Pataka

PATAKA is the cultural heart of Porirua, Wellington, dedicated to showcasing the very best in contemporary Maori, Pacific Island and New Zealand art. At Pataka you'll see works from leading local, national and international artists with a fantastic range of heritage and social history exhibitions and work for sale from Pataka's Blue Pacific Gallery.

Housed in the same building are The Porirua City Library which offers a huge wealth of information: local history files and photographs, newspapers, magazines and over 140,000 books, and Melody Farm Music Museum: a magnificent collection of musical rarities from 1880 to 1960 including radios from the 30s, juke-boxes and a recording gramophone.

Pataka gallery is open from Monday to Saturday with free entry to the galleries, Melody Farm entry fee is $3.50. The onsite cafe has the best coffee in town and is set beside a tranquil traditional Japanese garden.