Rakahau
Rakahau
Our expert staff regularly undertake and assist with research relating to the collection, working closely with iwi, universities, and research groups across the country and overseas to deepen our understanding of the land, its people, and our place in the world.
In the past, the Museum published its own research through the now discontinued Otago Museum Bulletins and the Records of the Otago Museum. These historical publications are in the process of being digitised and uploaded to our website.
We are also preparing several new research projects for publication under the revamped Records of Tūhura Otago Museum. These too will be shared online as part of our ongoing commitment to making research accessible to all.
Dive into the highlights of our current and recently completed projects here.
Anthony Harris, Honorary Curator of Entomology, is a passionate advocate for the natural world, combining scientific expertise with public outreach to inspire appreciation and protection of nature.
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Dunedin philanthropist and businessman Willi Fels, CMG, donated a significant collection of Greek and Roman coins to Tūhura Otago Museum. Over the years, various researchers have worked to identify, document, and provide context for these coins.
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Associate Professor Steve Kerr, Honorary Curator of Entomology at Tūhura Otago Museum, conducts vital research on the taxonomy of flies, contributing to the understanding of their ecological roles and supporting ongoing studies at the Museum.
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The exhibition Fashion FWD: Disruption through Design at Tūhura Otago Museum in 2021 demonstrated that fashion designers and makers have long thought about social, cultural, and environmental issues, and beautifully broken fashion's own moulds and rules.
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A number of the missionaries who felt called to work among the people of Moana Nui a Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) had a strong interest in the history and traditions of the people among whom they lived. Two such individuals with connections to Tūhura Otago Museum are the Rev. Dr Charles Fox, and Arthur Henry Voyce.
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In 2019, ancient footprints found in a Central Otago riverbed led to a major research project that provided rare insight into the size, speed, and history of the extinct moa.
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