Step inside Te Toi Uku / Crown Lynn Museum today and you’ll notice the transformation instantly. What was once a quiet, contemplative space has blossomed into a lively, welcoming hub.
Locals now wander through the refreshed building to browse heritage collections, use the new facilities, or simply enjoy a chat on a bright summer afternoon.
Driving this shift is the museum’s new identity: Ambrico Neighbourhood Hub—a dual museum-and-community space made possible with support from Whau Local Board.
Named after Ambrico Place, the community it sits within, the hub has been thriving since the beginning of 2024.
A simple idea sparked a big change
The concept came from museum director Louise Stevenson, who envisioned the museum as more than just a museum.
“The museum needs to be more than shelves of objects. It needs to have meaning for people,” she says.
Louise saw the potential to connect with the diverse community of Ambrico Place, an area known for its medium-density housing and many recent arrivals to Aotearoa New Zealand.
“There are lots of people from overseas and new immigrants. This could help people feel grounded in the place they live.”
With the backing of Whau Local Board and strong feedback from a large community meeting, the idea took root—transforming Te Toi Uku into the Ambrico Neighbourhood Hub.
The hub began hosting activities that respond to community interests and concerns, including local safety. A variety of activities was tested including Easter celebrations for children, Ambrico Spring Day featuring stalls and a Māori circus performance.
Locals at Ambrico Family Fun Day.
They’ve also helped find practical solutions to long-standing issues—like the plan to install a soccer goal in the park to stop repeated damage to a nearby fence.
Beyond events, the hub has become a place where small acts of support create meaningful connection. Louise recalls helping a new resident refine her CV and connect with potential local employers.
“Even if it’s just one individual, you try to make a meaningful difference.”
When heritage and community blend
While some community activities may seem unrelated to museum work at first glance, many link naturally back to Crown Lynn’s origins.
“It might seem strange for the museum to run a gardening workshop,” says Louise. “But Crown Lynn itself started with gardening.”
Founder Tom Clark’s grandfather Rice Owen Clark initially wanted to grow vegetables for Auckland, only to discover the land’s heavy clay. His experiments with clay led to the ceramic pipes that began the Crown Lynn story.
Locals at Ambrico Park event.
Workshops today often echo that history, from wellbeing-focused gardening sessions to planting terracotta seedling pots, mirroring the products Crown Lynn once made.
The heritage connection also runs through the potters’ markets, where Crown Lynn’s legacy of sharing materials, advice, and creativity continues.
A community asset—thanks to Whau Local Board’s support
Te Toi Uku has become a valuable resource and asset for New Lynn, and Louise says this progress wouldn’t have been possible without Whau Local Board.
“Huge credit to Whau Local Board for their contributions and belief in us. Without their support, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
With the board’s investment of $114,463.23, this community museum reopened in August following several months of renovations. The upgrades include a new roof, a sheltered outdoor area, and a staffroom with a lovely kitchen, to better host the community.
Looking ahead, Louise hopes even more locals will get involved.
“We’d love to share the incredible heritage right here in New Lynn with you. Please drop in—this museum belongs to everyone in the community. ”
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