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Late Invercargill couple Fred and Myrtle Flutey's world-famous paua shell collection is expected to be on public display at Canterbury Museum in March.
The shells are on a 10-year loan to the museum, which is building an exact replica of the Fluteys' iconic shell lounge.
The Fluteys' grandson Ross Bowen courted controversy this year when he removed the shells from his grandparents' former Bluff home, sold the house and later announced he was lending the collection to Canterbury Museum in Christchurch.
Many Southland people argued the collection should have remained in Bluff.
Canterbury Museum spokeswoman Karin Stahl said staff were well into the early stages of developing the exhibition.
"Conservation and cataloguing of the individual shells is currently in progress to ensure the preservation of the loan items," she said.
It was hoped the exhibition would open as early as March.
- NZPA
