With over 20,000 items on display, the museum vividly conveys the stories of early Māori and Pākehā life through its impressive collections which include items from the Banks Peninsula area associated with whaling, farming and colonial rural life and a nationally significant collection of taonga Māori that rivals those of New Zealand’s larger metropolitan museums. A magnificent collection of waka (Māori canoes) and small European boats also impress a sense of the historical importance of watercraft in New Zealand. Click on the list in the sidebar to learn about a selection of our exhibitions currently on display.