Transitioning to a New Home

The South Canterbury Museum is preparing for the exciting shift to its new building, Te Kura Marumaru South Canterbury Museum, scheduled to open in April next year. To facilitate the extensive work required to prepare for new exhibitions and operations as well as empty current exhibits to relocate collection objects, the Museum will close its temporary and upstairs (mezzanine floor) exhibition galleries from 20 July. Full museum closure will follow from 27 October following Labour Weekend.

During the close period the Museum’s Heritage Education Service will continue to deliver school programmes away from the Museum during term time, and some public programmes are planned for the January school holiday break. The Museum’s public research room will be closed from 20 July. Response to research queries will be paused, but image orders will be taken through online and email contact.

What you need to know

  • Our temporary and upstairs (Mezzanine floor) exhibition galleries will close on Sunday 19 July.
  • Full closure of the Museum will follow Labour Weekend from 27 October.
  • During and after our staged closure public programmes will be limited, but we’ll be looking to offer pop-up programmes during school holidays and as opportunities arise.
  • Education programmes will continue off-site or in schools during Terms 3 and 4 – but programmes may be limited. Teachers, please reach out and we can discuss your needs.
  • Research services will be paused, and collection access will be very limited until after re-opening. Images orders placed through our website will still be accepted.
  • We will also have very limited ability to accept any new collection items while closed. If you want to discuss donations during this time, please email us in advance.

If you have questions now, or following our staged closure, you can contact us as follows:

Finally, please note we are still very much here and still providing opportunities to explore our heritage. Keep an eye on our website, local news, and social media feeds for more information about these opportunities as they arise.