Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum

10/10/2026

Tūhura and Otago would benefit from central government support. Excerpt from the article:
"Across the country, councils are being asked to shoulder increasing responsibility for cultural infrastructure at the very moment central government is stepping back as an investment partner.

Previous generations invested in museums, galleries and heritage buildings because they saw them as gifts to the future. The return was measured not in revenue or visitor numbers, but in civic memory, identity and legacy."

OPINION: Across the country, councils are being asked to shoulder increasing responsibility for cultural infrastructure at the very moment central government is stepping back as an investment partner.

07/10/2026

Friends in Focus Talk: Weaving the Narrative by Dr. Stacey Kokaua-Balfour

Noon, Tuesday 20 October
Barclay Lecture Theatre

Through engagement with the Digital Pasifik collections, Dr. Stacey Kokaua-Balfour and her brother, audio producer Hamish Kokaua (aka Scapegoat Mercy) created a digital work that was performed at the Weaving a Narrative Workshop, an online seminar series featuring talks and works commissioned by artists. Their work considers the histories, tensions and opportunities found within museum collections from the perspective of Cook Islands Māori creatives. In this talk, Stacey will share 'Weaving the Narrative' and open a discussion on the connecting potential of creative engagement with museum collections.

After Stacey’s talk, follow the eyes in the Nature Gallery on Level 3 to come to the Friends' Room for a cuppa and biscuit.

06/10/2026

23/09/2026

Friends were treated to very special behind-the-scenes tours, led by Humanities curators and collections team. Thanks to Joëlle Den Toom for setting up the opportunity to view selected taoka donated by Friends to Tūhura Otago Museum. This tour emphasised taoka that will feature in the book Joëlle is writing about the Friends' first 100 years.
Many thanks to Tūhura staff Merryn Chynoweth, Moira White, Lana Arun and Scott Ratima-Nolan for facilitating the tours and sharing their knowledge.

19/09/2026

If you can see Autahi, a rāpoka or leopard seal, you are close to the Friends' Room. :)

18/09/2026

Rafael Clarke and Nancy Longnecker became Friends of Tūhura relatively recently. Hear about their experiences of being Friends of Tūhura and the value they place on being part of a like-minded community that supports the cultural legend that is Tūhura Otago Museum.
https://oar.org.nz/shows/friends-forever/
Raf and Nancy say for them, a strong motivation for joining the Friends involved contributing to an important cultural institution. Both of them joined the council of the Association of Friends of Tūhura soon after becoming Friends and have made multiple contributions for the Friends’ centenary anniversary celebrations, including co-hosting this Friends Forever series.

What benefits do Raf and Nancy get from their Friends memberships? Raf describes his enjoyment learning about a wide variety of new topics from the Friends in Focus talks. Nancy waxes lyrical about the Friends’ Room. They describe their swift, satisfying journeys of becoming Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum.

15/09/2026

Assoc Prof Gwynaeth McIntyre gave a fascinating Friends in Focus talk about Roman coins, the messages rulers were trying to send with them, and some of the collectors who've contributed to Tūhura's collection.
Thanks to Merryn Chynoweth who brought some of Tūhura's Roman coins out of storage for people to see up close.

12/09/2026

A reminder for the Friends in Focus talk at noon Tuesday 15 September: Assoc Prof Gwynaeth McIntyre: Coins during Chaos

In the years 68-69 CE, four individuals claimed supreme power in Rome: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. This talk explores how they used coins to spread their messages and distance themselves from their competitors. Associate Professor Gwynaeth McIntyre (University of Otago) will examine coins...

09/09/2026

Ever wonder how the Tropical Forest at Tūhura stays sensational? Hear about it from the gardener at Tūhura Otago Museum, George Bysouth, who keeps the Tropical Forest looking marvellous.
https://oar.org.nz/shows/friends-forever/
George has travelled from the Isle of Mann to Dunedin with a few adventurous stops along the way. These days, if he arrives at work chilled on a Dunedin winter’s day, George warms up quickly on the job. George describes the symbiosis between his studies in Botany at Otago University and his work in the forest at Tūhura. While most museum visitors know this as the Butterfly House, the lush forest is vital for the inhabitants and for a complete visitor experience. George describes his work, revealing that he shares his garden shed with the museum’s tarantulas!

07/09/2026

Here's Seven Sharp's segment on the Friends: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2005108566857985 Their team got an essence of the Association of Friends, with a wonderful showcase of Tūhura Otago Museum.
Friends were represented by our patron: Julie Pearse; and Friends' Councillors: Tim Still, Rafael Clarke, Raimo Kuparinen and Nancy Longnecker. These Tūhura staff also contributed: Shanaya Cunningham, Hannah Treadwell, Ian Griffin, Lana Arun and Scott Rātima-Nolan. The opportunity was organised by Tūhura's marketing manager, Charlie Buchan. Thanks to everyone who contributed.