Embarking on a journey through New Zealand's Northland region offers more than breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture; it provides a unique lens into the heart of social tourism. Our recent trip to the Kauri Museum highlighted how such attractions not only celebrate the nation's natural and historical heritage but also foster community engagement and sustainable tourism. The Kauri Museum, a tribute to the mighty kauri tree and early pioneer life, showcases New Zealand’s commitment to preserving its rich legacy while engaging local communities. Join us as we review how well these destinations blend education, conservation, accessibility for all and community empowerment.
Celebrating the Kauri tree and its huge role it has played in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Kauri Museum has stories of European pioneers, foresters and sawmillers, gum diggers and farmers, and of business people, fishers and the families who have made this area their home. About an hour’s drive south west of Whangarei city, it is not strictly still in the zone and is actually part of the Kaipara district, so I am taking a bit of liberty to include it here. Hopefully purists will forgive me.
Back in the day, the forestry and kauri gum industries played a huge role in turning indigenous Aotearoa into colonial New Zealand. Kauri boosted the economy, helped create the infrastructure, and was key in getting colonists into what they would term ‘undeveloped areas’, but which could also be called the respected forests of the tangata whenua. The legacy of these industries endures in the cultural heritage of New Zealand, with both positive and negative impacts.
For the indigenous Maori of Aotearoa, Kauri held both a spiritual significance and a practical role. Kauri trees were used to build waka (canoes), whare (houses), and waka taua (war canoes). Kauri gum was also collected and used as a fire starter, an adhesive, and even as chewing gum. The kauri forests themselves were regarded as sacred spaces, filled with ancestral ties.
So I can’t imagine their pain to see the colonial forestry industry take flight. The rapid deforestation driven by the kauri industry had a profound and lasting environmental impact on New Zealand's flora and fauna. In the 800 years of human occupation of New Zealand, 75% of the forests have been lost. Initially, it was by wholesale burning by the British, and then through logging. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that all logging of native trees on public land was stopped. The museum acknowledges both this impact, and the significance of Kauri to Māori in their beautiful opening exhibit, a light filled artistic recreation of a Kauri forest.
As we walked through you could really feel the spiritual connection they had tried to recreate. Bird song played in the background while the glittering lights recreated sunlight through the leaves. This section of the museum is a very recent development and it does them proud. We hope that they continue to develop the theme of acknowledging nature alongside industry.
The following sections of this huge museum were dedicated to pioneer life. I loved the way the exhibits revolved around people - you could see them in action, posed with the tools and technology of the day set in authentic displays of the conditions of the time. It really helped you understand what life was like for them: tough, rugged, and filled with hard labour and challenging conditions.
Men were drawn to the industry by the promise of making a living in the new colony. They typically spent their days felling trees, hauling logs, and operating machinery in dense and often remote forests. The work was physically demanding and hazardous, with risk of falling trees, sharp tools, and heavy equipment.
This tough life in colonial New Zealand brought a sense of community among workers. Logging camps and gum fields often served as makeshift settlements, where workers lived in rough shacks or tents, bonded by their hardships.
The museum seems to cover every aspect of early colonial life. We peeked in the windows of a boarding house, filled with people of all walks of domestic life, frozen in time. We also saw the machines that dominated their working lives in a large exhibit hall packed with machinery showing the development of technology over time. And of course we saw Kauri and Kauri gum, a huge collection, including a piece of 30 million year old piece of ‘ground kauri’ which really left me amazed. And everything came with an explanation so I learnt a lot about this part of my country’s history, which leads me nicely into the first BB Star on our Social Tourism themed review of the Kauri Museum.
Social Good
There were definitely plenty of opportunities to learn within the museum, with information provided for each exhibit. The museum also provides private tours and behind the scenes special tours, at extra cost, and even a hands-on gum polishing experience! This all needs to be arranged in advance by contacting them.
By appointment, you can also use their library and archives. They hold extensive documentary and photographic archives relating to the kauri forests, the kauri timber and gum industries. The Museum is also guardian to archives of histories and genealogies of the early families of the District. Staff provide research assistance for free for the first half hour.
The third point on the Social Growth star is a tricky one for me to award. I absolutely loved the knowledge presented, but I do have to admit that I felt it was ‘very white’ to put it bluntly. The newest section of the museum does acknowledge Maori connections to the Kauri forests, but while the website says ‘the Museum has stories of the Māori of the north eastern Kaipara’ I have to say it wasn’t obvious to me. I really would have liked to have learned more about how Maori connected to the Kauri forests in the past, and the impact of the colonial forestry industry on Maori culture and life.
I did see displays about other European immigrants (ie: non-British colonists) and how the forestry industry contributed to the diversity of New Zealand’s growing population. In particular Scandinavian immigrants played a significant role in the early development of the industry, bringing with them expertise in forestry and woodworking.
In fact, I actually have my own ancestral connection here - my great-great-grandfather came from Denmark sometime around 1872 to run a mill, and raise a family, in New Zealand’s South Island. I have read his diaries of the time and was fascinated by his life, so seeing the exhibits in this museum really helped me make a personal connection to my own ancestry.
Although definitely not small, the museum is what we would consider out-of-the-way and a little different in its content, so we are giving it the ‘uniqueness’ point. But while the museum does offer volunteer opportunities, we can’t say for certain that these would suit travellers as they are more likely to require a longer term commitment or time for training.
Treasury
The museum is a self-funded, charitable trust, run by a local Board of Trustees. Both the entrance fee and shop revenue cover the running of the Museum, as they don’t receive local or central government funding for operational expenses. The board is made up of a mix of paid staff and volunteers, many of whom have generational links to the community.
Accessibility
It also makes sure it is accessible for those requiring wheelchair access. The walkways within the museum are wide and wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator to get the second story, you just need to let them know when you arrive and staff will assist. They even have complimentary wheelchairs available for visitors to use if needed. I couldn’t see any accommodations for hearing or sight impairments, so if anyone has firsthand experience of this please comment to let us know.
The majority of information was offered in English, with a little te reo Maori at the beginning. Toilets were gender divisive.
Scattered about, with a little less prominence than the men, are the women of the community too. This scene, based on a photograph taken circa 1916, highlights the gender divisions typical of the era. It’s a true reflection of history as seen through the eyes of the white male story teller, the only voice that was prominent at the time.
Relationships
Right from the moment we walked in, kiwi hospitality was at play. I am probably biassed, seeing as this is my culture in action here, but after experiencing the service industry in many parts of the world, I have to say I just love the relaxed, friendly, ‘no worries’ approach to customer relationships in NZ. The Kauri Museum was no exception. The receptionist talked us through the map, laughingly slowing down and repeating herself when we admitted we couldn’t remember everything she’d said. It is a big space, and a bit of a maze, so her help with getting around was useful.
What I really loved about this museum was the ‘in action’ displays of mannequins, and was delighted to discover that they are actually all based on locals! For example, a “man sowing manure” was modelled by Fred Poyner, a volunteer at the museum who is the son of a Kauri bushman and bullock team driver. Bryce Cullan, a local descendant of an early pioneer family that have been in the timber industry for many years, lends not just his likeness but also his voice to the exhibit, giving an oral account of the work of a timber mill worker.
I think this is a wonderful touch - to have local men sharing their stories, literally giving their faces to make the museum come to life.
Sustainability
The Kauri Museum has been certified Net Carbon Zero since 2010. The museum is not reachable via public transport. However there are EV CHARGING POINTS outside the main building for electric cars.
Another key way they contribute to sustainability goals is through their education around deforestation. However this is a tricky one, as of course at the same time the museum is also promoting the industry that contributed to massive deforestation across the country. I’m sure it's a difficult balance for them to find, and I commend them for attempting to.
The rapid deforestation driven by the kauri industry has had a profound and lasting environmental impact on New Zealand's native forests and biodiversity. As the kauri forests were cleared, habitats for plant and animal species were destroyed. Native birds that relied on kauri forests suffered from habitat loss leading to extinctions. Plus, the removal of kauri trees disrupted soil stabilisation and water retention, causing erosion and damaging waterways.
But New Zealand's forestry industry is still a key contributor to the country's economy, providing employment, export revenue, and valuable resources. It’s evident on the roads in Whangarei, where you’ll see logging trucks on their way to the port, to send lumber off around the world. The industry supports thousands of jobs across the country, particularly in rural areas where alternative employment opportunities may be limited. New Zealand monitors the sustainability of our forest management through an international system called the Montréal Process. Current forestry practices are grounded in the principles of sustainability and strive to have positive environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and habitat restoration.
Actually, I got a little excited when I read that according to the World Population Review, NZ has had a 5.56% net gain in forest cover. And is ranked with a low rate of deforestation. However the site then explained that first-world countries, such as NZ, typically have the lowest deforestation rates because they do not have large forests now anyway, so there really isn’t a lot to take away anymore, and a 5% increase is very little.
There are also still other challenges associated with the forestry industry. A recent example is the increasing concern of slash wood flooding in New Zealand, caused by clear-cutting. When trees are chopped down, they leave behind branches, twigs, and small trunks, which are called "slash." Then, in heavy rains, all that slash gets washed downstream, clogging up rivers and streams. It can lead to flooding, mess up water quality, and mess with the animals living in those waterways. On top of that there are still debates about the social welfare implications of forestry, including issues related to land ownership, indigenous rights, and community well-being. Finding a balance between economic needs, environmental sustainability, and social equity remains a key challenge for New Zealand's forestry sector. We hope the Kauri Museum continues to think through this challenge and consider the role it might play.
One small contribution they do make is in offering visitors a chance to ‘plant a kauri’. Purchasing one of their young kauri trees not only supports the development of the museum, but helps our native trees repopulate. Not an option for a traveller sadly, but maybe a great gift for someone who has hosted you in New Zealand.
BB Star Rating
So overall, the Kauri Museum rates pretty well in our Social Tourism review. I really did learn a lot, and it certainly left me thinking about the impact of industry on NZ’s biodiversity. So the obvious next step was to learn more - with a visit to our final stop, Kiwi North. In the video linked above you’ll get two-for-one, reviews of both the The Kauri Museum and Kiwi North. But if you prefer to stick to the written word, click here for our social tourism review of Kiwi North.
In the meantime, happy travels everyone!
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