Library, Museum & Gallery
Whakatane District Council has four public libraries and is one of the few councils running a Museum & Gallery. For latest museum news read the Bringing It Back newsletter.
Looking for a book? Click the link to our new shared library information Catalogue Search
Whakatane District Libraries
Whakatane District has four libraries developed to meet the demand by residents for a library service. They initially started as voluntary libraries stocked by donation and subscription. In 1956 the Council assumed total responsibility for the libraries (funding and management). Council have continued to maintain this library, financed by rates.
In the same way, the Murupara Library was a function of the Murupara Borough Council. However, the libraries at Waimana, Edgecumbe, Ohope and Matata were operated entirely on a voluntary donation basis and did not develop beyond book exchanges.
The libraries of the district were all brought together to operate as the Whakatane District Libraries during the local government reform of 1989.
Volunteers continue to play an important role in maintaining the community libraries of Ohope and Edgecumbe, although staff from Whakatane also work in the Edgecumbe Library. Murupara is the only community library with a permanent paid staff member.
Matata has a private book club which exchanges regular loans of large print books. Click here for more information.
Whakatane District Museum & Gallery
For many years the Whakatane District Historical Society had wished to establish a Whakatane Museum. A building appeal was launched in 1956, but it was only on 15 April 1967 that the foundation stone was laid by His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Fergusson.
On 26 February 1972, the original Museum, for which the Historical Society had raised $25,000, was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor of Whakatane, Mr R T Morpeth, who also opened the first extension on 5 August 1978. A severe shortage of storage space and the need for a special exhibition gallery resulted in a further two-storey extension, which was opened by Her Excellency, the Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard on 4 May 1991.
The Museum and Gallery is administered by the Whakatane District Council through a Board, which includes representatives of appropriate community groups as well as councillors.
The Museum recently revamped its newsletter, working with students from Whakatane Intermediate School. Click on link to read the newsletter: Bringing It Back
The collections of the Whakatane District Museum and Gallery are drawn mainly from the Eastern Bay of Plenty, an area roughly bounded by Cape Runaway, Lake Waikaremoana, Murupara and Maketu. There are some items from overseas, notably the South Pacific.
The collections are mostly historical objects made or used in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, plus archives and at least 30,000 photographs. There is an important collection of taonga Mãori from the tribes tracing their descent from the Mataatua waka. Click here to read more.