Exhibition shows influence of technology

Special exhibitions at Mangawhai Museum have shown us how close the Second World War came to Mangawhai, shared the life of local artist John Foster through some of his works, and now it is going to take us on a journey of how New Zealanders have brought the world closer to their small far-flung nation.

This new exhibition, sponsored by Hawaiki Submarine Cable, will trace how, in a relatively short time, we have gone to waiting months for news to our current life of 24-hour wall-to-wall information and entertainment.

The exhibition shows how New Zealand has been a quick adopter of technology right from colonial days. Visitors will be able to listen to one of the very first recordings ever made, try out their skills with Morse keys and even operate a telephone exchange.

“We have designed the exhibition to show those born after 1995 just how quickly the world has changed and to give those born before a fun trip down memory lane,” says museum manager Emma Gray.

However the exhibition is not just about looking at the past. Mangawhai is about to become the New Zealand landing point for the Hawaiki Submarine Cable on its journey from the USA to Australia.

Visitors will see how this $500 million project is accomplished and the benefits it could bring to our area specifically.

Like the first telegraph cable into New Zealand, once the Hawaiki Submarine Cable is installed most of us won’t give it a second thought, but its presence will have a positive impact on New Zealand for the next few decades.

“We hope it is an exhibition that will have something for young and old and could be particularly interesting to school groups,” added Emma.

The exhibition started on Sunday June 25 and is part of the normal museum entry fee.

FUTURE: A popular new exhibition at Mangawhai Museum shows how quickly times have changed with technology.