AUCKLAND MUSEUM ANNOUNCES A MAJOR NEW EXHIBITION WHICH CELEBRATES THE CITY OF AUCKLAND

In 2015 Tāmaki Makaurau marks the 175th anniversary of it becoming the city that is Auckland, to celebrate the occasion Auckland War Memorial Museum are proud to announce a new home-grown exhibition, Taku Tāmaki - Auckland Stories. Opening in late May, the free exhibition will share the stories that have shaped the city and its people, inviting families to participate, contribute and share.

Following on from the success of the Moana - My Ocean exhibition, Taku Tāmaki - Auckland Stories will bring the city’s stories to life through the Museum’s collections, cutting-edge digital experiences, an immersive film featuring Auckland school children, a specially commissioned artwork from artist Peter Madden and a photographic display by Jane Ussher that celebrates heroes of Auckland as selected by our youth. Featuring a selection of interactive activities showcasing Auckland and Aucklanders, the exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the city’s history and into the future, spanning all the way from Pukekohe out to Great Barrier Island.

“Taku Tāmaki - Auckland Stories is a great opportunity to look at the city’s stories through the vast and varied collections of the Museum”, says Exhibition Curator, Finn McCahon-Jones. “Tāmaki Makaurau, one of the Māori names for Auckland, sums up the city best - a place that is loved and desired by many. I hope this sentiment comes through in the displays, and makes familiar aspects of the city feel new, inspiring visitors to explore Tāmaki with fresh eyes.”

The exhibition will also give visitors an opportunity to tell the Museum what Auckland means to them and what they would want to see in their Museum in the future. These responses will contribute to the shape of the exhibition and ultimately inform future permanent exhibitions and galleries at the Museum.

“We want Auckland Museum to be a place where our communities can see their city; past, present and future. Taku Tāmaki - Auckland Stories is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with our visitors as they share their stories of the city with us,” says Museum Director of Public Engagement & Capital Projects, Sally Manuireva. “These contributions are invaluable to us as we look to the future development of the Museum.”

Alongside the exhibition the Museum offers a quarterly programme, Tales of Tamaki – Stories over Auckland, this includes music and dance performances, storytelling sessions, and arts and crafts activities. Occurring every school holiday in 2015, Tales of Tamaki – Stories over Auckland gives visitors a chance to see performances from local groups, get hands-on with a variety of activities, and enjoy rarely seen panoramic views of the city from the Museum’s Event Centre.

ENDS

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