News and updates

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.

Council launches Farewell Pyramid campaign to say goodbye to an icon

Locals are being invited to share their memories of the old Southland Museum and Art Gallery/Niho o Te Taniwha ahead of demolition work beginning on the building next week.

Museum storage facility officially opened in Invercargill

Southland’s new museum collection storage facility at Tisbury has been officially opened in a formal ceremony today.

New Te Unua Museum of Southland Director welcomed

Main contractor for new Invercargill museum on boardf

The rebuild of Invercargill’s museum is full steam ahead, with the local branch of Naylor Love officially joining the project as its main contractor.

This month in photos (December 2023)

Take a peek behind the scenes at the progress of Project 1225.

Regional museum storage facility build officially complete

Construction of the first strand of Invercargill City Council’s Project 1225 – to build three key cultural facilities in the city – is officially complete, right on schedule.

This month in photos (November 2023)

Take a peek behind the scenes at the progress of Project 1225.