School Holidays
AIR PLAYGROUND
ENDS 11 OCT | FROM $5
For curious kids of all ages, experience the science of aerodynamics and the amazing invisible elemental force of air
Ngā Hararei
School Holidays
Join us for a relaxing, spring morning of botanical drawing with beautiful fresh flowers.
Create your own fantastic face with air dry clay, inspired by the exhibition Screech - a little history of loud ceramics.
Join us in the Atrium to create your own pinwheel that will propel with a single push of air.
Become a museum detective this week and be in to win a prize pack from the Te Manawa Museum gift shop or a family pass to Te Manawa Halloween.
If you love Halloween as much as the City Library and Te Manawa Museum does, then join us in the Foyer at Te Manawa for story time.
Become a museum detective this week and be in to win a prize pack from the Te Manawa Museum gift shop or a family pass to Te Manawa Halloween.
Ngā Whakaahua
Exhibitions and Activities
For curious kids of all ages, experience the science of aerodynamics and the amazing invisible elemental force of air through 10 interactive exhibits. Developed by a team of Scienceworks experts from Museums Victoria, this exhibition is jam-packed with hands-on interactive experiences for the whole whānau.
A far cry from the brown pots of studio pottery we’re familiar with, the artists in Screech take their cues from subjects like raging rockstars, other-worldly paintings and imaginary creatures. Their work moves beyond use and form to explore pop culture, mythology and social dynamics.
Encounter new works by Kura Te Waru-Rewiri that are a connection to artist Marilynn Webb and experience the artist’s creative practice through other works across time.
Bringing together pristine, still life paintings of cleaning products, she-wees and baby bottles with surreal constructions, Emily Hartley-Skudder’s latest body of work responds to Palmerston North’s beloved public toilets, Ladies Rest, in Te Marae o Hine, the Square.
Emily Hartley-Skudder is the inaugural recipient of the Fair Trust Art Prize.
Wātaka takunetanga
Upcoming events
What is conservation biobanking, and how can preserved living cells help protect threatened species? Join three cell-science specialists to explore the Frozen Zoo® and the growing role of biobanking in conservation.
Te Manawa welcomes home‑based educators in Palmerston North to join us for our 2026 Home‑based Educator Mornings.
These drop‑in sessions will run on the last Thursday of each month until November, from 10am – 11am.
On the first Friday of every month, bring your baby in a front pack or buggy to the art gallery for a short tour with one of the exhibition curators!
Baby Steps is a relaxed and social setting for caregivers of infants and young toddlers. It is a great chance to learn about the curious world of contemporary art and meet other like-minded people caring for little ones. Enjoy a 20-minute tour and stay for a free morning tea and chats. This is a drop-in event with no booking required.
Take this opportunity to visit the Highbury Weavers as they work collectively to create a range of woven artworks using traditional Māori weaving techniques. This dedicated group upholds the mana and tikanga of Māori weaving within a contemporary context, sharing knowledge that has been passed down through generations.
Using both harakeke (flax) and selected modern materials, the Highbury Weavers demonstrate how traditional practices continue to evolve in today’s environment. Visitors are welcome to observe the weaving process and ask questions, gaining insight into the cultural significance and techniques of Māori weaving.
A lively conversation about gendered history, cleanliness and control, and the taonga that is Ladies Rest. A unique opportunity for all genders to visit this much-loved Manawatū icon.
Ngā Taonga
Collection
Professor Bob O’Driscoll was one of the founding members of the Science Centre. He was also a lifelong tech enthusiast and was among the first people in the world to buy an iPhone. That device is now in the Te Manawa collection. Rob Mildon spoke with Bob in 2016 ahead of the Nova exhibition which featured that very phone (now on display in Manawatū Journeys).
The Mina McKenzie Kete was created by young Rongotea weaver, Cassandra Archer, in 2023. It is currently on display as part of Te Manawa’s exhibit: ‘Keeping the Taonga Warm – The Legacy of Mina McKenzie’. Historian Dr Tanja Rother spoke with Cassandra to find out the story behind the kete.
Ngā Kōrero
Stories
A major new art prize designed to fuel bold artistic ambition will make its debut when CAMEO, an exhibition by Wellington contemporary artist Emily Hartley-Skudder, opens on 22 August.
Acclaimed contemporary carver Ngaroma Riley has been awarded the $40,000 Fair Trust Art Prize