Waitomo Museum of Caves
Ph: +64 7 878 7640 Fax: +64 7 878 6184 PO Box 12 Waitomo Caves New Zealand collections@waitomodiscovery.org
WAITOMO CAVES VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
WAITOMO MUSEUM OF CAVES & NZ SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (NZSS) LIBRARY
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Museum Collections
Waitomo
Caves is a district unique in New Zealand for its mix of Maori Tikanga/heritage,
farming history, one hundred and twenty years of cave tourism, scientific
interest in caves and the somewhat eccentric sport of caving. People with
all these interests and backgrounds form a backdrop to this vital,
energetic, small rural community that has developed its own colourful and
interesting history.
For
almost 30 years it has been the work of
the Waitomo Caves Museum Society to amass a comprehensive collection
of items relating to the unique cultural, biological and geological history
of Waitomo Caves. The collection is constantly growing and we continue to be
amazed at the interesting items donated to us by members of the public over
the years.
For
at least 500 years, the Waitomo valley has been the home of Maori people
descended from the Tainui waka (canoe). The museum houses a small collection
of everyday implements and taonga (artefacts) once belonging to these
people. For example toki (adzes), waka kereru (bird traps) and a
beautiful oyster-shell necklace originally discovered in a local cave.
The
museum’s photographic collection contains many images from the early days
of tourism in Waitomo’s three main tourist caves: Glowworm, Aranui and
Ruakuri. Our postcard collection forms a large proportion of our
photographic collection. These were once popular souvenirs of an era when
very few people owned cameras.
Photo
left: 1922 Tour Party going to the caves (outside the Waitomo Hotel).
To
complement the photographic collection the museum holds many items of
interest relating to the Waitomo Hotel. Opened in 1908 to establish
tourism in the area, the Waitomo Hotel was operated by the New Zealand
Government for many years. It boasted silver service and a very high
standard of accommodation for travellers visiting this remote region.
The
large number of caves dotted right around the Waitomo district has attracted
scientific interest from the beginning of European visitation to the central
North Island. Dr Arthur Thomson and Ferdinand von Hochstetter were two early
scientific explorers to visit caves and find fossil bird remains. Today the
museum has an extensive collection of fossil bird, bat and insect skeletons.
Preserved for thousands of years in caves, these fossils have been
discovered by enthusiasts and scientists and have been contributed to the museum
collection. They are an extremely valuable resource, and the museum receives
many requests for access to the collection from scientists wishing to study
New Zealand’s paleofaunal history.
Waitomo’s
farming sector stands side by side with Waitomo’s tourism industry as a
major economic contributor to the region. The Museum houses many historic
photographs of farms around the region and some interesting accounts from
pioneer farmers from the early days. The Museum receives many requests
from people around the world wishing to trace their family histories and
wishing for a photograph of
family with a Waitomo Connection.
Finally
the museum’s collection of caving memorabilia keeps us in touch with
the
stream of colourful, intrepid and very interesting people who have travelled
from every corner of New Zealand and the world to explore the caves of
Waitomo. Some have stayed and settled here, others have moved on leaving a
trail of old photos and discarded caving equipment. The museum preserves
these items and thus the stories and experiences of the Waitomo Caves
people.
Waitomo Museum of Caves
email us at: collections@waitomodiscovery.org 21/12/2007