The Kauri Museum

The Kauri Museum at 5 Church Road, Matakohe, tells the story of the kauri timber and kauri gum industries that shaped Northland's Kaipara district. It is roughly a two-hour drive north of Auckland and about an hour south of Whangārei, which makes it a workable meeting point for groups travelling from either direction.

The museum

With more than 4,500 square metres of undercover exhibits, the Kauri Museum is the largest undercover attraction in Northland. Its collection covers the pioneering era of kauri extraction and gum digging, and includes the largest collections of kauri gum and kauri furniture anywhere, along with a fully furnished c.1910 kauri boarding house populated with figures of local people. The museum also holds local rolls of honour.

It has been recognised repeatedly for its work, most recently being named Museum of the Year at the 2026 New Zealand Prestige Awards — an award citing its cultural leadership, community relevance and use as a living heritage institution.

Venues

• Matakohe War Memorial Hall — the main function space, able to host up to 120 guests for dinner. Bi-fold doors open one full side of the hall, and capacity can be increased by adding a marquee on the adjacent lawn.
• The museum galleries — the museum opens for private evening functions, which allows a group to dine or take drinks among the exhibits rather than in a conventional function room.
• Totara House — an 1896 kauri villa set in heritage gardens, lived in and preserved for more than 120 years by the family of George and Emily Smith. Private tours are available by appointment, and the villa and gardens are used for photography and bespoke functions.

Catering and access

Gumdiggers Café in Matakohe accommodates booked groups and specialty meals with prior reservation. Helipad transfers are available on request, which is a genuinely useful option for executive or incentive groups coming from Auckland.

Suitability for MICE

The Kauri Museum is not a conference centre and does not publish theatre or classroom capacities. Its role in the meetings market is as a destination venue: a gala or awards dinner for up to 120 in the War Memorial Hall, a private after-hours function within the exhibition halls, or a half-day cultural and heritage component in an incentive itinerary. Because the site combines a substantial museum experience, a hall of usable size, a heritage villa and gardens, and café catering within walking distance of each other, a group can spend a full day on site without transport between elements. It suits incentive programmes, board or client hosting, association dinners and partner programmes travelling the Kaipara and Hokianga route. Explore more Northland venues.