The National Aquarium of New Zealand, also known as Napier Aquarium is a public aquarium in Napier, New Zealand.

History

The aquarium originally opened in its current location napier in 1976. In its first year of its life it attracted 230,000 visitors at a time when the population of Napier was about 50,000. In its first 5 years of operation over 750,000 people visited.

In 2002 the aquarium underwent a NZD $8 million extension and renovation which included the addition of a 1,500,000L oceanarium with a 50m acrylic tunnel and the replacement of all the original tanks with newly constructed ones.

Exhibits

The aquarium boasts the following exhibits:

• African Cichlids
• Asian Tropical
• Asian Paddyfield
• Discovery Centre
• Asian Water Garden
• Australian Out Back
• Water Dragons/Snake-necked Turtle

• Waterfall
• Coral Reef
• Fish Theatre
• Tuatara
• New Zealand Stream
• Kiwi Enclosure
• New Zealand Fresh Water
• New Zealand Geckos
• Eels
• Hawksbill Sea Turtle
• Rocky Shore
• Seahorse
• Oceanarium
• Exhibition Hall

Facilities

The aquarium has two temporary exhibit halls, one on the upper level and the other adjacent to the oceanarium, a souvenir shop and cafe.