She was delighted the work could be unveiled for the public to enjoy, which they are able to do for free this weekend.
“It’s been a long time in the making but we are thrilled with the result,” Hilden said.
The Forest Walkway represents a significant shift in the types of stories told by the museum, she explained.
“Everyone involved has done a wonderful job of modernising how we share information in a very experiential and powerful way.
“We are on a journey to expand beyond our origins as a settler-oriented community museum into one that tells a national story from a variety of diverse viewpoints.”
Hilden said traditional settler collections are facing challenges with not only attracting visitors in today’s digital world but in recognising themes of decolonisation.
“He tina ki runga, he tāmore ki raro - in order to flourish above, one must be firmly rooted below.”
Museum board chairman Grant McCallum said funds for redevelopment included creating a research centre where people are able to access museum collections and archives, as well as undertake genealogical research, and better understand the significance of kauri.
The museum has been telling the story of the kauri tree since it opened more than 60 years ago in 1962, a tale that is deeply rooted in Northland given kauri once covered 1.2 million hectares from the Far North to near Kawhia.
The importance of kauri was acknowledged in 1952 when the Waipoua Sanctuary on the west coast of Kaipara was declared, and again in 1987 when all remaining kauri forests in Crown land came under the protection of the Department of Conservation. Kauri trees on private land are also largely protected. However, kauri dieback remains a major threat to their survival.
