The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, one of the largest national museums in the world, opened on 14 February 1998.
Since then, over six million people have visited Te Papa, far exceeding all visitor predictions. Contrary to museum trends internationally, Te Papa has attracted a huge audience of first time museum visitors including young people and an almost even mix of male and female visitors. In the peak season, approximately one third of Te Papa’s visitors are from overseas.
Te Papa, the largest cultural project in New Zealand’s history and constructed at a cost of $NZ317 million, tells the stories of this young Pacific nation - its history, art, and natural environment. It also regularly features a range of international touring exhibitions.
Te Papa combines leading edge, interactive technology with stunning world-class displays. Time Warp, for instance, allows visitors to travel 65 million years back to New Zealand’s prehistoric past or journey into the Wellington of the future. You can even try a virtual bungy jump! Tai Awatea | Knowledge Net, an international award-winning interactive database, allows visitors to go beyond the exhibitions and access detailed information about Te Papa’s vast collections and travel beyond Te Papa on a series of learning trails.
Te Papa is a bicultural museum operated in partnership between Māori and Pākehā (non-Māori, mainly of European descent). It includes a range of magnificent exhibitions featuring a number of New Zealand’s most significant Māori treasures as well as a unique twenty-first century carved marae (gathering place), and a stunning historical wharenui (meeting house).
Architecturally too, Te Papa, which is dramatically situated on the shores of Wellington harbour, attracts worldwide attention.
The flora, fauna, and unique geographical make-up of New Zealand are showcased in Te Papa’s long-term exhibitions Mountains to Sea and Awesome Forces. Bush City is an outside area that recreates sections of the New Zealand landscape with living fauna.
Te Papa has five individually themed Discovery Centres that are specially designed to provide an interactive, fun learning experience for children.
Te Papa entered a new stage in its ongoing development in October 2001, when another 1500 square metres (about 8 tennis courts) of new gallery space opened to the public. Four new exhibitions, drawn from the national collection, opened the $4.7 million project, allowing Te Papa to show more contemporary and historical art.
Te Papa also features a fine dining restaurant, an espresso bar, and a family cafe. Its attractions include magnificent conference facilities and a 350-seat theatre.
Te Papa is open every day of the year and entry is free.