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Maori and the Early Landscape

This area explores the early history of the local Iwi Ngati Haumia, showing respect to great Ngati Toa warriors Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata.

Colonial and Early European Settlement

A section showing various items that would have been found in and around the early houses of the area.

United States Marines

Paekakariki was a large settlement during World War II for the US Marines.

There where three different camps in the area housing something like 15,000 men.

Camp Mackay with 4650 men and was built on the flat plateau above McKays Crossing.
Camp Russell housed 4,850 men in 112 tent decks and a number of officer’s quarters.
Camp Paekakariki was the largest camp and housed 5,200 men and was at the North End of the village.

Railway Section

This are has several different types of trolleys from the NZR era. along with a good selection of different memorabilia.

For the younger ones we also have a working model railway that runs around the roof of the area.

World War I and World War II

Here we have the restored Paekakariki War Memorial Plaque, along with Military Records and Documents from the local men who served their country

Signal Box

The Signal Box can be viewed any time but special arrangements need to be made if internal access is required.