Christmas at the Museum

Imagine stepping back in history into a colonial lounge or settler’s cottage at Christmas time.

The tradition of decorating our houses with greenery at Christmas was brought to New Zealand by British settlers. Today, it is hard to imagine a Kiwi summer Christmas without the trees and mistletoe wreaths popularised by Queen Victoria.

From 4 December 2022 – 15 January 2023, Okains Bay Museum will feature displays of Christmas trees throughout the museum’s buildings and collections spaces. You’ll be transported back in time to a Christmas night over 100 years ago, with uniquely designed trees professionally lit and decorated by talented local artists and craftspeople, including themed trees from Canterbury Museum, Okains Bay Museum and the Airforce Museum of New Zealand. Plus you also get to enjoy discovering taonga Māori and early Pākehā items among the exciting range of treasures on display in the museum’s diverse complex of heritage buildings.

This event is made possible with the generous support of Creative Communities, The Light Site and Showbiz Christchurch.