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Museums, libraries and galleries
Puke Ariki: Whare Pukapuka, Whare Taonga, Mōhiohio Manuhiri

Puke Ariki: Library, Museum, Visitor Information

Puke Ariki is an integrated knowledge hub. The central New Plymouth site combines a museum, library, research centre and isite. Puke Ariki also has five community libraries and a mobile library.

Contact details

Address: 1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth, New Zealand

Phone: 06 759 6060

Opening hours: check each page below for individual opening times.

Admission: free

Puke Ariki

Puke Ariki Museum and Store

Enter from 1 Ariki Street and 65 St Aubyn Street 

Opening Hours

Monday to Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Puke Ariki Museum, isite and Store are open every day except for Christmas Day

Explore Puke Ariki’s three permanent galleries showcasing life in Taranaki, its unique geology, flora and fauna, and the museum’s Māori taonga. Two temporary galleries house a wide range of changing exhibitions.

Find out more about our exhibitions and visiting the museum.

Puke Ariki Library

Enter from 1 Ariki Street and 65 St Aubyn Street 

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 9am - 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9am - 5pm

Puke Ariki Library is closed on public holidays.

All Taranaki residents are eligible for library membership. Puke Ariki library members can access a great selection of adults’ and children’s fiction and non-fiction books, ebooks, DVDs, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines. Regular events and community programmes run in all the libraries and free wifi is available.  

Search the collection

Taranaki Research Centre

Enter from 1 Ariki Street and 65 St Aubyn Street 

Opening Hours

Monday to Sunday: 10am - 5pm

Taranaki Research Centre is closed on public holidays.

Taranaki Research Centre/Te Pua Wānanga o Taranaki holds an excellent collection of reference books, images and archives that relate to the history of Taranaki. It is located on the second floor of Puke Ariki Library. Discover the tales of Taranaki through Te Rangi Aoao Nunui our online historical and cultural stories database.

Find out more about research and heritage at Puke Ariki.

Search the heritage collection

isite

Enter from 1 Ariki Street and 65 St Aubyn Street 

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 10am - 5pm
The isite is open every day except for Christmas Day

The isite Visitor Centre should be your first stop if you need travel advice and bookings for tours, activities, events and accommodation in New Plymouth.

Pick up a selection of maps and brochures or chat to our friendly team of local and impartial experts about making the most of your visit.
We are agents for Tranz Scenic Trains, Interislander and Blue Bridge ferries as well as Intercity. And better still, our service is free.

Conveniently located within the Puke Ariki building on St Aubyn Street and open every day of the week, the New Plymouth isite is a valuable source of information about New Plymouth District, Taranaki and New Zealand.

isite logo.

Visit the isite

Richmond Cottage

2-6 Ariki Street

Richmond Cottage is temporarily closed.

Explore this 1850s settler cottage that has been preserved in its original condition. See what it was like for the first European settlers to New Plymouth.

Community Libraries

Puke Ariki includes five community libraries and a mobile library. The libraries in Bell Block, Inglewood and Waitara are also NPDC Service Centres, where you can pay bills,  register your dog and much more.

All of the community libraries are closed on public holidays. For more information see Visiting our Libraries.

Page last updated: 02:09pm Wed 13 March 2024

Contact us
06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
Visit us

84 Liardet Street
New Plymouth

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