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Tairāwhiti Museum

Te rohe - Location
Kelvin Park 10 Stout Street Gisborne

Ngā haora mahi - Opening hours
Weekdays 10am-4pm
Weekends 1.30pm-4pm
public holidays 1.30pm - 4pm

Te utu - Admission
Free for Tairāwhiti residents
Free for 12 and under
$5 for adults

Tairāwhiti Museum is the major public institution for arts, culture and heritage activities for the Tairāwhiti region and has a reputation as one of the most innovative regional museums in New Zealand.

Our mission is to be a waharoa (gateway) and resource for our communities and to stimulate appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, and involvement in the arts, culture and heritage of Tairāwhiti.

Our primary activities include:
Delivering exhibitions, education programmes and events
Developing and providing care and access to Tairāwhiti’s arts and heritage collections.
Providing research services and supporting scholarship and research about the Tairāwhiti region.

Our vision is to make Tairāwhiti a better place to live and to visit by contributing to the development of positive community identity, advancing community well-being and contributing to a sustainable local economy.

Our activities extend beyond the walls of the museum across our region from Wairoa to Hicks Bay.

The museum has a regularly changing programme of art and history exhibitions with a strong focus on taonga and toi Māori and two historic buildings to explore: Wyllie Cottage (the oldest remaining European style house in Gisborne) and the wheelhouse and captains cabin of the Star of Canada (built 1909 and wrecked at Gisborne in 1912).

Entry is $5 for visitors to Tairāwhiti.
Entry to the museum is FREE for Tairāwhiti residents.
Children 12 years and under and Friends of the Museum are FREE.

Exhibit Café is open for lunches, brunches and morning teas with a seasonal menu featuring local produce. The cafe is open from 9.30am to 2pm Monday to Friday.

The Tairāwhiti Museum shop stocks a high-quality range of gifts. We pride ourselves on supporting local artists and makers.

In the museum precinct you can also visit C Company Memorial House and Lysnar House Artists Studios.

Ngā momo kohinga -
Collection Strengths

Art

  • Aotearoa art - Contemporary
  • Aotearoa art - Historic
  • Māori art

Archaeology

Archives and manuscripts

Books and journals

Military

Photography

Natural history and sciences

Social history

Taonga Māori

Technology

Ngā wāhi -
Facilities

  • Archives

  • Reference library

  • Education programme

  • Public programmes

  • Guided tours

  • Membership club

  • Touring exhibitions

  • High resolution images available for order

  • Wheelchair access

  • Free Wi-Fi

  • Function space

  • Toilets

  • Parking

  • Café

  • Shop

Whakapā mai -
Contact

Kei te mahere -
On the map

Tūhuratia te kohinga -
Explore collection