New Zealand Maritime Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa
New Zealand Maritime Museum
General information
Type	Museum, maritime history
Location	Auckland, New Zealand
Address	Corner Quay Street and Hobson Street
Inaugurated	1993
Owner	Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Council (indirectly through Auckland Unlimited)

The New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa is a cool museum in Auckland, New Zealand. It's right on the water at Hobson Wharf, next to the Viaduct Harbour. This museum tells the story of New Zealand's history with the sea. You can learn about the first Polynesian explorers and settlers. You can also see modern achievements, like New Zealand's wins in the America's Cup sailing race. Its Māori name, Te Huiteanaui-A-Tangaroa, means "holder of the treasures of Tangaroa" (the Sea God).

History of the Museum

The museum started thanks to Rodney Wilson. He was the first director and began raising money in 1989. The museum officially opened in 1993. This was the same year the America's Cup sailing competition was held in Auckland. Building the museum cost about NZ$11.1 million.

Part of the museum's entrance uses an old building called the Launchman's Building. It was built in 1920 and used to be home to many small boat companies. Many of the first items in the museum were borrowed for a long time from the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The old Launchman's Building is a very important historical place. It was given a special "Category II listing" by Heritage New Zealand in 1981. This means it's a building worth protecting because of its history.

What You Can See: Collections

The museum has many interesting collections and displays. Here are some of the main things you can explore:

• Main Exhibitions: These displays focus on different parts of New Zealand's sea history:
  • Polynesian and Māori boats and how they navigated the seas.
  • European explorers and their amazing voyages of discovery.
  • How people settled in New Zealand and how immigrants arrived by sea.
  • The early days of trading goods along the coast.
  • The history of whaling and sealing.
  • Modern ships that carry goods around the world.
  • Lifeboats, pilot services, and the coastguard.
  • How sailors used to navigate and map the oceans.
  • Beautiful art and crafts related to the sea.
  • Fun activities and sports done on the water.
  • Different jobs and trades related to the sea.
  • The history of Auckland's harbour and port.

• Collections and Documents: The museum also keeps many important records:
  • The New Zealand Maritime Index: This is a collection of documents about sea topics.
  • The New Zealand Maritime Record: This has photos and stories about New Zealand ships.
  • Northern Steamship Company: You can find information about this old shipping company.
  • Bill Laxon Maritime Library: This library has photos, maps, and other important papers.
  • Lighthouses in New Zealand: Learn all about the lighthouses that guide ships.
  • New Zealand Maritime Firsts: Discover amazing achievements by New Zealanders at sea.
  • Genealogy Documentation: These are lists and documents about people who arrived in New Zealand by ship. This can help you learn about your family history.

• Art Collections: The museum also has special art collections:
  • The Edmiston Collection
  • The Fraser Collection

Real Ships You Can See

Besides the boats inside the museum, there are also real ships docked outside. These ships are part of the museum's collection:

• Breeze: This ship was built in 1982. It's a copy of an old brigantine, a type of sailing ship used for coastal trade in New Zealand.
• Puke: This boat is from the late 1800s. It's a small steam-powered boat that helped with logging along the coast and rivers.
• Ted Ashby: This ship was built in 1993. It's a copy of a ketch-rigged scow, a common type of boat in northern New Zealand in the late 1800s. You can even go for public sailings on the Ted Ashby almost every day!
• Aotearoa One: This boat was launched in 2013. The museum describes it as a modern version of a traditional waka (a Māori canoe).

Sometimes, people from the Royal New Zealand Navy help the museum. They assist with keeping the ships and other items in good condition.

Newer Parts of the Museum

In the late 2000s, the museum added a new section. This extension cost about NZ$8 million. It holds a special exhibition called Blue Water, Black Magic. This exhibition is all about Sir Peter Blake, a famous New Zealand sailor. It even includes his original boat, NZL 32 (also known as Black Magic).

Gallery

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  New Zealand Maritime Museum HUITE ANANUTA TANGAROA

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  New Zealand Maritime Museum Gift shop

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  Pig iron ballast from Captain James Cook's HM Bark Endeavour in the New Zealand Maritime Museum. This piece of ballast was recovered from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, where Endeavour had gone aground in 1770.

See also

In Spanish: Museo Marítimo de Nueva Zelanda para niños