Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

What’s on at Te Papa

  • A large house is set back from a lake on a large property.

    Te Papa Foundation Digital Auction

    The online edition of Te Papa Foundation’s annual fundraising event, this year’s auction is our biggest yet. From vintage underwater cameras to artworks and after-hours dinner parties, there’s something for everyone. 

    10.00am 28 Aug to 8.04pm 10 Sep

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A large group of people at a party in a large foyer with a round window at the back.

    Te Papa Foundation Gala

    Every year, Te Papa needs to raise $38+ million over and above its core funding. The Te Papa Foundation Gala brings together Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading supporters of arts and culture for a black-tie fundraising evening in the heart of our much-loved national museum.

    Sat 6 Sep 2025, 6.30pm to 11.30pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A black rectangle with an artwork of a woven cloak hanging over a circle of similar woven material.

    Toi Art

    Fresh takes and new favourites. You’ll find them in Toi Art.

    Toi Art opened again on Saturday 14 June, with more opening up at the beginning of August – see what’s coming up!

    On now

    Sat 14 Jun

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • An image of an orange-red table with tea and teapots along with three-tierd plates with small cakes.

    Eat Your Art Out

    A high tea to delight your eyes and taste buds.  

    From 28 June, daily sessions at 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, and 2:30pm. 

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Illustration of a desk with colourful swirly images 'growing' off it.

    Writers on Mondays series

    The International Institute of Modern Letters presents a series of events highlighting the very latest work of Aotearoa New Zealand writers. A lively and stimulating way to begin the week.

    From Mon 7 July

  • An adult has a child on their knee and is helping the child colour in a piece of clay.

    Tamariki Time: Toi Art

    A free interactive drop-in session for tamariki (children) aged 5 and under. This month, explore the new exhibitions in Toi Art.  

    Fri 29 Aug 2025, 10.00am–12.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • An illustration of two pairs of hands making shapes with string. There are other examples of shapes made with string placed around it.

    Toi Art Saturdays: String Games

    Discover something new in Toi Art each month — talks, performances, and activities for all ages inspired by the exhibitions on show. 

    Sat 30 Aug 2025, 10.00am to 1.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

Explore the website – The digital museum

  • An illustration of two kiwi birds, one is much bigger than the other one.

    Kiwi – the national bird of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Along with being a symbol of Aotearoa, the kiwi is also one of the strangest birds in the world – with noses at the end of their beaks, and giant eggs that take up much of their body.

    Kiwi feathers are used for kahu kiwi are woven cloaks and are highly prized taonga (treasures) as they carry the wairua (spirit) of the kiwi whose feathers make up the cloak.

    They share their name with a fruit, their image is often used in logos, and the word Kiwi has become a nickname for people from Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • Portrait of Chris Parker wearing a felt hat. The hat features tiny versions of the key New Zealand public figures during Covid-19, a bag of flour, a tiny self-portrait of Chris wearing his orange hoodie, and a tiny official Covid-19 symbol

    LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Explore queer objects, artworks, and stories in Te Papa’s collections and discover more about the rich histories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s LGBTQI+ communities and icons – including the AIDS Quilt, Carmen Rupe, and Xena: Warrior Princess.

  • Two men press their noses together for hongi

    Learn online with Te Papa

    Are you interested in peeking inside Te Papa to take a journey into the wonders, taonga (treasures), and events that make up Aotearoa New Zealand’s history? Find out about our online learning options.

  • Research

    Research at Te Papa

    Discover our ongoing, multidisciplinary programme of research, and find out how we can support you in your own investigations.

  • A stack of books both sitting horizontally and vertically.

    Te Papa Press

    Discover popular, award-winning books about New Zealand’s art, culture, and natural world.

  • Several women wearing black and wreaths on their heads made of kawakawa leaves are sitting around a cloak on some boxes in front of them.

    Repatriation

    In 2003, the government mandated Te Papa to develop a formal programme for the repatriation of Māori and Moriori ancestral remains from international institutions to iwi. Here you can learn about the repatriation process, see all the repatriations to date, and meet the team.

  • A woman with two kererū perched on her hands

    Discover the Collections

    View the collections held at Te Papa, learn about outreach that is happening, read our blog, or find out about a specific topic.

Get involvedWhakaeke mai