A Trio of Marine Marvels at Warkworth Museum
A fascinating series of feature exhibitions are set to captivate visitors at Warkworth Museum from 29 May to 17 August 2025. Showcasing the wonders of marine life, two touring exhibitions from Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand will feature supported by a local showcase.
29 May to 8th July: Clever Crustaceans Mawhiti Tino Rawe
Starting on Thursday 29 May, Clever Crustaceans is a playful exploration of the bizarre and diverse world of five marine crustaceans. They can change their shape, circle the globe, and maybe even cure cancer – crustaceans are the unsung heroes of the sea. NIWA scientist Dr. Kareen Schnabel describes crustaceans as the “insects of the sea,” noting their incredible adaptations to various habitats. “Crustaceans are arthropods, which means they have segmented bodies and exoskeletons just like insects, so I love describing them as the ‘insects of the sea’. They are captivating creatures. They have adapted to live in an incredible variety of habitats, from beaches and shallows, all the way down to the deepest ocean trenches,” said Dr Schnabel. “We are telling the stories of some of our favourite critters. Visitors will learn about the ‘shapeshifter’ kōura with its unexpected life stages as a long-distance open-ocean wanderer, the lightning speed with which the native mantis shrimp spears its lunch, the exceptional eyesight of the open ocean Phronima amphipod – which is even being used in techniques to detect cancer in humans – and the radical changes barnacles have undergone to get their kai (food),” adds Dr Schnabel.
SeacologyNZ
A red rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii. Photograph by Richie Hughes/NIWA
Juvenile Lithodes aotearoa. Photograph by NIWA
Mantis Shrimp larva. Photography by SeacologyNZ
Te Papa have also developed an activity book for ages 5 to 10 to accompany the exhibition. Click Here to download the activity book
Developed and toured by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and NIWA
9th July to 17th August: Freaky Features Colossal Squid Ngu Tipua
Taking over from the crustaceans and running from Wednesday 9 July to Sunday 17 August, the Colossal Squid Freaky features display, showcases parts of the complete iconic specimen on permanent display at Te Papa, centred around an interactive table displaying many different objects including the lens from an eye of the colossal squid, part of a tentacle, and a complete tiny squid; the miniature of its colossal relative. Touchable rotating models of a squid’s tentacle hook and the Colossal Squid’s beak are also on display. Dr. Rodrigo Salvador, Te Papa’s Curator of Invertebrates, emphasizes the significance of the Colossal Squid: “Te Papa’s Colossal Squid has been a major source of information for scientists and the museum’s most popular exhibit since its debut” Te Papa’s Head of Natural History, Phil Edgar adds, “in learning about this weird and mysterious creature we hope visitors will have a greater appreciation for life in the deep sea, much of which remains undiscovered.”
Colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925. 2008 Photo by Norm Heke Te Papa (58016)
Te Papa have developed an activity book to help kids explore the bizarre anatomy of the colossal squid, where it lives, how it came to Te Papa, and what it eats.
Developed and toured by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
29th May – 17th August. Mahurangi Moana
Alongside the two Te Papa displays, Museum volunteers have partnered with local conservation groups to present Mahurangi Moana an interactive exhibition designed to ignite curiosity about our marine ecosystems. Through fun activities and captivating displays, children can discover their own passion for the aquatic life right on their doorstep. This unique combination of national treasures an local conservation efforts promises an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages.