Journey Through The Dangerous World Of Poisoners

25 May, 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

Tarantulas, Sharks, Toadstools And Crocodiles – Journey Through The Dangerous World Of The Poisoners! Solve The Murder If You Dare…

Te Papa and Drug Free Sport NZ are proud to present The Poisoners! Solve the murder if you dare… an innovative, interactive exhibition for the whole family in the TOWER Gallery from Saturday 2 June.

This ‘murder-mystery’ exhibition features over 250 specimens and models from Te Papa’s Natural Environment collection – an assortment of weird and wonderful species not usually on display.

Among the many oddities on show will be tarantula and bird-eating spiders, a hippopotamus skull, the skeletons of a python and a sun bear, thresher shark eyeballs in a jar, and even a life-size model of a giant squid. Also on display will be an array of mounted trophy heads – hyena, warthog, crocodile and antelope. Visitors can get close to a stunning selection of insects – large birdwing butterflies, assassin bugs, and beautiful iridescent beetles from around the world. These fascinating animals and many more, provide the backdrop to the dangerous world of The Poisoners!

Who murdered brilliant scientist and ecologist, Professor Felix Splicer? Families can venture into each of the four suspects’ lairs to solve puzzles, collect the clues and find out which of the four twisted suspects committed the murder and with what. A wonderful prize pack full of goodies from the Te Papa Kids’ Store is up for grabs for those who correctly deduce the killer and murder weapon.

The suspects are Ms Anastasia ‘Nastie’ Van Abs, safari guide and suspected head of an international poaching ring; Alain ‘Sharkbait’ Coasteau, professional diver and deep-sea discoverer; Ms Toxica Fay Tully, exotic plant collector and rumoured black widow and finally Dr Helix Splicer, mad scientist and the victim’s twin brother.

‘This exhibition offers the opportunity to come face to face with animals from around the world in a fun, quirky way. It allows us to showcase the dangerous, bizarre, and beautiful specimens that we don’t often get a chance to show’, said Dr Seddon Bennington, Te Papa’s Chief Executive.

‘It’s a time capsule of sorts, showing what museums collected in the past and what we are collecting today’, Dr Bennington said.

Exhibition partner Drug Free Sport NZ has provided two life-sized virtual athletes that expose the risks associated with drug use in sports. They will also highlight the good work that kiwi athletes and international organisations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency are doing about the threat posed by prohibited substances for future generations of athletes.

‘This exhibition provides an ideal opportunity for Drug Free Sport NZ to explain what poisoning in the sporting context involves,’ said Graeme Steel, Executive Director of Drug Free Sport NZ.

‘It is important for the New Zealand public to continue to support our athletes who are "strong enough to be clean" and whose performances prove sporting success can be achieved without the use of dangerous banned substances’, Mr Steel said.

The Poisoners! Solve the murder if you dare....opens on Saturday 2 June in the TOWER Gallery with a day of events featuring the ‘Bugman’, Ruud Kleinpaste. Admission is free.

This exhibition is proudly supported by Drug Free Sport NZ – keeping the poisoners out of kiwi sport.

The Poisoners! Solve the murder if you dare…
2 June – 7 October 2007
The TOWER Gallery, Level 4
Free entry

ENDS

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