INDEPENDENT NEWS

Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Opening & Celebration

Published: Thu 16 Nov 2017 08:30 AM
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Opening & Celebration
18 November, 2017
Foxton’s much anticipated tourism and community services centre, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, is set to open its doors on Saturday 18 November 2017.
Translating to mean ‘The New Stream” in both Māori and Dutch, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom originated from the aspirations of two Trusts representing local Iwi and the national Dutch community. Later, Horowhenua District Council purchased the building and joined in partnership with the Trusts.
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is unlike any facility in Aotearoa New Zealand. It incorporates exhibition areas dedicated to the three Partners, including the community's library and Council services.
Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust Chair, Hayley Bell, says “our hapū and Māori community have overcome many challenges to retain our tino rangatiratanga in this building. Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre is our place - it is bold and it is innovative. A place of celebration that shares the treasures of our tūpuna with people of today for tomorrow”.
Just before the break of dawn, the community will gather with Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga who will conduct the time honoured Tānga o te Kawa dawn ceremony which will be immediately followed by karakia, whaikōrero, waiata tawhito and kai as part of customary practice. At 10.00am, a day ceremony will begin with a Pōwhiri to formally welcome and honour all guests and visitors before the Community Festival starts at12pm until 3pm.
Arjan Van der Boon and Yolande van de Wetering, Co-chairs of the Dutch Connection Trust say “Over the last 60 years or so, Dutch immigrants and their families have made a real contribution to New Zealand’s culture and business. But that story has never been told. With our Oranjehof museum we will have a place to show and celebrate what has been achieved in innovation and art – with lots of hard work and clever-clog smart thinking. The Dutch are often called the ‘Invisible Immigrants’. That label won’t apply any more after November. Oranjehof will be the place where all things Dutch come together, and where visitors can make connections with the Netherlands, past and future, family, neighbours and long lost friends”.
David Clapperton, CEO Horowhenua District Council says “this is a time for our community to celebrate. We have a world class facility in a small provincial town that will enable our community to access essential council services and also provide an attraction that will draw in millions of dollars to our local economy each year. We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with our community”.
The opening celebrations include:
Dawn Tānga o te Kawa Ceremony
- Karakia, Whaikōrero, Waiata tawhito, Kai
-
10am Day Ceremony
- Pōwhiri
- Addresses from the 3 partners
- Unveiling of the plaque
- Unveiling of Abel Tasman Tableau
12pm – 3pm Community Festival
- Live performances - including Kapa haka and Dutch Dancers
- Food Trucks
- Children’s area with Bouncy castles and activities
- Foxton Horse Drawn Tram
- Community stalls
- Pool Party, Foxton Pools
- 19th century Dutch street organ – Lieve Stem
- Traditional Dutch hand organ
Free entry. Donations appreciated.
Did you know …
What Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom means?
Te Awahou is the Maori name for Foxton and the waterway that runs beneath this building. Te Awahou translates as ‘the new stream’ in English, and Nieuwe Stroom in Dutch. For us, the name symbolises the shared direction and fresh energy that underlie this project.
What’s here?
- Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre – Māori museum, arts and learning centre
- Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre – national Dutch museum
- Foxton Hub – local heritage and natural environment centre, library and living room
- A shared exhibition gallery
- District Council services
- Foxton iSite – tourist information
- Bookable meeting rooms
- Millside Cafe and retail outlets
What is Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre?
A Māori museum and art gallery that aims to authentically celebrate and share the stories, taonga, contemporary art and language of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and its hapū who have significant interests in Te Awahou–Foxton.
What is Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre?
Oranjehof showcases the stories and treasures of one of our country’s largest migrant groups – the Dutch community. Visitors can find out about Abel Tasman’s encounter with Māori at Golden Bay in 1642. Or they can explore personal recollections, as well as current events linking New Zealand and the Netherlands. This national Dutch museum and cultural centre invites visitors to make their own Dutch connections. It’s a place where all things Dutch come together.
Who is involved?
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom is a partnership between Horowhenua District Council, Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust and the Dutch Connection Museum Trust. It combines our local library and Council services with galleries dedicated to the three partners. It brings together Foxton residents and visitors in a facility and attraction that will deliver sustainable value for our community
The opening of Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom weaves community groups together.
Foxton’s much anticipated tourism and community services centre, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom has brought together all the Foxton Attractions on Flaxmill Reserve.
Attractions located at Flaxmill Reserve in Foxton will market themselves as a unified Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park
Horowhenua District Council’s Chief Executive David Clapperton says “It is great to see community groups working together to promote Foxton as the unique destination it is.”
“Foxton has always been home to unique attractions that tourists love. With the opening of Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Foxton is now a major cultural tourist destination.”
Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park features experiences, activities and facilities for all the family – exhibitions, play areas, shopping, library, art, cafes, interactive displays, and free wifi.
Visitors can enjoy a mix of recreation and connection with a special emphasis on Te Awahou–Foxton heritage and environment, Māori and Dutch life and culture, and the people and stories with links to all of these.
There is easy access to walkways, the river, estuary (which has international wetland RAMSAR Unesco status for its unique habitat and birdlife) and Foxton Beach. From the Cultural Park, there is easy access to a range of local attractions such as MAVtech (Museum of Audio Visual Technology), Wind Warrior Kite Sports at Foxton Beach, historic sites and some fantastic second hand shops
“All tourists are looking for real authentic hands on experiences, and that is what they will get at Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park.” Find out more about each attraction and opening hours at www.teawahou.com
What’s at Te Awahou Riverside Cultural Park?
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, our cultural tourism and community facility
• Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre – Māori museum, arts and learning centre
• Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre – national Dutch museum
• Foxton Hub – local heritage and natural environment, Foxton library, kids’ activity area
• Temporary exhibition gallery
• Council services and bookable meeting rooms
• Millside café and retail outlets
• Foxton iSite
Other visitor attractions and businesses
• De Molen Windmill and Dutch Market
• Whare Manaaki Māori Gallery and Workshop
• Foxton Flax Stripper Museum
• Dutch Oven Cafe
• Foxton Horse-Drawn Tram
Inside Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre
A Māori museum, arts and learning centre that provides an insight in to the lives of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. Piriharakeke has a strong focus on the stories, treasures, language and art of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga. We invite you to celebrate with us in a space that will inspire all ages and cultures.
At Piriharakeke Generation Inspiration Centre you will:
• learn about Ngāti Raukawa migrations and settlement histories
• learn about our relationship with the Manawatū River
• learn about our history and bold aspirations for the future
• explore our lands and significant sites in Horowhenua and Manawatū through a digital map interactive
• learn about your whakapapa and links to your hapū and marae
• interact with a Te Reo Māori audio-visual experience
• meet members of our Māori community
• learn how to weave
• see innovative, contemporary artworks created by Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga artists
Oranjehof Dutch Connection Centre
Oranjehof showcases the stories and treasures of one of Aotearoa’s largest migrant groups – the New Zealand Dutch community. In our national Dutch museum, you can get in touch with all things Dutch: from Abel Tasman’s encounter with Māori at Golden Bay in 1642, to cherished personal recollections of making a home abroad, to current events linking New Zealand and the Netherlands.
You can also join us for celebrations and events like Sinterklaas and Koningsdag.
This is the place where all things Dutch come together.
• Discover the stories of friends, family and neighbours
• Explore the globe with Abel Tasman
• Experience ‘gezellig’ in a Dutch living room
• Play games and dress up
• Delve into interactive displays
• Pick up some Dutch language
• Taste traditional delicacies
• Immerse yourself in exciting art and design
• Link up with the past and build a future with more ‘Dutchness’
Oranjehof, our Dutch Connection Centre. Make your own Dutch connection here.
Foxton Hub
Foxton’s local heritage and natural environment centre, library and living room – for visitors and the community. Foxton Hub showcases Te Awahou–Foxton, offering visitors a glimpse into the place and its people.
The Foxton library is part of this space and is open for all to enjoy!
For the community, it offers a safe place to interact, connect, share and learn together. Come and use the meeting rooms, sunny lounges, play areas, social spaces, as well as the cafe, rest rooms and free wifi.
Foxton’s iSite
Foxton’s iSite visitor information centre operates from the main reception desk at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.
Provide national, regional and local information as well as bookings for transport, accommodation and activities.
Council and community services
The Horowhenua District Council Foxton service centre operates from the main reception desk at Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.
• Council services including dog registration, rates, parking fines.
• Access to Council documents, forms, meeting agendas and minutes, publications and reports.
• Specialist advice, with an emphasis on Foxton issues.
Our supporters
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom couldn’t have been possible without the generous support from:
Ministry of Arts Culture and Heritage
Lotteries Environment and Heritage
Lotteries Community Facilities
Lotteries Significant Projects
Eastern & Central Community Trust
Horowhenua District Council
Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust
Dutch Connection Trust
Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development
Te Wānanga o Raukawa
Boffa Miskell
Bossley Architects
Workshop e
Creative NZ
Transpower
Pelorus Trust
National Services Te Paerangi
Susie Brow
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The NetherlaNZ Foundation
Federation of New Zealand Netherlands Societies
NZ-NL Societies: Wellington, Waikato, Christchurch, Manawatu, Whanganui, Whangarei
Philips
John Jones Steel
Anthez Carpets
Plytech
Lockwood
Samen NZ
KLM
TNT
NZ Post
Caldow Builders
Dutchy's Burger
Friends of the Library
Tricia Metcalf
Spark
Te Papa Tongarewa Audio and Security Solutions (2016) Limited
Friends of Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Manawatu Estuary Trust
Too many individuals to even try and mention – Thank you!
Find out more
Website www.teawahou.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeAwahouNieuweStroom/
ENDS

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