New Zealand / Wellington Region

Fish museum requires quake-strengthening

14:14 pm on 24 February 2017

One of Te Papa's research facilities in Wellington has been closed for earthquake strengthening.

Smith's butterflyfish (Chaetodon smithi - Randall, 1975, collected 15 May 1994, Ducie Island, Pitcairn Group, Pitcairn) Photo: CC BY-NC-ND / Te Papa (P.031400)

The Tory Street building houses the National Fish Collection, where more than 240,000 fish and marine animal specimens are kept.

Museum spokesperson Kate Camp said the building was not damaged in the November earthquake, but a seismic check found it did not meet the standard required for buildings that housed natural collections.

She said it was not known when the building would reopen, but it was likely to be before the end of the year.