To go around the whole of the museum, you need a good couple of hours. To stand, and look, and learn about all the many different cultures represented in the museum, you need to plan to up your visiting time by a few more good hours! The ground floor is basically the cultural exhibits, which are excellent for learning more about the islands around New Zealand, and about the inhabitants of this country - it made me feel quite ignorant when I realised how many islands there are, and how much the culture on each one differs - no two are the same, and a lot of people from these islands have made New Zealand their home. A huge part, naturally, is dedicated to the maoris, and you can see typical examples of war canoes and meeting houses - indeed, one of the meeting houses you can go inside, to admire the amazing carving and decorations, and throughout the exhibits there are detailed articles giving insight and understanding to their beliefs, customs, and ways of life.
Taking the stairs up to the next floor, is a huge Natural History exhibition, and the first thing you see is a sprawling display of stuffed animals. Now, stuffed animals have always given me the creeps, but I thought that I might at least get to see a kiwi this way!!
On this floor, there is also a wonderful marine life exhibition, with models of dolphins, whales and the like, complete with 'whale and dolphin tunes' playing in the background.
This floor also houses the environmental exhibition, whose aim it is to demonstrate the bad things happening to this world, and how we can prevent them. It is very interesting, detailing things from global warming, to saving the kiwi. There is also an extensive library which you can use for research.
And lastly, the top floor pays tribute to all those who lost their lives in the war. There is a beautiful stained glass window, and names of soldiers up on plaques. Also, there is an exhibition of the Concentration Camps and the torment the Jews went through in World War II. This is incredibly moving, with tape recordings of speeches from people who actually survived the camps.
And who can forget the coffee shop and gift shop - important aspects of a museum visit! The gift shop, while being a little bit on the expensive side, does have very good quality gifts and souvneirs - no tack here!!! - and some really interesting books about the country, both fact and fiction.