Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum

Back Blip from Akaora

The light rain hasn't stop .. we decided we would go for a drive to the surrounding bays. My brother lived in Pigeon bay and went to the school there so the area has a lot of memories for him.

We didn't take a packed lunch as planned as we thought we wouldn't get very far. The drive over the hills was interesting as you could see a thing. Our first stop was the Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum. My brother had been there before and told me that there were a couple of things there that come from our relations place in the museum.

We were lucky because when we got down to the bay the misty rain has cleared, but it was cold. This collage is of some of the shots I took at the museum.

After Okains Bay we took a drive over to Little Akaloa and had a look around the little Church there before heading to Pigeon Bay. We were lucky not to get the rain and managed to visit the cemetery and put a few flowers on our father and mothers, and relatives graves.

When we got back to Akaora late afternoon it still was raining there and it looked like it had been raining all day. So we were lucky to get no rain while in the other bays.

About the Okains Bay Museum
The Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum offers visitors a wonderful look at the life and material culture of the Maori people as well as beautifully preserved examples of early colonial life in New Zealand.

There is a vast collection of Maori and European artifacts. There are also a meeting house, pataka, waka shed, cottages, stables, a print shop, a blacksmith shop, stationary engines and a saddlery. Two Maori Waka are used for Waitangi Day commemorations each year, one of which dates to 1867. The Museum has restored the Akaroa Grandstand, which includes accommodation for visiting groups and restored the original Bay school. Most of the carvings on the magnificent meeting house were done by John Rua, a well-known New Zealand master carver. All traditions and tapu were observed.
You can see more photos with this link.