There's always something fascinating at Aratoi, the Wairarapa's largest museum. Discover national and Wairarapa displays, exquisite Māori taonga/treasures, ceramics, paintings, photography, children's art, textiles, and much more.
Check out what's on at Aratoi:
- Kathy Bartlett: Teas Light Lunches - small oil paintings in an eclectic and often lighthearted exploration of belonging and home that can be found in the simple things, until 18 February 2024.
- Madison Emond: The River Sees - images that seek to mirror the legal framework of The Kaiwharawhara Awa river obtaining legal personhood by highlighting the awa's intrinsic vitality, until 10 March 2024.
- Tatyana Kulida: Wairarapa Felt - The effectiveness of the exhibition is suggested through direct relation of the scenes, objects and people in the Wairarapa region, until 10 March 2024.
- Lea-Anne Sheather: Handle with Care - Lea-Anne Sheather explores the wonder within nature and the unguarded, transcendent moments she has with the natural world through 2D and 3D textile and collaged art, until 10 March 2024.
- Natasha Ratuva: Buiniga - Masi artworks that reinterpret traditional patterns from Fijian masi (iTaukei barkcloth) and kuta (woven pond reeds) into contemporary compositions until 18 February 2024.
Aratoi is part of the Masterton Arts Quarter, along with ConArt Gallery & Studio next door, King St Artworks and Te Pa. Download the Masterton Arts Quarter leaflet to learn more.
Entry to Aratoi is by donation - please give what you can. Aratoi is a registered charity.
Aratoi also serves as a performance art space, an educational centre, and has an eclectic gift shop.
Not far from Aratoi are a range of other activities and places:
Next door is Entice Cafe, a very family-friendly cafe with great coffee. The Masterton isite Visitor Information Centre is just next door, and beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park is over the road. A few metres away is The Wool Shed, New Zealand's national museum of sheep and shearing. You can see this is a cool part of Masterton to check out!
