Here in Te Taiao | Nature, you’re an explorer of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment. 

This hands-on space mixes science and mātauranga Māori – Māori knowledge. Discover Aotearoa’s weird and wonderful wildlife, our shaky land, and the innovative ways we’re protecting our natural treasures.

Unique NZ

In the Unique NZ exhibition, follow in the footsteps of Māui the explorer. Meet our wildlife, from tiny batflies to huge moa. Find out how they became gigantic, flightless – or just odd.

Active Land

Active Land is an exhibition that explores geological forces. It’s the realm of Rūaumoko, god of volcanoes and earthquakes. Watch an animation of the massive eruption that created Lake Taupō, and get a shake-up in the Earthquake House.

Nest

Inside the Nest, touch the eggs to find out which birds are thriving, threatened, or extinct. If a bird is alive today, its call plays.

Guardians

In the Guardians exhibition, meet some of Aotearoa’s worst introduced pests. See if our fresh water and oceans are in good shape, get close to the colossal squid, and enter the Climate Converter to help create a carbon-zero NZ.  

Want a break?

Relax in a lounge area – Treehouse or Backyard.

Or cross the bridge from Treehouse to Bush City outdoors and take a walk in native bush.