Rūaumoko: Restless Land

Rūaumoko: Restless Land is arriving in Tauranga this spring. From 22 August to 22 October 2025, Tauranga Library will host this free powerful touring exhibition by Te Papa and the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. Blending mātauranga Māori and science, the exhibition explores our relationship with natural hazards and how we can prepare for them.

For science teachers, this exhibition offers rich opportunities to connect the curriculum with lifeworthy contexts. It highlights natural hazards in Aotearoa, links mātauranga Māori and scientific perspectives, and provides authentic examples of how communities can prepare and respond.

Whakaari (White Island). Adobe Stock.

At the heart of the exhibition is Rūaumoko, the atua of volcanoes and earthquakes, and the youngest child of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. His story is told through the impacts we see and feel, the ways he continues to shape our whenua, and the science that helps us understand and live alongside him.

This is not a static exhibition. Visitors are invited into a hands-on journey: exploring tectonic plate models, testing volcanic rock samples, feeling the rumble of a shake table, and listening to kōrero from Rūaumoko himself. It’s an engaging blend of interactivity and storytelling that makes the science of earthquakes and volcanoes tangible and memorable.

Learn More

Can't make it to Tauranga? Look out for other locations.

• Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua |7 Dec 2024 – 27 Feb 2025
  

• MTG Hawke’s Bay, Napier | 5 Mar – 16 Jun 2025
  

• Thames Museum, Thames | 19 Jun – 19 Aug 2025
  

• Tauranga Library, Tauranga | 22 Aug – 22 Oct 2025
  

• Te Awamutu Museum, Te Awamutu | 23 Oct 2025 – 26 Jan 2026
  

• Taupō Museum, Taupō | 30 Jan – 30 Mar 2026
  

• Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt |13 Apr – 2 Aug 2026
  

• Whanganui Regional Museum, Whanganui | 5 Aug – 6 Nov 2026