News and updates

Casting for storytelling content now open

​Casting for characters set to be immortalised within Te Unua Museum of Southland has begun.

Chance to develop Southland’s food stories at new museum now open

Southland is blessed with an abundance of world-renowned ingredients. Now, the hospitality industry is being called upon to share their vision for an on-site café at Te Unua.

Te Unua enriches local learning

​‍A ‘soft launch’ of the educational programmes set to be explored at Southland’s new regional museum is underway.

Work to share region's stories happening behind-the-scenes at Te Unua

Work to share the stories of Southland’s past, present, and future is progressing rapidly behind-the-scenes, as the development of Te Unua Museum of Southland continues.

Local businesses play critical role in delivering new regional museum

Dozens of Southland businesses are playing a key role in delivering the build of Te Unua Museum of Southland.

Museum tracking on time and within budget

​The build of Te Unua Museum of Southland is continuing to track on time and within budget, with the next phase of work set to focus on integrating the facility with Queens Park’s famed rose gardens.

Collaboration the key to experience development

​Work to bring Southland’s stories to life is continuing at Te Unua Museum of Southland, with the project now officially in the production and build phase of the museum experience fit-out.

Museum to become first in country with sustainability accolade

​Efforts to embed sustainability from the ground up at Te Unua Museum of Southland have been recognised, with the project awarded provisional certification from Green Star.

Building Te Unua: one year on

​When it comes to a huge build like Te Unua Museum of Southland, the milestones come thick and fast.

Te Unua crew joins industry-wide support of mental health wellbeing

​The crew behind Te Unua Museum of Southland have made a significant step in workplace wellbeing, with the site officially gaining accreditation with MATES in Construction.

Identity gives community a taste of what's to come

The rapidly-changing city skyline isn’t the only sneak-peek Invercargill residents have of their new museum.

Digitisation project at Bluff Maritime Museum brings greater access

​Work to digitise a museum collection, which celebrates the stories of one of New Zealand’s oldest settlements, will give greater accessibility to an audience around the world.

Sod-turning celebrated at Te Unua Museum of Southland

​The next phase of work on Te Unua Museum of Southland was celebrated at a special sod-turning event in Invercargill.

Council makes decision on Te Unua Museum of Southland funding

​Invercargill City Council will proceed with its new museum as planned.

Community feedback on museum budget heard

​Public consultation on the final budget for Southland’s new museum has wrapped up, with 280 submissions received.

Council opens consultation for museum budget

​Invercargill City Council is calling on the community to have their say on the final budget for Southland's new museum.

Detailed design revealed for Te Unua Museum of Southland

The detailed design for Invercargill’s new museum has been revealed, showcasing an impressive and contemporary facility that will celebrate the stories of Southland.

Baby tuatara discovered at museum demolition site

Crowds welcome tuatara to new home

​​More than 2000 curious locals ventured out to Queens Park on Saturday to welcome Invercargill’s tuatara colony to their new home at Te Moutere – Tuatara Island.

New tuatara facility set to open next month

Invercargill’s much-anticipated new tuatara enclosure will be unveiled at an official opening event next month, followed by a public opening day celebration.