He Waka Tuia

In the heart of Invercargill you’ll find art and museum space He Waka Tuia, a joint initiative between the Invercargill Public Art Gallery and the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.

The thoughtfully curated gallery is free to the public, attracting both tourists and locals to explore accessible and community-focused stories in art, culture and heritage. In fact, you’ll likely spot plenty of locals wandering in throughout the day for a chance to see what’s new at this contemporary and ever-changing gallery. Former exhibitions include ‘Women During the War’ which examined the many roles women took on in wartime, as well as ‘Crate Expectations’, an interactive exhibition that gave the public a glimpse behind-the-scenes at the Invercargill Public Art Gallery and Southland Museum and Art Gallery to explore how they stored their artworks, prepared their taonga, and shared the process of conserving an object.

The small but dynamic space allows the He Waka Tuia team to open shows in a staggered manner when needed, which means you may even get to see the team in action while they hang new works and curate visual elements in real-time. Plus, this approach means that there’s always something new to explore, so you’ll always have a reason to return. 

Apart from the exhibitions, He Waka Tuia also hosts events, including panel discussions and “Floor Talks” where exhibiting artists can come and discuss their work, giving you a deeper understanding of the works on display. Don’t miss this art and museum space on your next stroll through Invercargill—they’re open seven days a week!