Gisborne Museum & Art Gallery

The Tairawhiti Museum and Art Gallery has a reputation as one of the very best, most innovative regional museums in New Zealand.  In recent years we have undergone significant change including major building extensions, redevelopment of all exhibition spaces, and the establishment of a broadly representative Board of Trustees.

Our vision is to become an integral part of the community of the Tairawhiti through building strong and enduring relationships with community groups.  Our role extends beyond our own four walls to the most remote parts of the region.

Tairawhiti Museum Hours - Open 7 Days

• Monday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm
• Sunday and Public Holidays 1:30pm - 4:00pm
• Closed - Easter Friday and Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Statements  

Vision - To stimulate passion for the stories of Te Tairawhiti.

Mission - Tairawhiti Museum is a gateway/waharoa and resource for the art, culture and heritage of our communities.

Exhibitions & Galleries

The museum is both museum and art gallery to the Tairawhiti region. Endeavouring to reflect ancient and recent histories, a variety of changing and semi-permanent exhibitions are on offer to the visitor. Please visit our website for our art exhibitions and current exhibitions calender.

Long Term Exhibits

• Watersheds | Ngâ Wai Pupû is the Tairawhiti Museum's latest semi-permanent exhibition. Opened in early 2009 it gives the visitor a snapshot of the history of the Gisborne/East Coast region.
• Gisborne Photo News - An exhibition displaying a selection of photographs from the Gisborne Photo News publications is on view within the stairwell to Te Moana - Maritime Gallery. This exhibition supports the recent launch of the Gisborne Photo News website: http://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/index.html
• Wyllie Cottage - Wyllie Cottage is the oldest European house still standing in the Gisborne area and also a popular tourist attraction.  It is open to the public, having been recently refurbished to better reflect the stories of the people who lived in the cottage, and the times they were confronted with. Features of the cottage include; a walk-in wardrobe showing various women’s formal attire of the day, a three-dimensional topographic map featuring significant points of interest within the Gisborne region, photographic and interpretative panels, walk-in room viewing, and original display objects.
• Star of Canada - Te Moana Maritime Museum - The Te Moana Maritime Gallery offers a glimpse into 1000 years of maritime myths, legends, stories and development of the Tairawhiti East Coast region. Also included in this gallery is the arrival of Captain James Cook, the development of Gisborne’s harbour, local shipwrecks, surfing in this region, the fishing industry and surf life saving.
• C Company - The Tairawhiti Museum is honoured to be working in partnership with the C. Company Trust Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust to celebrate the men and memories of the C. Company, Maori (28) Battalion.
  
  The Maori Battalion was organised on a tribal basis where the C. Company was comprised of men from an area between Torere in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to Paritu, located 40 kilometres south of Gisborne. Nearly one thousand men served with the C. Company, including Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery.

  The Price of Citizenship is a moving tribute to the men who gave and risked their lives for the World War Two Allied war effort. A main component of this display is a wall of photographs displaying images of  the C. Company soldiers. Around 90% of the named soldiers have accompanying photographs and it is hoped that one day this wall may be complete.

Education

The Tairawhiti Museum offers unique learning experiences that complement and enrich the learning that students experience in the classroom setting. We offer alternative approaches to achieving curriculum requirements. The Ministry of Education contracts the Tairawhiti Museum to provide Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom (L.E.O.T.C.) for primary, intermediate and secondary schools in the Tairwahiti (East Coast region). This area spans East Cape in the north to Kotemaori in the south.

Café

The Exhibit Café is open for lunches, brunches, morning and afternoon teas. A wide menu is available and changes with the seasons. Opening Hours Are: 10.00am to 3.30pm. Monday to Friday.

MUSEUM ADMISSION PRICES: Quoted in NZ$, Subject to Change.

• Entry is by $2 for locals and $5 for other visitors.
• Friends of the Museum members and children 12 and under have free admission.
• Monday is free for all visitors.

Address:

10 Stout Street
Gisborne Central

Phone: +64 6 867 3832

Fax: +64 6 867 2728

Web: Visit website