The Wairarapa Moana exhibition has been credited as the main attraction to Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History this year, bringing with it an extra 6000 visitors.
The total number of visitors to the museum is up from 71,361 to 78,054 this year, according to a report in the Masterton
District Council audit committee agenda.
Director Marcus Boroughs said the increase in visitors was most likely due to the Wairarapa Moana exhibition.
He said with big exhibitions, they generally get an influx of visitors in a blockbuster effect; "it's kind of like a movie that does really well at the box office".
"It's good to see, but it's hard to maintain," he said.
Community services manager Jan Gerritsen said the full council had not yet seen the figures, but she imagines they will be pleased with the result.
She confirmed Mr Boroughs' view that the increase was probably due to the Wairarapa Moana exhibition, which ran from last November to May this year.
She said visitors were tallied by a counter near the front desk, and the total number was halved so people were not counted more than once as they walked past on their way out.
