Membership FAQs

One Museum. Four Membership options - three for adults, and one for children. You can find one, starting from just $50 a year. Read on and decide which one suits you best. Each Membership type offers a range of unique experiences as well as the option to share the experience by adding Friends and Whānau passes.

We offer concession pricing and a three-year Membership option for our Museum Member and Auckland Museum Institute Member types.

Concession pricing is available for students and people 65 years or over. You will be asked to present proof of ID (student ID or Gold Card) with your Membership card. Concession Membership is not available for our Tautoko option.

Three-Year Memberships offer the best value for money for Museum Member and Auckland Museum Institute Membership types. Given this, we don’t offer Concession pricing on our three-year Membership options.

Yes, Auckland Museum offers Three-Year Membership for Museum and Auckland Museum Institute Membership types. Our Three-Year Membership option offers the best value for money, and as a result concession pricing isn’t available with our Three-Year options.

Multi-year Memberships are currently not available for Tautoko Memberships or Mini Museum Memberships.

Becoming a Member is easy – you can sign up online, or at the Membership desk in the Museum. Sign up for our adult memberships here, or our child membership here. Memberships purchased at the Museum are issued on the spot.

Once we’ve processed your online order, we’ll post out a Membership pack which will include your Membership card and information on benefits.

Don’t want to wait for the post? You can pick up your Membership pack from the Membership desk in the Museum’s South Atrium. Just let us know by selecting the relevant delivery option when signing up and we'll have your new Member’s pack ready for pick up.

Online Membership purchases are usually processed and delivered within 10 to 14 days and incur a $8 delivery fee. You will receive an email notification once your Membership pack has been posted or is ready for pick up. 

It usually takes 10 to 14 working days to receive Membership cards in the mail. Don’t want to wait for it to be posted? You can pick up your Membership pack from the Membership desk in the Museum’s South Atrium by selecting “Collect at venue” as a delivery method or select “Delivery Fee - $8” if you would like it to be posted, when signing up online for your Museum Membership. For Terms & Conditions, please check here.

Yes. Auckland Museum offers Concession pricing for our one-year Museum Member and Auckland Museum Institute Membership options. We don’t offer Concession pricing on Three-Year Membership options, given these already represent the best value for money.

Concession pricing is available for students and people 65 years or over. You will be asked to present proof of ID (student ID or Gold Card) with your Membership card. 

Concession pricing is not available for our Tautoko Membership or Mini Museum Membership.

You can donate when signing up, upgrading or renewing your Membership. For online donations please click here. Please note that donations are non-refundable. 
If you would like to talk to somebody or are considering leaving a gift in your will please contact us at [email protected] or call (09) 309 0443 x 7130.

Donations over $5 are tax deductible and we will automatically send you a tax receipt. For more information on tax deductible donations, please visit the Inland Revenue website.

Museum Membership is for individuals only and is non-transferrable. You can purchase Gift Memberships for your staff. Contact us directly if you wish us to assist you in purchasing multiple Memberships. Phone (09) 306 7923 or email [email protected].

Please email [email protected] and let us know that you’re interested.

We currently don’t offer any Members’ only spaces but hope to be able to do so in future.

All our Museum, Auckland Museum Institute and Tautoko Members receive the same Membership card. However, there is a different Membership card for our Mini Museum Members, so a new card will be issued if you join Mini Museum Members.

When you visit the Museum and your card is scanned, our team can see what level of benefits you can access.

Yes, you can. Visit any of our ticket desks or please call us on (09) 306 7923.

Yes – Auckland War Memorial Museum Membership makes the perfect gift. You can purchase one per transaction online, or if you want more than one purchase, this can be done from any Ticket or Membership desks within the Museum. Click here to view options and purchase a Membership for an adult, or click here to purchase a Mini Museum Membership for a child aged 5 - 15 years. Contact us directly if you wish us to assist you in purchasing multiple Memberships. Phone (09) 306 7923 or email [email protected].

If you sign up at our Membership or Ticket desks within the Museum, we'll issue your Membership card straight away.

If you sign up online, and choose postage as a delivery method, you'll receive your Membership card within 10 to 14 business days. Alternatively, you can choose to pick up your Membership pack from our Membership desk in the Museum’s South Atrium, which is processed within three to five days. We’ll let you know when your Membership card is ready for pick up. 

In order to receive cafe and store discounts, you’ll need to present your Membership card. You can visit the Museum and its free exhibitions without your Membership card, but you can’t take advantage of Membership benefits without presenting your Membership card. 
 

If you've lost your Membership card, we are happy to replace it. This incurs a $10 service and replacement fee. Simply stop by the Membership desk in the South Atrium of the Museum to make payment and we'll issue a replacement card on the spot.

Alternatively, email [email protected] to let us know you have lost your card and when you need it by, and we'll have one waiting at the Membership desk, ready for you to pick up and pay for at your next visit. 
 

Yes, there is a different Membership card for Mini Museum Members.

While all our Museum, Auckland Museum Institute and Tautoko Members receive the same card there is a different membership card for our Mini Museum Members. A new card will be issued if you join Mini Museum Members.

When you visit the Museum and your card is scanned, our team can see what level of benefits you can access.

Museum Members, Auckland Museum Institute Members and Tautoko Members receive the same card, regardless of what Membership type they have chosen. The Mini Museum Member card is different, with a colourful design for kids. When you visit the Museum and your card is scanned, our team can see what level of benefits you can access.

Museum Members, Auckland Museum Institute Members and Tautoko Members receive the same card, regardless of what Membership type they have chosen. The Mini Museum Member card is different, with a colourful design for kids. When you visit the Museum and your card is scanned, our team can see what level of benefits you can access.

Your Membership card number is printed on the back of your Membership card, just below your name.

Our Membership programme is for individual Members only. If you would like to bring others to any of our many events and previews, add a $25 Friends & Whānau pass (limited to three) when signing up online, when purchasing at the Museum or add as an upgrade to your existing Museum or Auckland Museum Institute Membership levels. Friends & Whānau passes are valid in conjunction with your Membership and will be loaded onto your Membership card. It is not a separate card. 

The expiry date of the Friends & Whānau pass is the same as the Membership expiry date, regardless of whether they are purchased at the same time or a different time.

Tautoko Membership already includes the maximum three Friends & Whānau passes.

Membership is non-transferable. For information on bringing friends and whānau to the Museum, please see the “Members' benefits and Friends & Whānau passes” FAQs below.

The MyMuseum card gives free General Admission to Aucklanders. A Museum Membership card or a Mini Museum Membership card gives all Members free General Admission when presenting the Membership card onsite and you get access to special exhibitions that non-Members will have to pay for, as well as special discounts at the Museum cafés and Museum Store.

You can keep it, but you won’t need it. Instead, please bring your Museum Member or Mini Museum Member card when visiting the Museum. You’ll need to show your Membership card to claim the many Membership benefits.

Museum Members receive the following benefits: 

• Unlimited FREE entry to all paid exhibitions 
• 10% discount at the Museum Store* and cafes
• Option to add up to three Friends & Whānau passes 
• Exclusive exhibition previews and after-hours events 
• Invitations to regular curatorial talks or behind-the-scenes tours 
• Priority bookings and / or discounts for selected Museum events 
• Discounted parking at selected events 
• 10% discount at the Museum cafés, stores*, and on public and learning programmes 
• Early booking for Night at Auckland Museum 
• Invitation to exhibition previews 
• Invitations to school holiday programs, treasure hunts and more 
• Discounts at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket** 
• Regular e-newsletter with fun activities, giveaways and more, so you're always in the know

_{*Excludes sales and promotions. Discount not currently available for online purchases. 
**Terms & conditions apply.} 

Mini Members receive the following benefits: 

• Unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions 
• 10% discount at the Museum Store and cafes* 
• 10% discount on public and learning programmes including Night at Auckland Museum and more 
• Early booking for events including Night at Auckland Museum  
• Option to add Friends & Whānau passes 
• Invitation to exhibition previews 
• Invitations to school holiday programmes, treasure hunts and more 
• Discount at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket** 
• Regular email newsletters so you are always in the know 

_{*Excludes sales and promotions. Discount not currently available for online purchases. 
**Terms & conditions apply.} 

Tautoko Members receive the following benefits: 

• All the Museum Membership benefits and savings 
• Three complimentary Friends & Whānau passes 
• One free guided Museum Highlights Tour for up to ten people 
• Invitations to special exhibition previews and after-hours events 
• Invitations to exclusive Museum supporter events, behind-the-scenes tours and talks with the Director

Tautoko Membership does not include Mini Museum Member benefits.

Auckland Museum Institute Members receive the following benefits: 

• All the Museum Membership benefits and savings 
• Invitations to Hochstetter and Lucy Cranwell lectures 
• Invitations to special Institute events including Café Scientifique and Museum Medals Gala Evening 
• Annual Director’s presentation and Museum update 
• Exclusive AMI email newsletter 

Auckland Museum Institute Members do not receive Mini Museum Member benefits.

If you would like to bring others to our many events or paid exhibitions free of charge, add up to three Friends & Whānau passes when signing up online, when purchasing at the Museum or add as an upgrade to your existing Museum or Auckland Museum Institute Membership. Friends & Whānau passes are valid in conjunction with your Membership. Your Friends & Whānau passes are loaded onto your existing Membership card. Present this at any Membership or Ticket desk within the Museum to receive your tickets to our paid exhibitions or pre-book your tickets online. The Friends & Whānau pass is not specific to anyone person and can be used as often as you like.

The expiry date of the Friends & Whānau pass is the same as the Membership expiry date, regardless of whether they are purchased at the same time or a different time.

Your Friends & Whānau benefits include:

• Free unlimited entry to paid exhibitions
• Free General Admission
• Exclusive exhibition previews 
• Access to regular talks or behind the scenes tours

​The Friends & Whānau pass does not provide friends and whānau with access to discounts and friends and whānau do not receive Member emails and updates. Friends and whānau must accompany you to be able to share in your privileges.

For Three-Year Memberships, Friends & Whānau passes will be added for the entire three-year period.

To purchase a Membership with or without Friends & Whānau passes, browse options here. If you're already a Member and would like to add Friends & Whānau passes, visit the upgrade page.

Tautoko Membership already includes the maximum three Friends & Whānau passes.

Yes; upon presentation of your Membership card you'll receive a 10% discount at our Museum Store*, and at our cafés in the Grand Foyer and Te Ao Mārama South Atrium. 

Present your Museum Membership card at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket to receive $13.50 movie and $15.50 3D tickets. Offer includes Friday and Saturday nights. (Terms & Conditions: Valid on presentation of your Museum Membership card in cinema only. Not available to purchase online. Excludes Beyond Film, alternate content, film festivals, special events and screenings. 3D tickets are $15.50. One discount per session per person.)

*Discounts do not apply to on-sale items or online purchases.

If you would like to bring others to our many events or paid exhibitions free of charge, add up to three Friends & Whānau passes when signing up online, when purchasing at the Museum or add as an upgrade to your existing Three-Year Museum or Auckland Museum Institute Membership.

Your Friends & Whānau passes are loaded onto your existing Membership card. Present this at any Membership or Ticket desk within the Museum to receive your tickets to our paid exhibitions or pre-book your tickets online. The Friends & Whānau pass is not specific to anyone person and can be used as often as you like.

For Three-Year Memberships, Friends & Whānau passes will be added for the entire three-year period. The expiry date of the Friends & Whānau pass is the same as the Membership expiry date, regardless of whether they are purchased at the same time or a different time.

Your Friends & Whānau benefits include:

• Free unlimited entry to paid exhibitions
• Free General Admission
• Exclusive exhibition previews 
• Access to regular talks or behind the scenes tours

The Friends & Whānau pass does not provide your guests with access to discounts, and they will not receive Member emails and updates. Friends and whānau must accompany you to be able to share in your privileges.

To purchase a Membership with or without Friends & Whānau passes, browse options here. If you're already a Member and would like to add Friends & Whānau passes, visit the upgrade page.

Tautoko Memberships already include the maximum three Friends & Whānau passes.

No. Our membership benefits are specific to the membership type you have purchased.

Yes; Museum Members and Mini Museum Members receive unlimited free entry to paid exhibitions.

As a Member, you receive unlimited free entry to the Museum’s paid exhibitions. Please present your Membership card at any Membership or Ticket desks and we'll issue your entry pass on the spot. You may visit the exhibition for free as often as you like.

To guarantee you can see our paid exhibitions on your preferred day and time, we suggest you book your free timed entry ticket online prior to visiting the Museum. 
 

To make sure everyone has the best experience when visiting some of our exhibitions or events, we have limited ticket numbers per session. We encourage you to book your ticket in advance to make sure you aren’t disappointed and can see the exhibition when you want to. You will need to log into your online Membership account using your email and password first, before purchasing the tickets online. If you have a Friends and Whānau pass, the Member must purchase the tickets on their behalf.

If you book your ticket online, it will be emailed to you as a mobile ticket that can be scanned from your mobile phone, or printed if you would prefer. It will confirm the event name, date, time and number of tickets purchased. 

If you book at one of our Museum ticket desks, you will be given a printed ticket.

Member previews are exclusive opportunities to view special exhibitions before they open to the public. Information about preview dates and times will be provided to Members in advance and are listed on our website.

To attend an exhibition preview, Members need to present their Membership card at the entrance to the exhibition or pre-book a ticket online. Please visit our Members' events page for more information. 
 

As part of your Museum Membership and Mini Museum Membership you’ll receive regular monthly e-newsletters with information about upcoming events, special offers or giveaways. If you don’t receive your e-newsletter, please check your spam folder. You can update your email address by logging in to your online Membership account using your email address and password. If you’ve forgotten your password, you can reset it at any time.

Alternatively, call us at (09) 306 7923, or email [email protected].

When you become a Member, you will be automatically subscribed to the Membership e-newsletter. This way you will stay informed and receive advance notices of exhibitions, programmes, events and special offers. You will not receive information about any other Auckland Museum events unless you opt to receive these emails when you sign up. You may unsubscribe from these updates at any time.  
 

You may not be receiving Membership e-newsletters for one of three reasons:

1. You opted out. We respect your privacy so if you have chosen to 'Unsubscribe' from Membership emails at any point during your membership, you will not be sent any further emails. To resubscribe, please log in to your Membership Online Account, choose 'Email Preferences' on the left-hand menu and check 'Member News'. Remember to hit 'Save'.

2. The email address we hold for you is incorrect. Typos can happen! To update your email address, please log in to your Membership Online Account, choose 'Account Info' to check and update your email address. If you can’t log in to your account, please contact our Membership team on the details below.

3. Your email provider thinks our emails are spam. Sometimes emails are flagged as spam by email providers, or you may have accidently hit 'Mark as Spam' for one of our emails. To rectify this, please contact our Membership team on the details below.

For any Membership enquires, please call us at (09) 306 7923, or email [email protected]. 

You can change any of your personal details by logging in to your online Membership account using your email address and password. If you’ve forgotten your password, you can reset it at any time.

Alternatively, you can email us and we will update your records. Please include your Membership card number, full name and address in the email. 

Depending on the Membership type you have chosen, Membership is valid for 12 or 36 months from the day of purchase or the date you have selected when purchasing a Gift Membership.

Do not hesitate to contact the Membership team at (09) 306 7923 or email [email protected] with any questions about your renewal.

The expiry date of the Friends & Whānau pass is the same as the Membership expiry date, regardless of whether they are purchased at the same time or a different time.

You will receive your renewal notice prior to your Membership expiring. You can renew online, by phone, and at any ticket desk within the Museum. Alternatively, you can opt to auto-renew when you sign up, which means we renew your Membership automatically at the end of your Membership. You will receive advance notice before we debit your credit card, and you can opt out of this any time. 

For more information on auto-renewals, please read our Terms & Conditions or contact the Membership team at (09) 306 7923 or email [email protected].

Auto-renewal is currently not available for our Three-Year Museum Memberships or our Mini Museum Membership.

Because of processing times, your payment and our renewal notice may cross paths. If you wish to confirm that we have received your Membership payment, email [email protected]. 

Please disregard any notices you’ll receive after your payment has been submitted.
 

No. Once your Membership card is issued you will keep the same card for as long as you remain a financial Member of Auckland War Memorial Museum.

You will not lose any time on your Membership by renewing early. The renewal will take effect when your current Membership expires.

Example: If a Membership expires on 8 April 2022 but is renewed early on 20 March 2022, the renewal will still take place after 8 April 2022.

Your Membership will start from the day you renew, it will not be backdated.

Example: If a Membership expires on 8 April 2022 but isn’t renewed until 20 May 2022 then the Membership will re-start again from 20 May 2022 and the new renewal date will be 20 May 2023.

You can choose to delay the renewal of your Membership. However, once a Membership has expired, you won’t be able to claim your Membership benefits, such as free entry to paid exhibitions, 10% discount in retail store or Museum Cafés, etc.

Yes, let us look after renewing your Membership for you by choosing auto-renewal, which means you authorise Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira to automatically renew your Membership.

Auto-renewal is currently not available for our Mini Museum Member or Three-Year Memberships.

You’ll be notified by email at least 14 days prior to being charged for your Membership. If you change your mind about auto-renewing, you can cancel up to three working days prior to the auto-renewal date by calling (09) 306 7923 or by emailing [email protected].  

To process payments for Members who have selected automatic renewal, Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira will retain payment information using tokenisation technology for enhanced security. We do not store credit card numbers.

If your credit card is declined when we try to charge you for your Membership, we will reach out to you via email, phone and/or post to discuss alternative payment methods. Once your Membership has expired, your Membership will be inactivated until we have received and processed your payment.

For more information on auto-renewals, please read our Terms & Conditions or contact the Membership team at (09) 306 7923 or email [email protected].

While anyone can make the initial purchase of a Gift Membership, after this we usually expect the gift recipient/Member to renew their Membership.

However, some people may wish to keep paying for that gifted Membership. If this is the case, please contact us by phone (09) 306 7923 or email [email protected]. For security purposes we ask that you don’t email us your credit card details. 

If we don’t have an email address for you, you will be notified via post. You can then renew your Membership online via our website https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/renew, at the Museum ticket desks or via phone (09) 306 7923.

Yes, you can renew online https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/renew, over the phone (09) 306 7923 or at our ticket desks by giving us your contact details.

If you have lost your Membership card and are renewing your Membership, we will issue a new card free of charge.

Outside of renewals we charge $10 for a replacement card. To receive retail store or Museum café discounts, you need to present your Membership card in those locations.

If you have purchased one of our Auckland Museum Institute Memberships, you will automatically receive an email notification with an online payment link when your Membership comes up for renewal.

Alternatively, you can renew at any Ticket desk when visiting the Museum or log into your Tessitura account through our website https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/renew.

Please refer to our Privacy Statement which details the way we use and store your data.

Membership contributions are not refundable or transferable. For more information, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.

To ensure your security, credit card details are sent through a secure payment server. The currency referred to is New Zealand dollars. The accepted cards are Visa and Mastercard. For security reasons, we do not accept credit card payments via email. 
 

Your Membership fee is not tax deductible, but any donation over $5 to Auckland War Memorial Museum is tax deductible and we will automatically send you a tax receipt. You can make a donation as part of your Membership sign up or renewal, via our website or by emailing us.

For more information on tax deductible donations, please visit the Inland Revenue website.