Become a Tautoko Member and help enable the development and preservation of our sacred taonga. Tautoko means valued supporter. Your Membership fees enable the development and preservation of collections, the delivery of new exhibitions, important research and exciting educational programmes.
Auckland Museum holds a special place in the heart of our city, home to millions of collection items and countless cherished memories. As a charity, the generosity of our supporters ensures the Museum continues to enrich lives and inspire discoveries for future generations.
By joining Tautoko Membership, you become part of our philanthropic community which supports caring for our taonga, the development and preservation of the Museum heritage building and its collections, as well as enabling important research and educational programmes.
You will enjoy special benefits and unique experiences, from expert and curatorial talks, to behind-the-scenes tours and exclusive exhibition previews before they open to the public.
Tautoko Member benefits
As a Tautoko Member you become part of our philanthropic community. You’ll receive all the following core benefits and, in addition, invitations to exclusive Museum supporter events, behind-the-scenes tours, talks with the Director and more, for a contribution of $500 per year.
Unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions
Exclusive exhibition previews and events
Museum discounts and partner offers
Invitations to regular curatorial talks or tours
Three Friends and Whānau passes
Monthly email newsletters
Invitations to special exhibition previews and after-hours events
Invitations to exclusive Museum supporter events, behind-the-scenes tours and talks with the Director
One free guided tour for up to ten people
Three complimentary Friends & Whānau passes
Priority booking and discounts for selected Museum events
Discounted or free parking at selected Membership events
Discounts on films at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket
If you'd like to purchase ten Memberships or more, please email us at membership@aucklandmuseum.com and our Membership team will be happy to assist you.
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} Your new Membership pack will be mailed to you or you can pick it up next time you visit the Museum. Along with your distinctive Membership card, there is a small thank you gift from us inside.
Please contact us with any Membership enquiries.
If your Membership enquiry needs immediate attention, please contact our Membership team on +64 9 306 7923 during office hours or email membership@aucklandmuseum.com.
BRING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ANY OF OUR EXHIBITIONS, MEMBERS' EVENTS OR PREVIEWS
Tautoko Members automatically receive three Friends & Whānau passes as part of their Membership. Friends & Whānau passes are valid in conjunction with your annual Membership, and they are loaded onto your Membership card; separate cards are not issued.
PASS BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Free General Admission
Unlimited free entry to all exhibitions
Exclusive exhibition previews and after hours events
Access to regular talks or behind the scenes tours
The pass does not provide friends and family with access to discounts and they do not receive Member emails and updates. Your friends and family must accompany you to be able to share in your privilege. The passes aren't specific to any one person, and can be used for the duration of your Membership.
EXPLORE YOUR MUSEUM WITH AN EXCLUSIVE TOUR BY ONE OF OUR SPECIALIST GUIDES
Tautoko Members are entitled to a free tour for up to ten people as part of their Membership. Tours run for approximately an hour and can be booked for any time during our regular opening hours, 10AM-5PM Monday to Friday, open from 9AM weekends and holidays and open late to 8.30PM on Twilight Tuesdays.
Tours on offer include:
GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR
Get ready for one of the most interesting hours you’ll ever spend as our guide shows you around Auckland Museum. Explore our Museum’s most famous galleries and learn about Māori culture, achievements of Polynesian navigators and the unique nature of New Zealand.
MANDARIN TOUR
Discover the stories of New Zealand and its people in one destination. The tour will be conducted fully in Mandarin.
Tours are booked directly with our Membership team and must be booked in advance by emailing membership@aucklandmuseum.com.
ON NOW
Created by the Australian Museum, Sharks invites you to explore the fascinating, and often misunderstood, world of sharks. Come face-to-face with life-sized scientifically accurate shark models, including one of the most famous and feared species of shark, the Great White. Learn through artefacts and tactile displays; be immersed in a digital oceanarium; and see the world in a 360-degree view through the eyes of a Hammerhead Shark.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a quarter of the world's sharks are threatened with extinction. Sharks presents the very latest information on conservation, sharks’ impact on oceans, and efforts to protect sharks.
Sharks is produced and toured by the Australian Museum and proudly supported by Earth Sciences.
Upcoming special exhibitions
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
SAT 27 JUN - SUN 23 AUG 2026
Now in its sixty-first year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, Wildlife Photographer of the Year features some of the most exceptional nature photography taken today from across the globe.
The exhibition shines a light on powerful and fascinating images that capture hidden animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. Using photography's unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images share stories and species from around the world, encouraging a future of advocating for the planet.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.
March of the Triceratops
FROM SEPT 2026 - APR 2027
March of the Triceratops brings to life one of the world’s most iconic dinosaurs, revealing how these extraordinary creatures lived, moved, and survived millions of years ago.
The exhibition features the only known Triceratops herd ever discovered, with a rare group of five recently excavated fossils. Alongside the fossils are life-size Triceratops models and animatronics, created using the latest scientific research, as well as hands-on interactives and animated experiences that offer fascinating insight into a prehistoric world.
Explore how fossils are formed, learn what palaeontologists do, and use augmented reality to step into the Triceratops’ natural environment and imagine a landscape shaped by dinosaurs.
March of the Triceratops is a collaboration between Naturalis Biodiversity Center and MuseumsPartner, both based in Europe.
Ming: The Golden Empire
FROM JUN 2027 - OCT 2027
Discover the brilliance of the Ming dynasty in Ming: The Golden Empire. This stunning exhibition explores revolutionary social change, artistic achievement, and cultural richness through treasures from Nanjing Museum that rarely leave China. From imperial luxuries to everyday objects, journey through China’s Great Ming era, which spanned 1368-1644, all brought to life with striking visuals, films, and interactive displays.
Ming: The Golden Empire is produced by Nomad Exhibitions in association with Nanjing Museum
If you become a Museum Member, you will have access to an array of exclusive Members-only events such exhibition previews, events and after hours functions.
Museum Members also receive a 10% discount on all general Auckland Museum events.
Want to know more?
Visit our Membership FAQs page, for all the answers to your questions.