New Plymouth museum opens

When New Plymouth's Puke Ariki opened on Sunday, the public stepped inside the world's first purpose-built, fully integrated museum, library and information centre, and experienced the facility that has the international information and heritage sectors talking.

The two wings are next to the Coastal Walkway and the Tasman Sea, Puke Ariki combines the hi-tech with the historical, and the entertaining with the educational.

The region's stories are told in a series of galleries, and there are also temporary exhibitions. The city's i-SITE Visitor Information Centre has moved to the site, and there are a cafe and restaurant overlooking the sea. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm (until 9pm Wed); Sat and Sun, 9am-5pm

www.pukeariki.co.nz