It's hoped the new Waitangi Museum at the Treaty grounds will be a major pull for tourists.
But a trip to the new museum is also being labelled a necessary history lesson for all New Zealanders.
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Its main exhibition will explore the relationship between Maori and Pakeha from first contact up until the present.
Waitangi National Trust Chief Executive Greg McManus said a lot of New Zealanders don't know a lot about our history and that's a problem.
"Waitangi obviously played a really important part in the history of the nation, it is the place where the nation was born so we think it's really important that we provide a really good solid background."
The museum officially opens to the public today.
Mr McManus said with the museum, a trip to the Treaty grounds will now take at least half a day.
"We're hoping that it will contribute to people staying longer in the area, spending more obviously but then just making another reason for people particularly from Auckland to visit the Bay Of Islands."
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