Auckaldn City Council - City Scene

A stunning group of seven new galleries will open early in the new year at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The specialist galleries, which represent an eclectic collection of interests, are:-
Ancient Civilisations; the Castle Collection of musical instruments; City; Maori ; Maori Natural History; Pacific and Wild Child.

The museum's Curator of Education, Katrina Stamp, pictured below, says that creativity and vision has been to the fore in the design and content of the new galleries. "The teams who have worked on each gallery have done a very good job in bringing their sections to life. We have also been able to include many of our artefacts which were previously held in storage."

One of the most popular galleries will be "City" which tells the story of the city of Auckland from early Maori settlement. It focuses on the greater urban area in the period since 1840, in an entertaining and lively series of cameos. The gallery shows phases of who and what built Auckland, from its 'city fathers' to early settlers and their conditions of life ...from business and the stock market to the 'future', a tableau of Auckland's new faces.

This is a gallery for people to enjoy. The past is recreated in style - visitors can step back in time by sitting in the plush seats of a miniature His Majesty's theatre to watch old Pathe newsreels and films, peek inside a replica of an old Auckland tram, or try out the pinball machines. And what glimpse of kiwi life is complete without a bloke's garage and shed, complete with its 'Morrie' parked inside?

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