Waikato Museum
Encyclopedia
The Waikato Museum is situated in the city of Hamilton
, in the Waikato
region of New Zealand
.
Previously called the Waikato Museum of Art and History, the full name has been shortened in recent years due to the incorporation Exscite, an interactive science centre, and the emphasis on Tangata Whenua
or Maori Studies.
Its current address is 1 Grantham Street, in the south end of the main CBD
of Hamilton, where it has been based since 1987. It sits on land gifted to the Hamilton City Council by the Tainui
Tribe, and there is a strong Tainui
presence in the museum. Previously the museum was based in London Street.
The museum has twelve galleries that exhibit long-term and touring exhibitions. Displays include a 200 year old carved Waka Taua
(a Maori war canoe, Te Winika), artworks by regional and other New Zealand artists, and science exhibits.
Controversy has surrounded the museum, from its inception in 1987, to its continued move towards the new concepts of edutainment and interactive exhibits. Presently there is a balance between the different types of exhibits.
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, in the Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Previously called the Waikato Museum of Art and History, the full name has been shortened in recent years due to the incorporation Exscite, an interactive science centre, and the emphasis on Tangata Whenua
Tangata Whenua
Tāngata whenua is a Māori term of the indigenous peoples of New Zealand and literally means "people of the land", from tāngata, 'people' and whenua land.-Meanings:...
or Maori Studies.
Its current address is 1 Grantham Street, in the south end of the main CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Hamilton, where it has been based since 1987. It sits on land gifted to the Hamilton City Council by the Tainui
Tainui
Tainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato...
Tribe, and there is a strong Tainui
Tainui
Tainui is a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Māori iwi. The Tainui confederation comprises four principal related Māori iwi of the central North Island of New Zealand: Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa and Waikato...
presence in the museum. Previously the museum was based in London Street.
The museum has twelve galleries that exhibit long-term and touring exhibitions. Displays include a 200 year old carved Waka Taua
Waka taua
A waka taua is a Māori war canoe. From the Māori language waka canoe and taua army....
(a Maori war canoe, Te Winika), artworks by regional and other New Zealand artists, and science exhibits.
Controversy has surrounded the museum, from its inception in 1987, to its continued move towards the new concepts of edutainment and interactive exhibits. Presently there is a balance between the different types of exhibits.
See also
- St Peter's Cathedral, the Anglican cathedral to the south