Auckland Museum is regarded as one of the finest museums in the Southern Hemisphere and is renowned for its unique collection of Maori and Pacific treasures. It is also a war memorial for the Auckland province. Housed in one of the country’s finest heritage buildings, the Museum tells the story of New Zealand as a nation; from award-winning natural history exhibits to galleries which investigate New Zealand's cultural origins. Scars on the Heart, the Museum’s war memorial exhibition, tells the story of New Zealand at war, while He Taonga Maori - the Museums Maori treasures gallery, displays over 2000 priceless Maori artefacts, including rare carvings and the last great Maori war canoe carved from a giant Totara tree. As part of an ongoing regeneration project, the Museum has recently completed a series of interior renovations. Te Ao Mārama South Atrium, the newly opened south entrance, is host to Tuitui Bistro and Café, serving seasonal menus and excellent coffee. The Museum Store in its new location offers an exceptional range of quality New Zealand and Pacific handcrafts, from wooden carvings and jade, to books, fine jewellery, ceramics and glassware. The Museum is home to an ever-evolving host of galleries and special exhibitions, including Tāmaki Herenga Waka, a contemporary gallery dedicated to the stories of Auckland and the people who call it home. The Imaginarium is the new children’s gallery where learning is curiosity lead, and awe-inspiring.