Staff are putting the finishing touches this week to exhibitions at the new museum of Waitangi.
A cropped image of the painting of Queen Victoria returned to Waitangi. Photo: SUPPLIED
The $13 million building next to the Visitors' Centre at the Treaty Grounds is set to open to the public on Sunday 7 February, the day after Waitangi Day.
Waitangi National Trust chief executive Greg McManus said Maori and Pakeha treasures from the early days were home where they belonged.
He said he had spent some time this week contemplating a stunning 3m high portrait of a young Queen Victoria, painted in the 1840's.
The painting was gifted to Waitangi by Queen Elizabeth in the 1970's, but until now, there had been nowhere to hang it so its temporary home had been Government House, Mr McManus said.
A delegation from Ngai Tahu was expected at Waitangi this week, to deliver another taonga for the new museum: a pounamu boulder.
