Galleries and museums

Galleries and museums play a vital role in Aotearoa New Zealand as custodians of the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.

The galleries and museums of New Zealand serve as spaces for education and reflection, fostering a deeper understanding of Aotearoa’s past, present and future.

Investing in these spaces is an investment in cultural preservation, education, community development, tourism, and the whole enrichment of society. These spaces contribute to the well-being and growth of both local communities and the nation.

Discover a few examples of how Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit has helped to foster the arts in the regions, build further awareness of Aotearoa’s culture and heritage, and provide further opportunities below.

The Provincial Growth Fund

COVID-19 recovery funding

Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery

Close up on two hands holding a big pile of grains.

Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery received a $729,000 grant from The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) for stage 1 of 2 which sees the space incorporate a greater range of visitor services and product production – bringing 14 jobs into the region.

Find out more about Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery.

Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery

An architectural site that is hard to miss when you enter Whangarei – the Hundertwasser Art Centre alongside the Wairau Māori Art Gallery, received an $18.5 million grant from The Provincial Growth Fund, administered by Kānoa.

Dedicated to original Hundertwasser artworks, a large part of this unique space celebrates the art and architecture of Freidensreich Hundertwasser, while the Wairau Māori Art gallery is the world’s first Māori dedicated public art gallery. The Wairau Māori Art Gallery holds 3 to 4 exhibitions a year, showcasing the finest in contemporary Māori art.

Find out more about Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery.

Manea Footprints of Kupe

A man and his children listen to a person talk about a wooden archway which has traditional Māori designs carved into the top of it. Other wooden carvings are seen in the background further along the walkway

Based in Te Tai Tokerau, Manea – Footprints of Kupe is a 75-minute multisensory journey of guided storytelling – through art, taonga, film, performance, digital interaction, and the splendour of Hokianga’s natural surroundings.

This unique space received a $4.6 million grant from the Provincial Growth Fund, administered by Kānoa and created a total of 12 jobs for the region.

Find out more about Manea – Footprints of Kupe.

Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua

A rainbow over a construction site at sunset

Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua holds a permanent collection of more than 8,300 art works of national and international significance, covering four centuries of European art history and New Zealand art history.

The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua has received a $11.6 million grant from the COVID-19 Recovery Fund to complete seismic strengthening and refresh the closed Category 1 heritage-listed Sarjeant Gallery building. The Gallery will continue to house a nationally significant art collection, new galleries, a café and retail area and provide functional public spaces for the Whanganui community for education and events.

As of August 2023, structural developments are still being completed – with the aim of completion being the middle of 2024.