2011 media releases 

Te Papa is sad to report the news that contemporary New Zealand artist Don Driver died on 8 December 2011.

To celebrate Driver’s remarkable work and to acknowledge his contribution to contemporary New Zealand art, Te Papa has installed one of his classic assemblage works, Yellow skin 90 (1984) at its Collecting Contemporary exhibition.

Te Papa is thrilled to announce its latest acquisition, a major painting by renowned New Zealand artist Colin McCahon.

Following its success at la Biennale di Venezia and seasons in Paris and Christchurch, He Korero Purakau mo te Awanui o te Motu: story of a New Zealand river by Michael Parekowhai will be welcomed into the national art collection in 2012.

On 30 June 2011, Te Papa released its annual scholarly journal, Tuhinga, online for the first time. The complete contents of this year’s issue and the previous 4 issues have been published online by Te Papa Press through Te Papa’s Collections Online (www.tepapa.govt.nz/tuhinga).

The Māori New Year begins with the first new moon after Matariki’s reappearance and, from 9 June, Te Papa is bringing this special celebratory period to all people of Aotearoa New Zealand with an 18-day Matariki Festival.