The Coromandel Heritage Trust, a charitable trust, was formed in November 2003, with representatives from tangata whenua and from the extended areas of the peninsula and plains.
This project has met with a very enthusiastic response from the community. People have donated items from the time they heard about The Treasury. The Trust has no doubt that this repository is sorely needed.

The Treasury has been identified as one of the four priority projects for development on the peninsula under the 2004 Regional Culture and Heritage Study funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

These projects are considered to have excellent potential, are practical, achievable and relevant, and fit with the aspirations of the region.

• To plan, promote, secure funding and manage the establishment of a heritage and archival repository, and to oversee its ongoing functions.
• To encourage the collection and preservation of all historical material from the Thames, Coromandel, Hauraki, Mercury Bay and Ohinemuri areas.
• To promote the historical significance of these areas.
• To provide a facility which will encourage people to visit these areas to research their family history.
• To increase the store of local knowledge.
• To provide educational programmes and advisory assistance to individuals and groups.






TRUST VALUES


The members of The Trust want to preserve historical records so that future generations can enjoy the stories these records tell. The Coromandel Heritage Trust will provide a repository where the history of the area and its people can be kept safe for posterity, these resources to be kept in archival conditions for their preservation, and to be accessible under strictly controlled conditions.


• We will provide a repository of national archival standard, to ensure people realise this is the best place to store their history.
• The cultural heritage of all races will be respected and valued.
• We will accept documents of historical interest to the region and its people. Anyone will be able to deposit their records, providing the records themselves meet the criteria of the acquisition policy.
• We will encourage individuals and organisations to see the importance of keeping original documents safe, by making good copies (easily available nowadays) for their own use, and depositing the originals in the repository where they will be kept safe for future generations to use.
• We will encourage people to think about their heritage by providing displays with interpretive labelling
• We will utilize E-commerce and IT trends to the full to provide the best possible results for the researcher.
• We will review policies regularly, to maintain the highest level of integrity.






THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY


In 2007 Council approved The Coromandel Heritage Trust's application to lease the Carnegie Library to use as an archive and family history centre called The Treasury. This handsome building required bringing up to the required earthquake standards, and refurbishing inside. This building is one of the best examples of the Carnegie Libraries built in New Zealand, and its use as a heritage centre will enable it to remain a valuable community asset.