History – A history of fundraising

Thirty-five years ago, the Big Dig band was holding Diesel Dances, selling Big Dig t-shirts, and shop owners were receiving donations in support of the vigilante cause. That same can-do approach prevails with many community-led Mangawhai gems, including Mangawhai Museum, whose history of fundraising is as varied as its volunteers.

Early on, Mangawhai Singers’ concerts featured on the social calendar and attracted attendees eager to help the museum’s cause. Book Fairs once filled much more than the museum foyer – with the historic earliest, biggest-earning fair filling the entire museum shell before displays were installed.

Initially, a group of creatives began hand-making Christmas focussed items to donate for sale in the shop. Before long, these industrious, generous people were beavering away year-round, producing items for their own brand, Handmade in Mangawhai. The HMIM team continues to generate thousands of dollars each year for the museum while offering unique gifts for museum shop customers.

From 2016, Dinner & Auctions began at different venues, with community businesses generously supplying auction items to attract bidders while organisers poured their love into organising a fun event. This year, for the first time, a Comedy Night fundraiser is approaching to satiate the dinner and auction craving, adding a strong serving of international level entertainment, right here in Mangawhai.

A number of family-focussed events also do some fundraising, too, such as Live Night and Spooky Night. Although their chief focus is community enjoyment, the funds raised are always a bonus.

Because the museum shop operates under the Mangawhai Museum and Historical Society, it’s a not-for-profit fundraiser every day, with its reputation leading to it being a very strong source of revenue for the museum. Amongst shop sales, books produced by the History Group capture and share stories.

Currently, sponsorship of the museum displays is one of the steadiest sources of revenue for the museum, with Metlife Care, Sam Property, Mangawhai Pharmacy, Mangawhai Heads Holiday Park, Mangawhai Dental, Brogan Builders, FD Smith Contractors, Sam Property, Tara Iti, Shorebirds Trust, Culham Engineering, Tovolea Farm, and advocate4U all injecting funds to help keep the museum lights on and support our core kaupapa.

If you would like to get involved as a volunteer supporting fundraising events or sponsor an event, exhibition or display, get in touch. We welcome people joining our story, and couldn’t serve as kaitiaki/guardian to our community’s taonga/treasures without the generosity of the people who sustain us.

What’s on at Mangawhai Museum:
11-17 Mar | International Women’s Week Display, museum foyer
19 Mar | Port Albert Bus Tour with History Group, tickets $40pp from museum
3-6 Apr | Easter Book Fair, museum foyer
4&5 Apr | Rate Mates’ Weekend, free entry for Kaipara ratepayers
18 Apr | Comedy Night fundraiser for the museum, tickets $150pp from museum