Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum

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Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum

Old mate's friends for nearly a century - Supporting Tūhura Otago Museum.

From pursuing potential collection items to securing funding, the Friends champion Tūhura's importance to and in the community.

17/06/2026

What is life without connections between people, groups and institutions? Connections within and for Tūhura Otago Museum m are fundamental aims of the delightful administrator, Jane Gregory. As liaison between museum staff and the Association of Friends and organisational linchpin at Tūhura, Jane opens up about her many years serving as an executive assistant in the UK and NZ, bringing us to her role today as EA to Tūhura director Dr. Ian Griffin. Tune in at 12:30 today (18th of June) on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media or click on the link in the comments to have a glimpse into the inner workings of the museum

13/06/2026

Friends room with a view 😍

10/06/2026

New Friends Forever podcast out today!!

Today we welcome Julie Pearse. As a former president of the Friends of Tūhura and granddaughter of H. D. Skinner, Julie Pearse is well qualified to share the Friends' rich history. With fascinating anecdotes and historical information, Julie enlightens listeners on the highs and lows of the Association of Friends, how it battled membership problems in the 2000s and rose again. She tells tales of her “Pop’s” excavations and the games he would play with her in the museum. She also shares her father Dick Skinner’s views on the museum’ retention of Wharenui Mataatua and how they differed from her own. Our hosts are delighted to share glimpses of Julie’s lifetime of dedication to the museum, her mission work and establishment of the Otago Farmers Market, activities which contributed to her becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2025.

Listen in at OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media at 12:30pm today (11 June) or follow the podcast link in comments.

08/06/2026

Congratulations Tūhura Otago Museum on opening the beautiful new Tangata Moana gallery! What an incredible achievement and a stunning example of Tūhura's relationship with our communities.

Thank you for inviting The Friends Council to the opening!

04/06/2026

Across Otago, schools are finding it harder to afford the journey to Tūhura Otago Museum

Tūhura Otago Museum is raising funds to change that. Your donation will help fund bus hire and fuel costs, bringing students from across the region to the Museum.

Thanks to a generous donor all donations up to the first $5,000 will be matched dollar for dollar doubling your impact. Every contribution can make a real difference.

Donate now by following the link below or please donate your tax refund when it arrives, and help schools get to our museum!

https://otagomuseum.nz/help-schools-get-here/

03/06/2026

Helping communities find their voice is an extremely difficult job. Luckily, it’s second nature for Leota Meredith, Pasifika engagement manager at Tūhura. In a time when museums are facing up to their colourful pasts, bringing in the perspectives of the many Pasifika communities in Otago is more important than ever. Leota has been on the frontline, helping the museum transform its Pasifika gallery into a representative and modern exhibit. Join us on the 4th of June, 12pm on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media to hear Leota enlighten us on the tenets of community engagement and just how busy she has been! Our hosts discuss the unique and important relationship between the Friends and the Pasifika collection as it has evolved, while enjoying Leota’s famous quips. The revamped Tūhura Otago Museum Tangata Moana gallery is open to the public from 6 June.

27/05/2026

Bad handwriting can spark intrigue or rage - a dilemma every archivist and volunteer has experienced. Dr Doug Holborow has decoded and catalogued many instances of illegible scrawls for the Tūhura Archives project. On today’s show, 28th of May, 12:30, retired periodontist Doug walks our hosts through his storied past with the Friends as well as the process of archiving H. D. Skinner’s correspondence – a tad easier than pulling teeth. From surprise personal connections to polite declinations, Doug enlightens and informs our listeners on the fascinating world of historic museum collection

22/05/2026

The beautiful new exhibition Boro- Timeworn Textiles of Japan is officially open! Thank you to Tūhura Otago Museum for inviting The Friends council to the opening! What a stunning exhibition highlighting sustainability and the durability of humanity through textiles! Make sure to check it out ASAP!

20/05/2026

Volunteers are the backbone of community and creative institutions and Jeanette Leigh has racked up countless hours of tireless work. Why choose which associations to belong to when you can be a life member for most of them? That’s exactly what Jeanette did! Listen in today (21st May) at 12:30 on OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media to hear Jeanette inspire our hosts and audience with stories from her work on the Tūhura Otago Museum archives project, her history with the Friends of Tūhura, and the city of Dunedin. Or, listen in on your favourite streaming platform by clicking the link in our bio!

14/05/2026

Did you get a chance to listen to today's Friends Forever session? On today’s show, Dr Georgia Ciaran, the head of philanthropy and development at Tūhura, described how every penny given can leave a lasting legacy. Georgia gave our listeners insight into the impact of philanthropy at Tūhura - from sprinklers to collection management.

Missed it? Listen to it now on your favourite streaming platform by clicking the link in our bio!

Address

Friends' Room, 3rd Floor, Tūhura Otago Museum
Dunedin
9016

Website

https://linktr.ee/FriendsofTuhura

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