Western Bay Museum

21/10/2026

📸👗 Throwback Thursday | Fashion & Photography, 1870s-1960s 👗📸👛

Let's rewind to 2020 and one of the Western Bay Museum's most captivating exhibitions, Fashion & Photography, 1870s-1960s. 👗👠👒👜

Celebrating the Bay of Plenty's rich history of photography and dressmaking, the exhibition explored how new immigrants embraced the camera, with photographic studios appearing in communities throughout the region. From British-made cameras to the beloved Box Brownie, it showcased our long-standing love affair with capturing life's special moments.

Alongside historic studio advertisements, including those of Tauranga photographer T.E. Price, visitors discovered an array of fashion treasures. Elegant gloves, once symbols of modesty, status and even protection against disease, sat alongside Victorian caps, embroidered purses, shawls, furs, wedding cake tins and beautifully hand-stitched fire screens. 📸

Originally opened in December 2019, the exhibition continued through a remarkable period in history. Following the Covid-19 lockdown, the Museum reopened on 2 June 2020, welcoming visitors back to this wonderful collection of local creativity, craftsmanship and style.

✨ A fascinating snapshot of the fashions, photographers and stories that helped shape the Western Bay.

📷🧵✨

19/10/2026

19/10/2026

✨ A Story That Travelled Through Time ✨🏛️

Some museum treasures aren't objects at all... they're stories. ❤️

The Unexpected Heroes multi-sensory exhibition has touched hearts across the Western Bay, sharing the powerful experiences of a nurse, three soldiers and a child connected to World War One. Using the remarkable "Pepper's Ghost" hologram illusion, these local stories were brought to life in a way that left a lasting impression.

The exhibition holds a special place in our own history too. It was displayed in the old Fire Station building before Western Bay Museum officially existed, helping shape the journey to the museum we know today.

Now, after years of travelling the district, appearing in RSA halls and inspiring thousands, the booth has embarked on its next adventure. Thanks to local legends Chris and Nic Flegg and the incredible network of military museum supporters, it has found a new permanent home where these important stories can continue to be shared for generations to come. 👏🇳🇿✨

Keep an eye out for Geraldine Military Museum to see how they use our exhibition ❤️

18/10/2026

🏛️✨ Museum Refurbishment Update ✨🏛️

We're excited to share another step forward in our refurbishment journey! This month we're shining a spotlight on the incredible support we've received from National Services Te Paerangi, Te Papa ❤️

Swipe through to learn how their expertise has helped shape our museum over the years. 👉📖✨ Words from Paula Gaelic

🏛️💙

12/10/2026

✨ Collaborative Partners Spotlight ✨

Four organisations, one community focus. Western Bay Museum, Katikati Community Centre, Katch Katikati and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tamawhariua working together to support great local initiatives.

🎄❤️ Christmas is a time for kindness, community and a little Santa magic. This year, the Katikati Community Centre is once again running its annual Christmas Gift Drive, and The Arts Junction is proud to be supporting this wonderful initiative by accepting donations.

If you're able, we'd love you to join in. Donate a new, unwrapped gift for a child or young person aged 0-18 and help make Christmas morning a little brighter for local families doing it tough.

✨ Every gift matters. 🎁 Every act of kindness counts. 🎅 Every donation helps bring the spirit of Christmas to someone who needs it most.

Let's show what makes our community so special and fill the gift collection with festive cheer, generosity and plenty of big-hearted Christmas spirit. ❤️🎄🎁 Katikati Community Centre

Gift Drive has started TODAY!!!

04/10/2026

🌿 The Kauri: The Past, The Present & The Future 🌿
Looking back on a significant exhibition at Western Bay Museum, exploring Katikati’s deep connection with the mighty kauri — its history, its present challenges and the importance of protecting its future.

The exhibition brought together stories from our kauri past, including Tudor Collins — bushman and photographer, The Lindemann King Kauri, and the Cashmore & Judd Mill, Collins Bros and Knight’s Tamaki Sawmills.

These stories remind us of the important role kauri played in shaping our communities and landscape — and the value of learning from history as we look to the future.

As part of the exhibition, we launched the Kauri Dieback Education Programme on behalf of the Department of Conservation, building awareness and encouraging the protection of our precious Kaimai Range.

🌿 The Past — understanding our kauri history.
🌱 The Present — recognising the threats facing kauri.
🌳 The Future — working together to protect our Kaimai for generations to come.

Learning from history. Protecting our present. Shaping the future of our kauri.

27/09/2026

🚜 Out to Pasture Exhibition — looking back at farming life in New Zealand.

From sheep, beef and dairy to fencing and surveying the land, this exhibition celebrated the people, skills and traditions that shaped our rural communities.

A special spotlight on the Katikati & Te Puke A & P Shows, still thriving after 100 years. 🎪

For many years, the Museum Roadshow was a highlight at regional A & P Shows, with butter churning, chaff cutting, maize shelling and rope making bringing farming history to life.

While we’re closed for refurbishment, we’re sharing some of the stories from our previous exhbitions like Out to Pasture. 🌾🐮

22/09/2026

Our friends and family farewell to the museum as we know it 💛 Fences are going up soon and the construction begins 🚧

22/09/2026

The pack down in progress… behind the scenes ❣️📦

21/09/2026

📸 From the Museum archives | October 2017 😁🙌

Back in October 2017, the Museum welcomed the Kea Scouts for a hands-on day with our new education programme, inspired by The Professionals.

There was plenty to discover and plenty of doing! ✉️

The Kea Scouts had a go at sending a telegram, buying a one penny stamp, writing a letter, using the old telephones, getting locked in the jail… and much more! ☎️📸

It was history you could touch, try and experience — and a great reminder of the stories, objects and experiences that have brought our Museum to life over the years.

As we work behind the scenes on our $1 million refurbishment, we’re taking the opportunity to look back through the archives and share a few memories from the Museum’s past.

And we think this one is pretty special. ❤️