Trust Horizon funding helping to preserve history of Kawerau

Library and Museum Manager Susan Harris (left) and Museum Assistant Hally Barlow (right) at Kawerau Archives entrance – Susan is holding a precious teapot/kettle that was damaged during the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake, which was donated to the museum by a local resident.

Kawerau District Council have recently received $60,070 from Trust Horizon to upgrade the Kawerau District Council Archives & Museum Storage Building.

A range of resources relating to Kawerau District’s cultural, social, and industrial heritage are stored in the building. These include local historical newspapers, newsletters, photographs, and art from the early 1950s when Kawerau township was first established, to current reflections of Kawerau’s continuing history.

These items are displayed in the Sir James Fletcher Kawerau Museum, which is free to visit and can be accessed through the Kawerau District Library.

In order to prevent the deterioration of the artifacts and materials, the storage facility must be strictly temperature controlled.

Trust Horizon’s funding will enable Kawerau District Council to upgrade the current temperature and humidity control systems by removing the existing air-conditioners, heaters, and humidifier, which have reached the end of their lifespan, to accommodate a modern air-conditioning, heating and humidifier system.

The specialist equipment will operate perpetually to maintain a stable temperature and minimise moisture to preserve the archive contents.

“We are grateful for the support of Trust Horizon to install this new equipment, which is essential to protect and preserve the history of the district and township,” says Kawerau District Library and Sir James Fletcher Kawerau Museum Manager Susan Harris.

“The current equipment was also generously funded by Trust Horizon some five years ago and we would like to express our gratitude to the Trust for their ongoing support.”

Trust Horizon is thankful for the efforts of Kawerau District Council in taking care of and celebrating Kawerau’s historical material.

“Preserving the history of Kawerau through Council’s historic collections helps to celebrate our origins as a mill town with the construction of the Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill in 1953 – one of the largest and most modern in the world at the time – and provides a link to the roots of the community and its people,” says Trust Horizon Trustee Edwina O’Brien.

“The Trust is committed to investing in energy-related projects that meet the needs of the communities we know and love, so we are pleased to have been able to lend our support.”

Find out more about Trust Horizon community funding here.