A report on the agenda for the Dunedin City Council's infrastructure services and networks committee meeting on Monday said the focus was on dealing with "various roofing issues on the older buildings on the site".
Work had recently continued with "design and tender documentation", the report said.
Council group manager property services Dave Bainbridge said the buildings where the work would be undertaken included "some" of the roof at the original Burnside-designed building, the museum's first home within the current complex of buildings.
Repairs would also be undertaken in a small part of the nearby NZR building's roof.
"It is replacing sections of roofing that has reached the end of its life. We're not replacing the whole roof."
Mr Bainbridge, who was attending an out-of-town conference, said he did not have the figures immediately to hand, but work on the DCC-owned museum "will cost upwards of $500K".
The project had been tendered. Naylor Love was the successful bidder and work was due to start at the end of this month, he said.
Asked if the work could be completed before winter, Mr Bainbridge said the programme was still being worked through with Naylor Love and Toitu, "but work should be completed this year".
The museum reopened to the public in December 2012 after an extensive $37.5 million redevelopment project.
DCC arts and culture manager Nick Dixon said the museum would remain open and the roof repairs were likely to have little effect on visitors' experience.
"I would not have thought the public would have noticed.
"Old buildings or new buildings, they all need maintenance.
"It's just part of the normal process," Mr Dixon added.
