Tairāwhiti Museum is a 5-minute walk from the CBD, across Peel Street Bridge and through Kelvin Park. There is free parking on Stout Street.
Covid-19 update 22.3.2020
Tairāwhiti Museum and Exhibit Café will close to the public from Monday 23 March to protect against the risk of covid-19 transmission.
Our staff are continuing to work from our offices or at home and will be able to continue most of our activities.
Read the latest museum covid-19 response information here
Opening Hours
- Monday – Saturday 10am – 4pm
- Sunday and Public Holidays 1:30pm – 4:00pm
- Closed – Easter Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Admission
- Adults $5 (12 years and under and Friends of the Museum free entry)
- Free entry every day for local residents!
Exhibit Cafe
- Monday – Friday 8.30am to 2.00pm, Saturday 9.30am – 12.30pm, closed Sundays.
What’s Happening at the Museum
Exhibitions
East of the Sun – Zoe Alford
Opening: 03/04/20 5:30 pm
Zoe seeks to make visible the extraordinary moments in the everyday landscape. Her work challenges us to view our surroundings with new eyes. Just as every tree has its time each year to stand out in its environment, there are times of every year when the angles of the sun, or the time of day... Read more »
Kahukura – Tāwera Tahuri
Opening: 27/03/20 5:30 pm
Tāwera Tahuri is a multimedia artist who has, since graduating from Toihoukura School of Māori Art and Design in 1997, achieved much at an international level. She travels extensively, representing Indigenous Māori artists on the global stage, her art serving as a conduit for her cultural and political activism. In 2009 she was invited to... Read more »
Ocean
OCEAN Ko Au Te Moana Ko Te Moana Ko Au I am the ocean and the ocean is me Artists Nick Tupara and Jolene Douglas join together in an exhibition of recent works. This collaborative offering is a sharing of emotions and passions for the water that descend to earth mother, connects mountains to rivers,... Read more »
Tū te Whaihanga
Opening: 07/10/19 10:00 am
Tū te Whaihanga is a resurgence of the creative genius of the past, and carries the cultural aspirations of tangata whenua into the future. Sacred taonga that left the shores of Te Tairāwhiti 250 years ago will return home to be celebrated in the upcoming exhibition, Tū te Whaihanga. The homecoming will see these taonga stand... Read more »
Posing, Not Posing
Opening: 26/11/18 10:00 am
Long before smartphones, selfie sticks and one-swipe filters, having your ‘perfect’ picture taken took practice, preparation and plenty of posing. Early cameras and photographic materials required the sitter to be still for many seconds. While this is often given as the reason for a lack of smiles, a more likely reason is that early portrait... Read more »
Wyllie Cottage
Wyllie Cottage
Wyllie Cottage is the oldest European house still standing in the Gisborne area and also a popular tourist attraction. It was restored and refurbished in 2016. You can find out more about this project on our blog. The cottage was built in the early days of the township of Gisborne for Keita (Kate) and James... Read more »
Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
