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Araiteuru Our Journey 

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Build. Prepare. Sail. Arrive.

Araiteuru Our Journey 

The mammoth redevelopment of Canterbury Museum is taking us on a journey.

It’s a journey we’re likening to the voyage of Araiteuru, the waka Hourua (double hulled canoe) that carried the first Polynesian explorers from Hawaiki to our shores.

Before any journey can commence the courageous decision must be made to go – to commit to building a new Museum and all the work that will follow. The first leg of our journey is to build our waka hourua – learning new skills and applying them to build a strong and seaworthy vessel.

The second leg we will prepare to sail by gaining the knowledge we need to ensure a safe and successful voyage. The third leg will see us launch our waka hourua and set sail to our destination – our new Museum.

The final leg of any journey is arrival – the opening of the new Museum. After we arrive, it will be a time to celebrate and reflect on what has been achieved.

We invite you to join the Museum on this epic journey of change as we tell stories of culture and humanity, exploration, discovery, technology, and our natural world.

Araiteuru Our Journey