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.
The Museum and Exhibit Cafe are open to the public at Covid-19 alert level 1. We have a range of measures in place to enable us to open safely. For more information please visit our Covid-19 response page.
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 9.30am to 1.00pm, closed weekends (winter reduced hours)
What’s Happening at the Museum
Exhibitions
Pieces of You – From the Museum Fine Arts Collection
Opening: 26/09/20 10:00 am
Pieces of You is the title of a small mixed media work on canvas by artist Barbara Emery and is the hero image that highlights this suite of works perfectly. A jewellery box with many compartments loaded with life effusing light, colourful secrets, dark desires, passionate thoughts and honourable intentions The majority of these works... Read more »
Te Hono Wai – Where waters meet – Jo Torr
Opening: 11/09/20 5:30 pm
Five of the artworks highlight the experiences of Tuai and Tītere, two young Māori chiefs who travelled to England in 1818. These works draw attention to the way Māori travelled the world prior to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi seeking new knowledge, useful goods and technologies, while simultaneously sharing their own knowledge to... Read more »
Artists, Potters and Photographers
Opening: 28/08/20 5:30 pm
This year has been an unprecedented one. The worldwide pandemic and lock-down has for many artists put an end to that perpetual complaint, “I never have time!” and our annual exhibition will be a fabulous opportunity to view how Gisborne creatives have channelled this experience. A variety of mediums will be on show so something... Read more »
Places and Faces
Opening: 04/08/20 12:00 am
Fred Foster found a way to make a dollar. Well pre-decimal pounds actually. His plan was to learn how to use a camera and make photographs. That accomplished he took his camera and his sale like charms to his neighbourhood. Knocking on the doors of homes, many newly built, he would talk the lady of... 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
Ambitious Gisborne Women book launch
Join us for the launch of Ambitious Gisborne Women by Jean Johnston. NOTE the new date for the launch is 8th NOVEMBER 2pm to 4pm Please rsvp to info@tairawhitimuseum.org.nz or 06 8673832 Find out more about the exhibition Ambitious Gisborne Women
