Live Day ‘a captivating journey through technological milestones’

Central government, local government and health reporter·Gisborne Herald·

25 Jan, 2024 08:53 PMQuick Read

East Coast Museum of Technology president Harrison Hill stands in the Domestic Bliss section of the technology museum. He welcomes the public to attend Sunday’s Live Day from 10am to 4pm. Picture by Paul Rickard

Sunday is a day “to rev up your excitement”.

East Coast Museum of Technology president Harrison Hill is looking forward to the museum’s Live Day and warmly welcomes the public to attend.

“Live Day offers a unique blend of history, hands-on excitement — such as fire truck rides — and a captivating journey through the technological milestones that define our region,” he says.

Harrison says the incorporated society uses the term “technology” in its broadest sense.

The museum features a wide range of technology, including 1940s, 1950s and some older household items, vintage computers, radios, vehicles, and other items which show how latest technology can quickly become obsolete.

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He is pleased to be staging the first Live Day since 2020 after the years of Covid and flooding.

“I’m hoping for a bit of summer.”

The museum does more than display artefacts from the past. There are always restoration projects going on.

One of those is the restoration of an Avery tractor made by an American company which operated in the 1930s and 1940s.

The museum plans to restore the kerosene and petrol-operated tractor and use it on site.

Funds raised from Live Day will go towards earthquake-strengthening the main building which was originally the Kia Ora dairy factory.

Other plans include fixing the roof, retrofitting the building and other improvements.

The building may be taken out of use for a couple of years before a community relaunch, Harrison said.

ECMoT has 40 members including 15 volunteers — about 10 of them on a regular basis .

Harrison hopes Live Day will attract new volunteers.

“We always need more volunteers.”

The usual entry fees will apply for Live Day which will run from 10am to 4pm — $5 for students or those with a Gold Card; $2 for primary to secondary school students; free for children under five.

The museum is located at 67 Main Road, Makaraka.