Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao

Welcome to our award-winning Museum and home of the region's taonga and other treasures.

Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao is located in the heart of Nelson City on the corner of Trafalgar and Hardy Streets. Our Museum rests on the same town acre block that the Museum occupied in 1842.

The Regional Gallery leads visitors through an exploration of Te Tauihu, the top of the South Island from Tasman Bay to Golden Bay. This treasure-filled exhibition focuses on the region's fascinating history and identity, offering an opportunity for hours of discovery.

The Upper Gallery is home to our short-term and touring exhibitions, as well as our teaching classroom and a rooftop garden. A vibrant stained-glass window featuring many of the unique creatures and plants of Aotearoa may be admired from the top floor.

Isel Park Research Facility:

Our Isel Park Research Facility is where our dedicated staff care for our regional taonga (treasures), including one of New Zealand's most significant photographic collections.

The Isel Park facility is home to an extensive range of historical archives as well as collections of taonga, photographs, social history, textiles, art and natural history specimens. Our trained staff are available to assist visitors with their research to help you uncover the stories and history from the beautiful Tasman region