Members of the Waihī Arts Centre and Museum at the opening of 'Waihī Unfolded'. Bella Paulsen in the centre, with Anne Marie Spicer to her right. Photo: RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod
A new photo exhibition about Waihī's history has opened, but its curator did not come from a big city museum, and has not even finished high school.
Returning from a student exchange to Italy where she visited some of the great museums of the world, 17-year-old Bella Paulsen wanted to know more about museum life.
So in Year 12 last year, she became the first student to ever volunteer at the Waihī Arts Centre and Museum.
While helping in the archives, Paulsen realised there was more to the history of her town than just mining.
She asked if she could curate an exhibit.
"At first, [the museum] was 'oh, that would be very interesting,' and then when they realised I was actually serious they were like 'yes, yes'," Paulsen said.
She discovered a lot about the town's post-colonial history through curating the Waihī Unfolded photo exhibition.
"I didn't know the full history of Waihī, I only knew what I learnt from school, which was mining."
Putting together the photo timeline opened her eyes to a richer history.
Paulsen said this was one of the reasons she did not want the exhibit to focus on mining.
"The mining history did found Waihī, I guess, but also the people and the community of Waihī was a main reason for it to be such a good town," she said.
Working on the exhibition had changed Paulsen's feelings about her hometown.
"I know a lot of people my age kind of want to move away from Waihī and they don't want to live here, and I was like that, but now I'm like, 'no, this is actually a cool town,' and I love living in Waihī."
Local ward councillor Anne Marie Spicer said Waihī was lucky to have youth like Paulsen.
"I'm really proud of our young locals, I think we have some fantastic young people who are very confident in voicing their ideas and their opinions and seem happy to feedback in all sorts of projects that we do, it's really good to see," said Spicer.
She attended the opening of Waihī Unfolded and said it had been a hit.
"Bella's exhibition ties in beautifully with the original intent with the museum, which was set up in 1962 to showcase our local history, and her exhibition has just been really well received and supported by locals and visitors alike, of all ages," said Spicer.
Doreen McLeod has been a volunteer and patron at the Waihī Arts Centre and Museum for many years.
Nearly 60 years older then Paulsen, in many ways they are kindred spirits.
"She said she was interested in doing an exhibition and I said 'go for it,'... and she's virtually done that by herself," said McLeod.
Paulsen did credit her mum with helping her a lot, and the local community who provided more recent photos allowing the exhibit's timeline to reach right up to the present day.
McLeod said she thought Waihī Unfolded was going to be the start of a very special career for Paulsen, who plans to go on to learn museum studies at university next year.
For now, Paulsen is enjoying the success of the photo exhibit, which is open for a few more weeks, and focusing on finishing high school.
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