Find something unique for somebody special
The museum gift shop is a treasure trove of unusual books, delightful gifts and quality souvenirs. Take home a memento of your visit or find a gift for that person who has everything.
Museum treasures draw visitors from far and wide
Impressive displays include collections of international significance.
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Major exterior refresh planned for Whanganui Regional Museum
The museum will remain open and fully operational throughout the repainting project.
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The Whanganui Regional Museum is a bicultural waharoa (gateway) to local social and natural histories. It stands proudly in Pukenamu Queen’s Park, the cultural heart of Whanganui. The Museum has a special relationship with mana whenua, those Māori who have historic and territorial rights over this land. It is also warmly supported by the many communities who continue to help develop it.
Learn about the people, objects, and stories that make this vibrant region so important through our stunning collection, which includes outstanding Taonga Māori, the Gottfried Lindauer Gallery of paintings of Whanganui rangatira, a remarkable moa collection, and a noteworthy collection of historical fashion and textiles.
Fully acknowledging our past, explaining the present and preparing for the future starts here, at your museum.
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Future Events
Winter Holiday Fun: Faux Stained Glass Frame
Tue, 1 Jul, 2025
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Winter Holiday Fun: Build a Scribble Bot
Thu, 3 Jul, 2025
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Outfit of the Month Fashion Talk
Fri, 4 Jul, 2025
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All Events
Current Exhibitions
Whanganui Mūmū – Whanganui By Design
Highlighting the creativity, innovative spirit, cultural integrity, and strength of the tradition of art and design in the Whanganui region.
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Pūeru Ora – Past, Present, Pose
Explore the ever-changing world of fashion across three distinct eras, illustrating how style has evolved through time in Whanganui and beyond.
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Other Exhibitions
Hāhā Te Whenua – Young Land
The geological beginnings of the notable Whanganui Basin and the first creatures to live here.
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He Awa Ora – Living River
A unique exhibition of ancient and new taonga (treasures) that tell the story of Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui River and its people. The Awa and iwi feature in a narrative supported by taonga Maori, encompassing the past, the present and the future.
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Aitanga-a-Pēpeke – The Smallest Creatures
Aitanga-a-pēpeke is the family name for all the tiny crawling, flying and burrowing invertebrates that populate Aotearoa New Zealand.
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All Exhibitions
Collection Highlights
1802.605.9
POSTER; Durie Hill Garden Suburb, 1920s.
This land sale poster by A D Willis shows the area at the brow of Durie Hill with sections for sale. The suburb had been specially designed by Samuel Hurst Seager, at the time when there was great enthusiasm for designing garden suburbs throughout New Zealand.
1962.178.4
PORTABLE DESK
This portable desk or writing box made circa 1900 has an outer surface decorated with porcupine quills and dots of ivory. It has a hinged lid and a fold-down front with the interior divided into sections for storing writing equipment and a writing surface.
2002.34.6
PHOTOGRAPH; Taupo Quay in flood.
This photograph was taken on Taupo Quay near the Old Tram Shed, after the flood of the Whanganui River in 1940. Four people can be seen rowing a boat down the flooded street. The Durie Hill Tower is visible in the background.