Imagine a museum so cramped, that just 5% of the collection is on display. That was the case with the Taranaki Museum for nearly 35 years. The unseen 95% was stored in the basement of the building, which also housed New Plymouth's public library and War Memorial Hall. By the early 1980s, the library was running out of room as well and staff of the two public institutions began battling for space. The need to expand was finally addressed in 1993 when the New Plymouth District Council established a working party to consider and initiate museum development and future library needs.

In 1995 the site was agreed upon. The new museum complex was to be built near the foreshore, with the library spreading out in the existing building. In 1996, the council recognised the historical significance of the site, by naming the project Puke Ariki. The site has mana, which accords Puke Ariki regional significance. Originally Puke Ariki Pa, the site was a hill, the name meaning Hill of Chiefs. The landing was also originally the heart of the early colonial town and the location of the first provincial council. In 1996/7, Komiti Maori was formed to represent all the iwi in the Taranaki region.

The North Wing of Puke Ariki.

The important issue of funding for the site was finally decided in 1999 when the council confirmed its $12.3 million budget and resolved the extra $3 million needed to cover the fit-out must be raised by the community and through non-council grants. Puke Ariki eventually managed to raise another $11 million towards the project.