For me, visits to any museum end in the museum shop, where I look for gifts and
souvenirs that aren’t the same as those found in museum shops everywhere. Here, I
found books on Captain Cook’s explorations, on New Zealand’s Maori culture, on the
country’s birds; handmade Maori jewelry; exceptionally beautifully cards (more suitable
for framing than for mailing); glass pieces; bone carving – and plenty of books for
children about the country and its culture.
On the ground floor, in the heart of the museum is a light and airy family-friendly café
that offers an all-day menu and also serves espresso, wines and beers. This very userfriendly museum also has free Wi-Fi hotspots; access and help for people with
disabilities and rooms for parents with young children.
As New Zealand is the land of Middle Earth and home of the hobbits, fans of the Lord
of the Rings trilogy make a point of visiting the Weta Cave, a mini-museum, mini-theater
and shop in Miramar, Wellington. Described as “an emporium of all things wild and
The other exhibits range from objects
collected by Captain Cook, including
his Hawai’an feather cloak) to
costumes worn by Xena, Warrior
Princess, as well as a Xena doll. (Xena
first appeared as a character on
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' –
and rates so well that she was given
her own show, which was made in
New Zealand between 1995 and 2001.
American Secretary of State Madeleine
Allbright named Xena as a role model.)
There’s a New Zealand Post archive, a
valuable collection of around 20,000
stamps and related material; historical
weapons, coins and medals; ceramics
from the old world and from modern
New Zealand; a furniture collection of
around 250 items; precious metalwork;
and rare books, photographs, and
papers.
For kids, the Colossal Squid exhibit is
a big draw, featuring as it does the
largest known specimen of its kind,
weighing over 1,000 pounds when
caught. The exhibit featuring the world
of the Māori, the first settlers, offers
insight into this vital culture, while the
Awesome Forces exhibition
demonstrates how the forces of Nature
– earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and
the weather – played a part in shaping
New Zealand.
wonderful,” the Cave is part of the Weta Workshop, best known, not only for work on the
Lord of the Rings trilogy, but also on King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, Avatar and
The Adventures of Tintin.
Maori Art