Te Huka ā Tai is one of Te Papa’s four Discovery Centres.
Te Huka ā Tai has a Māori focus, allowing tamariki (children) to try their hand at weaving a kākahu (cloak) or a tukutuku (lattice-work) pattern. There are stilts, tii rakau (rhythm stick) games or you can twirl a poi (a light, circular ball attached to a length of cord). Here you can meet the huge taniwha (supernatural guardian monster) Matamata, colourful fish below multi media art depicting ancestor Tarewai, and other artworks made by tamariki from Ngāi Tahu Whānui schools in the South Island. There are fabulous taonga (treasures) on display, both old and new, and a research room where you can find magazines, reference books, CD Roms, selected websites, and Tai Awatea | Knowledge Net - our user-friendly multimedia database.
Current displays