Russell Museum Whare Taonga o Kororāreka

Sharing the culture and stories of Kororāreka
and Īpipiri Bay of Islands with the world

Māori History:
Pre-Colonisation

Īpipiri is the Māori name for the Eastern Bay of Islands. Take a look at  our collection of Māori artefacts and explore our digital interactive mapping table which explains the history of the Bay and tells the stories of first contact between Māori and the crew of the HM Bark Endeavour.

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Endeavour and Early Explorers

Lt James Cook gave the Bay of Islands its English name when he visited in 1769. He anchored off Motuarohia just around the Kororāreka headland with a crew of scientists, botanists and Tupaia a High Priest navigator from Polynesia. Impressed with what he found, he put the Bay of Islands on the map on his return to England.
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Latest happenings

Find out about the latest happenings and information from the Museum.

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What our visitors say

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The museum provides good background on Russell, and the importance of it in the formation of New Zealand as a country. Information and interpretation is easy to understand and relevant.
- Erica H, TripAdvisor

Contact us

Enquiry from website

Address

2 York Street,
Russell Kororāreka
Bay of Islands
Aotearoa New Zealand

Call Us

(+64) 9 403 7701
info@russellmuseum.org.nz

Opening hours

10.00 - 4.00 daily
Last visitors admitted at 3.45 pm