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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
    • Exhibitions Ngā whakaaturanga
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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.

New exhibitions

  • 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

    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.

    On now
    18 Dec 2022 – late 2023

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • A platform sits on gold-coloured hexagonal feet. On the platform rests an iris-coloured Japanese umbrella, a camera lens and an iris flower in seperate glass jars. In the background a row of large purple incense sticks against the wall.
    Dane Mitchell: Iris, Iris, Iris

    Dane Mitchell: Iris, Iris, Iris

    Dane Mitchell’s Iris, Iris, Iris merges the visible world with the invisible, using the many meanings of the word ‘iris’ to explore the senses of smell and sight.

    On now
    9 Dec 2022 – 3 Sep 2023

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • ""Multiple ceramic pieces hang by string, some are long and thin and dyed an orange colour; others are a variety of shapes and colours – white, dark blue, green, brown, shorter, squatter, and some have holes in them
    Kate Newby: SHE’S TALKING TO THE WALL

    Kate Newby: SHE’S TALKING TO THE WALL

    Nearly 1,000 wind chimes hang in front of you. Aotearoa New Zealand artist Kate Newby made this expansive artwork over 10 years. Through clay and glass, she explores how natural materials transform when shaped and fired.

    On now
    9 Dec 2022 – 2 Jun 2023

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • ""
    Manu Rere Moana

    Manu Rere Moana

    The navigation of the Pacific by waka hourua | double-hulled sailing waka is one of the great achievements of human technology. This exhibition celebrates the mātauranga of celestial navigation that enabled these extraordinary voyages.

    On now
    Permanent exhibition

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

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

    He Kaupapa Waka

    E kau ki te tai e, e kau ki te tai e! Celebrate the thriving waka community.

    On now
    12 Nov 2022 – late 2023

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Visit Te PapaToro mai

  • A bright abstract image with sharp triangles on it and gradient colours
    Hīrangi: Summer at Te Papa

    Hīrangi: Summer at Te Papa

    As Matariki rising marks winter, the star Rehua signifies summer. Hīrangi – the shimmering heat of the season is a natural phenomenon that connects us to the vibrations of Te Taiao and each other. Discover what’s new this summer season at Te Papa and revisit your favourites.

  • 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

Te Papa at home

  • 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.

  • 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 black and white photo of two teams playing rugby
    Sport in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

    Sport in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

    Professional and community-level sport has a long history in Aotearoa New Zealand from team sports to individual achievements. Read about rugby, running, racing, and rowing, along with political crossovers like the 81 tour, international firsts like the Britten Bike, Olympic champions like Peter Snell, and life before the All Blacks.

  • 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!

  • =""
    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:

  • Wellington City Council
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