Kāpiti Coast Heritage Weekend – 9-10 November 2024

The Discover Kāpiti Heritage Group

The Discover Kāpiti Heritage Group is formed by the Paekākāriki Station Museum, Steam Incorporated, Wellington Tramway Museum (at Queen Elizabeth Park), Kapiti US Marines Trust (at Queen Elizabeth Park), Museum of Aviation (Kāpiti Road, Paraparaumu), Southward Car Museum (in Otaihanga), the Kāpiti Coast Museum (in Waikanae), Mahara Gallery , The Kilns at Te Horo, Ōtaki Museum and Friends of Ōtaki Rotunda. Representatives of these organisations meet regularly and each year coordinate the Kāpiti Coast Heritage Clue Hunt and facilitate Kāpiti Coast Heritage participation in the Wellington Heritage Festival.

Website: http://www.kapitiheritage.org.nz/

Paekākāriki Station Precinct Trust

The Paekākāriki Station Precinct Trust was formed in 1993 by a group of people from the local community, who were concerned about the very fast decline of Paekākāriki’s rail heritage. The primary objective was and remains to ensure that 1909 built railway station was saved from destruction. To achieve this goal, the Paekākāriki Station Precinct Trust was formed and work commenced on a complete rebuild of the dilapidated station interior. The completion of this major reconstruction work saw the Paekākāriki Rail and Heritage Museum opened in 1995.

Email: sylvia.bagnall@icloud.com

Phone: 021744485

Website: https://www.stationmuseum.org.nz/

Steam Incorporated

Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekākāriki railway station. Since the 1970’s Steam Incorporated has saved a large collection of locomotives and passenger carriages. Included are seven steam engines and four main line diesel engines. Many are currently certified for main line running, some are being restored. Restoration of NZ heritage railway locomotives and carriages back to certified standards to work on the National Rail System. Providing heritage rail excursions for the enjoyment of the public

Email: enquiries@steaminc.org.nz

Phone: 0800 783264

Website: https://www.steaminc.org.nz/

Wellington Tramway Museum inc. Kapiti Coast Electric Tramway

The Wellington Tramway Museum, was incorporated in 1964 as a non-profit organisation to preserve tramcars and other items of tramway interest, to establish and operate a working tramcar museum and to foster an interest in the heritage of the Trams that used to rule the streets of Wellington City. They are now lovingly cared for and operated by volunteer members of the Wellington Tramway Museum.

Email: wellingtontramway@gmail.com

Kapiti US Marines Trust

The Kāpiti US Marines Trust (KUSMT) is a not-for-profit trust registered with the Charities Commission (CC46035). It was established in 2009 by the former Mayor of Kāpiti, Jenny Rowan. The Trust connects with a wide range of local, regional and national groups with an interest in the collection, conservation, exhibition, and promotion of Marines’ History – particularly in camps Paekākāriki, Mackay and Russell, in southern Kāpiti, New Zealand. Our goal is to keep this significant WWII story alive for future generations by creating engaging signage, relating to the 1942-44 encampment of the Marines in Paekākāriki.

Email: anthonydreavernz@gmail.com

Phone: 02102579171

Website: https://marinesnz.com/

Museum of Aviation (Kapiti) Inc.

Kāpiti Aviation Museum features displays of New Zealand and pioneer history, general aviation. Paraparaumu airport (now known as Kāpiti Coast Airport) was the busiest airport in New Zealand in the 1940s-1950s. The Museum was opened in January 1995 to preserve New Zealand general aviation history, and in particular the aviation history of the Kapiti district.

Email: kapitiaviation@gmail.com

Phone: 0210371937

Website: http://www.kapitiaviationmuseum.nz/

Southward Car Museum

The Southward Car Museum is a renowned automobile museum and event centre. It was founded in the 1970s by Len Southward. The museum is now managed by a charitable trust incorporated in 1972, continuing to share Southward's love for automobiles with the public. It houses a collection of over 350 vehicles, as well as three aircraft and various other exhibits including motorcycles, bicycles, and a fire engine.

Email: craig@southwards.co.nz

Phone: 04 297 1221

Kāpiti Coast Museum

Explore Kāpiti’s social and cultural history by visiting us at the Kāpiti Coast Museum in Waikanae. Our charming, local museum, whose exhibits and collections focus on Kapiti’s unique heritage, really is a must see. The Museum is housed in the original Waikanae Post Office building opened in February 1908. It gives a wonderful sense of the era and perhaps an inkling into what treasures may be found inside. The building is recognised by Heritage New Zealand (Category 2). Kāpiti Coast Museum welcomes all local residents and visitors to the region.

Email: manager@kapiticoastmuseum.org.nz

Phone: 04 9056313

Website: https://www.kapiticoastmuseum.org.nz/

The Kilns at Te Horo

Visit this Heritage NZ (Category 2) site to see the unique bee-hive kilns that were built and operated by celebrated potter Mirek Smisek between early 70's until late 90's. The kilns were relocated 20 metres to the east on the original site from where they once stood due to the Kapiti expressway. They have been meticulously rebuilt and restored. As has the heritage original Te Horo Railway station (now a residence) also on the site alongside a 100 year old cottage ( currently operating as a potters studio). Enter through protected native bush known as Cottles Bush.

Email: thekilnsattehoro@gmail.com

Ōtaki Museum Trust

Ōtaki Heritage is a charitable trust and is governed by a board of trustees, partly elected by local residents and partly appointed by mana whenua. It was formed in 2023 by the amalgamation of the Ōtaki Historical Society and the Ōtaki Heritage Bank Preservation Trust. The purpose of the Trust is to preserve Ōtaki’s rich heritage via exhibitions, journals, collections and more.

Email: admin@otakimuseum.co.nz

Friends of the Ōtaki Rotunda

Friends of the Ōtaki Rotunda is a non-profit, community organisation, with purpose of conserving for posterity the Rotunda building, at the site of the former Ōtaki Children’s Health Camp because of its heritage significance as both an architecturally distinctive building, and as the site of a socially significant institution.

Email: anthonydreavernz@gmail.com

Phone: 02102579171