Waikato Museum

Located in an iconic building on the banks of the Waikato River, in the heart of Hamilton’s south-end cultural precinct, Waikato Museum’s 13 galleries feature more than 25 new exhibitions and 100 public events annually. This dynamic schedule engages visitors with the stories of our region, nation and the world, with a special focus on art, social history, tangata whenua and science. The exhibitions are complemented by floor talks from artists and science specialists, Maori arts and crafts workshops, concerts and lectures, and the museum also hosts a series of seasonal tours to explore Hamilton’s bat population and other wildlife.

One of the museum’s major highlights is the 200-year-old waka taua (war canoe) Te Winika, which was gifted to the museum by the late Maori Queen. Te Whaanau Maarama: The Heavenly Bodies shines a light on Maori astronomy and the rise of Matariki.

The museum’s WWI centenary exhibit, For Us They Fell, is a tribute to the great number of Waikato soldiers who served and gave their lives in World War I. Waikato Museum is also the host of the National Contemporary Art Award, an annual exhibition that provides a window into New Zealand’s art scene. With all this and more, Waikato Museum is the perfect place to visit and interact with the stories of our place in the world.