Waikato Museum facts for kids
Waikato Museum, viewed from Memorial Park, Hamilton East
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| Former name | Waikato Museum of Art and History |
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| Established | 1987 |
| Location | 1 Gratham Street Hamilton Central Hamilton New Zealand |
| Architect | Ivan Mercep |
Waikato Museum (Māori: Te Whare Taonga o Waikato) is a cool museum in Hamilton, New Zealand. It's a great place to learn about art, history, and science. The museum also looks after ArtsPost, which is a shop and gallery for New Zealand art. Both are run by the Hamilton City Council. Outside the museum, you can see a special sculpture called The Tongue of The Dog by Michael Parekōwhai. This artwork has helped more people discover the museum!
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Exploring the Museum Building
The Waikato Museum is located right by the Waikato River in Hamilton. It was designed by a famous architect named Ivan Mercep. He also designed Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum!
The museum building opened in 1987. It was a big moment after many years of planning. The museum's full name is now Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga O Waikato. This name helps to honor the local Māori tribe, Tainui. The museum sits on land that belongs to Ngaati Wairere, a sub-tribe of Waikato, Tainui. A very important part of the museum's history is the Kiingitanga, also known as the King Movement. The museum acts as a guardian, or kaitiaki, for taonga tuku iho (rare and sacred objects).
The museum's design fits in well with the river environment around it. This helps Hamilton connect more with its beautiful riverfront.
ArtsPost: A Place for Art
ArtsPost is a special art space next to the museum on Victoria Street. It used to be Hamilton's old Post and Telegraph office. This historic building was built in 1901. The Hamilton City Council bought it in 1992 to create a place to show off visual arts. After being carefully restored, ArtsPost opened its doors in 1998.
Past Museum Leaders
- Ken Gorbey was a director from 1971 to 1983.
Fun Exhibitions and Activities
Waikato Museum has lots of exciting exhibitions and programs for everyone. These include art shows, history displays, science fun, and exhibits about Māori culture. The museum wants to share the stories and heritage of the Waikato region.
Some of the most popular things to see include:
- A huge, 200-year-old waka taua (Māori war canoe) called Te Winika.
- Exscite and Milk Matters, which are interactive science galleries perfect for kids.
- Te Whaanau Marama, a cool exhibit about Māori astronomy.
In 2015, the museum opened a big exhibition called For Us They Fell. This show told the stories of Waikato men who served in World War I. It also shared what happened to their families back home.
The museum also hosts many events. You can attend talks by artists or join workshops. They have popular school holiday programs too! Since 2010, the museum has offered special Bat Tours. On these tours, you can learn about and even see long-tailed bats, glow worms, and other native animals.
Since 2006, the Waikato Museum has hosted the National Contemporary Art Award (NCAA). This award celebrates amazing art from New Zealand artists. Many talented artists have won this award, including Ayesha Green (2019) and Kim Pieters (2017).
River Landing and Ferry
In 2021, a new floating pontoon opened on the Waikato River, just below the museum. This landing has five decorated pou (carved poles). Each pou tells stories from different Māori tribes like Ngāti Māhanga and Ngāti Wairere. A ferry service started in July 2021. It connects the museum's landing with other spots along the river, like Swarbrick's Landing and Hamilton Gardens.
