This major New Zealand regional museum holds in trust almost two million collection items of regional, national and international significance. The collections cover a wide range of topics including Canterbury's first people, the Moa hunter Mäori and their descendants, and the European settlers' cultural, and economic development, family and local history. Arts of Asia, the discovery and exploration of Antarctica, New Zealand birds, mammals, insects, rock minerals and fossils also feature. Highlights include the Mountfort Gallery of European Decorative Arts and Costume, the Victorian Christchurch Street, and Living Canterbury. The Museum is impressively located, next door to the Botanic Gardens and opposite The Arts Centre.