The museum, which is now one of my favorites, is free and contains a broad range of art mostly focusing on art from the Canterbury region of New Zealand and New Zealand as a whole, including Maori art and contemporary works that reflect the country's diverse cultural landscape.

The building itself is a work of art, featuring a striking, flowing glass and metal facade, which is intended to evoke the koru and flow of Christchurch’s Avon River. Koru is the Maori word for a spiral shape that symbolizes new beginnings, growth, and harmony. It's a key symbol in Māori art, carving, and tattooing.