10 September 2024
Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi Space Place is shining brighter than ever with new central galleries that put
visitors at the heart of a story as old as time.
Space Place, at the Upland Road entrance to Wellington’s Botanical Garden ki Paekākā, shares the stories of the skies above Aotearoa through multimedia exhibits, interactive galleries, stargazing through its historic Thomas Cooke telescope and a digital, full-dome planetarium.
Programmes Manager Science Colin Smillie says the second phase of the Space Place upgrade, completed this month, uniquely connects visitors to the skies above Te Whanganui-a-Tara and proudly explores mātauranga Māori alongside western astronomy.
New central galleries lead visitors through Pacific and European navigation to the world of explorers and astronauts, taking a personal approach to the way we live with and under the stars and connect to our Sun, Moon and the vast Cosmos.
“We can learn a lot by looking at the night sky above us. This is the same sky that guided our tūpuna or
ancestors to this land across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
“Visitors to our new interactive galleries now begin their journey here in Pōneke, exploring how people navigated here, how to live in tandem with nature through the Maramataka or Māori lunar calendar and how our knowledge of our solar system is ever evolving. It’s a great way to help our visitors connect more directly to the skies under which we live and encourage them to find out more about our universe.”
Cultural Advisor Ihaia Puketapu (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Ruapani, Ngāi Tūhoe) provided advice on the project. He says visitors to Space Place now start in the present day, before travelling back to the start of the universe, reflecting a mātauranga Māori approach.
“From a te ao Māori perspective, everything you know and have experienced in the past can be seen, so the past is in front of you. The future is definitively unknown and therefore cannot be seen and is behind you. Hence the whakataukī Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua. I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past.
“When we look out into Space, the closest thing to us is the Moon and so on until we venture into the depths of space to the beginning of creation – The Big Bang, and the flow at Space Place now reflects this.”
The upgrade supports Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington’s work to promote well-being, support the local economy, and enhance Wellington as a vibrant city to live in, love, visit, and enjoy.
Delivered by exhibition specialists Story Inc, the upgrade includes more digital elements for modern storytelling, future-proofed to make it easier to update content. All content is bi-lingual.
The work is the second stage of a multi-year renewal project by Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington
with the support of Wellington City Council. Wellington City Council allocated $1.5m for the project. Additional fundraising continues to be sought for additional experiences and elements to future proof our space museum.
The first stage was the installation of a new planetarium system delivered in March 2023 offering crystal- clear visuals and sound.
The third and final stage (all remaining galleries) will be delivered in 2025.
Space Place has had strong support for the work from community funders, including Four Winds Foundation, The Lion Foundation, Pelorus Trust, The Sargood Bequest, and general donations from Wellingtonians who love Space Place. To find out more or to support this work please see our website Space Place | Space to Soar (museumswellington.org.nz)