History
The Museum, located in a historic area of Waikanae, is just a few minutes walk from the Railway Station, with a number of popular cafes nearby. Close by is St. Luke’s Church built by rangatira Wi Parata Te Kakakura dating from 1877 and which was moved 3 kms from its original site Tuku Rākau to its current location in 1898.
Our Kāpiti Coast Museum building has a long history starting out life as the former Waikanae Post Office which was opened in February 1908. Its design is typical of the many small Post Offices built during a period of rapid expansion of postal services in New Zealand during the early twentieth century. Typical of Post Offices at the time, the building was divided into two separate areas with the street- facing front half housing the Post Office with a private residence for the Postmaster or Postmistress at the rear.
This Post Office served the local Waikanae community until a new Post and Telegraph Office was opened in February 1982 in a more central location in Mahara Place. Eventually the historic building was purchased from the Ministry of Works by the Horowhenua County Council after which an extended public debate took place as to the possible community uses of the building. In late 1983 the old Waikanae Post Office building was leased to an incorporated society the Waikanae District Museum Inc. It was decided to organise the new Museum into communications (radio transmitters and receivers and old telephones etc.) and local history sections recognising the interests of the founders. A fully functioning ham radio station attracted many amateur radio enthusiasts to the Museum.
In 1990, an extension was built at the rear of the old Post Office thanks to a bequest from a friend of the Museum, Flight Lieutenant Frank Greenaway. This extension became the focus of the communications section while the old building was increasingly dedicated to Kapiti’s social and cultural history. A short time later, in 1993, the Museum closed for a while to permit volunteers to undertake extensive interior alterations. The removal of some interior walls enabled the Museum’s collection to be displayed to better advantage. Alongside this work the museum was re-named the Kāpiti Coast Museum.
At the end of 1993, the former Waikanae Post Office building was designated a Category 2 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand.
Today this precious local taonga is cared for by a group of Kāpiti volunteers and supporters headed by the Kāpiti Coast District Council.