“The whole site was wonderful, we’d forgotten how extensive it was.”

“I rate it as the best small museum in the country.”

Nau mai, tautī mai. Welcome to the Okains Bay Museum

Visit a very special museum at the heart of historic Okains Bay, gifted to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand by founder Murray Thacker Q.S.M. in 1977.

You will enjoy the relaxed environment as you learn about life on Banks Peninsula and Aotearoa New Zealand in former times. Nationally significant taonga Māori and early Pākehā items are among the exciting range of treasures on display in the museum’s diverse complex of heritage buildings.

We welcome all visitors and aim to do everything we can to make sure every visitor has an enjoyable time. A Visitor Host is on hand to assist you during your visit. If you have any particular requirements or access considerations, please get in touch with us before your visit.

Your visit under the Covid-19 Protection Framework

Okains Bay Museum is a museum for the community and for all Aotearoa New Zealand. Protecting our taonga and our collections is equally as important as keeping our community of visitors, volunteers and staff safe.

When visiting, please wear a mask or face covering over their nose and mouth, and maintain a physical distance of 1-metre from others not in their group. The NZ COVID Tracing QR code will be available for you to use should you wish.

Rare tāniko waistcoat which incorporates traditional Māori weaving into a garment of European design. It was a gift to a Taranaki teacher upon his retirement. Hand carved gourd by Dutch artist, photographer & carver Theo Schoon, c.1960 who began to grow and carve his own gourds in 1956–57. Most were sold to tourists and only a few remain in New Zealand today. This Powder Flask was carved from a bullock horn rather than whale byproduct traditionally used by scrimshanders. Often whalers and sailor occupied themselves this way during the long days at sea using whatever materials were on hand. Musician Pat Reynish played this drum decorated by Len Holloborn in 1928 in his Pigeon Bay band at many local balls and dances during the first half of the 20th century. Male Huia beak brooch, c.1900. This gold mounted brooch is made from the beak of a male huia, a bird native to New Zealand that became extinct in 1907. This Whakapakoko rākau God Stick made from kānuka and carbon-dated to circa 1400 is an extremely rare and treasured object in the Museum's Taonga Māori collection.

• Experience Aotearoa New Zealand history and culture in a unique rural setting.
• Discover our extensive collections housed in a range of replica and relocated heritage buildings.
• View our nationally significant collection of taonga Māori.
• Draw inspiration from the beautiful Okains Bay landscape.
• Enjoy Nights at the Museum in our retro Museum Bach or the bunk-style Grandstand Accommodation, both located on the museum grounds.

“wow this is the best Māori museum, this is all about my history, I can’t believe it”.