Take An Hour; Take a Day; Take It All In

MEDIA RELEASE 22 February 2008

Take An Hour; Take a Day; Take It All In

The last days of summer are some of the best days in Auckland – and one of the very best things you can do is take in the sights at Auckland Museum.

With an array of new programmes designed to entertain, educate and inform, Auckland Museum embraces the multicultural melting pot that is Auckland city.

Come to the Museum and Celebrate Pasifika from March 13th, beginning with
Mea ai taumafa Pasifika, an evening that explores traditional pasifika foods and ingredients. Hosts Virgil Evetts and Janneen Love will guide the audience on an interactive culinary journey exploring the Pasifika theme of tuna [common Polynesian word for eel].

An action packed programme of Pasifika themed activities are also on offer for children to explore and get creative. The Hinaki Workshop allows participants to make their very own eel traps – Hinaki - using traditional techniques with artist/maker Loloma Andrew, and then can use the traps themselves or even have them as lampshades as a gift for loved ones.

Andries Mentz once again regales young audiences with fun and dynamic tales, this time based around the Pacific as the weird and wonderful Stevenson Pasifika Storytelling engages the minds and imaginations of all ages.

Something for the adults... intriguing film screenings based around the Pasifika theme. First off is The New Oceania; Shirley Horrock’s chronicles the life of novelist and forerunner of today’s renaissance in Pacific arts - Albert Wendt. Wendt’s importance became paramount after two of his novels; Sons for the Return Home and Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree went on to become respected films.

The Pollywood Shorts is also on offer at the Auckland Museum, the Pacific short film showcase once again celebrates the talents of contemporary Pacific filmmakers, using this annual event to share their visions of Pacific culture and experience.

With Easter around the corner, Auckland Museum has created a series of events for both young and old to take part in from March 21. The kids can take home a memento of their visit to the museum on the Easter Trail, discovering eggs in the most uncanny places in the Origins Gallery and then join in the Easter Badge Fun, creating gifts for family and friends.

Completing the full March programme are two popular long running exhibitions. Adults can take in the works of photographer Gil Hanly; Nuclear Free: Protest Photography of Gil Hanly which continues to herald in an era of protesting and social awareness regarding the right for New Zealand to be nuclear free. While children can find out what it was like to evolve from a protozoa to our present state as human beings in the enchanting life sized interactive video game Metazoa.

So why not take an hour? Why not take a day? Why not take in everything Auckland Museum has to offer all ages this March!

CELEBRATE PASIFIKA
Food Evening: Mea ai taumafa Pasifika
Atrium Entrance, Thursday March 13th, 6pm
$50/$45 members (including food and wine)

The New Oceania by Shirley Horrocks
Auditorium, Friday March 14th, 7pm
Free – no bookings required

Pollywood Shorts
Auditorium, Saturday 15th March, 4pm – 5:30pm
Free – no bookings required

All-Day Workshop: Hinaki Workshop (suitable for 9-12 year olds)
Level 1 Classroom, Auckland Museum, Saturday March 15th, 10am to 4:30pm
$30 (lunch and afternoon tea provided)
Bookings essential –call 09 306 7048

Stevenson Pasifika Storytelling
March 30th, 11am and 1pm
Weird and Wonderful –free with admission donation

CELEBRATE EASTER
Easter Trail
March 21st – 25th
Free with admission donation

Easter Badge Fun! (all ages welcome)
March 21 – 25th, 10am – 12 noon and 1:30pm – 3pm daily
$2/$1 Dinomites

Nuclear Free: Protest Photography by Gil Hanly
Pictorial Gallery
Free with admission donation

Metazoa
Easter and every weekend in March
$3

ENDS

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