Pātaka Art + Museum: Porirua’s cultural heart

Pātaka Art + Museum is the cultural heart of Porirua City and only 15 minutes from Wellington. It showcases the best in contemporary Māori and Pacific arts, as well as contemporary New Zealand, Asian, and international art.

Its contemporary galleries host a revolving exhibition programme covering contemporary art practice. The Bottle Creek Gallery supports the community and local artists.

Meaning ‘storehouse’, Pātaka houses a vast collection within its four main galleries. The national and international shows change regularly. In the Front Gallery, you’ll find the leading exhibition of the season. The Daylight Gallery is home to the semi-permanent exhibition, Whiti Te Rā!, the Story of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Porirua’s iwi . Large, often more experimental exhibits take place in the West Gallery and the Maude & Miller Gallery hosts more intimate hangs.

Two children look at paintings in a gallery.

Inside a gift shop at an art museum. There are art pieces on the wall and small trinkets for sale on a row of tables.

Two people looking at an abstract painting in a museum.

Two kids look at books in a museum gift shop.

Pātaka Art + Museum forms part of a larger artistic hub. An atrium runs the full length of the building acting as a connection between attractions. You can also visit Porirua Library, and the gift shop, Toi Store. Outside is a Japanese garden developed in karesansui style in honour of Porirua City’s sister city, Nishio in Japan. There are also performance spaces, The Tuatara Gallery for children, and Café Kaizen.

Entry to Pātaka and parking are free.

2 people looking at a projected art piece on the wall of Pātaka Art + Museum.

The exterior of the City Gallery with 5-metre tall hand statue ‘Quasi’ standing atop.

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A family walks towards the Dowse Museum in Lower Hutt.

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