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:
- 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.
- Rebekah Farr: O Deluge, Stop Singing, We're Drowning - inspired by photographs taken by the artist of flooded roads in Wairarapa during the winter of 2022, featuring a cast of rabbit/human flood gods until 3 December 2023.
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!