Ōtaki Museum

The Ōtaki Museum is a small but well-organised local history museum that does an honest job of covering both Māori and Pākehā (European) history in the region. The collection includes artefacts, photographs, and documents relating to the Ngāti Raukawa iwi, the early flax trade, and the development of the town.

Free to enter or by koha (donation). Open limited hours — check locally before visiting. Main Street, Ōtaki.

things to do museum
A story
The museum is housed in the former Bank of New Zealand building on the main street — a handsome 1920s structure that gives the collection a more dignified setting than most small-town museums manage. The focus is on Ōtaki's history, with particular emphasis on the Māori heritage of the area and the early European settler period.