
MM Editor•Apr 19, 2026
Auckland Art Gallery — New Zealand's Largest Art Collection, Rooted in Māori Modernism
At a Glance
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki next to Albert Park opened February 1888 as New Zealand's first public art museum. FJMT + Archimedia's 2011 extension won the 2013 World Architecture Festival Building of the Year. 17,000 works. Free entry.
A Kauri-Tree Roof
Kauri-wood branching columns hold up the new roof, fusing Māori building language with contemporary architecture.
Must-See
- Māori and Pasifika contemporary art — Hotere, Walters, Reihana.
- Charles Goldie Māori portraits.
- Colin McCahon, father of NZ contemporary art.
- European 19th–20th c. — Van Gogh, Picasso, Cézanne.
- Major changing exhibitions.
Visiting Tips
10-min walk from CBD. Free. 2 hours. Closed Mondays.