Southland Museum and Art Gallery applications in the 1940’s to the Government to obtain live Tuatara were declined, but with persistence the Museum finally received a large male transferred from a zoo in 1961 named George. In 1965 the Museum obtained a mate for George from Stephens Island, named Stephanie. Both were housed in the Natural History Gallery. George died in 1971 and was replaced with Henry who also came from Stephens Island.

In 1974 an outdoor “Tuatarium”, as it was called, was built at the Museum to house these common Tuatara Species, Sphenodon punctatus.

Museum employee Lindsay Hazley showed a keen interest in the Tuatara and pursued and pioneered husbandry skills that resulted in the first regular breeding program.

Stephanie died in 1980 during excessively cold weather and was replaced by Mildred later the some year. Lucy and Albert arrived in 1982 and the first successful breeding resulted after improvements to climate controls within the enclosure.

The 1990 Museum Pyramid redevelopment incorporated a 200 square meter enclosure to house this growing Tuatara population. This enclosure gave more control over climate extremes and provided visitors with optimum viewing opportunities to see live Tuatara.

In 1991 the Museum received a colony of one year old Tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri) from North Brothers Island in Cook Strait, a separate rare and endangered species with only an estimated 400 surviving.

Once we breed this endangered species their offspring are planned to be released back to restore two new island populations.

In 2006 the Tuataruim roof was replaced with a special Plexiglass UVT acrylic that allows all wavelengths of light, including up to 80% Ultra Violet B emission, essential for Tuatara Vitamin D production which maintains good bone and egg quality.

The Southland Museum and Art Gallery is the world’s leading captive centre for Tuatara starting with its first breeding success in 1984.