Work underway to showcase Waipa’s heritage

Filming is now underway to capture local stories that celebrate Waipa’s heritage. A new website will host the videos plus other digital content to take users on an interactive journey through Waipa’s heritage sites. Phase one will showcase Karapiro, Lake Ngaroto and Pirongia township with the site to launch in August next year.  

Creating the website is part of an increased investment in Waipa’s nationally-significant heritage.  In July this year, Waipa District Council confirmed it would spend $3.6 million over the next 10 years on new heritage activities, many based around the period leading up to, including and post New Zealand Land Wars.  

The Council will also invest $7.2 million towards Te Ara Wai – a brand new discovery centre to be based in Te Awamutu and will be seeking external funding to support this development.

Council’s heritage and museum manager Tony Roxburgh said the website will be created in both English and Te Reo and will help locals and visitors explore some of Waipa’s significant sites.  

“Council and local iwi are working together to tell the stories of our district. Local people are contributing to the videos and through the filming we’re already learning things about Waipa we didn’t know before.”

Local story tellers contributing so far, include historian Alan Hall, archaeologist Alexy Simmons, Rahui Papa of Ngati Koroki Kahukura, Haupai Puke of Purekireki Marae, Rovina Maniapoto of Ngati Paretekawa and Council’s iwi relations advisors Shane Te Ruki and Chuck Davis. 

The website will guide visitors to each historical site from the nearest town. Once at the site, interpretive signage will allow visitors to follow the stories via their mobile device. As well as the videos the website will contain graphic novels, audio clips, infographics and maps.

“Eventually Te Ara Wai will be the central hub for these sites where visitors can come and view artefacts in the Museum collection that relate to the stories they’ve learnt about,” Roxburgh said. “But there is plenty of work to do before then to ensure the many Waipa stories are better told to a national and international audience.”

Phase one of the work is being completed by consultancy firm Locales which has worked on similar projects including the Rangihoua Heritage Park in Northland and The Waikato War Experience locally.