The Huia Settlers Museum

THE HUIA SETTLERS MUSEUM was opened in 1984 and is owned and operated by the local community. This museum, in a scenic location, features primarily the settler farming history of Huia, Cornwallis, Parau, Laingholm, Whatipu, Manukau Harbour and the Waitakere Ranges.

The collection includes artefacts, pictures, photos, documents and local history books which take you through Maori occupation and timber milling. The history of Centennial Memorial Park (Waitakere Ranges) and the Auckland Water Supply Reservoir Construction are also covered.

The Orpheus room contains a range of nautical items, but the focus is on the story of the HMS Orpheus, which was wrecked on the Manukau Bar in 1863. This was, and is, still New Zealand’s worst maritime disaster.