Petone Settlers Museum Te Whare Whakaaro

Situated on the shores of Wellington’s ever-changing harbour, the Petone Settlers Museum Te Whare Whakaaro o Pito-one occupies one of New Zealand’s most significant memorial buildings—the Wellington Provincial Centennial Memorial. The memorial was built to commemorate the arrival of the first British immigrants to Pito-one’s shores in 1840.

The Wellington Provincial Centennial Memorial was officially opened on the 22nd of January 1940, and, serving also as a bathing pavilion, it became the heart of Petone’s thriving beach scene. Today, the building hosts our museum where we collect, care for and share our shared social history.