The Rotary Club of Taupo decided to organise a Time Capsule to commemorate 1990. Members of the public were invited to record their histories and impressions of life in Taupo in 1990.

The capsule is made from a length of fibreglass pipe, as used in the Ohaaki Power Station, and contains corrosion and fire resistant layers. It is 2 metres in diameter x 2.1 metres long and 18 mm thick. The ends were sealed with untreated pine plywood sealed both sides with fibreglass, with extra layers on the outside.

Content

The Club provided acid free paper and pencils, and people were invited to write about their lives and histories. Clubs and associations were invited to place their club records and balance sheets. Promotional material was provided by; Taupo Information Centre, Electricorp, DSIR, and the Taupo Museum. A photographic record provided by the Taupo Camera Club contains some 600 photos and negatives.Also a day long radio programme was recorded and the tapes placed in the capsule.

Preservation

Advice on preservation was provided by the National Library preservation department.

All items were conditioned before packing. Papers were placed in manila envelopes. Photocopied material was interleaved with acid free paper. Negatives were sealed in glosine envelopes. Photo prints were wrapped in acid free paper. The material was then placed in plastic airtight containers, which were purged with nitrogen. These containers were then wrapped in plastic bags and sealed with PVC tape.

The Capsule was buried on 12 December 1990 near the Taupo District Museum in Story Place. The Taupo District Council have recorded its precise location.

Click here to see pictures of the capsule