Humanities

Tūhura Otago Museum holds a fine collection of decorative arts from around the world, offering visitors a rich tapestry of cultural expression through design.

The Museum's Pacific collection showcases an extensive array of artefacts from Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, including intricately woven mats from Vanuatu, traditional fishing gear from Tuvalu, and ceremonial objects such as turtle shell axes and feathered headrests. These items not only highlight the artistic craftsmanship of Pacific communities but also serve as tangible connections to their histories and traditions.

The collection holds examples of womenswear, menswear, children's and infants' clothing, and accessories from six continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. The collection also includes military uniforms, household textiles, tapa, basketry, embroidery, lace, buttons, toys, and ephemera related to dressmaking, such as sewing patterns.

The collection provides a historical representation of lifeways and technologies from a number of cultures and countries. It serves as a material resource for several departments at the University of Otago, including Archaeology, Anthropology, History, Languages and Cultures, and Politics.

The Antiquities collection held by Tūhura Otago Museum is the largest in New Zealand and has long been considered one of the finest collections of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. It offers a comprehensive look at the ancient Mediterranean world, encompassing Greek and Roman artefacts that span centuries of cultural and artistic evolution.