Learn more about Te Papa from the inside. Friends enjoy a range of benefits and discounts with their membership including invitations to exhibition previews and private viewings.
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Latest news
Win a pair of black pearls!
Be in the draw to win a piece of stunning black-pearl jewellery by either joining the Friends of Te Papa or renewing your membership by Wednesday 4 April 2012.
The spectacular prize is two beautiful Avaiki Cook Islands black pearls custom set by international award-winning jewellers The Village Goldsmith. You choose a setting of earrings, cufflinks, a ring, or a pendant – valued at $2,000!
Friends tour to Auckland fully booked
The Friends weekend tour to Auckland, 30 March – 1 April, is now booked out.
An art-packed weekend has been planned. Highlights include a viewing of philanthropist and art collector Jenny Gibbs’s private art collection, a tour and exclusive viewing of Degas to Dali with curator Mary Kisler at the Auckland Art Gallery, and a visit to Twenty Years of Winners: The Wallace Art Awards Paramount Winners 1992–2011 at the historic Pah Homestead.
We look forward to hearing about the trip from our Friends when they get back.
Conservation talk
Te Papa Conservators Katherine Campbell and Melanie Carlisle recently gave Friends’ members a fascinating lecture on the restoration of the John Webber painting Poedua [Poetua], daughter of Oreo, chief of Ulaietea, one of the Society Isles.
The talk was made all the more interesting by having the 227 year-old painting in the room. The conservators showed before and after views of the portrait, and described hours of meticulous and painstaking work. This included taking an hour to clean a square centimetre, discovering corrections the artist made to the subject’s little finger, and making highly specialised repairs.
Poedua is now back on display on Level 5 of the Museum.
Contact us
Call the Friends office to talk to Elizabeth or Aloema.
Phone: (04) 381 7051
Calling from overseas? (64) 4 381 7051
Email: friends@tepapa.govt.nz