Central Hawke's Bay Museum

28/05/2026

Throwback Thursday

William Rathbone’s Store
William Rathbone arrived in N.Z. aged 24 in November 1855. He originally settled in New Plymouth and relocated to Hawke’s Bay in 1859.
Rathbone’s store opened in 1860 on the site of current Four Square supermarket. As well as being a storekeeper Rathbone was Waipawa’s postmaster from 1859-69, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, a J.P, and a licensed gun and ammunition dealer.

Fred Williams & Nat. Kettle bought out William Rathbone in 1904 and continued trading in his building until 1956 when they opened a large and modern complex. Their prominent retail shop in Waipawa had many departments – grocery, crockery, hardware, farm merchandise and stock sales. The grocery and crockery departments closed in 1984 and three years later in 1987, Williams and Kettle closed permanently.

A New World supermarket opened in the W&K building and operated until it was re-branded as a Four Square.
This building burnt down on 30 May 2021 and there is now a new Four Square on the site.

14/05/2026

St Andrew’s C.H.B.
In February 1865, Alexander & Jessie Jones and their four children, arrived in Waipukurau. A blacksmith from Angus, Scotland, Alex Jones began holding Sunday services in his home with two other families, the Mackies and Bouvairds.
The first Presbyterian Minister appointed to serve the population south of Napier, Rev. Alexander Shepherd, took up his role in December 1865 and boarded with Alex Jones and family.
Early services were held in the mess room of the military barracks, the dining room of the Tavistock Hotel and in the school room, which stood opposite the current church, now the site of the church hall.
The triangular section where St Andrew’s stands today was gifted by Henry Russell, the town’s founding father. The church was constructed by Richard Trestrail in 1878 at a cost of six hundred and twenty-one pounds.
The building was extended in 1956 and a large window installed in memory of the founding families. The bell tower was removed some years later.
A centenary celebration of the parish was held in 1965 and the 150th Jubilee in 2015.

23/04/2026

Throwback Thursday
Peter Pan Frozen Foods, Waipukurau
Thomas Clement Denne, with his wife Agnes and three young sons, Jack, Tom and Haydn, moved to Waipukurau in 1926. He began manufacturing “Denne’s quality Drinks” in a small building near the corner of Cook and Ruataniwha Streets.
In the late 1920’s, Thomas Denne was searching for something to add to his soft drink production, when he came across basic equipment for the manufacture of ice cream. He bought these few items from his friend Lionel Swain, who was proprietor of ‘The Peter Pan Lounge’ tearooms in Waipawa.
Thomas envisaged a very restricted future for bulk ice cream production because refrigeration facilities were limited at that time. But he went ahead anyway and added a 16-foot lean-to on to his soft drink factory, built a small freezer and ice tank (to make ice) and bought an ammonia compressor for refrigeration. Ice cream was initially churned in a bucket and sold in bulk.
This small beginning was the start of a family business that grew from employing 3 staff to 153 with a vehicle fleet of 52 during peak production in the early 1970’s. It involved three generations and ultimately the distribution of ice cream and a great variety of frozen foods throughout most of New Zealand and the Pacific.
The name “Peter Pan” was the idea of Thomas’s imaginative friend, Lionel Swain and this name – connected with the timeless children’s story of the boy who never grew up – proved to be a great selling point.
The Company was sold to Hellaby Group in 1976. Following several partial closures and mergers the premises operated as ‘Peter Pan Sales, Waipukurau’ until 1986. Then in 1988, the paperwork was filed for closure of the last division.

22/04/2026

Anzac Weekend Opening Hours:
Saturday 25 April & Sunday 26 April open 10am - 4pm
Monday 27 April closed

09/04/2026

Throwback Thusday
Waipawa Railway Station.
The railhead reached Waipawa from Napier in August 1876.
Richard Phillips of Waipawa was awarded the contract to construct the Railway Station and Goods Shed in 1875. Extensions to the station were carried out in 1884.
The first trains between Waipawa and Napier covered the distance in a little over three hours.
To the south, the line reached Waipukurau in September 1876, Woodville in 1887 and Palmerston North in 1891, linking with the line to Wellington.
From November 1983 Waipawa station was unattended. The building was demolished in November 1984.
The Goods Shed is all that remains standing in 2026.

02/04/2026

Happy Easter
The museum is closed Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April. We are open Saturday 4 April and Sunday 5 April from 10am - 4pm.

25/03/2026

Throwback Thursday
St Peter’s Church, Waipawa.
Frederick Abbott generously made four acres of land available in 1860 for a church, cemetery and vicarage and tenders were called in June 1861. The first building was constructed of white pine, pit sawn, from “The Bush” and was opened in 1862.
A new larger church was built in 1877 for eight hundred and eighty-one pounds.
Lissie Rathbone made bequests in 1904 for St Peter’s tower and spire in memory of her husband William, also for the renovation and enlargement of the building in 1934.
The large stained-glass window above the altar memorialises William and Lissie Rathbone, the north window is in memory of Leonard Pratley and the west window honours Matiu Meke, who worked alongside William Colenso.
After 165 years, March 2025 marked the end of regular Sunday services at St Peter’s.

26/02/2026

If you missed the Ongaonga 150 Years of Community and Change exhibition here you can watch Laurie who have been doing most of the work for the exhibition talking about the display.

CHB Museum presenter Laurie Gordon shares insights and stories from the exhibition 'Ongaonga 150 years of community and change'.

23/02/2026

Thanks to everyone who attended our opening of Makaroro Place to Connect.
On request we will be organising a few workshops with Margaret-Mary how to make pigments and also a walk &picnic to Makaroro River. Watch this space or even better come and check it out. Runs until 17 May.

19/02/2026

We have been busy to get ready for the opening on Sunday 22 Feb.
Please come along at 3pm to open the new exhibition about the connection Margaret-Mary Farr made to the Makaroro River. Its beautiful and so inspiring