Six Themes, Many Connections
Our Collections and Curatorial team have selected six themes to reflect the diversity of what has been collected over many decades.
Their selections reveal surprising, obscure, and celebrated items from our collection.
Kitchen and Kai
Kaauta Kai
Anita Robertson, Collections and Curatorial Manager
Food and cooking connect us. These collection objects spark memory of the past and togetherness linking people through shared moments in the kitchen and preparing kai.
Constant Communication
Whakawhiringa
Pauline Farquhar, Collection Manager
Our collection shows how people communicate has changed in technological development over historic times and continues to change today globally in the digital age (information age).
Staying Alive
Horoi Whakaora
Haylee Alderson, Collection Manager
We take a lot for granted in life, often forgetting about the basics. These objects look at our basic needs as well as the developments we have made over the years to flourish as Humans.
Pounamu
Green Stone
Gina Matchitt, Curator
Pounamu from our collection highlights the cultural significance of greenstone in Aotearoa. Explored through Maaori traditions of adornment, tools, trade and symbols of mana, these pieces connect to the Waikato region through meaningful gifts and long-term loans.
Manu Birds
E rere Ngaa Manu
Maree Mills, Curator
Maree introduces her fascination with birds – from the iconic Kiwi and treasured manu of te Ao Māori to Donald Duck. This selection celebrates their cultural significance and global influence while revealing the urgent need to protect our unique species for future generations.
Time
Koo Te Waa
Jon Plimmer, Curator
Our collection of clocks are a great window into past collecting practices, and poses fascinating questions for us in the present and future collecting.
free entry
Plan Your Visit