People are being urged to bring “questions and curiosities” to the new-look Waitaki Archive.



After 18 months of renovations on the entire Waitaki Museum & Archive Te Whare Taoka o Te Waitaki building, on Thames St, the Archive now has its own dedicated area, and is ready to receive the public.

Archive director Chloe Searle said it had always shared an area with museum exhibitions, but now has a welcome desk, five research desks, and more reference material on open shelves.

It was good to be able to give people space when they came in to do their research.

“It’s often private, sensitive in some ways, and they just want to be able to concentrate on what they’re doing.”

The building upgrade included earthquake strengthening, installing a lift to the upper floor, and offered an opportunity for the Archive to gain a modernised reading and research area.

Work on the upstairs was on-going, and was expected to be complete some time in the new year, but this was the Archive’s “time to shine”, Chloe said.

The resource provided an “amazing window” into the history of the Waitaki community. It housed masses of photographs, as well as records of local clubs, societies, businesses, individuals, schools, buildings, and old newspapers.

Archive curator Elly Dunckley was looking forward to welcoming back regular users and those who may not have been to the Archive before.

“I’m just really excited that we have such a great space that people can do their research. Be it a doctorate or someone finding out about their grandparent, all are welcome.”

The Waitaki Archive is a community resource, and the public are encouraged to contact the archive if they have something they are researching. Someone was on the welcome desk Tuesday to Friday, from 1pm to 4pm, 

“But if people want to come and have a look at something outside those times, we can arrange that as well,” Chloe said.

To get the most out of a visit to the archive, it was best to come with as much information as possible.

“Just anything, will help us help you.”