Many people in Raglan are asking when the new Museum and Information Centre building will open? While it appears that the building was completed in early August there was no work done on providing a footpath into the building. On Monday that changed with the arrival of contractors on site togther with digging machines, top soil and hi-vis vests.
The August issue of Link, the Waikato District Council resident’s newsletter says that the new building will open in September.
Cr Clint Baddeley, who has been involved with the project for around seven years, said he’s keen to see the new museum and information centre finally open. “It has been a long and arduous
process but it’s worth it to see what will be an enormously valuable facility for Raglan come to fruition. There’s been a lot of support from around the region to fund this, which has been recognition of the importance this museum has for Raglan’s tourism industry. The unique nature of Raglan, such as being the home of surfing in New Zealand, will be reflected in the exhibits that will be on display. Raglan has a rich history and this new museum provides us with the opportunity to sell Raglan as the tourism destination it is,” Cr Baddeley said. He added, “The information centre is included in the facility and is a perfect complement to the museum, with new technology to bring it right up to date to provide the services tourists expect.”
Funding for constructing the $1 million building came largely from the NZ Lottery Grants Board, Perry Foundation, Trust Waikato, WEL Energy Trust, Donny Trust and DV Bryant Trust and private donors.
After the Raglan Museum Society and the Information Centre are given access to the building they will begin the set up work. The Information Centre will upgrade to a full i-Site when it is in the new building. Cabinets have been fitted in the Information Centre area. The Museum Society now faces the huge task of creating exhibitions in the large museum display areas.