Focus: What happens behind closed doors at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during the Covid-19 lockdown. Video / Dean Purcell
Two months after the doors closed due to Covid-19, the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira opened its doors to the public yesterday morning.
A karakia, initiated by Precious Clark, Chairwoman of Taumata-a-iwi — the Museum's Trust Board — welcomed visitors back after the longest forced closure in itshistory. It was a joyful atmosphere, despite the sombre, rain-sodden skies.
The 1918 pandemic had shut the doors, but for less than a month from November 3 to December 1, and it was another month before normal attendance resumed.
Trust board Taumata-a-iwi's chairwoman Precious Clark begins the karakia to reopen the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira. Photo / Michael Craig
"By 10am there was a good stream of people with lots of families excited to get back in," a spokeswoman for the museum said. "We're really pleased with the response."
The museum has partnered with NextUp, the contact tracing app which creates a virtual queuing system to control visitor numbers. By scanning the QR code on arrival, or opening the website, details are logged and a text is sent when entry is allowed.
The Weird and Wonderful and the Volcanoes exhibits are closed as they are high-touch areas. But the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition from the Natural History Museum in London, has been extended due to demand.
