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Auckland War Memorial Museum, with the cenotaph / 'Court of Honour' in the forefront.

The new dome atop the rear of the museum, with the glassed events centre underneath it.

Model of the museum, the new copper dome at the rear.

Stained glass skylight and window, 'Halls of Memory'.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important national museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history, natural history, as well as military history.

The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist style, and sitting on a grassed plinth (the remains of a dormant volcano) in the Auckland Domain, a large public park close to the Auckland CBD.

The museum was established in 1852, the present heritage building in the Domain being opened in 1929. It was extended in the 1960s, when an administration annex with a large semi-circular courtyard was added at the southern rear.

As of late 2006, the museum is in the final stages of another major overhaul, which first saw the existing building restored and exhibits partly replaced during the 1990s for $NZ 43 million. The second stage of this restoration has seen a great dome / atrium constructed within the central courtyard, for a price of $NZ 64.5 million. $NZ 27 million of that was founded by the government, with the ASB Trust ($NZ 12.9 million) and other donors making up the remainder ^[1].

The copper and glass dome, and the viewing platform / event centre underneath it had been criticised by some as 'resembling a collapsed souffle', but quickly won the admiration of critics and public, being noted for 'its undulating lines, which echo the volcanic landscape and hills around Auckland'. Standing in the event centre underneath the top of the dome was likened to being underneath the 'cream-coloured belly of a giant stingray', 'with its rippling wings hovering over the distinctive city skyline'.^[2]

The new sections underneath the dome, mostly contained within a wood-paneled sphere approximately 30 m across, will add 900 m² of additional exhibition space, a 700 people event centre, new areas for tour and school groups including an auditorium with 200 seats, as well as a restaurant with 450 seats. A new 204-spaces underground parking garage at the rear has also been constructed to help cover the high demand for parking in the Auckland Domain.^[2][3]

The museum houses the largest collection of Māori and Pacific Island artefacts and treasures in New Zealand, including for example three entire buildings and a waka (war canoe) from 1830. The museum also stores a photographic collection of 1.2 million images, and stores and exhibits 1.5 million natural history specimens from the fields of botany, entomology, geology, land vertebrates and marine biology. The stated goal is to eventually possess specimens from all New Zealand species.^[4]

There is also an extensive permanent exhibition covering wars wars within New Zealand as well as New Zealand's participation in overseas conflicts. This exhibition is linked to the War Memorial (see below), and for example shows models of Maori pas (earth fortifications) and original Spitfire and Mitsubishi Zero airplanes.

The museum also offers changing special exhibitions. In the recent past (2006), these have included a Da Vinci and a Vikings exhibition. For the initial exhibition after the grand re-opening in early December 2006, 'Vaka Moana', a show about the first polynesian explorers reaching New Zealand is planned. Afterwards, the exhibition will travel the world for several years.

Parts of the museum, the Cenotaph and its surrounding consecrated grounds (Court of Honour) in front of the Museum also serve as a war memorial, mainly to those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. There are two 'Halls of Memory' within the museum, whose walls, together with a number of additional marble slabs, list the names of all known New Zealand soldiers killed in major conflicts during the 20th Century.^[5]

RSA representatives have noted that the Cenotaph area is in need of renovation, and also would like measures put in place that ensure the area is treated with more respect by people using the park or visiting the museum. Auckland City was considering replacement the old concrete paving with granite and basalt pavers.^[6] This was apparently decided against, possibly for cost reasons. The city has however conducted substantial remedial works, to improve the condition of the existing Court of Honour, including repairs to and lighting of the steps, uplighting of the Cenotaph, as well as general cleaning and a new interpretive engraving provided by the Auckland RSA.^[7]

1. ^ Spectacular makeover nearly ready - New Zealand Herald, Saturday 9 September 2006, page A13
2. ^ ^{a b} View from museum's dome beats all criticism - New Zealand Herald, Thursday 16 November 2006
3. ^ The Grand Atrium spaces (from the Museum homepage)
4. ^ Permanent collections (from the Museum homepage)
5. ^ War Memorial (from the Museum homepage)
6. ^ RSA and museum seek Cenotaph upgrade - New Zealand Herald, Tuesday 3 January 2006
7. ^ Cenotaph receives well deserved restoration - Auckland City media release, Wednesday 06 December 2006

• Auckland War Memorial Museum (museum homepage)