Discover stories of innovation and resilience, along with the living and working conditions of men and women involved in our industrial past. Encounter stories about the buildings, equipment, new tools, and technologies created for the extraction, transportation, and processing of raw materials; industrial heritage stories that help us to better understand the history and development of New Zealand society.

Encounter stories about the buildings, equipment and resourceful tools and technologies created for both graziers and tillage. Each little settlement of pioneering farmers sprung up a collection of tradesmen to support them, from blacksmiths and hardware merchants to bootmakers and grocers. The heritage of our agricultural industry stands as a fundamental symbol of identity for rural communities in New Zealand. Bringing these stories to life will help us to better understand how our relationship to the land has contributed to national characteristics of innovation, resourcefulness, and endurance.

Encounter stories about the people who helped establish education, health care, churches, public and emergency services. Stories of pioneering women, wives of farmers and tradesmen, who were called upon to assist their husbands, brothers, and fathers, yet still took an interest in caring for those around them as all sought to improve their lot. Stories of hard-working menfolk who made the best of what they had and proved resourceful and innovative when they could not. These stories bring a human-interest aspect to the history of the district.