Tairawhiti Museum

Flat-Pack Whakapapa- Maureen Lander- Maureen Lander is local subtribal descent, a remarkable weaver and academician in his profession. He is a notable exhibitor since 1986. The exhibition is all about genealogy, family and kinship, how the family is a focus around which every integral branch revolves.

About Time-David Andrew- David Andrew, an artist since his very early days has a distinct aesthetic finesse in nature and its components. He has incorporated the same into his exhibit at the Tairawhiti Museum.

Posing, Not Posing- An elaborate chronology in the history of portrait photography, starting right from the very conception of the portrait paintings with natural touch-ups to the present day, contemporary lenses of cameras. In a deeper and broader sense, this particular exhibit seeks to unlayer the iconic and the photographic depiction of our real selves.

Wyllie Cottage- Built way in the past by a renowned local lord, James Wyllie, this cottage bears with it the central architectural essence of the native land. All of it is marked out through the distinguishing “kauri” framework of the cottage, its tri-shade color palette, structured refurbishment, and restructured chimney base. An experienced guide should provide every other nook of historical importance.

Watersheds- This exhibition takes us to its very etymological analysis and its attachment to coastal water bodies. It is a visual depiction of Gisborne history.

Mahunga- The Mahunga collection is an assemblage of an eclectic range of family photographs submitted or having found in abandoned, old strange places, all in random successions. Every photograph reeks of a distant memory, completely unknown to the visitor. The background to each is given away by the museum guide to give structure to every story and anecdote.

Te Moana Maritime Gallery- Like the name suggests this gallery gives expression to the marine myths, legends, some being directly transcribed from James Cook himself. Since Tairawhiti is geographically in a marine location, one cannot separate it from its maritime essence and nothing better than to concretize it through art.

Jack C Richards Decorative Arts Gallery- This exhibition carries with a notable fragment of the Art Nouveau moment, flourishing during the years 1890-1910. Emile Galle, with his naturalist aesthetic, brings about a wave abstraction in his art that is in close communion with nature.