Visit

General Conditions of Entry

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery (“Te Whare Taonga o Waikato”)  is open daily between 10am and 5pm, except 25 December (Christmas Day). Our staff may ask you to begin leaving up to ten minutes before closing time.

Assumption of Risk

Visitors enter Te Whare Taonga o Waikato at their own risk and choose to do so under these terms and conditions. No liability for loss, injury or damage will be accepted.

Enforcement of Terms and Conditions

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato retains the right to deny access and/or remove any visitors who fail to comply with these terms and conditions.

Entry Requirements

Entry into Te Whare Taonga o Waikato is free; charges will apply to some paid exhibitions and experiences including Exscite.

One caregiver is given free entry to paid exhibitions and experiences when accompanying disabled persons aged three years and older (children under three years are free).  We ask for suitable supporting documentation and identification e.g. Community Services Card or a letter from a health practitioner. Please let our Visitor Experience Representative team know on arrival.

All children under the age of 15 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato reserves the right to inspect the bags of visitors. If on searching your bag, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff deem the item may be a risk to the collection, building, staff, or other visitors they will remove it, and return to you when you leave Te Whare Taonga o Waikato.

Right to Close or Restrict Access

Unauthorised access to areas marked “no-entry” is strictly prohibited.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato may change operating hours, alter exhibitions, close specific areas of the museum, or impose additional requirements for entry which Te Whare Taonga o Waikato considers are reasonably required at any time without prior notice.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato has the authority to close the museum or any part thereof, including any individual galleries, for any reason whatsoever including for private events, maintenance, or in the interests of safety and will not be liable for any loss or expense incurred by a visitor as a result of such closure or variation.

Food and Drink

No food or drink is allowed to be taken into the galleries. There is a secure coatroom where you can leave bags with food and drink, including drink bottles, while you explore the Te Whare Taonga o Waikato.

You may consume food and drink outside in the forecourt. Please dispose of your uneaten food and packaging responsibly.

Health and safety

The health and safety of visitors is a priority for Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, and we will take reasonably practicable steps to protect the health and safety of all visitors.

Visitors are required to follow all conditions and instructions displayed within Te Whare Taonga o Waikato or communicated by staff. In the event of emergency, visitors must follow the instructions of staff and use designated evacuation routes.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato’s fire alarm is a constant audible alarm signal. In the event of a fire alarm:

• you must immediately evacuate by the nearest fire exit, using the stairs (elevators and escalators will be inaccessible)
• if you require help to evacuate, seek the assistance of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff
• you must comply with any instructions from Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff
• Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff will help retrieve your items from the cloakroom after they have been permitted by emergency services to re-enter the building.

Alcohol and drug use

Any person who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be refused admission or escorted from the Te Whare Taonga o Waikato.

Smoking and Vaping

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato is a smoke-free environment. Smoking and vaping are not permitted within the building or grounds.

Protection of taonga

Please do not touch art and objects in the galleries, except for in Exscite or when you are encouraged to do so.

Please take note of no touching signs, white boundary lines on the floor or the use of physical barriers. It is recommended to keep a safe distance between you and each artwork as this helps avoid accidental touching and bumping.

Animals

Animals are not permitted inside Te Whare Taonga o Waikato, except for certified service dogs. Service dogs must wear their appropriate vest and the owner should have their dog’s valid ID card on them.

Behavioural Expectations 

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato expects you to be considerate of others at the museum. You must behave in a way that is appropriate for a family environment.  We ask that you are mindful of your noise level, including through the use of any electronic device (including phones). You may be asked by our staff to reduce your noise level at any time. Please do not play music on personal speakers in Te Whare Taonga o Waikato.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato does not tolerate abuse or violence. You may be refused entry, asked to leave (without refund or compensation), and/or escorted from Te Whare Taonga o Waikato (and in serious cases, Police may be notified or you may be trespassed) if:

• you fail to comply with the directions of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff given in connection with these terms and conditions;
• you abuse, threaten, resist, or intimidate Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff or other visitors;
• Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff believe you are intoxicated;
• Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff believe that your conduct causes or is likely to cause risk, annoyance, or disturbance to other people, taonga or property.

Security Cameras / CCTV

Security cameras are in operation throughout Te Whare Taonga o Waikato for the protection and safety of our visitors, staff, taonga and property. Information on use of information can be found in our Privacy Statement.

Unattended and lost property

You must not leave any of your property (including bags, wheelchairs, pushchairs, and prams) unattended at any time, including in outdoor areas. Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff may remove and/or dispose of unattended property without warning in the interests of safety and security. You will not hold Te Whare Taonga o Waikato liable if we remove or dispose of any property that you have left unattended.

If lost property is handed in to Te Whare Taonga o Waikato staff, we will store items for three weeks. If they are not claimed within this timeframe, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato may (at its discretion) donate the items to charity, dispose of them, or hand them over to our local police station.

If you have lost property, please speak with the staff at our front desk.

Photography and filming

For personal use

Throughout most of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, you’re welcome to use your camera to take photos and video for personal, non-commercial use.

This includes photos of:

• people, with their permission
• events
• most collection items, including borrowed works
• most exhibitions
• Te Whare Taonga o Waikato interiors.

Using further equipment such as tripods, monopods, and lighting requires permission.

Photography around Te Winika is restricted due to cultural considerations.

Look out for this sign indicating objects or exhibitions that cannot be filmed or photographed. This may be for cultural reasons, because of copyright, or to protect the objects.

For commercial use

Unless you’ve received permission from us, you must not sell or profit from the photography, film, or video you take at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato or use it for commercial purposes.

Authorised parties may carry out photography and/or video recording on grounds, which may feature visitors. By accepting these terms, you agree that Hamilton City Council or any authorised party may use such images in perpetuity in any promotional, advertising or publicity material in any format whatsoever. You further agree that copyright in these materials rests with Te Whare Taonga o Waikato or such authorised party.

Other

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato is unable to provide object valuations, estimates of value, or authentications of any property or taonga.

Charitable solicitations, leafleting, and signature gathering inside or by the entranceway of Te Whare Taonga o Waikato is not permitted unless prearranged.

Te Whare Taonga o Waikato does not have carparking available for visitors and is not responsible for the Hamilton City Council operated ‘Museum Carpark’ on Victoria Street.