The Tairua Heritage Centre offers a rich and welcoming window into the history of Tairua, Hikuai, and Pauanui on the Coromandel’s east coast. The centre houses an impressive collection of historic maps, photographs, records, and personal stories — including the extensive Father Bennett papers.

The Tairua Heritage Centre is located at 223 Main Road, Tairua. The Centre is operated by the Tairua Heritage Society for the purpose of recording, protecting and remembrance of accessible local history for the communities of Tairua, Hikuai and Pauanui on the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. 

The Centre has a variety of historic maps, old photographs, papers and memorabilia in particular the Taparahi Forestry and the Father Bennett papers. We are a repository for the collected records made by Father Bennett over many decades that feature fishing, mining, dairy farming, forestry, stories of the pioneering families of the district and their daily lives and heritage. 

March to November
We are open for visitors every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am until 2pm. 

December to February
We are open for visitors every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10am to 3pm

Entry is free.