Heirloom explores the objects that connect us to our past. The keepsakes and treasures that carry the memories and stories of our whānau.

By bringing together heirlooms from collections across Murihiku - including Te Kupeka Tiaki Taoka Trust, Gore Historical Society, Te Hikoi Museum, Mataura and Districts Historical Society Incorporated, Wyndham and District Historical Museum and Bluff Maritime Museum - this exhibition highlights how these objects link generations and preserve histories that might otherwise be lost. The diversity of items on display reflects the deeply personal nature of heirlooms, each one unique to the family and culture it belongs to.

As part of Heritage Month 2025, Heirloom celebrates the vital role museums play in preserving not just objects, but the narratives they carry. Each item on display tells its own story, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who once owned and cherished it and the hands through which it has passed over time.

As you explore the exhibition, we invite you to reflect on your own family heirlooms and the stories they hold. Share them on our Memory Wall, creating a collective record of the everyday treasures that will continue to keep our community’s history alive.