Dramatic, exciting, imaginative, scientific and a just little bit scary – ‘How to Make a Monster, the art and technology of animatronics’ opens at Waikato Museum next month. On display at Waikato Museum from 25 February until 15 July 2012, ‘How to Make a Monster’ gives an insight into the art and technology of animatronics. Waikato Museum Acting Director Andy Lowe says the exhibition, on tour ... more...

Barry Hopkins has been announced as the new sponsor of the annual National Contemporary Art Award hosted by Waikato Museum. Considered to be one of the country’s greatest philanthropists, Barry Hopkins was born in Auckland in 1942 and educated at Kings College, and his family has lived for several generations in Ohaupo. He is devoted to the collection of national art, as well as local artists’ wo... more...

Cambridge ceramic artist Kate Burchett was named as the winner of the Waiclay National Ceramics Award 2011 at a function at Waikato Museum tonight (Friday, 2 December). Judge and internationally renowned USA-based ceramic sculptor Bruce Dehnert said Burchett’s work ‘Hot Rock Cafe’ was selected for its wow-factor. “On selecting the winning work, I’ve thought often of choreographer Martha Graham’s... more...

Forty-five finalists have been announced for the Waiclay National Ceramics Award 2011, with works set to go on display at Waikato Museum from this Saturday, 3 December as part of the ‘Waiclay: Reflections of NZ Ceramics’ exhibition. Renowned for promoting excellence in ceramic art practice, the Waiclay National Ceramic Award has been held every second year since 2001 and attracts entries from the... more...

After nine and a half years at the helm of the Waikato Museum, Director Kate Vusoniwailala has announced she will be leaving the Museum to pursue an exciting business opportunity in Fiji. Ms Vusoniwailala, who originates from Fiji, will return to the island nation to take up an executive role within a rapidly expanding family business and will continue her interests in the arts and cultural secto... more...

Unused public and back of house areas of Waikato Museum are being brought to life in a real-time, virtual exhibition believed to be one of the first of its kind in the world. The exhibition ‘Intraspace Project: Interventions with Waikato Museum Non-Gallery Space’ sees well-known local, national and international contemporary artists create temporary, low-cost works in unused non-gallery spaces wh... more...

Young art enthusiasts will have the chance to view and purchase affordable art works by national and international artists when the 25th Muka Youth Print Exhibition visits Waikato Museum this weekend [8-9 October]. An annual event, each year the Muka Youth Print Exhibition tours a new collection of 40 original prints by leading artists to venues throughout New Zealand, with the aim of introducin... more...

Hangi, raw fish, fermented corn and raupoo cakes will be among the dishes on offer when the Kai Festival is held at Waikato Museum on Saturday, 17 September from 10am-4pm. The event – part of Hamilton’s River Festival – will be a scaled-down version of the Kawhia Kai Festival, which has been held annually in the west coast township of Kawhia since 2001 and is listed in the Lonely Planet Guide’s T... more...

Waikato Museum was announced as a winner in the Resene Total Colour Awards during a function in Wellington last night. Waikato Museum scooped the top award – which included a trophy and $1000 in prize money – in the Display & Product category for its use of colour during the ‘Hatching the Past: Dinosaur Eggs + Babies’ exhibition. The exhibition was toured by Gondwana Studios and exhibite... more...

Bold and dramatic hues helped transform Waikato Museum into a prehistoric wonderland earlier this year – and now the colour selection could see them land a national Resene Total Colour Award. Waikato Museum has been named as a finalist in the Resene Total Colour Awards’ Display category for its use of colour during the ‘Hatching the Past: Dinosaur Eggs + Babies’ exhibition. The exhibition, toured... more...

A painting that doubles as an iPhone QR code has been announced as the winning entry in the Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award 2011. The announcement was made at an awards ceremony at Waikato Museum this evening (Friday, 5 August). The entry titled ‘Blue Poles’ is by New Zealand artist Andre Hemer, who currently resides in Sydney. As the winner, Mr Hemer receives $15,000 in prize money. ... more...

A winner will be announced from amongst 42 finalists for the Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award 2011 during an award ceremony/exhibition opening at Waikato Museum this Friday, 5 August. Sponsored by Hamilton marketing and creative agency Bold Horizon, the award has become renowned for the challenging and thought-provoking entries it attracts, and offers $15,000 in prize money to the win... more...

A new exhibition celebrating Waikato Rugby kicks off at Waikato Museum this weekend.   Red, Yellow, (All) Black will enable serious Rugby enthusiasts and curious visitors to investigate the region’s rugby heritage and understand some of the complexities of the national game as it is played in the Waikato. It also coincides with the 90th anniversary of the Waikato Rugby Union.   Amon... more...

The work of seven Christchurch artists will go on display at Hamilton’s ArtsPost Galleries and Shop this month, after the group accepted an invitation to exhibit their art outside of their quake-damaged city. The artists, Linda Pringle, Rebecca Stewart, Amanda Beddis, Kim Hennessy, Mark Soltero, Ina Johann and Dr. Victoria Edwards, will display their work as part of the exhibition ‘A Chain of Epi... more...

Auckland artist Donna Sarten was announced as the winner of the Fieldays No. 8 Wire National Art Awards 2011 during an awards function at ArtsPost Art Galleries and Shop last night. As the winner Sarten receives $4000 in prize money for her entry ‘Unsolved’, with second place recipient William Jameson from Napier receiving $1500 for ‘Wire Waka’ and third place getter Gaye Jurisich from Hamilton r... more...

The travelling exhibition ‘Anne Frank: A History for Today’ will open at Waikato Museum next Wednesday, 18 May. The exhibition from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam tells the story of Anne Frank’s diary alongside a timeline of general WWII history and holocaust events – giving viewers insight into how Anne Frank’s story relates to real world events while also providing an overview of the story o... more...

A number of rarely viewed art pieces will be revealed when the exhibition ‘Friendly: The Friends respond to collection works’ opens at Waikato Museum this evening. The exhibition features some of the artwork from the museum collections – many of which have been held in storage and not seen in over 20 years. The Friends of the Waikato Museum – an altruistic organisation whose members are committ... more...

Entries are now open for the Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award 2011. Hamilton marketing agency Bold Horizon has once again been confirmed as the major sponsor of the annual award, which over the years has become renowned for the challenging and thought-provoking entries it attracts. Bold Horizon CEO Wayne Attwell said the opportunity to re-sign as sponsor of these awards is a great o... more...

Entries are now open for the Fieldays No. 8 Wire National Art Award 2011. The annual award, organised by Waikato Museum and ArtsPost Galleries and supported by major sponsor New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays, challenges artists to use their creativity and ingenuity to transform the difficult medium of no. 8 wire into works of art. Artists have until 26 April to submit entries for the awa... more...

The architecture and heritage of Hamilton will be the focus of a forum series called ‘The Tron – Conversations on Placemaking’ which begins next Friday [29 October]. The four-forum series is a joint initiative between New Zealand Historic Places Trust, New Zealand Institute of Architects and Waikato Museum, and will involve local and national designers and commentators. Waikato Museum director K... more...

Real dinosaur bones and an eight-foot reconstructed nest will be amongst the displays featured in a new dinosaur exhibition opening at Waikato Museum next Saturday, 4 September. International touring exhibition ‘Hatching the Past: Dinosaur Eggs & Babies’ blends the arts and sciences with an array of dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the globe. Described as a ‘captivating experi... more...

Christchurch-born artist Locust Jones has won the Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award 2010 with his work titled ‘Lozenge of Dawn’, receiving $15,000 in prize money. The artwork features four handmade papier-mâche orbs – three of which are comprised of strips of paper with world news headlines and refer respectively to global internet news stories, stories of climate change and rising sea... more...

Thirty-three finalists have been announced for the Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award 2010. The award, formerly known as the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award, has become renowned for the challenging and often thought provoking entries it attracts and offers $15,000 in prize money. Judging the award this year is Rachel Kent, senior curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art ... more...

Hamilton marketing agency Bold Horizon has been announced as the new sponsor of the annual National Contemporary Art Award hosted by Waikato Museum. The award, which has become renowned for the challenging and often thought provoking entries it attracts, will now be known as the Bold Horizon National Contemporary Art Award (formerly the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award) and continue... more...

Thirteen finalists have been announced in New Zealand's most ingenious art award, the 2010 Fieldays No. 8 Wire National Art Award. Since 1997 the annual award has been challenging artists to create a sculpture from no. 8 wire. Sponsored by Fieldays, the award has become renowned for the ingenious and unique entries it attracts. Prizes for first place ($4000), second place ($1500), third place ($10... more...

Visual art will be the inspiration for a number of musical performances at Waikato Museum in May as part of NZ Music Month. Musicians from throughout Waikato and Auckland have been invited to take part in two performances at the museum on 14 May and 21 May, with the aim of highlighting the creative drive behind music and showcasing visual and performing arts together in one unique setting. Among... more...

Waikato Museum and ArtsPost visitors will be able to experience the sights and sounds of war during an Anzac Day programme next Sunday [25 April]. Running from 10am-3pm, the programme will include an 11am performance by an Anzac Choir at the museum’s Marae Atea. An all-male ensemble made up of students from five Hamilton High Schools, the Anzac Choir will recreate the music and spoken word of the... more...

Waikato Museum visitors will have the chance to learn the secrets of the second most successful Guinness World Record breaker of the last decade, when two shows are held at the facility next Wednesday [14 April]. Alastair Galpin successfully broke the second highest number of Guinness World Records for the decade 2000-2009 – boasting records for everything from the loudest clap and the most ‘fing... more...

An exhibition showcasing art works created by local artists using “recycled or found objects” will soon go on display at ArtsPost. Displayed at ArtsPost Chartwell Gallery from 1 April-3 May 2010, ‘Rescued’ will showcase innovative and surprising works, from the quirky to the functional, created from recycled, repurposed, salvaged materials and found objects in mixed media work. Amongst the mater... more...

A play about women written and performed by women, for women, with proceeds to go to Women’s Refuge will be held at Waikato Museum to mark International Women’s Day. ‘My Name is Ruhi’ will be performed in the Waikato Museum Lecture Theatre at 6. 30pm on Monday, 8 March and Tuesday, 9 March. The one-woman play tells the story of a 92 year old New Zealand woman who loses her name, her children and... more...

An exhibition featuring 1,111 origami dolphins that were hand-folded by members of the Raglan community opens at Waikato Museum this Friday [29 January]. The exhibition, ‘Curtain of 1,111 Origami Maui’s Dolphins’ aims to raise awareness of the plight of the endangered Maui dolphin. A symbolic piece of work, the origami dolphins were created by well-known American skater/surfer and conservationist... more...

An exhibition that explores traditional Maori facial tattooing opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [30 January]. ‘Face Value’ is an insightful exhibition which looks at what the traditional facial moko means to six individuals who have undergone the experience. Artist Serena Giovanna Stevenson began working on the project in 2000 and has used film and documentary to record the relationship betw... more...

Entries are now open for the Fieldays No. 8 Wire National Art Award 2010 – an award that challenges artists to use their creativity and ingenuity to transform the difficult medium of no. 8 wire into works of art. This unique annual award is organised by Waikato Museum and ArtsPost Galleries and Shop, and sponsored by New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays. Artists have until 19 April to submit ... more...

Residents are invited to try their hand at building bridges, throwing grenades and 'pinning the moustache on the gentleman' during the first of a two-part series of fun days at Waikato Museum this Saturday [28 November] from 11am-4pm. The 'How to Never Have a Dull Moment' fun days are running alongside the museum's local history exhibition 'Never a Dull Moment: Hamilton Stories' and aim to give ... more...

The first of a series of free workshops aimed at improving people's understanding of the issues faced by trans people will be held at Waikato Museum this Thursday [12 November]. The workshops are running alongside the Assume Nothing exhibition which features photographs by Rebecca Swan and documentary films by Kirsty MacDonald, illustrating the diversity of gender identity. Waikato Museum is wor... more...

An exhibition providing a rare insight into the extraordinary – yet often very ordinary – worlds of New Zealand's diverse 'alternative' gender communities opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [31 October]. 'Assume Nothing' showcases a series of stunning, intimate photographic portraits by Rebecca Swan and award-winning documentary films by Kirsty MacDonald. Profiling over 20 people who define th... more...

Local residents have been given the opportunity to exhibit their art publicly – many for the first time – thanks to a community art project coordinated by Waikato Museum. To celebrate the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Awards, the project 'Art to the People' saw members of the community encouraged to 'unleash their inner artist' over recent weeks in order to create pieces of art – with a... more...

One person's rubbish is another person's art – an artwork resembling the contents of an upturned wastepaper bin has been announced as the winner of the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2009. Currently in its ninth year, the award is renowned for the challenging and often controversial entries it attracts. This year's winning entry 'Collateral' by Auckland artist Dane Mitchell was se... more...

Forty-three finalists have been selected from amongst 283 entries for the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2009. Now in its ninth year, the annual award is renowned for the challenging and often controversial entries it attracts – and this year is no exception. Award judge Charlotte Huddleston, who is a well-known curator and essayist, and is currently the Curator of Contemporary Art... more...

An exhibition that takes a fresh look at Hamilton's history opens to the public at Waikato Museum this Saturday, 22 August. 'Never a Dull Moment! Hamilton stories' is a major semi-permanent exhibition which explores the growth of Hamilton from 1864 to 1945. Developed in response to market research highlighting a strong desire from Hamilton residents for a major exhibition on the city's settler hi... more...

This is the last week to view the international blockbuster exhibition Da Vinci Machines at Waikato Museum before it leaves Australasia. The exhibition, which showcases 60 interactive machines based on the original drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and crafted by internationally acclaimed Florentine artisans Teknoart, opened at Waikato Museum on 14 March. Originally scheduled to close on 29 June, hig... more...

Auckland artist Aaron McConchie has been named as the winner of the Fieldays No 8 Wire National Art Award 2009 for his entry 'The inevitable beginning to an inconsequential end'. The announcement was made at a ceremony at ArtsPost Galleries and Shop on Friday evening and saw McConchie walk away with $4000 in prize money. Auckland artists Brendan McGorry and Helen Holmes placed second for their en... more...

Popular demand has led to the extension of the Da Vinci Machines exhibition at Waikato Museum. While the exhibition was originally scheduled to close on 29 June 2009, high visitor numbers has now seen it extended by six weeks to 23 August. Waikato Museum Director Kate Vusoniwailala said it has been wonderful for Hamilton to have the opportunity to host such a world renowned exhibition and she ho... more...

Following a record number of entries, fourteen finalists were announced today for New Zealand's most ingenious fine art award the 2009 Fieldays No 8 Wire National Art Award. Since 1997 the annual award has been challenging artists to make a sculpture from No 8 Wire. Sponsored by Fieldays, the No 8 Wire National Art Award has becomed renowned for the ingenious and unique entries it attracts. Awar... more...

An exhibition celebrating 75 years of the Waikato Society of Arts opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [4 April]. 'The Action Front: 75 years from the Waikato Society of Arts' has been created by Waikato Museum Concept Leader Visual Arts Leafa Wilson and well-known Hamilton painter Joan Fear to recognise the great works produced by Waikato Society of Arts (WSA) artists as well as the extensive w... more...

Visitors will step back in time to the Italian Renaissance era when the Waikato Museum holds its Renaissance Fest of Leonardo this Friday [3 April] from 5pm-8pm. The festival will add another dimension to the international blockbuster 'Da Vinci Machines' exhibition that is currently on display at the Museum. Museum Director Kate Vusoniwailala said Renaissance Fest of Leonardo will be a unique op... more...

The Da Vinci Machines, an international exhibition that has attracted record visitor numbers at all New Zealand venues in which it has been displayed, opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [14 March]. The exhibition showcases 60 interactive machines based on the original drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and crafted by internationally acclaimed Florentine artisans Teknoart, including his flying mach... more...

Restoration work begins this week on the historic land wars vessel which brought the first colonial settlers to Kirikiriroa – the future site of Hamilton – on 24 August 1864. The PS Rangiriri was commissioned by the New Zealand colonial government in 1864 for use on the Waikato River during the New Zealand Land Wars. Named after one of the most historic battles, the iron-hulled vessel arrived too... more...

Forty-eight finalists from throughout New Zealand have been selected from 90 entrants for the Waiclay National Ceramics Award 2008. The finalists' entries will go on display at Waikato Museum this week as part of an exhibition also featuring work by some of the country's most well known ceramic artists. The Waiclay National Ceramic Award is renowned for promoting excellence in claywork – attracti... more...

An exhibition providing an insight into the lives of refugees will open at Waikato Museum next Wednesday [10 December] at 10am – coinciding with celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. 'Walk with Me', toured by the Petone Settlers Museum and sponsored by the Department of Labour, aims to connect people either emotionally or practically with refug... more...

A life-size caravan made entirely from Huntly Brick will be installed outside the Waikato Museum this Thursday [4 December]. 'Holidays in Huntly' is an eye-catching art piece created by renowned ceramic artist Peter Lange. The current Director of the Auckland Studio Potters' Teaching Centre, Lange has several permanent exhibitions at notable venues including The Beehive, Auckland Museum, Auckland... more...

An exhibition allowing an insight into the collection of one of the most passionate and dedicated art collectors in the Waikato opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [29 November]. The Inimitable Mister Hopkins; The Barry Hopkins Collection is a tribute to the extensive art collection of Barry Hopkins, curated by Waikato Museum Concept Leader Visual Arts Leafa Wilson in collaboration with Barry h... more...

Young art collectors will have the opportunity to view and purchase affordable art works during the popular Muka Youth Print Exhibition at the Waikato Museum this weekend [11-12 October]. Each year Muka Studio tours a new collection of 40 original prints by leading artists worldwide to more than 30 venues around New Zealand, with the aim of introducing young people to art. While the cost of art ... more...

An exhibition that celebrates 150 years of the Kingitanga movement in the Waikato opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [4 October]. 'Te Puna Kai: Visual tales along the Poukai trail' is a photographic exhibition by Museum photographer Beau Morgan that captures key moments at Poukai marae throughout the region. Te Kingitanga, the Maori King movement, started in the 1850s in response to increasi... more...

A New Zealand exhibition that has received international recognition opens at Waikato Museum this Saturday [27 September]. Aniwaniwa is a collaborative work by sculptor Brett Graham and digital artist Rachael Rakena that tells the story of Horahora, a village on the Waikato River where Graham's father was born, that was flooded to create a new dam at Lake Karapiro. While the work tells a very spe... more...

The new public art installation based in Rototuna is about to take on an exciting new form, with the raising of seven waka scheduled to take place next Tuesday [9 September]. Until now the only visible structures of the installation, situated at the intersection of Borman Road and Resolution Drive, have been the concrete foundations. Placed in the formation of the Kingitanga symbol of the Matati... more...

The Waikato Museum has been awarded with the Human Rights Commission's New Zealand Diversity Action Programme Award for its outstanding contribution to race relations. The Museum was named as one of 11 recipients of the annual award during a New Zealand Diversity Forum in Auckland on Monday night [August 25]. Recent exhibitions held at Waikato Museum that promote cultural diversity include award-... more...

An artwork which 'mingles' the past with the present has been awarded the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2008. Patrick Lundberg from Ponsonby, Auckland was awarded the $15,000 prize money for his untitled work. Made from paint and plasterboard, his work features strata "disclosed through a wrenching of the piece from the wall". "A further slow and careful picking at its surface yi... more...

Thirty finalists have been selected from amongst 253 entries for the Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award 2008. Now in its eighth year, the annual Award is renowned for the challenging and often controversial entries it attracts. Natasha Conland, judge of the Award and Curator of Contemporary Art at Auckland Art Gallery, said a common theme amongst this year's artworks has been a sense... more...

Hamilton residents will be able to find out whether their art, antiques and collectables are actually worth thousands when Waikato Museum hosts its very own Antiques and Collectables Roadshow. Taking place on Saturday, 23 August from 11am-5. 30pm, the roadshow will include assessments by renowned antiques experts Peter Wedde (Wedde Antiques) and Hamish Walsh (Walsh Antiques) from the popular TVNZ ... more...

A Charitable Trust has been established in partnership with Hamilton City Council to encourage the gifting of art and artefacts, ensure steady growth in the assets of the Waikato Museum collection and retain significant cultural capital in the district. The Waikato Bequest Trust will receive bequests and create a formal arrangement in which bequeathed articles such as art, money or artefacts will... more...

Waikato Museum visitors are invited to experience the Waikato River as a thriving nightlife scene as another segment of the Mighty River Waikato: from Hinaki to Hydropower exhibition will be launched on 25 July 08. The Mighty River Waikato: from Hinaki to Hydropower is a landmark destination exhibition that presents comprehensive information about the Waikato River's diverse attributes. Waikato ... more...

Entry to The Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award is now open, offering artists from both Hamilton and right across New Zealand the opportunity to showcase their work in this prominent national competition and feature in a major exhibition at the Waikato Museum. The annual Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award is hosted by the Waikato Museum. The impetus behind the awards is to p... more...

Hamiltonians are invited to extend their ANZAC Day experience this year at Waikato Museum through a programme of remembrance, including a preview performance of the play Strange Resting Places. The impetus behind the programme of remembrance is to honour the sacrifice of the ANZAC soldiers and contribute to sharing the ANZAC legacy with all generations through a blend of educational and reflectiv... more...

A window into the Tangihanga (funeral) for Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu is about to open at Waikato Museum as the exhibition Te Atairangikaahu: The Soaring Hawk of the Dawn launches tomorrow [Saturday, 8 December 2007] with a public opening. The exhibition, which will open tomorrow with a formal ceremony and powhiri, is a primarily photographic exhibition that celebrates the life and reign ... more...

Visitors to Waikato Museum have the opportunity to experience a summer of Italian culture as Qui Tutto Bene – The Italians in New Zealand exhibition opens this Saturday [24 November 2007]. Waikato Museum has developed a distinctly local component to the Qui Tutto Bene exhibition that explores stories of Italian migrants to New Zealand and has recently completed a two-year season at Te Papa Museum... more...

The Mighty River Waikato: from Hinaki to Hydropower opens at Waikato Museum on Saturday, 27 October 2007 signifying a landmark destination exhibition that is a first for the museum. Sponsored by Mighty River Power and Environment Waikato, The Mighty River Waikato focuses on the Waikato region's natural heritage from a scientific perspective. The first exhibition of its kind, The Mighty River Wai... more...

Religious trends in our city and surrounding region are set to be examined as the Keeping Faith exhibition opens at Waikato Museum tomorrow [13 October], highlighting a further dimension to the museum's commitment to expressing our city's unique heritage and showcasing stories from our local community. Keeping Faith is a major Social History exhibition based on the theme of religious diversity. T... more...

Giant fluffy objects, mounds of antique roses and sounds best left to the adult section of the video shop, are just some of the memorable moments from the 2007 Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Awards. This year's winning piece, drawn from 200 entries and 29 finalists, will be the jewel in the crown of 2007's exhibition, which promises to be just as fresh and innovative as previous years. T... more...

Waikato Museum is calling upon Hamilton's Italian community to assist in compiling a planned exhibition on migrant Italian families in Hamilton and the Waikato. Local stories and experiences from Italian migrants in Hamilton and the wider Waikato region will be a critical aspect of the museum's proposed exhibition, that will use as its base the Qui Tutto Bene: The Italians in New Zealand exhibiti... more...

Waikato Museum is hosting a trio of exhibitions focussed on WW1 in recognition of ANZAC Day on 25 April. Postscript: Letters from the Permanent Collection opens on 14 April and is a major social history exhibition based on the theme of correspondence. Sponsored by Tompkins Wake Lawyers, Postscript offers Waikato Museum patrons the opportunity to immerse themselves in history from the 1860s throu... more...

Waikato Museum will partner with Mighty River Power in presenting a landmark $350,000 exhibition entitled Hinaki and Hydropower: stories from the Waikato River that is set to open at the museum in July. Mighty River Power will be the primary sponsor of the exhibition which represents the largest financial investment in a science exhibition in the Waikato region to date. Hinaki and Hydropower: stor... more...

Some of Waikato Museum's many treasures can now be seen online with today's launch of the new website www. waikatomuseum. co. nz Crammed full of a range of useful information about the museum and its collections, the website caters for the needs of the public, museum visitors, students, and researchers wanting to know more about the rich history and culture of Hamilton and the Waikato. Key feature... more...

Hamilton City Council has won the Creative New Zealand Creative Places: Cultural Festivals and Arts Events Award 2006 for the Rare View: A glimpse into Hamilton's Somali Community exhibition. The award was presented earlier today [Tuesday, 18 July] at the Local Government New Zealand Conference in Wellington. Hamilton mayor Michael Redman accepted the award on behalf of Hamilton city. The award ... more...

Waikato Museum is organising an Indian Cultural Day in conjunction with the local Indian community to celebrate the vibrant culture and complement the Gandhi exhibition currently on show. The Saturday, 3 July programme includes classical dances, several demonstrations including aryuvedic medicine, henna, sari and turban tying, scheduled Gandhi exhibition tours, a lecture on Gandhi and a movie. ... more...

Don Binney's exhibition opening today at the Waikato Museum celebrates the work of one of this country's favourite artists, and his 40-year love affair with birds and landscape. Museum art curator John Hurrell says Binney's paintings appeal to an extraordinarily wide range of people. "His landscape and bird paintings are generally considered some of the most recognised and loved icons of thi... more...

Waikato Museum's Exscite exhibition Sci-Quest is set to follow the amazing success of its last in-house interactive science exhibition, Out of the Toybox. Science curator Nevan Ofsoski says the team spent a long time designing and refining Sci-Quest to ensure this next in-house offering was as good, if not better, than Out of the Toybox. "When designing and building Sci-Quest we had the bene... more...

Diggeress Te Kanawa - master Maori textile artist, mother of 12, wife, teacher and mentor to a growing generation of weavers - has honoured the Waikato Museum of Art and History with her collection of Maori cloaks, kete and other items, spanning 30 years of work dedicated to the maintenance of traditional Maori weaving. Curator of Ethnology Ariana Sheehan says 'Te Aho Tapu - The sacred thread... more...

Waikato ceramic group WaiClay is opening its national ceramic competition and exhibition to public viewing this Saturday [20 March], just days before a winner is announced. WaiClay spokesperson Janet Smith says the aim of the competition and exhibition is to promote ceramics as an art form, and the Waikato's depth of talent in this area. "Many people outside the industry do not realise how t... more...

Waikato Museum's Visitor Experience Manager, Anne Blyth has accepted the recently created position of Senior Manager for National Services at Te Papa in Wellington. Waikato Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says Anne is a talented individual and a good team member, and is sad to see her go. "During Anne's two years at the museum she has contributed enormously, particularly in her recent rol... more...

Waikato Museum features the Waikato's main public map collections in a new exhibition, Putting Waikato on the Map (9 February-30 May). Museum librarian Kathryn Mercer says Putting Waikato on the Map explores diverse map styles and discusses their potential uses including as a means of understanding our past. "Maps combine art and science, expressing the interests and culture of their time. T... more...

Waikato Museum is revisiting its most popular home-grown Exscite exhibition Out of the Toybox from 7 February-25 April. Out of the Toybox - Back by Popular Demand is a vamped-up edition of the hugely popular exhibition, and comes complete with an all-new science show run by the staff. Exhibitions managers Gary Collins says staff have added some refinements to take the exhibition to the next ... more...

Friends of the Museum are putting personal collections on display to celebrate 30 years as a Waikato Museum-supporting organisation. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says the museum was keen on the idea of a Friends exhibition to reflect the influence they have had over the years. "Friends of the Museum has been very diligent in helping protect the cultural interests of the Waikato. As... more...

Hamilton's public art selection panel made its first recommendation to Council's social and community committee, putting forward internationally renowned sculptor Chris Booth to work on a Hamilton Gardens entranceway. Waikato museum director and panel chair Kate Vusoniwailala says the panel is excited that its inaugural project is such a worthy subject, and attracting such a respected artis... more...

Waikato Museum's latest science exhibition, Mission Earthling, is landing in Hamilton on Saturday, 20 September. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says this exhibition is expected to be a block-buster. "Every year we have exhibitions in Exscite that we know are of block-buster quality. They combine a great story line or subject with high production quality and lots of interactive elemen... more...

Rohan Weallans' work titled To the Moon and Back was tonight announced as the winner of this year's Trust Waikato National Annual Art Award at the Waikato Museum of Art and History. Award judge Tobias Berger, director of Auckland's Artspace, says the decision in the end was the natural one for him. "I think it is the absolutely best piece in the exhibition and we can be very proud to hav... more...

Waikato Museum's latest exhibition on innovations in agriculture was opened today by the Honourable Jim Anderton, Economic Development Minister. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says it has been a long journey to bring the exhibition to life, but very rewarding. "It is fantastic to see the show in place, and the feedback we are getting is extremely positive. Having the Honourable Jim A... more...

Bursary art students have an opportunity to review some of last year's best art portfolios in an exhibition at the Waikato Museum from 25-29 August. Education services team leader Kirsty Glengarry says Top Art is a roadshow exhibition of 2002 bursary art students' folios that achieved 90 or more. "It's a great opportunity for current bursary art students and their teachers to have a look... more...

Hamilton City Council's draft public arts policy is now available to the public to make submissions on. Social and community committee chair Pippa Mahood says it is important people have an opportunity to comment on the draft. "This policy is about setting the city's direction for public art and it is therefore vital that Hamilton understands and supports that direction. There has been a... more...

Local artist Mark Curtis has completed the latest art installation at Waikato Museum by laying down a 'carpet' of glitter. Art curator John Hurrell says Curtis' installation Ultra Glister [28 June-3 August] features a carpet of sparkling glitter arranged over the museum floor and is an extension and refinement of something Curtis exhibited last year. "Mark lectures in Graphic Design as p... more...

Tickets to the Trust Waikato Matariki Concert at the Waikato Museum have been snapped up over the weekend. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says the great response is likely due to the concert's quality and the desire to celebrate Matariki. "Matariki is a special time in the Maori calendar and it is good to see Tainui youth in particular keen to celebrate it. Naturally it helps that Tr... more...

Waikato Museum is to host a combined celebration for Matariki (Maori New Year) and the opening of its latest major exhibition Ngaa Purapura o Tainui ? Seeds of Tainui on Thursday [19 June]. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says Trust Waikato has supported the initiative with a grant towards a youth concert scheduled to follow the Powhiri, which will open the exhibition. "Trust Waikato ... more...

Waikato Museum of Art and History is hosting [21 May] the launch of new Te Papa Museum guides on developing and maintaining museum collections and ways of managing them through digital means. Acting programmes and collections manager Anne Blyth says Te Papa National Services' He Rauemi Resource Guides are excellent tools. "Waikato Museum already has a collections policy and we are commit... more...

Exscite's latest exhibition, Megawatt, It's Electrifying! is expected to generate big crowds with its focus on electricity at a time when New Zealand prepares for a winter of energy shortages. Science curator Nevan Ofsoski says the exhibition is about electricity, how it's generated, how much we rely on it, and how to be safe using it. "This exhibition will serve to raise awareness of po... more...

Waikato Museum of Art and History is inviting mothers with babies to a free, guided tour of a selected exhibition, followed by a discounted coffee and muffin. Education services team leader Kirsty Glengarry says the invitation is a chance for mothers to make new friends while experiencing a range of museum exhibitions throughout the year. "The idea for this programme struck me when I had my son. Onc... more...

Waikato river dams are the main subject of an exhibition titled POWER opening Saturday, 23 November at the Waikato Museum of Art and History. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala says photographer Patrick Reynolds' 14 unframed digital pr... more...

A book written by Hamilton's Dame Evelyn Stokes about one of the Waikato's most significant Maori leaders, Wiremu Tamihana, is being launched at the Waikato Museum of Art and History. Museum director Kate Vusoniwailala welcomes the book as a Waikato taonga (treasure). "Stories are an incredibly important part of the Maori tradition, and as such are taonga in themselves. By documenting the life o... more...

Guitarist, improviser and composer Greg Malcolm is stopping at the Waikato Museum of Art and History during his national tour, Homesick for Nowhere, promoting his latest album of the same name. Education services team leader Kirsty Glengarry says Greg is a solo artist with an instinct for innovation that provides a great deal of interest. "His acoustic set is characterised by hypnotic, evolving ... more...

An exhibition from top Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) MediArts students opened over the weekend at the Waikato Museum of Art and History. Programmes and collections manager Kent Ericksen says Honours 02 is a vibrant, exuberant exhibition that entertains with its wide range of technical, intellectual and craft approaches. "These 11 artists bring lively and clever extensions to contempor... more...

The Waikato Museum of Art and History's education team has recently purchased a collection of taonga for museum education programmes. Designed for use by school children, the collection includes a canoe bailer, bird trap, stone drill, toki (adze) as well as fish hooks, a taiaha and a traditional wooden puppet. Education services team leader Kirsty Glengarry says the taonga were carved by maste... more...

The Waikato Museum of Art and History's latest exhibition [Friday, 6 September], Ecstatic Flow, is a sculptural exploration into the properties of water by acclaimed artist Pauline Rhodes. Communication and customer service team leader Cam McCracken says Rhodes has specifically designed the exhibition for the museum's level five. "Ecstatic Flow is a sensory experience created through the use of ... more...

The New Zealand Film Festival has chosen the Waikato Museum of Art and History as the site to show the video programme for Homegrown II 2002. The Moving Image Centre has put together a stunning programme of shorts projected on video, with many shot on film. The showing begins at 6. 15pm at the museum on Thursday, 29 August. The programme consists of the following videos. Te Ao Kapurangi by Tama ... more...

David Stewart was announced the winner of the Trust Waikato Contemporary Art Award 2002 on Friday, 16 August for his work titled Hyperreal Tool Box for the Reinvention of a Transglobal Empire in a Parallel Universe. His work consists of five handmade beer crates filled with beer bottles, containing homebrew. Stewart says the artwork's elements (timber and beer) represent the tools with which the ... more...

The weather is often the subject of conversation, but at Exscite it is the subject of its latest interactive exhibition, Rain, Hail or Shine. Libraries and museum manager, Geoff Williams says the exhibition's combination of practical science and fun, makes it a potent tool for schools, and attractive to people of all ages. "Rain, Hail or Shine helps us understand how the forces of nature, from l... more...

Exscite has just completed its most successful year ever in terms of visitor numbers. Libraries and museum manager Geoff Williams says two excellent exhibitions in particular have raised the profile of the centre and resulted in record visitor numbers. "Exscite is on a roll with about 39,000 visitors through the door in the 2001/02 financial year. This is an increase of almost 10,000 visitors co... more...

Waikato Museum of Art and History's latest exhibition, Gallery Six: The Ice Rink and The Lilac Ship, opens to the public on Saturday, 6 July. Museum communication and customer service team leader, Cam McCracken says they have worked hard with York Refrigeration to create an exhibition they are all proud of. "We are really pleased with the final result. This has been an ambitious project and one ... more...

Waikato Museum of Art and History's opening of its latest exhibition, Gallery Six: The Ice Rink and The Lilac Ship, has been postponed due to flaws in the ice. Museum communication and customer service team leader, Cam McCracken says it was a tough decision but necessary, given the nature of the exhibition. "While we created a functional ice rink, there were minor imperfections in how the ice lo... more...

Nationally renowned band Bravura is to play at the Waikato Museum of Art and History on Sunday, 16 June. Education services team leader Kirsty Glengarry says Bravura's five first-class musicians bring a wide range of different music styles that results in a concert with appeal to a diverse audience. "Every member of Bravura is an incredibly talented musician in their own right, and together have... more...

An exhibition by New Zealand's most internationally acclaimed avant-garde artist, Billy Apple, is opening at the Waikato Museum of Art and History on 12 May. Acting director Kent Ericksen says Severe Tropical Storm Irma 9301 is an important new work by Apple and includes a musical element by composer Jonathan Besser. "The exhibition is an installation/performance work, involving movement and mus... more...

New Waikato Museum exhibition Dolly Mix (W)rappers promises to be a great success after drawing a large and diverse crowd at its opening on Saturday [2 March] Acting director Kent Ericksen says the exhibition that aims to explore the role of lollies in the lives of Samoan women and their culture in general, has obviously hit a chord. "I was thrilled with the response to the exhibition and be... more...

The life story of Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear science and one of New Zealand's most famous sons, is being celebrated in a major Waikato Museum exhibition opening on Saturday [23 February]. Acting director Kent Ericksen says Rutherford: The Story of a Kiwi Genius, reveals the real person behind the science. "Lord Rutherford was a gifted scientist, a genius, whose work in the fiel... more...

The definitive collection of New Zealand rugby cartoons opens at the Waikato Museum of Art and History on Saturday 11 August. The New Zealand Cartoon Archive Trust, with the support of Sky Network Television (Sky) has organised the exhibition 'Guts and Glory' which consists of more than 70 cartoons of such rugby greats as Jonah Lomu and Sean Fitzpatrick, as well as political figures like Jim Bolger... more...

The Waikato Museum of Art and History;s exhibition commemorating the day 20 years ago when 350 protestors stopped the Springboks v Waikato game at Hamilton's Rugby Park opens this Wednesday [25 July]. Museum director Ray Thorburn says the protest action at Rugby Park was a turning point in the 1981 Springbok tour and that some saw it as a watershed day in New Zealand's social and political history... more...

Photographic exhibition Magnum: Our turning world is attracting great numbers, Museum of Art and History communication team leader Cam McCracken says. "So far we have had about 3700 visitors, which is fantastic. Not only that, but everyone has been stunned by the quality of the exhibition making comments like: 'blows your mind'; 'a truly stunning exhibition, I'm coming back with my children' ". "It'... more...

Art Waikato National Art Award 2000 winner to exhibit at the Waikato Museum "Gavin Hipkins is one of New Zealand's leading photographers, whose explorations of the photographic medium employ numerous stylistic and tactical approaches".  - Tessa Laird, on 'The Trench' by Gavin Hipkins at the Physics Room. Chch. 1998 During his artist's residency at the Waikato Museum in 2000, Hipkins took... more...