Waihi Heritage Vision are having their AGM on Monday and the group encourage locals to come along and get involved. Waihi Leader chatted with secretary/treasurer Warwick Buckman about the group. He says the AGM is an opportunity to put forward ideas to maintain the town's heritage and discuss the concept of using heritage to promote Waihi. There will also be a few stories told from the past.
What is the object of the society?
That the rich and unique heritage of Waihi will be recognised, cherished and restored.
When did Waihi Heritage Vision begin?
2003. It was one of the Waihi Community Vision offshoots – people researching , recording and preserving Waihi's valuable heritage in a coordinated way. It became a formal independent group in 2006.
Why is this work so important?
Without an ongoing awareness of what is happening around town, it is easy to lose heritage features. This is not to say that we can readily save features but at least we can initiate discussion and provide a sounding board for organisations such as the OceanaGold and Hauraki District Council to consult.
When we have travelled to other small towns and can find out more about their communities by following local heritage trails or reading plaques it makes us want to interpret our town's heritage.
