[2] Two years after its opening, the single-storey building was expanded with an additional floor in the Victorian Gothic style.

[7][8] Redevelopment and controversy The museum received complaints in June 2020 because of their exhibit depicting a Māori family before colonialism, the dioramas were covered up and later removed in 2022.

The redevelopment will bring back the blue whale skeleton onto display (thought to be the largest skeleton in the world) and the Whare Whakairo "Hau Te Ananui O Tangaroa" and also renovate spaces such as Discovery (children's zone), Christchurch Street (model of a Christchurch street in the 1800s) and Fred & Myrtle's Paua Shell House.

[22][23] Part of the Roger Duff wings exterior will be removed to create a large glass window spanning across two floors.

[24] A second entrance will be added on the Rolleston Avenue side of the building along with the return of the museums original flèche.

[28] Following Haast's death, Frederick Hutton was acting director[29][30] until Henry Ogg Forbes took on a permanent position in December 1888 upon his return from England.

Hutton applied for leave to travel to England, and Charles Chilton was acting director from March 1905; Hutton died on his return journey from England[30] and Chilton retained his acting role until April 1906, when Edgar Ravenswood Waite received a permanent appointment.

[34] Speight was succeeded by two acting directors who worked alongside one another; the geologist Robin Allan, and the zoologist Edgar Percival.

[29] They were succeeded by Robert Falla, who commenced his role on 1 March 1937[35] and who was director until 1947, when he accepted the same position at the Dominion Museum in Wellington.