Whanganui Regional Museum

03/06/2026

👖 Speak of the denim... tomorrow's Outfit of the Month talk explores the remarkable story behind one of fashion's most enduring fabrics, from workwear to wow-wear.
From miners and mechanics to movie stars, punks, and fashion icons, denim has travelled a long way — and tomorrow we'll be exploring that journey through a fabulous late-1970s Lee Cooper jumpsuit from the Museum collection.
Join Kaihāpai Taonga / Curator, Fashion and Textiles Stephanie Wood for our June fashion talk and discover the stories stitched into one of the world's most enduring fabrics.
🗓 Friday 5th June
🕧 12.15pm
📍 Whanganui Regional Museum
🎫Free admission | Koha is always appreciated
Can't make the talk? The jumpsuit will remain on display throughout June.

02/06/2026

✨We are delighted to have welcomed a remarkable new collection of taonga pūoro Māori into the Museum.✨
🎵Created by Grammy Award-winning taonga pūoro producer and composer Jerome Kavanagh Poutama and his partner Ruihaa Turner, the collection — Te Whaanau Rongoa Puoro Māori o te Ranga Tupua — reflects the ceremonial, healing and ancestral significance of taonga pūoro Māori.
Both Puoro Jerome and Ruiha Turner are highly respected taonga pūoro practitioners and performing artists.
It was a privilege to hear Jerome and Ruiha share the stories, whakaaro and kaupapa behind these extraordinary taonga as they were formally presented to the Museum collection.
The taonga pūoro was commissioned with support from the Blumhardt Foundation. The aim of the Blumhardt fund is to enhance New Zealander’s access to the work of contemporary makers, and to support the practice of those makers through public art galleries and museums.
📸KHughes/WRM

27/05/2026

👖From miners and mechanics to punks, pop stars, and fashion icons — denim has done it all.
Discover how denim evolved from hard-wearing workwear into one of the world’s most enduring fashion statements. Take a closer look at the style, the social history and the environmental impact of denim production, all stitched into this well preserved late-1970s Lee Cooper denim jumpsuit.
Join Kaihāpai Taonga / Curator, Fashion and Textiles, Stephanie Wood, for the next Outfit of the Month talk at Whanganui Regional Museum.
Everyone is welcome. No need to book, just come along and enjoy:
⌚12.15pm
📅 Friday 5th June
📍 Whanganui Regional Museum
🎫 Admission is free
💛 Koha for the Museum is always appreciated
The jumpsuit will remain on display throughout June.

25/05/2026

🎵We were delighted to host another unforgettable afternoon of opera from New Zealand Opera School, celebrating and supporting Ridge Ponini and Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono ahead of their London journey this September.
💛Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to helping these talented young performers take the next step in their operatic careers.
👏🏽We wish Ridge and Faamanu every success for their exciting opportunities overseas! 🎶

21/05/2026

✨Behind the scenes at the Museum with Jenna Wakeling!✨
🎓Jenna, a third-year Fashion and Textile Design student at Whanganui UCOL, has been gaining hands-on experience at Whanganui Regional Museum through the UCOL Creative Industries internship programme.
👗Working alongside Stephanie Wood, Kaihāpai Taonga/Curator, Fashion and Textiles, Jenna has been helping care for large historic textiles including flags and banners, as well as creating custom protective coverings for delicate garments in the collection.
🧵From textile handling to conservation care, Jenna’s internship is building valuable skills while helping preserve taonga for future generations.

14/05/2026

👏🏽We're delighted to welcome our newest team member, Timara Wallace, to Whanganui Regional Museum. Timara brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the Museum for her new role as Kaiwhakaako Māori/Māori Educator.
Let’s let Timara introduce herself in her own words:

Ko Timara Wallace tōku ingoa. He uri tēnei nō Te Awa Tupua. I'm a descendant of the beautiful Whanganui Awa with roots to many marae across our awa. I have had the pleasure of working for Te Kaahui o Rauru for the past four years, delivering mahi from freshwater education to wānanga and event coordination to environmental monitoring. I am passionate about te taiao (the environment), wai māori (freshwater), taonga species (native species), te maramataka (the lunar calendar), and inspiring our rangatira mō āpōpō (leaders of tomorrow) as our next generation of kaitiaki.
💛Please join us in giving Timara a warm Museum welcome!💐

11/05/2026

What stories can a plough tell?
Thought to have been used to plough the first furrow in Whanganui, this elegant swing plough was made in England prior to 1841 and used in New Zealand by the Nixon and Bell families.
Its journey into the Museum collection has long been something of a mystery — one that has only recently begun to be better understood. Through this object, we can explore the different layers of history and how perspectives on the past continue to evolve.
Join Sue Garside, Kaihāpai Taonga/General Curator, to explore the Bell family's intriguing story.
All welcome.
⌚12.15pm
📅Friday 15 May
📍Whanganui Regional Museum
🎫 Admission is free
💛Koha for the Museum is always appreciated

10/05/2026

🐦From brilliantly coloured birds to unforgettable wildlife encounters, photographer Gary McClintock FPSNZ takes audiences inside South Africa’s Kruger National Park in this special Nature Talk at Whanganui Regional Museum.

Featuring stunning images captured during a two-week photographic safari, Gary will share both the stories behind the photographs and the techniques used to capture them.

📅 Tuesday 19 May
🕢 7:30–9:00pm
📍 Davis Theatre, Watt Street, Whanganui
💛 Koha is always appreciated

📸 Gary McClintock
https://wrm.org.nz/events/nature-talks-8/

10/05/2026

What can a plough reveal about Whanganui’s past? Discover the fascinating story behind “Mr Bell’s Plough” with our next Object of the Month talk. 🚜
👇🏼Read more below from Whanganui Chronicle:

Sue Garside will unearth the hidden history behind 'Mr Bell's Plough' at the free event.

06/05/2026

Looking for something different to do this weekend? 🧶
Drop into the Museum for a series of informal pop-up demonstrations. It's a chance to see skilled makers at work, explore a range of textile and craft techniques, and chat with passionate practitioners.
Read the story here 👇

'We’ve got so many makers and crafters and very talented people here.'