Events in March

This year the theme for Children’s Day (Sunday 3 March) reminds us to ‘Treasure Our Children’, so we’re working with treasure boxes!

This year the theme for Children’s Day (Sunday 3 March) reminds us to ‘Treasure Our Children’, so we’re working with treasure boxes!

Join Tom Sharplin, New Zealand’s king of Rock & Roll, for a night of fabulous music from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Bring your dancing shoes!

Explore current challenges and opportunities for local industry, including alternative funding models, marketing and distribution for iOS/Android, transmedia, brand-building, and design post-mortems. The discussion includes games and entertainment, serious games for change and education, and games as an art form. 

The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 are among the most significant events in New Zealand’s history. Te Papa is collecting objects and filming stories around the earthquakes.

Explore current challenges and opportunities for local industry, including alternative funding models, marketing and distribution for iOS/Android, transmedia, brand-building, and design post-mortems. The discussion includes games and entertainment, serious games for change and education, and games as an art form. 

Join videogame pioneer Masaya Matsuura and PikPok producer/product manager Dewi Tanner in conversation. Matsuura’s astonishing career has seen him go from Japanese pop star to godfather of rhythm-based music games.

We are delighted to offer the most exclusive of Game Masters events: an evening with Japanese videogame designer Masaya Matsuura at the acclaimed Hippopotamus restaurant.

The Tasmars expedition involved a crew of four Australians and Kiwis living and working at the Mars Desert Research Station for two weeks. They followed strict site protocols that emulated the working and living conditions on a real Mars base.

Make your own set of mini-poi to embellish your outfit!

Come and learn about the longfin eel and why it’s fighting for survival.

Make your own set of mini-poi to embellish your outfit!

Were you a Nintendo or a Sega kid? Or does your memory reach back to Atari days of old? Either way - you’ll love Te Papa’s flagship exhibition, Game Masters.

The early Romantic and Impressionist artists battled it out in the court of public opinion, but they also went bush from time to time. They were inspired to establish artists’ camps in many beautiful locations.

This performance tells the story of Kahe, who, after a prophetic dream about an imminent attack, swims from Kapiti Island to the mainland to warn her people.

Celebrate our Picturing Sāmoa photo exhibition by making a Samoan adornment to wear on your head!

Devour a slapstick treat of culinary chaos in The Magic Chicken, Theatre Beating's production for Capital E National Arts Festival for Children.

Celebrate our Picturing Sāmoa photo exhibition by making a Samoan adornment to wear on your head!

Velvet & Elvis is a gorgeous and simple book. It uses Stephanie Bowman's stunning paintings to tell the story of New Zealand's endangered long-fin eel. Come and meet the author and listen to Stephanie tell the story of Velvet & Elvis. Signed copies will then be available to buy from the Te Papa Kid's Store, Level 2.

Canadian expert Professor John Berry joins Chris Laidlaw and race relations commentator Joris de Bres and Claudia Orange to discuss issues of bi-cultural and multi-cultural relationships.

This action-packed family programme is in association with Game Masters – an exhibition celebrating 40 years of gaming history, with over 100 playable games.

Enjoy Neighbours Day weekend in Aotearoa by thinking outside the box of your home.

Enjoy Neighbours Day weekend in Aotearoa by thinking outside the box of your home.

In association with Game Masters, the Boomshack Band jam out Rock ‘n' Roll hits from the 50s and 60s.  The band’s line-up is ever-changing but never disappoints. Past members have included Liam Finn, Ladyhawke, and Samuel Flynn Scott.

Bring the kids to meet Kahu live on Level 5 as part of the opening weekend of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa. And while you’re there, check out the art.

Hear four curators talk about different aspects of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa over four days.

Celebrate the opening weekend of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa by making your very own momento to take home. For art lovers of all ages.

Hear Michael Parekowhai’s spectacular carved grand piano, He kōrero pūrākau mo te awanui o te motu: story of a New Zealand river.

Four artists over four days. Hear Andrew McLeod, Shane Cotton, Niki Hastings-McFall, and Robin White talk about their work, which is on display in the new exhibition Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa.

Celebrate the opening of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa with this special late-night event of music, performance, comedy, and more.

Bring the kids to meet Kahu live on Level 5 as part of the opening weekend of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa. And while you’re there, check out the art.

Hear four curators talk about different aspects of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa over four days.

Celebrate the opening weekend of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa by making your very own momento to take home. For art lovers of all ages.

Hear Michael Parekowhai’s spectacular carved grand piano, He kōrero pūrākau mo te awanui o te motu: story of a New Zealand river.

Celebrate the opening of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa by helping artist Niki Hastings-McFall make a larger-than-life rosary-bead installation.

Four artists over four days. Hear Andrew McLeod, Shane Cotton, Niki Hastings-McFall, and Robin White talk about their work, which is on display in the new exhibition Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa.

Bring the kids to meet Kahu live on Level 5 as part of the opening weekend of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa. And while you’re there, check out the art.

Hear four curators talk about different aspects of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa over four days.

Celebrate the opening weekend of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa by making your very own momento to take home. For art lovers of all ages.

Hear Michael Parekowhai’s spectacular carved grand piano, He kōrero pūrākau mo te awanui o te motu: story of a New Zealand river.

Four artists over four days. Hear Andrew McLeod, Shane Cotton, Niki Hastings-McFall, and Robin White talk about their work, which is on display in the new exhibition Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa.