Otago Museum Discovery World II a step closer

Media Release

Discovery World II will include over 40 interactive displays, a separate Discovery Den for under-fives and a mobile exploration station to engage visitors in impromptu learning opportunities.

Otago Community Trust Chief Executive Barbara Bridger said the development of the new Discovery World will strengthen and build upon the science engagement work the Museum has already successfully facilitated in the wider Otago communities. “Discovery World II will be something special for the people of Otago and visitors to our region. The hands on, interactive, multicultural facility will provide a hub for engaging with science, inspiring our youth to consider careers in science and engaging the wider public in lifelong learning”.

The stage one redevelopment which included the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium and the Beautiful Science Gallery has already proved a great success. The new Discovery World will continue to offer amazing hands on experiences that inspire curiosity about our world and lifelong learning. 

Museum Director, Dr Ian Griffin said “The Otago Community Trust has long supported the Otago Museum. This latest, and most significant, contribution will do much to help us to achieve our goal of becoming New Zealand's leading Science Centre, not only by providing learning opportunities for all ages, but developing new ways to engage curious minds with Science and Technology.

“Our vision, in the years to come, is for everyone in Otago to be inspired by Otago Museum's science programmes, either through a visit to the redeveloped Discovery World, Beautiful Science Gallery or the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, or by engaging with one of our innovative outreach programmes. The Otago Community Trust's contribution goes a very long way to helping us achieve that goal.”

The Discovery World II rebuild will begin at the end of winter, with an anticipated completion date of October 2017.