About Us

Our Story

Kaikoura Museum is governed by the Kaikoura Historical Society Inc committee. We are an Incorporated Society and registered with the Charities Commission.

The Kaikoura Historical Society was formed in 1968 and the first Museum was established in 1971 and was housed at 14 Ludstone Rd. The Historical Society had long felt that the collection had out grown its space and could be better served by moving to a more central location with more room to display the collection and Archives and run events and programmes. With the help of a $2m grant from the Lotteries Heritage Fund, many years of planning and other fundraising the new Museum was opened on 23 November 2016. We managed to open just 5 days after our scheduled official opening which was delayed due to the 14 November 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake.

Awards

Kaikoura Museum was recognised at the 2018 Museums Aotearoa Awards as winner of the Exhibition Excellence – Science and Technology category for New Normal – The Kaikoura Earthquake exhibition.
Museums Aotearoa said the judges were unanimous in confirming New Normal as the winner. They were impressed with what was achieved on a very small budget, the variety and types of engagement so that it could reach a range of audiences and combining science with community stories.

The new Museum project was a collaboration between the Kaikoura Historical Society and Architecture practice Rick Pearson and Associates. They have created a wonderful space which was recognised as the winner of the Interior Architecture award and Resene Colour award at the 2017 Nelson/Marlborough Regional Architecture awards. The Museum was also runner up in the 2017 Museums Aotearoa Museum Project Excellence Award.

In The Media

Kaikoura Museum in the Media

Kaikoura’s New Normal – Radio New Zealand

Kaikoura tells their quake stories in New Exhibition – Stuff

Exhibition in a Box to tell stories of Kaikoura Earthquake – Pressreader

Museum captures the New Normal of post-quake Kaikoura – NZ Herald

Aftermath Photograph Exhibition opens – The Big Idea

Kaikoura Museum on an award winning spree – Stuff

Kaikoura Museum promises visual delights to wow its visitors – Marlborough Express

Museum on the move with $1.9m grant – Marlborough Express

ANZAC Stories Safe at Museum – Marlborough Express

Kaikoura Museum seeks help to identify… – Marlborough Express

Priceless items part of Kaikoura Museum ammunition case – Marlborough Express

Funding Support

Kaikoura Museum is enormously grateful for the financial support it has received from regional and national charitable trusts and foundations.
This support has enabled us to set up our new Museum and to develop programmes, events and exhibitions as well as help get us through some tough times following the November 2016 earthquake.

We are proud to acknowledge the remarkable funding support we have received from:

Tiaki Promise

Kaikoura Museum has committed to Tourism New Zealand’s Tiaki Promise to care for New Zealand, for now and for future generations. Tiaki means to care for people and place. New Zealand is precious and everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it. By following the Tiaki promise, we are making a commitment to act as a guardian in protecting and preserving our home.

Environmental Sustainability Policy and Practice

As an entity responsible for the preservation, conservation and presentation of collections for future generations to enjoy and learn from, sustainability is essential to the work of Kaikoura Museum in every sense.

Kaikoura Museum is committed to being environmentally conscious through practices which encourage minimising waste and reducing its effect on the environment. We also commit to comply with all applicable legislation and other organisational requirements.

This commitment will be applied to all areas of Museum operation. To ensure the continual improvement throughout the Museum’s operations in regard to environmental sustainability the Museum will:

Review this policy on an annual basis
Communicate this policy to all interested parties including the Committee, staff, volunteers, our funders, and members.
Include environmental issues as a standing agenda item at Committee and staff meetings
Provide opportunities for and encourage committee members, staff and volunteers to make suggestions for improvement of our environmental practices.
Complete an annual environmental audit identifying areas for improvement
Ensure all other policies and practices are in line with this policy including the development of our collections management and conservation plans.

The Museum Manager is responsible for implementing this policy and in communicating it with staff and volunteers.

This policy was ratified by the Kaikoura Historical Society Committee in March 2017.