Overview
Visitors to Auckland War Memorial Museum's new permanent suite of galleries are invited to encounter Auckland from different perspectives. Seven sections across four gallery spaces are dedicated to the new opening, Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland. This is the first time that Auckland will have a permanent suite of galleries that explores the past, present and future of its people, and the cultures that have made the city what it is today. The stories of Auckland are shared though the Museum's collections, with over 500 objects on display and rich digital experiences.
Tāmaki Herenga Waka showcases selected taonga from the three iwi who hold mana whenua status for the Museum's site at Pukekawa: Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Paoa and Waikato-Tainui. These include a kahukiwi (kiwi feather cloak) once worn by Kiingi Taawhiao, the second Māori King. Another key feature of the gallery, which opens to the public on Wednesday, 24 March is 'Kei konei koe You are Here', an audio-visual experience that offers up an immersive introduction to Tāmaki.
Elsewhere, visitors can explore the development of Auckland through the stories of Māori, European, and Pasifika families who settled here, and learn how the unique geography of the region and our proximity to water has shaped the way we live. Visitors can also simulate hauling a waka over the portage route that links the Tāmaki river and Manukau Harbour, and watch eight short films revealing the experiences of different communities living in Auckland.
The dedicated 'Living City/Rarau mai' room features large-scale dynamic data visualisations that span three themes: people, environment and systems. An interactive touchscreen allows visitors to dive deeper into the stories within their own neighbourhood.
Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland opens at Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira from Wednesday, 24 March. It's free with Museum entry.
Image: Richard Ng, Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.