Rotorua museum receives $2 million for restoration completion

The New Zealand Government has announced an additional $2 million grant through the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support the ongoing restoration of Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa in Rotorua. This funding is designated for the permanent exhibition fit-out phase of the project.

Restoration and seismic strengthening of the historic Elizabethan Revival-style Bath House building are now complete. The Category 1 heritage structure, originally built between 1906 and 1908, is scheduled to reopen in August 2028. The museum houses approximately 1,600 taonga Māori and 60,000 collection items.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones noted that the total restoration work has reached $73.35 million, supported by $31 million in Crown investment. The facility is expected to attract 120,000 visitors annually once it resumes operations.