Behind the scenes at the museum

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

As New Zealand's National Art Gallery and National Museum prepared for their merger into the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and new waterfront building, Laurence Aberhart was given access to the Buckle Street building and collection storage spaces ... with strange and evocative results.

Image: Waka (Tacy St), Wellington, 9 October 1995

Waka (Tacy St), Wellington, 9 October 1995

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Orca skull, Taranaki St., Wellington, 4 October 1995

Orca skull, Taranaki St., Wellington, 4 October 1995

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Marine Mammal Room #6

Marine Mammal Room #6

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moa and corals

Moa and corals

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cupboard front

Cupboard front

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Chrono Object and Buddhist Shrine

Chrono Object and Buddhist Shrine

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Rare and extinct birds case

Rare and extinct birds case

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior, office, Entomology

Interior, office, Entomology

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Interior, Theatrette

Interior, Theatrette

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Drying cabinet

Drying cabinet

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Crating Workshop

Crating Workshop

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Model Pa and Racked Carvings

Model Pa and Racked Carvings

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Figures

Figures

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Large fish tank

Large fish tank

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Mechanical yellow-eyed penguin

Mechanical yellow-eyed penguin

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Albatross

Albatross

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Figurehead

Figurehead

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: "Exotic various orders, Entomology"

"Exotic various orders, Entomology"

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Accidental double exposure

Accidental double exposure

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Main staircase

Main staircase

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Toilet

Toilet

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Mounted birds, temporary storage

Mounted birds, temporary storage

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa