Worth the Wait

An exhibition hundreds of millions of years in the making is coming to Hamilton.

From 12 April 2024, you can come face to face with the fossilised remains of some of history’s largest and deadliest predators in ‘Six  Extinctions’. Discover the fascinating geological periods these predators belonged to and learn how mass extinction events have shaped –  and continue to shape – life on Earth.

This international touring exhibition is produced by Australia’s Gondwana Studios and has attracted rave reviews from visitors of all ages.  ‘Six Extinctions’ begins by travelling back 485 million years to a time when complex life lived only in the sea and the first plants appeared on  land. It concludes in contemporary times, with the sixth and current extinction crisis – climate change – which is the first caused by a single  species, humans.

For many, the highlight of ‘Six Extinctions’ is the life-sized cast of the largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered. This enormous 13-metre replica is accompanied by other awe-inspiring ancient predators including Dunkleosteus, a giant armoured fish that terrorised the seas,  Inostrancevia, a tiger-sized sabre-toothed beast, and Postosuchus, a giant carnivorous reptile.

Located on the banks of the Waikato river in the heart of Hamilton city, Waikato Museum is open every day from 10am to 5pm. As well as  telling the region’s stories through diverse and vibrant exhibitions and events, the Museum is home to more than 30,000 taonga and objects  in its art, history, science and tangata whenua collections. ‘Six Extinctions’ is open at Waikato Museum from 12 April and entry fees apply
for this exhibition.