Double celebration at Ward

Hundreds of people attended the opening of the Flaxbourne Heritage Centre last Friday. The beautiful new museum demonstrates the commitment and strength of the Ward community and its bounce back from adversity.

Ward suffered severely in the 2013 and 2016 earthquakes, losing its pub, church, museum and water storage, with considerable damage to homes, roading and farmland. The new heritage centre is a tribute to the locals who have worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition and make it a reality.

The centre showcases a wide range of memorabilia detailing the rich depth of the area’s history - including first arrivals and Māori settlement, moa hunters, shipwrecks and the Cape Campbell lighthouse.

The day also heralded the opening of the Flaxbourne section of the Whale Trail, running from Te Ruakanakana/Lake Elterwater to the new centre. The 10km round trip section has lovely views and is another marker on the trail connecting the communities between Picton and Kaikōura.