.

Through it all the close-knit community retained a philosophy that can still be felt in Waipu today, says Patsy.

“Waipu was founded on co-operation and  people within the community can still be relied on to help out and make things happen. We have also found there is much overseas interest in the story. There’s such a passion in the Gaelic world to support us, we just have to ask.”

That support also comes from groups such as Destination Northland, which will add the museum to its marketing strategy. Meanwhile the national Te Papa museum is using the Waipu Pioneer Settlers Memorial Museum’s resources as part of an exhibition on New Zealand’s Scottish heritage.

The Te Papa exhibition ”The Scots in New Zealand”  opens in August and will include the story of Waipu’s development by Highland settlers as a part of the exhibition.

  • www.waipumuseum.com
  • In February 200t the Trust granted $100,000 toward the museum's redevelopment.