Suspect Runs Amok In The Poisoners! Exhibition

1 August 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

Another Suspect Runs Amok In The Poisoners! Exhibition At Te Papa

Visitors to Te Papa’s hugely popular interactive ‘murder-mystery’ exhibition, The Poisoners! Solve the murder if you dare…have another reason to don their detective hats and investigate the crime scene anew.

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

Anastasia ‘Nastie’ Van Abs, safari guide (and suspected poacher) was taken into custody on the evening of Wednesday 1 August for further questioning, thanks to tip-offs from members of the public. Toxicology reports have confirmed that cobra venom was present in Professor Felix Splicer’s bloodstream but only contributed in part to his death. Tests have begun to determine the other toxin that factored in the Professor’s untimely demise but the final report could be months away.

‘It is possible, but rare, that two different poisons could be found in the Professor’s system, especially as there is proven malicious intent,’ said Mr Robin Slaughter (BSc), Poison Information Officer at the National Poisons Centre in Dunedin.

The crime scenes have therefore been re-opened and appeals made to the public to look at the suspects’ lairs with fresh eyes to assist tracking down the other murder suspect and weapon. Children need to work out puzzles throughout the exhibition to find out which of the four twisted suspects committed the murder and with what, then enter the draw for a wonderful prize pack full of goodies from the Te Papa Kids’ Store.

The Poisoners! Solve the murder if you dare…has attracted over 87,000 visitors since opening on 2 June in the TOWER Gallery on Level 4. Much of the exhibition’s success can be attributed to its appeal to people of all ages.

The exhibition’s sponsors, Drug Free Sport NZ, have also recently launched their new avatars in The Poisoners! exhibition. People can interact via a computer display with a pair of avatar characters called Mel and Tam (voiced by athletes Sarah Ulmer and Sam Panapa) that provide information about the dangers of drugs used in sport to gain advantage – drugs whose effects on the human body often equates to poisoning.

The Poisoners! Solve the murder if you dare.... runs until 7 October in the TOWER Gallery. Admission is free.

ENDS

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