The Tairāwhiti Museum in Gisborne, New Zealand, is a major public institution for arts, culture, and heritage activities in the Tairāwhiti region. The museum focuses on East Coast Māori and colonial history and is Gisborne's arts hub, featuring rotating exhibits and excellent historic photographic displays. Some key highlights of the museum include the Maritime Wing, featuring displays on waka (canoes), whaling, and Cook's Poverty Bay, along with a noteworthy vintage surfboard collection. The Wyllie Cottage, immaculately reconstructed outside the museum, offers a glimpse into the region's history. The museum also houses a shop and a park-view café for visitors to enjoy. Special exhibitions at the museum include woven sculptures that recall ancestral stories, multimedia displays, and works by the students of Toihoukura School of Māori Visual Art.
The Tairāwhiti Museum is conveniently located a 5-minute walk from the CBD, across Peel Street Bridge and through Kelvin Park, with free parking available on Stout Street.