The opening of Dunedin's $6.5 million Chinese garden has boosted attendance at the nearby Otago Settlers Museum.
A total of 4944 people had visited the museum between July 1 and August 3 this year, at the start of the latest financial year, Grant McDonald, the acting manager of Dunedin City Museums, said in a recent report.
Attendance had exceeded the 3820 visitor target for the period, Mr McDonald said in the report to the settlers museum board.
The opening of the Chinese garden -situated close to the museum - in early July had helped boost attendance, with some visitors to the garden also going next door to look through the museum, he added in an interview.
Recent extensive publicity involving the museum's planned redevelopment project, including Prime Minister Helen Clark's recent announcement of a $6 million grant, had also raised the museum's profile and helped increase its popularity, he said.
