Museums
This page gives information on three Museums in Porirua City.
Pataka - Porirua Museum of Arts and Cultures
A leading gallery of contemporary Maori, Pacific and New Zealand art.
Corner of Norrie and Parumoana Streets, Porirua City.
Phone (04) 237 1511
email pataka@pcc.govt.nz
website: http://www.pataka.org.nz
View Location on Google Maps.
Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4.30 pm.
Sunday and most Public Holidays 11 am - 4.30 pm.
Free Entry.
Attractions
The New Zealand Police Museum
The New Zealand Police Museum reveals the true stories of policing in New Zealand today and throughout history. Historical objects and original evidence are used in displays that tell the story of the formation of New Zealand’s Police as well as their changing role in areas such as drug and alcohol enforcement. Many major historical events also feature, including the1981 Springbok Tour, the Erebus plane disaster and the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.
Location and Contact
The Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Road, Papakowhai, Porirua City.
For Bookings, phone: (04) 238 3141, Enquiries: (04) 237 0139
Email inquiry: museum@police.govt.nz
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/newzealandpolicemuseum/
Admission:
General admission is free. There is a charge for Tour Groups.
Operating Hours:
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, or by appointment.
Closed public holidays
Disabled Access:
Parking, automatic entry/exit doors, ramps, accessible toilet.
Groups and Tours
Groups are welcome with prior booking. Let our Tour Co-ordinator help you plan your tour to make the most of other educational and recreational activities in the area.
The Junior Detective Activity Program provides school groups and other children’s groups with the opportunity to dress up in uniforms and test their skills on a changing program of mysteries and activities that include forensic investigation techniques.
Museum Shop
Collectable memorabilia, novelty gifts, cards and toys are available at our gift shop along with the widest range of police history books in New Zealand.
Directions
Use the Waitangirua/Papakowhai motorway exit on State Highway 1, just north of Porirua. The New Zealand Police Museum is located at the Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Road, Papakowhai, Porirua. View Location on Google Maps.
Porirua Hospital Museum
Founded in 1987 to celebrate the centenary of the hospital, the Porirua Hospital Museum is now a category 1 historic place (Historic Places Act 1993). The Museum is operated by the Friends of Porirua Hospital Museum.
Location and contact
Situated in F Block, Upper Main Drive, Porirua Hospital Grounds, Kenepuru Drive, Porirua.
TELEPHONE:
Museum - (04) 237 4589 Ext 7541
Friends of Porirua Hospital Museum Secretary - (04) 239 9499
Open to the public on Tuesday afternoons 1 pm - 4 pm or Sundays by arrangement.
Group tours at other times by prior arrangement.
Free admission. Gold coin donation welcome.
Wheelchair access.
Website: http://www.poriruahospitalmuseum.org.nz/
View Location on Google Maps.
Attractions
This museum is unique in the world as it shows changes in mental health treatment since Victorian times. It also has exhibits of interest to dentistry. The Museum is located in the oldest surviving building of Porirua Lunatic Asylum now recognised as a heritage building of national significance.
Displays trace the history of the hospital's development from replacement accommodation for Wellington's lunatics, through being a large mental hospital with more than 2000 patients in the 60's, to today's much smaller specialised facility.
One of the original rooms used to keep very disturbed people secluded from other hospital patients has been preserved as it was in the 1930's.