There’s a moment, crossing the threshold of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, when you understand why Whanganui earned its Unesco City of Design status. This is a building that tells a story before you’ve seen a single artwork.
Reopened in November 2024 after an acclaimed redevelopment, the Sarjeant Gallery sits at the heart of Pukenamu Queen’s Park – earthquake-strengthened, beautifully restored, and extended with a striking new wing whose design emerged from a genuine co-design process between architects Warren and Mahoney and Te Kahui Toi o Tupoho.
The result is a space that feels both deeply rooted and unmistakably contemporary. At over 4,500sqm, the gallery now houses 10 exhibition spaces, a library and reading room, cafe, shop, classroom, workshops, and a climate-controlled storage space for the gallery’s nationally significant collection.
The gallery has welcomed over 130,000 visitors in its first year alone – praised by National Geographic and Time Out Travel among the most anticipated cultural openings of 2024.
The Sarjeant Gallery also hosts an excellent café with stunning views and a busy shop.
For Aucklanders planning an art inspired, design-led escape, the Sarjeant Gallery isn’t a detour. It’s the destination.
