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Mercury Belle

by | Aug 24, 2018 | Museum Articles

Article first published in The Informer

Over the last few weeks we have been running a competition to give our cow a name. We are pleased to announce that we have winner!!!

Her name is “Mercury Belle” and Ren Wells was the winner. He came in especially one day to meet the cow and make sure she suited it. He was very happy so gave us his entry. He also told us the story behind the name. The Mercury Belle was a freighter boat for the Mizen family on Great Mercury Island. She was named the Belle because she was the ‘Belle of the Ball’. It was built for E.E Mizen by Lidgard Bros in February 1938. She was a substantial 52 footer with Canadian-built 120hp 6 cylinder Vivian engine and cost £4,000. This was an astronomical sum at the time. The Mercury Belle later became a fishing trawler out of Gisborne.

Thank you to Ren for her new name –we think she suits it too and is now the “Belle of Mercury Museum”.

Don’t forget if you have been thinking about volunteering come on in and have a chat with us – we are always looking for more hands to help out.

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Become a Volunteer

If you would like to volunteer to be part of our front-of-house team welcoming visitors to the museum, read our volunteer programme fact sheet and download our application form from the link below.

Opening Times

10am to 3pm*

Closed Sundays

* except Christmas/Boxing Day, Good Friday,
Easter Sunday and Anzac Day.
Last admission 2.15pm

Visit Us

11A The Esplanade, Whitianga
Opposite the wharf.
Wheelchair access & parking is available on The Esplanade.

Admission

Adults $12.50
Local Adult $10
NZ Gold Card (Senior) $10
Student (15-18 years) $10
Children Under 14 are free with an accompanying adult
Groups 10+ please contact us re your visit.

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