Crabs, shrimps, lobsters, barnacles, slaters and other crustaceans are the stars of a new miniature exhibition presented by the Western Bay Museum, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) and Te Papa.

Mawhiti Tino Rawe | Clever Crustaceans is a playful exploration of the bizarre and diverse world of five marine crustaceans. They can change their shape, circle the globe, and maybe even cure cancer – crustaceans are the unsung heroes of the sea.

Niwa scientists Dr Rachael Peart and Dr Kareen Schnabel worked with Te Papa experts to deliver this exhibition, which showcases the importance and special capabilities of the “insects of the sea”.

“Crustaceans are arthropods, which means they have segmented bodies and exoskeletons just like insects, so I love describing them as the ‘insects of the sea’. They are captivating creatures. They have adapted to live in an incredible variety of habitats, from beaches and shallows, all the way down to the deepest ocean trenches,” said Schnabel.

Visitors can, through hands-on interactives and real specimens, explore the fascinating world and smart survival tricks of these unusual creatures. Take a digital deep dive into a special web hub to discover their superpowers.

It is always with such delight and enthusiasm that we host Te Papa’s touring exhibitions. They are an absolute hit for all age groups, and these exhibitions are at a standard we can not afford. They provide access to all that cannot visit the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Clever Crustaceans aligns perfectly with the exhibition Ngā Toa Taiao – Environmental Heroes of the Western Bay District.

“We’re thrilled to be able to highlight these unsung heroes of our ecosystem. We want visitors to touch, explore and discover these weird and wonderful crustaceans of Aotearoa New Zealand. We were inspired by the work of scientists to understand and protect these crustaceans and their homes, and we’re so excited to partner with Niwa on this special project,” said Te Papa exhibition experience developer Dan Parke.

“We are telling the stories of some of our favourite critters. Visitors will learn about the ‘shapeshifter’ kōura with its unexpected life stages as a long-distance open-ocean wanderer, the lightning speed with which the native mantis shrimp spears its lunch, the exceptional eyesight of the open-ocean amphipod Phronima – which is even being [used as part of] techniques to detect cancer in humans – and the radical changes barnacles have undergone to get their kai (food),” adds Schnabel.

Entry to the museum is free, and for bookings for our new education programme, please email manager@westernbaymuseum.nz. March is fully booked, so secure your space in April.