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Visitors to the Warkworth Museum over the next few months will have the opportunity to view three marine-themed exhibitions, courtesy of Te Papa Tongarewa, NIWA and museum and local conservation group volunteers.
From May 29 to August 17, the museum will host two touring exhibitions from Te Papa, and a third exhibition based on the Mahurangi catchment.
Museum manager Victoria Joule says the exhibitions offer an extraordinary glimpse into the diverse realm of crustaceans and the mysterious world of deep-sea creatures.
Starting on Wednesday, May 29, Clever Crustaceans is a playful exploration of the bizarre and diverse world of five marine crustaceans.
“We are told they can change their shape, circle the globe and maybe even cure cancer – crustaceans are obviously the unsung heroes of the sea,” Joule says.
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’,” Schnabel says.
“They are captivating creatures that have adapted to live in an incredible variety of habitats, from beaches and shallows, all the way down to the deepest ocean trenches.
“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 food.”
Following the clever crustaceans display, the colossal squid display will run from July 9 to August 17.
This exhibition will include an interactive table displaying objects such as a lens from the eye of a colossal squid, part of a tentacle, and a complete tiny squid, a miniature version of its colossal relative.
Touchable rotating models of a squid’s tentacle hook and the colossal squid’s beak will also be displayed.
Te Papa’s curator of invertebrates Dr Rodrigo Salvador says Te Papa’s colossal squid has been a major source of information for scientists, and the museum’s most popular exhibit since its debut.
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 local marine ecosystems.
Joule says 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 and local conservation efforts promises an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages,” she says.
“We are very excited to bring these extraordinary exhibitions to our community.”
