• A hat, a cushion and a garland sitting on a colourful quilt for Cook Islands Language Week

    Reo Māori Kūki Āirani | Cook Islands Language Week 2–8 Aug

    Celebrate reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani i Aotearoa with our language resources, browsing tīvaevae and ruatangaeo in our collections, and events at Te Papa. 

  • A plastic bottle sits among some large stones

    Idea: New Zealand should ban all single-use plastics by 2025

    How do you feel about this idea?

  • Visitors in the Te Taiao | Nature exhibition look at moa skeletons

    Te Taiao | Nature

    Mātauranga Māori meets science in these interactive exhibitions about our weird and wonderful wildlife, our shaky land, and the innovative ways we’re protecting our natural taonga.

  • A jigsaw puzzle featuring a painting of three huia birds

    The little page of calm

    Relax with a jigsaw or quiz, watch a sunset video from Mahitahi Bruce Bay, or browse animals and other highlights from our collections.

  • Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War

    Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War

    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.

  • People in costume look to something happening out of the frame

    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.

  • Composite image of a hei tiki, a photo showing a woman standing on a mountainside, and an octopus specimen in a jar

    Dive into the collections

    Explore 800,000 artworks, taonga, photographs, collection objects, and botanical and zoological specimens from Te Papa’s collections. Learn about different cultures – or your own! – or find inspiration for your own artworks.

Cook Islands Language WeekReo Māori Kūki Āirani

  • Two women hand-stitching a quilt
    Reo Māori Kūki Āirani | Cook Islands Language Week

    Reo Māori Kūki Āirani | Cook Islands Language Week

    Celebrate Cook Islands Language Week with the Ma‘uke Akatokamanāva string band and singers. Weave an ‘ei katu (head garland) and watch tīvaevae artisans stitch quilts with love.

  • Palm trees on a beach
    What’s in a name? Cook Islands Language Week 2020

    What’s in a name? Cook Islands Language Week 2020

    Kaitiaki Taonga Collection Manager Humanities Grace Hutton looks at some of the history of the names and languages of the different islands that make up the Cook Islands archipelago.

    Te Papa Blog

  • Tivaevae yellow patchwork quilt
    Cook Islands Language Week resource

    Cook Islands Language Week resource

    Learn Cook Islands Māori words, phrases, and pronunciation, and explore aspects of Cook Islands Māori culture.

    Education resource

  • A lady sews a quilted (a Tīvaevae)
    Watch: Cook Islands Tīvaevae, stitched with love

    Watch: Cook Islands Tīvaevae, stitched with love

    Discover the art of tīvaevae (quilting) with Cook Islands women from the Wellington region.

  • Bright cloak in yellow, purple, and red
    Browse the collections from the Cook Islands

    Browse the collections from the Cook Islands

    Cloak, circa 1870, Cook Islands, maker unknown. Gift of Te Aia Mataiapo, 1872. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (FE000628)

    Collections Online

  • Puzzle of a turquoise and yellow patterned quilt with leaves on it
    Challenge yourself with a 1015-piece Tīvaevae jigsaw

    Challenge yourself with a 1015-piece Tīvaevae jigsaw

    Tīvaevae manu (quilt) and matching pillow cases, about 1980s, maker unknown, Cook Islands. Purchased 1995 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (FE010471)

  • three wooden tools that look like towers
    Read about the Ruatangaeo (ceremonial adze)

    Read about the Ruatangaeo (ceremonial adze)

    Ruatangaeo adzes, with finely decorated shafts and intricate lashings were used as weapons as well as marking social distinction. Larger and more elaborate designs were more ceremonial.

    Collections Online

VisitToro mai

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    Exhibitions

    Exhibitions

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

  • Kids doing craft
    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

    Spread over six floors, our range of tours will enhance your visit to Te Papa by bringing to life the stories of New Zealand’s people and landscapes.

  • Te Papa External View. Photograph by Michael Hall. Te Papa
    Plan your visit

    Plan your visit

    Get directions, download the museum map, find out about our parking facilities, reserve a wheelchair, and more.

Explore Te Papa at homeToroa Te Papa i te kāinga

  • Three kids make a rainbow from toys and other household items
    Kids and families

    Kids and families

    Do a whānau challenge, a jigsaw puzzle, print an activity book, watch videos, and play quizzes.

  • Two people seated look into the camera – one a man in an open shirt with a forest on it and denim jacket, the other a man in makeup wearing a blue shirt with a map of New Zealand on it
    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.

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    He Paki Taonga i a Māui

    He Paki Taonga i a Māui

    ‘He Paki Taonga i a Māui’ is a series of 18 short films for tamariki aged 7-11, and tells stories about taonga in Te Papa’s collection.

  • A black and white photo of a man sitting on a bench overlooking Lake Wakatipu, he wears a hat and is reading a book
    Collections Online

    Collections Online

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

    Collections Online

Get involved Whakaeke mai