The Whanganui Regional Museum, founded in 1892, has an extensive collection of natural and human history with a regional emphasis. It houses objects of both national and international significance. The Museum's rich collections are preserved in the belief that our future will be enriched through a greater understanding of our past.

^ Contact Us

Publications

Te Ara Tapu - Sacred Journeys

Whanganui Regional Museum Taonga Māori Collection

 

Whanganui Regional Museum,

PO Box 352,

Wanganui 4540

New Zealand.

 

TEL +64 6 349 1110

FAX +64 6 347 6512

EMAIL info@museum.queenspark.org.nz

 

Te Ara Tapu

^ Museum entrance

 

Main entrance from the forecourt of the
War Memorial Hall, Watt Street.

^ Museum hours

‘‘The greatest opportunity that we embrace with this book is that it gives the taonga in our care a voice and a return to the world.”

Sharon Dell, Director, Whanganui Regional Museum 1995-2008

Within these pages, Te Ara Tapu presents more than 150 of the most prized treasures from the extensive collection of historically important and stunning taonga Māori entrusted to the care of the Whanganui Regional Museum.

A tauparapara, or chant, takes you on a poetic journey of discovery around the Whanganui region, uncovering the hidden histories and stories behind place names and people and the taonga they revere.

The connections of the local taonga to their homes are woven into these stories, as are the links joining taonga from elsewhere to places within our region.

Lavishly illustrated with stunning full-colour photographs of the treasures as well as historical images, this book is a memorable and beautiful record of the region and its people.

A bonus CD contains a record of all 4,500 taonga Māori held by the Museum.

Authors: Michelle Horwood & Che Wilson, published by Random House

Price: $ 45 (Whanganui Regional Museum Society Member - $ 40.50)

Dimensions: 152pp, 245 x 210mm, 116 colour plates and 29 black & white images, CD

 

10.00 am - 4.30 pm seven days
Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
Archival Services 10.00 am - 1.00 pm weekdays, closed public holidays.

^ General admission fees

 

Entry Charges
Adults $5.00
Children 16 years & under Free

^ Photographs and videos

 

Visitors may not take photographs or videos inside the Museum.

^ Not to be missed

 

Exhibition highlights are Te Ati Haunui a Paparangi - The Maori Court, Te Pataka Whakaahua - The Lindauer Gallery, The Street: Wanganui 1900-1920, recreating a glimpse of shops and businesses from this prosperous time, and Nga Manu: Birds of New Zealand which features many endangered and extinct species. We also present a changing programme of historical and contemporary exhibitions.

^ The People

 

A team of dedicated professional staff and community volunteers contribute their vision and energy caring for and sharing the stories of the Museum’s collections.

^ The Programmes and Services

 

The Museum programme includes long-term and changing exhibitions, lectures, fieldtrips, demonstrations and workshops and comprehensive education experiences. We also offer research, identification and heritage advisory services. The Museum Shop stocks a wide range of jewellery, souvenirs, books and tapes.

^ Museum School Membership

Subscriptions are due at the beginning of the 2009. Membership benefits include no cost for school visits and education kit hire, an education catalogue and year's programme as well as four newsletters per year. Membership forms are available on request. The cost for non-members' visits to the Museum is $1.50 per student.

^ Museum shop

 
  Books and cards for young and old
 
  Paua, pounamu (greenstone) and silverware necklaces, earrings and brooches  
   
  Traditional Maori carved heru (hair combs)  
 

^ Whanganui Links

 

www.wanganui.co.nz
www.sarjeant.org.nz

www.wanganui.govt.nz/bequests/bequests.asp