Araiteuru Our Journey
Te whare taonga hou A new Museum
After 150 years, Canterbury Museum has embarked on an exciting new journey that has two distinct but converging paths.
Image: Extracting a waka from the Museum basement during the mammoth Museum move out of Rolleston Avenue.
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Image: Extracting a waka from the Museum basement during the mammoth Museum move out of Rolleston Avenue.
Journey to the new Museum
After 150 years, Canterbury Museum has embarked on an exciting new journey, with two distinct yet converging paths.
The first is a physical journey to redevelop the Museum buildings. The second is a cultural journey focused on forming stronger, deeper relationships with mana whenua through honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Araiteuru was one of the early waka hourua (double-hulled canoe) to make the migration to Aotearoa, New Zealand, and the first to reach Te Waipounamu/South Island. The word Araiteuru can mean “pathway to or from the west”, suggesting the waka's name is linked to its journey across Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa/ the Pacific Ocean to Te Waipounamu.
Araiteuru speaks of whakapapa – our connection of our ancestors and the natural workd – voyaging, navigation and discovery. It also speaks to the journey that lies ahead as the Museum reimagines and redevelops not just the buildings but the institution itself.
We invite you to join us on our exciting voyage to a new Museum that celebrates people and place.
Watch the video to hear about the Museum's cultural and physical transformation from the Museum's rangatira (leaders).
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Three men with the large carved prow of the waka taua Taheretikitiki in Ōrākei. Canterbury Museum 1975.203.24174
Hanga Build
Ko te whakatakoto i te kaupapa Laying the foundation
First, we have to build a waka hourua, one strong enough to travel across the seas to a new land. To do this, we need leadership, faith, tools and our community. These are all qualities we need to build a new Museum.
Along the way we'll draw inspiration from taonga (treasures) and stories in the Museum collection.
Stories and taonga from the collection will be regularly shared on our journey to the new Museum.
Three men with the large carved prow of the waka taua Taheretikitiki in Ōrākei. Canterbury Museum 1975.203.24174
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