Community comes to the rescue

19 Feb 2026 • By Chris Gardner

The Mangati Stream Bridge south of Pirongia was severely damaged

Ōtorohanga Museum called for help during its most desperate hour and the townsfolk answered.

Rebecca Ngāpō, left, with Ōtorohanga Historical Society president Maggie Hughes by the waka. Photo: Chris Gardner

Otorohanga Museum creative co-ordinator Rebecca Ngāpō with Otorohanga’s precious waka. Photo: Chris Gardner

More than two dozen people rushed to the whare housing the treasured 13-metre Te Waonui o Tāne waka in Kakamutu after it became inundated with flood water from Ōtorohanga Domain on Friday.

They spent the evening wading through water and moving taonga, or treasures, from the whare to the neighbouring church which stands off the ground.

They were responding to a social media call from museum director Liz Cowan who had heard from Ōtorohanga Historical Society treasurer Amanda Kiddie that the waka was under threat but was unable to get into town from her home due to slips.

The waka, unearthed in 2002 at a quarry in Rangiatea Road, Ōtorohanga, escaped almost unscathed after flood water lapped at the tree root at one end.

Cowan told The News media reports of lost taonga were erroneous and she was thankful for a which had saved everything in the whare.

“We have not lost anything, because of all of these people,” she said.

Ōtorohanga Historical Society president Maggie Hughes was joined by Kiddie and creative coordinator Rebbeca Ngāpō who coordinated the rescue.

Jo Butcher

Councillor Jo Butcher was among those who came to the museum’s aid.

“They were incredible,” Hughes said. ”We have had so many offers of adice and help from museums all over the country.”

“We have taonga all over the church and I am in the process of sanitising all the objects and letting them dry,” Cowan said.

Chem-Dry Waikato’s Isaac Jackson spent Sunday afternoon ripping up the whare’s carpet for replacement, and setting up dehumidifiers to allow the building and waka to slowly dry out.

“It’s all go,” Cowan said.

Support continued in the days that followed.

“People are popping in and asking if we need food,” Ngāpō said.

Waikato Chem Dry’s Isaac Jackson rips up carpet at Ōtorohanga Museum. Photo: Chris Gardner

The clean up at Otorohanga Museum. Photo: Chris Gardner

Otorohanga Prmary School

Ōtorohanga Primary School, in Phillips Avenue, was inundated when the Mohoanui Stream burst its banks sending sewage infected flood water across the playground and into the buildings.

Principal Catriona Chrystall and presiding board member Kirby Beattie would not discuss the flood with The News, but a social media post said the school was closed until further notice.

“Due to unexpected flooding on site, Ōtorohanga Primary School will be closed effective immediately until further notice,” Chrystall said in the post.

“The safely of out Tamariki, kaimahi, and whanau is our absolute priority. We are currently working closely with the Ministry of Education, who will be conducting a formal assessment of the school grounds and buildings to ensure the environment is safe for our return.”

The school was expecting to start back today at “secure suitable space” at Otorohanga South School, with the school’s leadership team expecting to operate from there for a few weeks.