The community is welcome to view a visual portrait of Katikati through time, on display during August and September at the town’s library.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council community heritage services co-ordinator Sandra Haigh has been digging deep inside the Western Bay Community Archives to put together the free two-month exhibition, which marks Family History Month in August, and the 150th anniversary since the Ulster Irish settlers arrived in Katikati this September.

Titled ‘Katikati: Portrait of a Town’, Haigh said the exhibition – which opens Monday, August 4, and runs until September 30 – will include books, photographs, maps, and paintings by local artists.

The free event is her way, as the town’s archivist, of “celebrating Katikati as a town and how it’s changed from when it was settled to more modern times”.

Static displays

The exhibition will feature two main static displays – which will change by month – outside the library’s downstairs staffroom. “The first will have photographs of George Vesey Stewart, Adela Stewart, a county map from 1914, etc…”

The No 3 school back in 1914, photographed by an unknown. Photo / Western Bay Community Archives Collection

The second main display, for September, would be about the history of the Katikati bypass and other topics that have stood out, said Haigh. “The static displays will have QR codes – so you’re not leaning over others and reading tiny pieces of paper.”

Instead, Haigh encouraged people to scan the QR codes with their smartphones, which would take them to the Western Bay Community Archives recollect site at: https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz – the district’s online archives website – where information will be held on what the item depicts.

Haigh said QR codes enable people access the website and read about the exhibit in comfort at the library or at home and have a look or read of the history in their own time.

The Tauranga-Waihi Royal Mail coach crossing the Uretara bridge on its way to Waihi. The Talisman Hotel can be seen in the background. The building on the left, removed about 1960, was the home, shop and workshop of electrician Bert Ruby. The photo was taken by Frederick George Radcliffe circa 1913. Photo / Western Bay Community Archives Collection

“For those who are unsure how to access QR codes on their phones, our library staff will be hand to help; and if your phone is a vintage model, we can give you a laptop to use.”

Smaller exhibits

Plus, a series of small exhibits around the library will change fortnightly to encourage people to keep returning to view more of the town’s past.

“These will illustrate the industries that have fed Katikati’s economy, the look of the town itself and how it’s changed over time using aerial photographs, maps, items, objects...all sorts of things!”

Haigh said the exhibition would ultimately show how the town had grown since the time of pākehā settlement in 1875 – using the previous taonga (treasures) items from the on-site Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives. “What’s on display will be entirely visual…So it’s a portrait of the town over time.”

Haigh said newcomers to town or those who’ve been residing here but not thought too much about the town’s history are her target. “I really want to appeal to people who haven’t been here for a long time – I’d love to show what the history of this town is all about. There will be lots and lots of photographs.”

The framed painting by artist Roy Cunliffe of the No.3 School on Walkers Rd. Photo / Merle Cave

Haigh said the exhibition would be roughly chronological.” The first half will be the old, old stuff and it will gradually move to more modern times. The 1960s-1970s will probably be where it stops”.

Haigh said while the exhibition can’t cover everything “I have certainly done what I can”. On offer would be an interesting mix of all the treasures that are preciously stowed away in the Western Bay Community Archives Collection under her care. “It’s really fun look at the history of the town.”

Family archiving workshop

Haigh will also host a free Create Your Own Home Archive workshop next-door at the Pātuki Manawa Digital Hub on August 16 from 10am-12 noon.

The workshop would cover how to preserve precious family taonga – including old birth, marriage and death certificates and items such as hand-written letters up to 100 years old “so it can be an inheritable collection you can pass down to future generations”.

Aidan Heaven of Katipō Creative Studio will speak about the digitisation and digital enhancement of photographs. “Everyone has got this stuff at home and many don’t know what to do with it or how to keep it and they just need a bit of help on how to keep it well for future,” Haigh said.

Due to space, the workshop is limited to 20 registered entrants. To register, email: [email protected]

If there’s high demand, Haigh would consider running more workshops in future.

A compiled book

Haigh had also been working on what she called “a social community project” with Katikati resident Francis Young, Pauline McCowan of Western Bay Museum and Athenree Homestead chair Chris Bedford, to compile a book of historical accounts which have been gifted by families in the Katikati district. Find out more about this in the next Katikati News.