Moreland Military vehicle collection on the move

[Bruce]

I Have just heard that Andy Moreland's impressive collection of military vehicles (aka the Tauwhare Military Museum) has been lost to Cambridge. My Mum was speaking to Andy to try and organise a visit by her holiday programme kids, however a large chunk ofthe collection has already been shipped out with the remainder in the next few weeks. The various vehicles are going to a new museum in Tauranga, set up in a specially built museum building. (possibly with some of the examples from the defunct Te Puke Auto Barn). Although its great to see that the collection is getting a great new home, I am saddened that Cambridge has missed out on the oportunity to have the world class collection as a tourist attraction. The collection had been offered to the Waipa District Council for a negligable sum, providing an appropriate building was constructed. It appears as though the council's interest in heritage amounts only to telling people what colour they must paint thier historical buildings.... oh well.... they are happy to take the publicity generated by the Armistice day celebrations (That Andy has strongly supported in the past) but not to pt anything towards the preservation and upkeep of the same vehicles. i suspect political correctness has a part here, as the WDC is quite proud of the collection of Maori artefacts in the Te Awamutu museum.

I havent heard what they will be doing with ex Eagle Bandierante ZK-ERU. (I wouldnt mind it as a garden ornament...)

[corsair67]

That is a shame to hear that news, Bruce.

Some local councils really have no idea.

[Dave Homewood]

Well the problem is Craig that he has millions of dollars worth of stuff, and the council is already having enough problems trying to find a way to house the Cambridge museum and Te Awamutu Museum collections which are under their jurisdiction - Te A is ok but Cambridge's museum is too small and we need an extension or a new building.

The council considered building one big museum for Cambridge which would take in the local musuems - that being the main Cambirdge Museum (Cambridge Historical Society runs and owns the collection); The Tauwhare Military Museum; The Sports Museum; the something-or-other tractor museum and a fifth that i forget, all of which are in the Cambridge district. But it was unfeasible. So we've lost Andy's collection.

However it's going to a great museum that's not far from here and the vehicles, etc will still be seen in Cambridge on special occasions.

Cambridge lost another fine military collection in the 1980's when Col. Tom Wallace, a noted war historian and Cambridge resident, died. All his stuff was auctioned and it seems a lot went to Waiouru.

This is from today's paper, The Cambridge Edition:

[flyjoe180]

At least the collection is staying in NZ, I see the article mentions a French buyer was interested.