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Wings of The Kauri Museum
The Kauri Museum, Matakohe provides a number of outstanding wings and museum displays which tell the stories of the pioneer settlers in the Matakohe region. From the Volunteers Hall which showcases the world’s largest kauri slab, to the Sterling Wing which boasts life-size recreations of pioneer homes, you’ll find that The Kauri Museum offers something for the whole family!
Volunteers Hall
The Volunteers Hall features the world's largest kauri slab – measuring a huge 22.5 metres long! You can also see gigantic rings showing sizes of the largest known kauri. The Volunteers Hall boasts a striking balustrade around the stairs and mezzanine floor, amazing murals and displays of pioneering scenes, and fascinating early pioneering photographs. Marvel at the beautiful kauri furniture including the Governor General's boardroom table. Visitors to this wing of The Kauri Museum also have the chance to explore our fantastic model which shows how logs were transported. Click here to view the Volunteers Hall image gallery.
Smith Wing
The Smith Wing shows huge kauri logs and displays actual equipment for felling trees, transporting logs, milling timber and collecting kauri gum. The bush whim was another method of hauling logs and the example displayed was made by Bohemian settlers of Puhoi in 1912. The contraption could haul logs to a distance of one mile and was particularly useful in difficult inaccessible places where bullocks could not go.
Enjoy the blacksmith's workshop, the gum digger's nikau hut and the model dam. Visitors will also love the fantastic pioneering memorabilia on display. The stunning kauri bath in this wing dates back to the 1880s and has been adzed out of a solid trunk of a Kauri tree. Click here to view the Smith Wing image gallery.
Sterling Wing
The Sterling Wing shows a fascinating recreation of a quality 1880 – 1920 six-room home, fully furnished with original decor and lifelike models dressed in period costume. The Museum’s Sterling Wing is typical of how kauri timber was used for building homes and for making beautiful furniture. The Sterling Wing is full of interesting Northland heritage pieces and provides a great attraction for the whole family. Click here to view the Sterling Wing image gallery.
Tudor Collins Wing
In the Tudor Collins Wing visitors will find an extensive series of early photographs providing intriguing windows into the past. Also enjoy the beautiful kauri furniture and lovely timber panels which include samples of all New Zealand's native trees.
Ross Family Wing
The Ross Family Wing showcases the world's best and biggest display of exquisite kauri gum, including magnificent timber panels, beautifully made carvings, busts and marquetry pictures.
The Kauri Museum also offers a display of polished and carved specimens in the Gum Room downstairs. Click here to view the Ross Family Wing image gallery.
The Pioneer School
The Pioneer School is Matakohe's first original school building, complete with desks, pens, books, maps and more. All visitors love to visit the Pioneer School; however, this area is perfect for visiting school groups. Groups get a great glimpse into early education in New Zealand which began in Matakohe in 1878. Visitors can also enjoy a peaceful bush walk located by the school.
The Original Church
Going to church was a major part of the pioneer settler’s lives in Matakohe. Built in 1867, the Matakohe Church was built of kauri timber and served as a school, community building and non-denominational Church used mainly by Anglicans and Methodists. This beautiful Matakohe Church has been refurbished and is still used on special occasions.
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