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Logo for Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Open every day 10am—6pm
(except Christmas Day)

Free entry for everyone
Charges apply to some short-term exhibitions and activities

55 Cable Street, Wellington

  • Visit Toro mai
    • Plan your visit Whakaritea tō toronga
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  • A large-scale, woven installation that is suspended from above and spans a double-height gallery space with a wooden floor and white walls. Woven, grey and reflective tie-downs create shadows and reflections on the walls and floor.

    Mataaho Collective: Te Puni Aroaro

    Experience the ground-breaking artworks of Mataaho Collective – four wāhine Māori artists who have worked together for the last decade.

  • A group of Māori men lift a waka onto the shore

    He Kaupapa Waka / Manu Rere Moana

    Celebrate waka – their inspiring history and the communities who keep the knowledge of waka voyaging alive today – with the new exhibitions Manu Rere Moana | Pacific Voyagers and He Kaupapa Waka | A Fleet of Waka.

  • Painting of a sound, with mountains in the background. The two mountains flanking the edges appear to be faces looking skyward. In the foreground, lion-like creatures throw objects toward ships in the water

    Hiahia Whenua | Landscape and Desire

    This exhibition explores the different ways that artists in Aotearoa have expressed their relationship to the land – to the places we live in.

    Ko tēnei whakaaturanga e tūhura ana i ngā āhuatanga rerekē o ngā ringatoi o Aotearoa ki te whakaatu i ō rātou hononga ki te whenua – ki ngā wāhi e noho nei tātou.

  • General view of the Tangata a le Moana discovery centre

    Tangata o le Moana: The story of Pacific people in New Zealand

    Celebrate the culture and history of the Pacific. Tangata o le Moana tells the story of Pacific people, past and present.

  • View looking through the entrance of the exhibition, Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War, showing a large wounded soldier drawing his gun

    Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War

    This ground-breaking exhibition tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

LGBTQI+ histories of AotearoaKōrero takatāpui ki Aotearoa

  • An array of items, including lubricant, condoms, lipstick nail clippers, pills, a hairclip, an other  things
    Trans Past, Trans Present: The Making Trans Histories Project

    Trans Past, Trans Present: The Making Trans Histories Project

    Trans people from their teens to their 70s were asked to identify objects of personal importance and to share the objects’ stories. What emerged was a quirky collection that is a testament to the diversity of trans experiences, and which disrupts established (and cis-written) narratives about trans lives.

  • Crop from a poster featuring six people in traditonal Pacific clothing standing in a vast expanse of water with a vast skuy above them.
    There are ghosts in this place: Growing up Sāmoan and queer in 1990s South Auckland

    There are ghosts in this place: Growing up Sāmoan and queer in 1990s South Auckland

    ‘I, a Sāmoan gay, queer man came to know myself as not quite Pacific enough or not qwhite queer enough to be considered a central concern.’ Seuta‘afili Dr Patrick Thomsen reflects on his coming-of-age in Queen City.

  • White singlet with a black and white illustration of Batman and Robin kissing
    Holy homoerotica, Batman!

    Holy homoerotica, Batman!

    ‘We all wear masks.’ Poet Chris Tse looks into the hidden (and not-so-hidden) subtexts of comic books, and shares the role superheroes – particularly Catwoman in Batman Returns – played in his own journey.

  • Piece of paper with the words ‘Chinese ring, removed 2/00, in situ 4 years’ and a coiled ring attached to it
    Ring fishing

    Ring fishing

    “I don’t know why I’m drawn to this object so much, but a silver ring fished out of your womb feels romantic.”

    Vanessa Mei Crofskey offers personal reflections inspired by a Chinese intrauterine device (IUD) in Te Papa’s History Collection.

  • Portrait of Chris Parker wearing a felt hat. The hat features tiny versions of the key New Zealand public figures during Covid-19, a bag of flour, a tiny self-portrait of Chris wearing his orange hoodie, and a tiny official Covid-19 symbol
    LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand

    LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Explore queer objects, artworks, and stories in Te Papa’s collections and discover more about the rich histories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s LGBTQI+ communities and icons – including the AIDS Quilt, Carmen Rupe, and Xena: Warrior Princess.

Explore our LGBTQI+ hub

Visit Te PapaToro mai

  • View of Te Taiao | Nature, with two moa in the foreground and various displays behind
    Exhibitions

    Exhibitions

    Celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment. See Gallipoli through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders. Hear extraordinary stories from young refugees.

  • Children with facepaint on playing in front of flags
    Events

    Events

    Our exciting programme of events runs all year. Watch song and dance performances, join in with kids activities and cultural days, hear from our experts, and much more.

  • Four people standing in front of a wooden carving in a large space
    Guided tours

    Guided tours

    Get even more out of your visit to Te Papa by letting our guides bring the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s people and landscapes to life.

  • Closeup of hands holding a mobile phone which is displaying the NZSL mobile guide
    Explore Te Papa in New Zealand Sign Language

    Explore Te Papa in New Zealand Sign Language

    Learn about exhibitions and how to find your way around the museum. Discover Te Papa’s mobile guides on your own device.

Plan your visit

Cyclone Gabrielle resources for museums and galleries

  • Two people are tying a rope to a car in a flooded street. There are two other people looking on.
    Cyclone Gabrielle impact

    Cyclone Gabrielle impact

    We’re thinking of all of those people, whānau and organisations impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. This large-scale event will have an effect on a number of collecting organisations across the North Island, there are some resources listed here.

  • Disaster recovery for collections workshop, 2013. Photograph by and courtesy of Lynn Campbell
    Collection management: Disaster planning and recovery

    Collection management: Disaster planning and recovery

    Be ready for earthquakes, fires, and floods. Protect your staff, visitors, and collections.

  • Taonga Māori in custom-made storage
    Helping Hands Grant

    Helping Hands Grant

    Get materials, services, and information for your museum or gallery.

  • Art Storeroom. Photograph by Michael Hall. Te Papa
    Managing collections

    Managing collections

    Learn about managing your collection, from your acquisition policy to cataloguing and insurance.

Celebrating 25 years of Te Papa

  • Hundreds of people standing in the forecourt of Te Papa Museum. There are hay bales marking queue lines.
    Growing up with Te Papa – celebrating 25 years of Te Papa Tongarewa

    Growing up with Te Papa – celebrating 25 years of Te Papa Tongarewa

    Thousands of people have worked at Te Papa – while it was being designed, then constructed, and since it opened to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand on 14 February 1998. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, some of our kaimahi share their memories of our place of work, Te Papa Tongarewa.

    Te Papa Blog

  • People queueing outside a building wearing bibs that say queue saving numbers.
    Remembering Te Papa’s opening day

    Remembering Te Papa’s opening day

    On 14 February 1998, Te Papa opened its doors for the first time. The day was marked by food, music, and celebration. Hay bales laid out on the forecourt lent the occasion a rural, and particularly Kiwi, flavour. New Zealand bands entertained the huge crowds. The sun shone, and the wind blew.

    Te Papa Blog

  • Entrance boulders
    Our strategy

    Our strategy

    Te Rautaki o Te Papa is Te Papa’s enduring strategy. It will guide our planning and decision-making processes, as well as the way we will work for years to come.

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    Stories hidden inside our building

    Stories hidden inside our building

    There are millions of stories contained within the walls of Te Papa – some of them literally! Pete Bossley, who was Design Director at Jasmax Architects when they designed and built Te Papa, takes us on a tour of the building to reveal some of the lesser-known facts.

  • 1934 photograph of Wellington Colonial Museum
    Our history

    Our history

    Discover how we came to be, from the opening of the Colonial Museum in 1865 to Te Papa today.

Te Papa at home

  • A black and white portrait of a woman looking at the camera with her chin resting on her hand.
    Photographer: Ans Westra

    Photographer: Ans Westra

    Dutch-born New Zealand photographer Ans Westra is known for her black-and-white documentary photography of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, including protests and marches, Māori communities, street photography, and industrial scenes.

  • Illustration depicting memories: of a young man embracing his grandmother, of a pathway showing many people in his lives
    Chinese Languages in Aotearoa

    Chinese Languages in Aotearoa

    A series of videos, of people sharing stories of their connection to their heritage Chinese languages, speaking in Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Hakka. These videos have been made by local Chinese and Chinese New Zealand filmmakers.

  • A man in a suit stands between stage lights and has an old-fashioned camera on a tripod next to him
    Studio portrait photography in Aotearoa New Zealand

    Studio portrait photography in Aotearoa New Zealand

    Studio portraits taken in a professional photographer’s studio – often making use of backdrops or props – were for formal, posed portraits, as well as informal, candid photographs of people, and sometimes their pets.

  • Three pou kātua, depictions of persons carved into wooden posts
    LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand

    LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Explore queer objects, artworks, and stories in Te Papa’s collections and discover more about the rich histories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s LGBTQI+ communities and icons – including the AIDS Quilt, Carmen Rupe, and Xena: Warrior Princess.

  • Bark cloth with patterns painted on it on a black background.
    Explore the collections online

    Explore the collections online

    Browse 800,000 artworks, taonga, photographs, collection objects, and botanical and zoological specimens from Te Papa’s collections.

    Collections Online

Fun and games

  • Close up of a kererū wing, showing an iridescent display of colours, from red through orange to green and blue
    Quiz: Can you identify the manu | bird from its feathers?

    Quiz: Can you identify the manu | bird from its feathers?

    In Aotearoa New Zealand we’re lucky to have such unique native manu (birds). Using close-up photos of specimens in our collections, can you pick them?

  • Skull of a Haast’s eagle
    Online jigsaw puzzles using our collections

    Online jigsaw puzzles using our collections

    Take a moment or two to relax with online jigsaw puzzles using taonga from our collections. Come back frequently to find new ones!

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    Free downloadable activity books

    Free downloadable activity books

    Our activity books are designed for use at home or in the classroom.

Get involved Whakaeke mai

  • Become a Friend of Te Papa

    Become a Friend of Te Papa

    Friends enjoy a range of benefits and discounts with their membership, including invitations to exhibition previews and private viewings.

    Join
  • Get the latest updates from us

    Get the latest updates from us

    Stay in the loop about the wide range of happenings at Te Papa.

    Subscribe
  • Support us through the Foundation

    Support us through the Foundation

    Find out how you can support Te Papa through a donation or bequest, or by becoming a patron.

    Join

Open every day 10am–6pm (except Christmas Day)

Free entry for everyone.
Charges apply to some short-term exhibitions and activities.

Museum of New Zealand
Te Papa Tongarewa

55 Cable Street
PO Box 467
Wellington, 6011
New Zealand
Phone: +64 (04) 381 7000

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Te Papa is proudly supported by:

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