Auckland Art Gallery

First established in 1888, the Auckland Art Gallery, or Toi o Tamaki, known to the Maori community, was the first permanent art gallery in New Zealand. It is known for its large body of national and international art exhibits. Set in the heart of central Auckland, bound by Albert Park, Auckland Art Gallery is only a two-minute walk from major bus stations in downtown Auckland and is easily accessible. Four floors house more than 15,000 works of art ranging from native Maori traditional paintings to 19th-century landscapes of old European masters to contemporary works of New Zealand’s artists and everything in between.

One of Auckland's prime tourist attractions, the Auckland Art Gallery, or Toi o Tamaki came up after it was desperately felt that Auckland needed an art gallery. It hosts several international exhibitions throughout the year. Since its inception, a vast part of its collection has been through donations and bequests by businessmen, noblemen and government officials. Today, the extensive collection includes works from European as well as artists of the Pacific region dating back to the medieval ages. Many of the international artworks came due to donations from European individuals. In contrast, New Zealand artists such as Albert Henry O'Keeffe, Gretchen Albrecht, C.F. Goldie, and many others are well represented.

The Auckland Art Gallery was recently renovated extensively at more than NZD 100 million. The newly renovated Auckland Art Gallery was awarded the World Building of the Year award at the World Architecture Festival. Towering columns of the native Kauri tree greet visitors as they walk into the establishment.