Auckland's latest science and technology centre is set to be a hit with our littlest family members, and its offerings are already proving successful among those lucky enough to get a sneak preview.
Te Puawānanga is opening at the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) over the weekend with the aim of reigniting children's passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) amid declining achievement in New Zealand schools.
For parents and caregivers, it's a new option for entertaining children in the City of Sails - one that features brand-new technology and blends Māori and Western world views of science and discovery in a genuinely fun format.
The $7.4 million development is the most significant investment in visitor experience at MOTAT in over a decade, and those behind it are thrilled to finally be opening the front doors.
Te Puawānanga lead exhibition developer Esther Tobin told Newshub it's "like Christmas" letting the public in after spending nearly two years creating the project.
"It's really exciting. It's been a lot of work, with a lot of collaboration as a lot of people have played their part," said Tobin.
"Now it's going to be really fun to sit in the gallery after all that work and just observe quietly. I know people will behave in ways we predicted as well as a whole lot of ways we haven't thought about.
"When you go to a playground with your kid, they just charge at it thinking, 'This place is for me. I can take ownership of this place with my body', with complete freedom and confidence. I'm hoping they charge at these galleries in the same way and are just all over them, exploring upside down, inside out and every which way they can."
Ahead of the opening I went along to Te Puawānanga with my primary-school-aged child, and it was very much an instant hit with him.
"Daddy, I don't want to go home!" he begged several times after an hour of solid, often very active play - play that had learning hidden in it.
It's a huge space, 2295 square metres, much of which is too irresistible not to run around in (yes, fortunately running is allowed).
Te Puawānanga is divided into three distinct spaces, each designed to cater to the developmental needs of children at different ages:
- Te Tumu: A soft-play area for under-fives, inspired by nature. This space features a puna (spring), kūmara garden, harakeke (flax) weaving, and a pūriri grove, encouraging young children to explore and learn through tactile and sensory experiences.
- Te Puku: The central space for children up to 10 years old, where they can delve into the mysteries of light, colour, energy, forces, and motion. This area transforms everyday scientific phenomena into interactive and engaging exhibits.
- Te Waha: A multi-purpose space that hosts after-school clubs, science demonstrations and displays from MOTAT's collections. This area encourages self-led design challenges and showcases cutting-edge technology and innovations from across Aotearoa.
"We have thought about a space for young people to play in the world of science, and thought about it for infant ages right through the ages up to teens. I think that is a unique offering for Tāmaki Makaurau," Tobin told Newshub.
Across the three spaces are many exciting experiences to discover, but there were two that my son kept coming back to the most. One was in Te Puku, with three different coloured lights set up facing a wall that allowed for awesome shadow play and demonstrated vividly what happens when colours mix.
The other was the pattern projection, which is an ingenious way of making maths fun. It's a 7m projection on the floor displaying fractals, tessellations and reflections that are controlled from a digital kiosk on an overlooking mezzanine.
Using the kiosk, it demonstrates how those patterns are represented in nature. It's addictive playing around with the wide array of variables and seeing how the resulting pattern displays on the floor - then, of course, running down and playing on it.
That desire to stay - and return - is exactly what the creators intended.
"I hope people feel they belong in these galleries and that Te Puawānanga connects to them, through the design and the stories and the way we tell those stories. This is this is a gallery of this place, not anywhere else in the world, so I hope they feel that," said Tobin.
"I also hope there is something in there that grips them, stays with them and they keep coming back time and time again. There used to be a mirror maze at MOTAT and people still ask us about it, so I hope the new exciting experiences connect like that, like our pattern projection or energy machine which I'd love for them to keep returning to over the years."
As an indoor attraction Te Puawānanga is completely sheltered from the rain. Its entry cost is included in the general admission price MOTAT, which for a family is $45.
Te Puawānanga opens to the general public on Saturday, May 25.
