When Thomas Cawthron arrived in Nelson in 1849, at the age of 15, it was almost a 'frontier town'. Ninety years after endowing the facility that bears his name, the Cawthron Institute is still at the frontier - the frontier of leading scientific research in fields as broad as food quality, aquaculture, water quality and bio-security. To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Cawthron, the Cawthron Institute Trust Board have funded the Museum to help create an exhibition that brings this science and technology to public attention in a way that will be both enjoyable and educational. Without giving away too much consider the possibility of CSI Takapuna and a 3D exploration of an under-water farm. The exhibition opens to the public on 12 November and runs through the holidays till 22 April 2012. With the support of Cawthron scientists the exhibition promises to be a spectacular display with opportunities for interaction along the way.
Being the oldest museum in New Zealand, Nelson Provincial Museum has a long proud history. As the Museum has moved from one home to the next over the last 170 years it has become the guardian of a nationally significant Collection. For perhaps the last two decades a series of reports has addressed the issues of quality and quantity of available storage. The most recent report by OCTA Associates provided the Tasman Bays Heritage Trust with a recommended option to redevelop the Isel Park Research Facility. This option was presented to the Nelson City Council and discussed at a recent Council Meeting. The next step is to ensure that the preferred option is included as a project in the next LTCCP for both our stakeholder Councils. The report and an update from the CEO, Peter Millward, can be downloaded here (PDF format). Further information or questions should be addressed to him in the first instance ceo@museumnp.org.nz
At our central city location, TA445, the Lower Gallery leads visitors through an exploration of Te Tau Ihu, top of the South Island from Tasman Bay to Golden Bay.
Cnr Trafalgar and Hardy Sts, Nelson
This recently redeveloped exhibit, pictured above, portrays the amazing migration of the bar-tailed godwits and includes both a stuffed bird and a flying model.
The Tasman Bays Heritage Trust Annual Report 2010 - 2011 is now available for download here (PDF format).
Have you heard about the Glass Plate Negative Project?
The aim of the project is to digitise and relocate over 150,000 glass plates negatives from mobile shelving into new industry standard drawers
This project will help to preserve and protect a very important collection for future generations to enjoy, but we need your help!
The Nelson Provincial Museum is proud to bring you Collections Online the Museum's new online public access catalogue.
This online catalogue lets you search over some of the many collection items held by the Museum.
