Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum, Okains Bay 7583, Canterbury Region, New Zealand

Okains Bay Maori & Colonial Museum, Okains Bay 7583, Canterbury Region, New Zealand 

The Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum is a must see destination on Banks Peninsula. Originally started as the private collection of Maori artifacts collected by a local resident, in 1968, the disused Okains Bay Cheese Factory was purchased and after many years of renovation, opened as a public Museum in 1977. Since that time, it has steadily grown to house many historic remnants of Okains Bay and the Banks Peninsula region.

The exhibits include a working Blacksmith’s shop, a print shop, a saddlery, the restored school and the former Akaroa grandstand. Many local buildings have been reconstructed on the site including slab cottage and stables. The Colonial building houses artifacts used during the Colonial era of occupation of Okains Bay.

The Whare Taonga houses the Maori collection. This includes a sacred god stick dating back to the year 1400, a war canoe dating back to 1867 and a rare Akaroa hei tiki (pounamu necklace) recovered in England and bought back to Okains Bay by the Museum’s founder. The Whaakata (Meeting House) was built observing all Maori traditions and tapu, using original materials from other meeting houses. Most of the carving was done by John Rua, a well known New Zealand master carver.

Epic New Zealand Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound