Howick Historical Village
Howick Historical Village is a living museum in Auckland, New Zealand. It is a recreation of a New Zealand colonial village using surviving buildings from the surrounding area. Despite its name, the Village is actually located in the suburb of Pakuranga.
Village history
The Howick Historical Society was originally formed in May 1962 following a public meeting of people interested in local history.
The development of Howick Historical Village began in 1972 when Bell House was offered to the Society. The local council offered five acres of land next to Bell House to be used to form the village. This was later extended to a total of seven acres.
It took eight years to develop the area into a living museum using volunteer labour. Over this time, a number of historical buildings were offered to the Society which were all relocated to the village. The work was funded largely from the sale of Christmas cards and from cake stalls.
On 8 March 1980, the Howick Colonial Village was officially opened by Allan Highet, Minister of Internal Affairs, on behalf of Governor-General Sir Keith Holyoake, who was unwell on the day. At this stage, the village consisted of fourteen buildings.
It was later renamed to become Howick Historical Village, and it was further developed to incorporate more than 30 buildings alongside a pond and historical gardens.
The development and operation of the village was funded from admission fees, income generated from events and bookings, donations, plus some funding from The Howick Local Board.[1]
Since 2016, the village has been used as a set to film for the YouTube group Viva La Dirt League.[2]
Governance
The village is owned and operated by the Howick & Districts Historical Society Incorporated, which is a registered charity.[3]
As an incorporated society, any individual can become a member on payment of an annual subscription. Members elect a board each year at the annual general meeting. The board consists of a president, secretary, treasurer and up to seven members.[3]
Visiting
The village is open to the public every day of the year (except Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Good Friday) from 10am-4pm (last entry at 3pm). Live Days are held periodically, when costumed volunteers re-enact daily life in Victorian New Zealand times.
School groups continue to visit the Museum regularly as part of their LEOTC (Learning Experience Outside The Classroom) studies. Weddings and other private celebrations are regularly held at the village using the church for ceremonies and the historic Bell House. The village is also offered as a film shoot location.
Restoration projects
Over the years, a number of restoration projects have taken place throughout the village. These buildings are timber framed and require significant ongoing work to protect and preserve them.
In 2016, a project was commenced to restore Sergeant Ford's Fencible cottage. This project was started with the support of the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board. During the project, further deterioration of the foundation was found, extending the cost of the project by $30,000 and causing significant financial difficulties for the village. The village needed to source additional support in order to prevent stress on the Society's financial reserves, and the project was ultimately rescued with support from the Stevenson Village Trust.[4]
In 2019, the large Pakuranga school house was restored with funding provided by lotteries commission. Significant work by a team of contractors and volunteers completed this vital weather proofing work which included repairs to the windows and weatherboards.[5]
COVID-19 response and temporary closure
On 22 March 2020, the village announced that it was closing to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The museum and adjoining cafe, which operates under independent management, has since reopened at level 1.
The village claimed $113,666.40 in wage subsidies for 21 employees as part of the New Zealand government's assistance scheme for businesses that suffered financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]
On 26 May 2020, the village reported that it had suffered serious financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, had cut staff, and was actively seeking financial support from Auckland Council and other agencies.[8] It remained closed and made the majority of its paid staff redundant. It subsequently claimed a further $30,918.40 of public funding for its remaining seven paid employees as part of the government's Wage Subsidy Extension scheme.[9]
It was the only institution forming part of the Museums of Auckland group that did not fully reopen to the general public after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted across New Zealand.[10] It was partially opened for private venue hire (including events and filming) and for school visits, but closed again when lockdown re-commenced on Wednesday 12 August 2020. The village continued to receive its usual annual public funding from the Howick Local Board, with $337,202 allocated for the 2020–21 financial year,[11] but unlike some members of the group, ongoing public financial support is not absolutely guaranteed – Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Zoo and The Maritime Museum are run by Regional Facilities Auckland),[12] while Auckland Museum and MOTAT receive funding from Auckland Council each year as mandated by legislation.[13][14][15] In order to re-open it was awarded a grant of $500,000 as part of the New Zealand government's Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme.[16]
References
- ^ An Introduction to the Howick Historical Village. Howick and Districts Historical Society. 1997.
- ^ "Kiwi YouTubers Viva La Dirt League are treating life like it's a game".
- ^ a b "Charities Services". www.charities.govt.nz. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ "Trust comes to the aid of Historical Village". Times Online. 26 April 2018.
- ^ "Restoration Projects". Howick Historical Village. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Howick Historical Village". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022.
- ^ "COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Employer Search". www.workandincome.govt.nz.
- ^ Krause, Nick (25 May 2020). "Covid-19 fallout:Historical Village feels the pinch".
- ^ "COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Employer Search". www.workandincome.govt.nz.
- ^ "Museums of Auckland". www.museumsofauckland.com.
- ^ "Howick Local Board Minute Item Attachments" (PDF). Agendas and Minutes. Howick Local Board. p. 9. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Home". www.rfa.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Agenda of Finance and Performance Committee – 19 March 2020". infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Auckland War Memorial Museum Act 1996 No 4 (as at 12 November 2018), Local Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Museum of Transport and Technology Act 2000 No 1 (as at 01 November 2010), Private Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Funding recipients". Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
External links
- Howick Historical Village
- The collections of Howick Historical Village
- v
- t
- e
- Butler Point Whaling Museum
- Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kauri Museum
- Mission House
- Pompallier House
- Stone Store
- Te Waimate Mission
- Treaty House
- Arthropod Collection
- Artspace NZ
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
- Auckland Botanic Gardens
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
- Auckland Zoo
- Ayrlies Garden
- Barry Lett Galleries
- Bergman Gallery
- Denis Cohn Gallery
- Eden Garden
- Ewelme Cottage
- Fashion Museum
- Fingers
- Gibbs Farm
- Gow Langsford Gallery
- Gus Fisher Gallery
- Highwic
- Howick Historical Village
- Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
- Kenneth Myers Centre
- Kinder House
- Lopdell House
- Māngere Arts Centre - Ngā Tohu o Uenuku
- Maritime Museum
- Museum of Transport and Technology
- New Vision Gallery
- Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Auckland
- Objectspace
- Pah Homestead
- Parnell Rose Gardens
- Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery
- Teststrip
- Torpedo Bay Navy Museum
- Adam Art Gallery
- Cobblestones Museum
- Dowse Art Museum
- Enjoy Contemporary Art Space
- Fell Locomotive Museum
- Fernside Homestead
- Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
- Paekakariki Station Precinct Trust
- Pahiatua Railcar Society
- New Zealand Police Museum
- Porirua Lunatic Asylum
- Southward Car Museum
- Te Papa
- Nairn Street Cottage
- Olympic Museum
- Otari-Wilton's Bush
- Pataka Art + Museum
- Petone Settlers Museum
- Portrait Gallery
- Staglands Wildlife Reserve
- Toi Pōneke Arts Centre
- Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society
- Wellington Botanic Garden
- Wellington Museum
- Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust
- Wellington Tramway Museum
- Wellington Zoo
- Women's Gallery
- Academy of Fine Arts
- Aigantighe Art Gallery
- Air Force Museum
- Ashburton Art Gallery
- Canterbury Museum
- Canterbury Society of Arts Gallery
- Centre of Contemporary Art
- Christchurch Art Gallery
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens
- Dux de Lux
- Ferrymead Heritage Park
- National Railway Museum
- Ohinetahi
- Orana Wildlife Park
- Paua House
- The Physics Room
- The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum
- Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
- Ravenscar House Museum
- Registry Building
- South Canterbury Museum
- Whakamana Cannabis Museum
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
- Yaldhurst Museum
- Blue Oyster Art Project Space
- Cadbury World (defunct)
- Dunedin Botanic Garden
- Dunedin Chinese Garden
- Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery
- Dunedin Public Art Gallery (Former gallery)
- Fletcher House
- Dunedin Gasworks Museum
- Glenfalloch Gardens
- Hocken Collections
- Larnach Castle
- The Libratory
- Milford Galleries
- Olveston
- Otago Museum
- Queenstown Gardens
- Sports Hall of Fame
- Steampunk HQ
- Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
- Whakamana Cannabis Museum