Wellington - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The city's latest attraction is the new Te Papa (Maori expression for 'our country') National Museum opened on the south side of the harbor in 1998 and showing multimedia and interactive displays of the country's history. Mountains to Sea explains how New Zealand was created; Awesome Forces features a multimedia presentation on earthquakes; On the Sheep's Back highlights the economic significance of sheep farming; The Time Warp gives a thrilling high-tech trip through time and space.

The heart of the museum is formed by Te Marae, a modern Maori shrine, the Maori meeting place Te Wharenui and a giant canoe used as a Maori warship. The new museum complex also includes collections from the National Art Gallery and 19th C and 20th C works by artists from New Zealand, Australia and Europe. It also has some works by Rembrandt.