Waterwheel Historic Trust

The Waterwheel Historic Trust is a registered charity, serving the Kawerau and Whakatane district communities. Over the past 21 years, the Trust has accumulated a large and valuable collection of heritage items from the region, dating back as far as 1860. It takes its name from the first industrial power plant operating in the district, a waterwheel that initially powered a flour mill, and then later a flax mill, at Te Umuhika on the Braemar Stream, inland from Matata.

Its aims are threefold:

• To protect and preserve the industrial archaeology of New Zealand, in particular that of the regions agricultural, transport, timber, pulp and paper industries.

• To provide a tourist attraction for visitors to the Eastern Bay of Plenty showcasing the pioneering history of the district.

• To offer practical experience and training opportunities in industrial skills for local young people. This includes work skills, wood- and metal-work, basic tool use and maintenance, etc.