Museum to Temporarily Close on Mondays and Tuesdays

Aotea Utanganui - Museum of South Taranaki will temporarily be closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays while staff make preparations to shift part of its social history collection into its new, architecturally-designed building located at 4 Richmond Street, Pātea.

The recently completed facility was built by the South Taranaki District Museum Trust to display large collection items including the Pātea Freezing Works fire engine and fire tender and other machinery from the District’s past currently held at the Museum.

In line with best practice for the long-term storage of heritage collections, the building is fitted with a fire protection system that includes smoke detectors and a sprinkler system.

South Taranaki District Council Libraries and Cultural Services Manager Cath Sheard, says the Monday/Tuesday closure will run from 1 May till 1 November 2023, so the team can prepare and move the collection from current storage areas to the new site.

“The Trust and the Council are very excited to see this new facility completed,” says Sheard.

“The temporary closure will help the team concentrate on what the collection storage needs are and prepare an exciting new display for our communities,” she says.

The Museum will continue to be open from Wednesday to Saturday every week.