It's so packed with artefacts there's no room for new ones. Joanna Davies reports on ambitious expansion plans at the Huia Settlers Museum.
It's wall-to-wall heritage at Huia Settlers Museum, and more than 3000 people visit each year.
Between the HMS Orpheus room - filled with pieces from New Zealand's worst shipping disaster - and exhibitions that show how early settlers lived, there is no room in the museum to store new pieces, or space for an office.
It is so full of old relics that there is no room to expand the collection. Chairman George Wadsworth says it's time the museum was expanded.
"We have no storage space and we have to use the toilets in the community hall next door,'' he says.
"We aren't collecting new pieces at the moment because we have nowhere to put them.''
The museum's trust has received a $2500 grant from Waitakere City Council for drawing up concept plans, and now Mr Wadsworth is looking at options for the building.
"We want to add another room at the back and possibly build two storeys because the building is on a bit of a slope. As well as that, the entire building needs to be insulated because it is always very cold inside.''
Although the trust doesn't have estimates for the work yet, Mr Wadsworth believes the project could cost anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million. It's a lot of money to find.
"The community hall is also looking for funding, so we will have to look for grants because we are a small community,'' he says.
Since the museum was built 25 years ago, local volunteers have kept it open on weekends and looked after the collection.
Mr Wadsworth, whose family has lived in Huia since the 1950s, says the museum needs the resources to keep records of the collection, but people with that expertise are hard to find.
"Most of the things we have are donated to us by people who live in the area, and we want to expand our Maori history collection, which is difficult because we don't have the
space.''
He hopes the expansion can begin next year, depending on finances. Waitakere City councillor Judy Lawley says local museums are important because the city does not have a regional one.
"These smaller museums are the way that we can preserve our heritage, and I hope the Huia Settlers Museum will apply for more from the heritage fund next year.
"The museum is a very important part of that community, and the residents are very passionate about it.''
Museum hours 1.30pm to 4.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays. 1251 Huia Rd, Huia.
