Tasman Bay Guardians are excited to be part of this epic display, helping bring ocean education to life while spotlighting one of the ocean’s most fascinating and mysterious creatures ….. the colossal squid. Every Tuesday, Thalassa shares her incredible knowledge and passion for the moana with very excited tamariki and kaiako, diving into the weird, wonderful, and sometimes downright freaky features of life beneath the waves.
The Colossal Squid is so rarely seen that only eight adult colossal squid have ever been scientifically reported. Now, in collaboration with Tasman Bay Guardians and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Motueka District Museum is helping reveal some of the fascinating science and incredible secrets behind one of New Zealand’s most significant natural history specimens.
Colossal Squid: Freaky Features! Te Ngū Tipua centres around an interactive display featuring the lens from the eye of the colossal squid, part of a tentacle, and even a complete tiny squid — the miniature relative of its colossal counterpart. Visitors can also explore touchable rotating models of a squid’s tentacle hook and the colossal squid’s beak, making the exhibition highly interactive and engaging for all ages.
The exhibition also features two documentaries showcasing life in the depths of the Southern Ocean, and the remarkable story of how the most complete colossal squid ever discovered made its way to Te Papa.
Alongside the exhibition, Tasman Bay Guardians has display panels showcasing the work we are doing with seagrass restoration across the Tasman and Nelson region. It’s a chance for visitors to learn more about why healthy seagrass ecosystems are so important, what restoration work is happening locally, and how the community can get involved in protecting and restoring our coastal environments.
Seeing tamariki so engaged, asking thoughtful questions, and getting excited about marine conservation was a real highlight. Opportunities like this help connect people with te taiao and inspire the next generation of kaitiaki for our oceans and waterways.
If you are looking for something fun, interactive, and educational to do with friends or whānau, this exhibition is absolutely worth checking out. There are so many cool and interesting things to discover and explore. A huge ngā mihi to Motueka District Museum for having us and creating such an awesome community event.
For more information about FREAKY FEATURES, visit Eventfinda – Freaky Features Exhibition