Children are getting the chance to take on the role of explorer with Auckland Museum these holidays in a treasure hunt that covers the whole museum.

Sir Governor Grey – a former governor and premier of New Zealand – was born 200 years ago this April and spent much of his life collecting great artefacts many of which are now kept in the museum.

Armed with treasure maps, a pith helmet and binoculars, children will set out with expedition leader Maxxie von Riksen to spot treasures from the Sir George Grey collection.

Some of the Sir George Grey artefacts on display include a pounamu mere, a canoe paddle and the front section of a storehouse or pataka.

Event developer Jo Brookbanks says the Finding the Guvnor’s Gifts holiday programme – designed for children age six years and over – combines lots of the elements children love and “sneaks in the history of the city and its people”.

“Children get to adventure all around the museum, unearth their own discoveries and discover the exciting stories that go with the objects. The storytelling that goes with the treasure hunt is really the best part; it helps children understand that the collections in the museum aren’t just static objects, they’re connected to great moments in history and they tell us things about how things have changed and how the city has taken shape,” says Brookbanks.

“We’re also encouraging the kids to dress up – we’ve got the pith helmet and the binoculars for them to use but we want the children to come along dressed to explore or even in the fashion of the day from 200 years ago!”

During the holidays Auckland Museum is also running two different workshops with published children’s author Sandra Morris and illustrator Nina Rycroft. Suitable for children eight years and over, the nature journal afternoon workshops will develop drawing and recording techniques and include tours of the gallery to put the new skills to work.

A two-day illustration workshop Weird & Wonderful Picture Books is being run twice during the holidays and children will learn how to transform specimens from the museum’s collections into “a picture book character that can walk, run, dance and leap right off the page”.

For more information or to book for the Auckland Museum holiday programmes visit our Events Calendar.