What has eyes the size of soccer balls, a beak like a parrot’s, and tentacles lined with a fearsome mix of suckers and rotating hooks.
The answer can be found at the Motueka District Museum’s latest exhibition, Colossal squid: freaky features. Te Ngū Tipua: Ngā Wāhanga Weriweri.
The museum’s exhibitions manager Kenny Willis says the exhibition is already making a big splash, with students diving into hands‑on learning alongside a marine scientist from Tasman Bay Guardians.
“This engaging learning experience is bringing local water ecology to life and adding real depth and excitement to what students are exploring in school,” Kenny says.
St Peter Chanel teacher Johnna Alborn says her students were blown away by the squid’s unique adaptations.
“It was valuable for our tamariki to be able to see real specimens of the squid's anatomy and share their knowledge with the museum educators,” she says. “We feel so blessed to have such a fabulous exhibition visit our museum. It is a gem in our community.”
Colossal squid: freaky features. Te Ngū Tipua: Ngā Wāhanga Weriweri runs at the Motueka District Museum until Sunday, 19 July.
