Auckland Museum

Originally founded in 1852, the Auckland Museum moved to its current location in the Domain in 1929 after funds were raised to combine it with a war memorial.

The exhibits occupy three floors.  The ground floor is devoted to the native Maori culture and the related Polynesian cultures of the Pacific islands.  There are numerous artifacts and displays that explain these cultures and the history of the Maori in New Zealand.  The second floor includes extensive exhibits on Natural History, with an emphasis on New Zealand's unique flora and fauna.  The third floor includes the Auckland War Memorial, with the names of soldiers and sailors from the Auckland area who died in combat carved in the marble walls.  Surrounding the War Memorial are galleries that trace New Zealand's military history, from the wars between the colonists and the Maori through to New Zealand's current peacekeeping missions around the region and the world.

A $5.00 donation is appreciated for adult admission.  Children under 16 are free.