Recent visits by overseas researchers to the Otago Museum are proving beneficial for other museum visitors, as well as for the museum, the Otago Museum Trust Board heard this week.
Otago Museum staff have been installing more efficient electric lamps in the museum's special exhibitions gallery as preparations continue to stage a new exhibition from China.
The Otago Museum has developed a ''very positive relationship'' with the Otago Polytechnic School of Veterinary Nursing, which will result in more veterinary support for animals in the museum's Tropical Forest.
Shortly after hosting a successful ''Canterbury Quakes'' touring exhibition, the Otago Museum is donating $10,000 to help with the restoration and storage of earthquake-damaged heritage artefacts in Canterbury.
After a year of planning, another big cultural exhibition from Dunedin's Chinese sister city, Shanghai, will open at the Otago Museum early next month.
Otago Museum staff will use interactive screens as part of the first exhibition planned for the former Dunedin North post office, which is being redeveloped as a museum annexe.
Otago Museum's newly-appointed director, British-born astronomer and museum specialist Dr Ian Griffin, needs no further convincing about the power of museums to change lives.
Construction work is largely completed at the former Dunedin North post office complex, which is being redeveloped as an Otago Museum exhibition space and conference venue.
Proposals to develop a $200,000 conservatory at the Otago Museum's southern frontage have been put on hold pending the arrival of the museum's new director, Dr Ian Griffin.
Anxieties surfaced again at the Otago Museum Trust Board yesterday over growing financial pressures and potential problems caused by deferring capital spending, including for gallery refurbishment.
Key negotiations involving two major Chinese exhibitions with close links with the Otago Museum will take place in Shanghai, Dunedin's Chinese sister city, this week.
The Otago Museum can play a major role by helping inspire visitors to learn more about the world around them, newly appointed director Dr Ian Griffin says.
Up to 5000 people are expected to experience ''electrifying entertainment, crazy acts and live music'' during The Big Get Together, the Otago Museum's annual family fun event, tomorrow.
The Otago Museum has won a tourism-related Enviro Gold award for the second year in a row from Qualmark, the country's official quality assurance system.
The Otago Museum has again been recognised as one of the top tourism businesses in the country, having gained a perfect score three years in a row from Qualmark, the New Zealand quality assurance system, museum officials said.