Tūhura Otago Museum

03/06/2026

How does the brain store memories?

Join Emeritus Distinguished Professor Cliff Abraham FRSNZ, winner of the 2025 Rutherford Medal, as he explores how connections between nerve cells help us remember, and why we sometimes forget.

Discover how decades of research are unlocking new possibilities for treating memory decline and neurological disorders.

Thursday 18 June, 6pm
Hutton Theatre
Free, bookings essential
Nibbles provided

Hosted by the Royal Society Te Apārangi, with support from the Otago Institute for the Arts and Sciences.

https://otagomuseum.nz/whats-on/our-mysterious-brain

03/06/2026

A major milestone for Tūhura Otago Museum and our Pasifika communities

Our team is busy putting the final touches on Tangata Moana (People of the Ocean), our newest permanent gallery.

This is a significant moment for Pasifika communities across Otago and Aotearoa, and for the Museum itself. The gallery will showcase one of the most internationally significant Pacific collections in the world, sharing the rich stories, cultures and connections of the peoples of the Pacific.

To mark this historic occasion, Tūhura Otago Museum will be closed until 12pm this Saturday while we host a private opening ceremony and blessing with invited guests, community leaders and partners who have helped bring this vision to life.

We look forward to welcoming the wider community from 12pm onwards to experience Tangata Moana and explore this remarkable new gallery.

Thank you for your understanding as we celebrate this special occasion. We can’t wait to share it with you.

02/06/2026

Beyond proud of Shanaya and Annah, and the incredible team behind them, from Marketing and Collections to our Facilities crew.

Seeing their work featured on Seven Sharp tonight was fantastic. To stand alongside some of the best museums in the world with a fraction of the staff and budget really highlights the talent, creativity, and hard work of our team.

Make sure you check it out. Their story starts around the six-minute mark.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/tvseries/seven-sharp

Dunedin NZ Seven Sharp

01/06/2026

Settle in for a fully immersive musical journey to The Dark Side of the Moon in this stunning planetarium show.

Whether you're a lifelong Pink Floyd fan or newly discovering their music, this will be an unforgettable trip through one of the most celebrated albums of all time.

Sit back and relax as psychedelic imagery on a 360° screen and powerful surround sound set you adrift through the cosmos.

Premium Session tickets include a drink on arrival and a delicious antipasto selection from premier Dunedin caterer Precinct Food.

Runtime 44 mins. Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled show time.

6pm Friday 12 June
Tūhura Planetarium
$65

Settle in for a fully immersive musical journey to The Dark Side of the Moon in this stunning planetarium show.

29/05/2026

Only one week left to enter!

The New Zealand Space Agency's Mission Patch Design Competition is open to students in Years 1-8 (ages 5-13).

This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore space, science, and New Zealand's place in the space sector through creative design.

A mission patch is a small circular emblem that represents the goals and identity of a space mission. Astronauts wear mission patches on their space suits, and now Kiwi kids have the chance to design one of their own.

The winning design will be transformed into an official New Zealand Space Agency mission patch, and the winner will also receive a limited-edition New Zealand Space Agency jacket featuring their design.

Find out more and enter here: https://bit.ly/4w1PYSg

28/05/2026

Celebrate King’s Birthday with a special screening of The Queen in the unique setting of Tūhura’s Planetarium. Starring Helen Mirren in her Academy Award-winning role, this compelling film explores the monarchy’s response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Enjoy a thought-provoking cinematic experience in the immersive atmosphere of the planetarium this long weekend.

10.30am, Monday 1 June
Tūhura Planetarium
Adult $15, Student Concession and Children $10

Runtime 103 minutes, Rated M Offensive language

Celebrate King's Birthday with a special screening of The Queen in the unique setting of Tūhura’s Planetarium. Experience this compelling portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II during a defining moment in modern royal history, as the monarchy responds to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

27/05/2026

Make something truly ancient this Music Month!

Used by Māori and many other indigenous groups from around the world, the bull-roarer is one of the oldest known musical instruments. Now you can make a bull-roarer of your very own! Swing it overhead to create its iconic, haunting hum—a sound that has echoed across cultures for thousands of years.

Workshops are one hour long, and all materials are provided. Children under the age of 14 will need to be supervised by an adult.

11am and 12pm, Saturday 30 May
Atrium Level 1
$2 – Bookings Essential

https://tuhura.nz/whats-on/bull-roarer-workshop-nz-music-month

27/05/2026

Is this real life? Is this just fantasy? Experience a night of music, stars, and pure magic

We'll begin the evening with CAPCOM GO!, which takes you behind the scenes of the 10-year effort to get humanity on the Moon in 1969.

Just one year later, Freddie Mercury formed powerhouse British rock band Queen and music was never the same again. Bohemian Rhapsody follows the group's rise to superstardom and the personal struggles Mercury faced amidst his skyrocketing success.

Schedule
5.30pm – CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story
6.00pm – Intermission
6.15pm – Bohemian Rhapsody (rated M offensive language, sexual references & drug references, runtime 134 minutes)

Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

5.30pm – 8.45pm, Friday 29 May
Tūhura Planetarium
$20 – Bookings Essential
https://otagomuseum.nz/whats-on/bohemian-rhapsody

26/05/2026

Huge news for Tūhura Otago Museum.

Our exhibition The Gallery Gang’s Big Adventure has been named a Top 5 finalist at the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards in London, widely regarded as the “Oscars” of the museum world.

To put that into perspective, we were competing against some of the biggest museums on earth, institutions with hundreds of staff and multi million dollar exhibition budgets. Meanwhile, this exhibition was created right here in Dunedin by our incredible Design, Marketing and Facilities teams for just over $40,000.

A massive congratulations to Shanaya, Annah, and everyone involved in bringing this project to life. This recognition proves that creativity, passion, storytelling, and community connection can stand proudly on the world stage.

Dunedin once again punching well above its weight.

Dunedin NZ 100% Pure New Zealand Museums + Heritage - leading sector magazine and events Museums Aotearoa

25/05/2026

Some songs begin with a story. This one begins with a drawer full of medals, a shared love of the sea, and a father who rarely spoke about the war.

Join Ōtepoti musician and author Dr Ian Chapman for a special NZ Music Month presentation exploring the story behind his latest song, a tribute to his late father's naval service.

Featuring family photos, personal stories, and music recorded with Ian's son playing his grandfather's original tin whistle.

1pm, Wednesday 27 May
Free, bookings essential

https://tuhura.nz/whats-on/an-anzac-song-for-my-father-with-dr-ian-chapman-nz