Colossal Squid exhibition comes to Waipā

Te Papa’s popular Colossal Squid, Te Ngū Tipua, exhibition is coming to the Te Awamutu Museum Education and Research Centre this summer.

The exhibition, opening Saturday, December 2, will showcase pieces of the Colossal Squid. Waipā residents and visitors will be able to learn about some of the fascinating science and wonderful secrets of one of New Zealand’s most significant natural history specimens.

Museums and heritage director, Anne Blyth said the Colossal Squid is one of the most iconic specimens at Te Papa.

“While touring the complete specimen is impossible, some of the important parts of the squid, like the lens from its eye and parts of a tentacle, will be showcased in Te Awamutu.”

The exhibition centres around an interactive table displaying many different objects, which also includes 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.

“The exhibition will be the first of its kind at our museum, and we have timed it to largely be over the school holidays. We are excited to have such a fun and engaging experience on offer for the community.”

“It is a fascinating and rare creature which we think visitors will be interested to learning more about”, Blyth said.

The exhibition will run until Sunday, March 31.