WELLINGTON - A year-long party will begin in February when the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The Wellington museum boasts being the most visited in Australasia with 13.7 million people passing through its doors since it opened on February 14 1998 - anaverage of 1.2 million visitors a year.
Chief executive Dr Seddon Bennington said today that Te Papa was a museum of international standing, both as a creator and venue of world-class exhibitions, such as The Lord of the Rings exhibition and the popular Constable exhibition of recent times.
"We are a bicultural institution - a museum, an art gallery, an award-winning book publisher and an important scientific research institute.
"The diversity can be challenging but it's a creative challenge that inspires us to seek new, stimulating and surprising ways to engage our visitors."
Dr Bennington said the year-long party would begin on Saturday February 16 with the museum being open from 10am-10pm culminating in a drag queen pageant and a fireworks display over Wellington Harbour.
Throughout the day the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Wellington Ukelele Orchestra, the Legacy Dance Crew, Julia Deans (ex Fur Patrol) and a range of cultural performance groups from around New Zealand would perform.
Through the year, the museum would host a number of exhibitions, including over 200 artworks by Rita Angus and later in the year, a showcase of contemporary Maori artwork.
In August the TimeWarp zone, would be opening a "new experience" when people would be able to interact with the latest media technologies.
The museum would also host acts as part of the International Arts Festival and was also the venue for the Wellington Film Festival.
