Auckland Museum

Tāmaki Paenga Hira, known widely as Auckland Museum, serves as a significant cultural institution and a place of remembrance in New Zealand. Its large neoclassical building, erected in stages during the 1920s and 1950s, occupies a prominent position in the Auckland Domain. This site, known as Observatory Hill, is the summit of a long-dormant volcano, offering a distinctive setting near the city centre. The museum's origins trace back to 1852, with its collections focused on the rich tapestry of New Zealand's past, its natural world, and its military experiences.

The institution evolved from the Auckland Philosophical Society, established in 1867 and later becoming the Auckland Institute. The museum was eventually transferred to this society, leading to the name Auckland Institute and Museum for many years. The specific name Auckland War Memorial Museum was adopted with the opening of the new building in 1929, and this title became more broadly applied to the entire organisation in 1996. For a period between 1991 and 2003, the museum was also known by its Māori name, Te Papa Whakahiku.