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News He pānui

Stay up to date with everything Te Papa across collections, staff, events, and general news.

  • Interior shot of Golden Days, featuring a fake window looking out onto a Wellington street and an array of Kiwiana paraphernalia
    The Golden Days era is coming to an end

    The Golden Days era is coming to an end

    Tue 15 Aug 2017

    Our beloved kiwiana ‘junk shop’ is closing its doors for the last time on 31 August, after being open for nearly 20 years.

    News He pānui

  • A group of people listen to a person talk while standing in front of an art work being projected onto a wall
    Send your favourite art works to our wall

    Send your favourite art works to our wall

    Fri 11 Aug 2017

    Today we’ve unveiled a new interactive art experience, Art Wall, on level four.

    News He pānui

  • All the Mahuki teams sat together
    Nine culture innovators begin residency at Mahuki

    Nine culture innovators begin residency at Mahuki

    Mahuki, Te Papa’s innovation hub has opened its doors to nine entrepreneurial teams for its 2017 programme.

  • Fred Dagg’s blue denim hat
    Classic Fred Dagg costume on display at Te Papa

    Classic Fred Dagg costume on display at Te Papa

    Wed 26 Jul 2017

    The iconic hat, shearer’s singlet, shorts and gumboots of Fred Dagg will be on display at Te Papa until October 23.

    News He pānui

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    Te Papa mourns the loss of Cliff Whiting

    Te Papa mourns the loss of Cliff Whiting

    Mon 17 Jul 2017

    Te Papa staff are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Cliff Whiting, who was instrumental in establishing Te Papa as Aotearoa New Zealand’s national museum.

    News He pānui

  • People pose for a photo behind a table on which sits a wooden ballot box
    Young artists respond to World War I conscription with ‘Luck of the Draw’

    Young artists respond to World War I conscription with ‘Luck of the Draw’

    Wed 12 Jul 2017

    Eight New Zealand artists between the ages of 18 to 25 have responded to the balloting process, through media such as dance, illustration, and film.

    News He pānui

  • Students pose with their collected objects with a screen behind them saying thank you
    Tongan students showcase the objects they’re donating to Te Papa

    Tongan students showcase the objects they’re donating to Te Papa

    Mon 10 Jul 2017

    We’ve been working with the Tongan community in Auckland co-collecting objects that represent Tongan culture. On Thursday night the colmination of the initiative was unveiled.

    News He pānui

  • Illustration of people walking up towards a cinema
    New Zealand International Film Festival comes to Te Papa

    New Zealand International Film Festival comes to Te Papa

    Mon 3 Jul 2017

    The New Zealand International Film Festival is on in Wellington Friday 28 July to Sunday 13 August, and once again Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre is one of the official venues.

    News He pānui

  • Te Papa curators dance with art works in the store room
    What does our art collection get up to late at night? Dances to Chelsea Jade

    What does our art collection get up to late at night? Dances to Chelsea Jade

    Tue 13 Jun 2017

    Ever wondered what paintings get up to in their down time? Sometimes they rest – but sometimes they dance with their curators.

    News He pānui

  • People welcome the taonga onto the marae
    Rongowhakaata welcomed as iwi in residence

    Rongowhakaata welcomed as iwi in residence

    Mon 12 Jun 2017

    Rongowhakaata iwi carried their taonga onto Rongomaraeroa marae to mark the beginning of their time as Iwi in Residence at Te Papa, in advance of their exhibition opening later in 2017.

    News He pānui

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    Genius of Bugs nominated for New Zealand book award

    Genius of Bugs nominated for New Zealand book award

    Wed 7 Jun 2017

    Spider expert Simon Pollard's The Genius of Bugs has been nominated for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

    News He pānui

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    Building an art gallery inside a museum: Construction begins

    Building an art gallery inside a museum: Construction begins

    Fri 2 Jun 2017

    How do you build an art gallery inside a museum that’s still open to the public?

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  • Group of people bring boxes containing the remains through the gates to the marae, with Wellington Harbour in the background
    Emotional pōwhiri marks the return of ancestral remains

    Emotional pōwhiri marks the return of ancestral remains

    Tue 30 May 2017

    This week we held a pōwhiri to mark the return home of 59 Māori and Moriori ancestral remains from the United Kingdom and Europe.

    News He pānui

  • A forklift loads part of a whale prop into a building
    Whales exhibition opens in Texas

    Whales exhibition opens in Texas

    Fri 26 May 2017

    Our Whales exhibition opens in Witte Museum on Saturday.

    News He pānui

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    Pounamu exhibition opens in Paris

    Pounamu exhibition opens in Paris

    Tue 23 May 2017

    An exhibition of cultural treasures presented by us and Ngāi Tahu opened in Paris on Monday.

    News He pānui

  • Te Marae. Photograph by Norm Heke. Te Papa
    Moriori and Māori remains repatriated from Germany

    Moriori and Māori remains repatriated from Germany

    Thu 18 May 2017

    Forty-four Moriori and Māori ancestral remains are returning to Aotearoa New Zealand with the support of the City of Bremen.

    News He pānui

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    Māori ancestral remains repatriated to New Zealand

    Māori ancestral remains repatriated to New Zealand

    Mon 15 May 2017

    Māori ancestral remains held by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden are returning to Aotearoa New Zealand with the support of the Swedish Government.

    News He pānui

  • Te Papa and Circa Theatre
    We're joining forces with Circa Theatre to create a new cultural precinct

    We're joining forces with Circa Theatre to create a new cultural precinct

    Wed 10 May 2017

    Through a closer working relationship we aim to create a cultural heart of Wellington.

    News He pānui

  • Woman holds an ice cream shaped like a squid
    You can now eat our Colossal Squid thanks to Giapo Ice Cream

    You can now eat our Colossal Squid thanks to Giapo Ice Cream

    Mon 8 May 2017

    Giapo Ice Cream in Auckland has just released this incredible creation, inspired by our world famous Colossal Squid.

    News He pānui

  • Sir Peter Snell laughs
    Peter Snell: ‘I love this country, and this is proof of it’

    Peter Snell: ‘I love this country, and this is proof of it’

    Wed 19 Apr 2017

    An emotional Sir Peter Snell has said that gifting us his objects has helped ‘ease the guilt’ he has felt for basing himself overseas.

    News He pānui

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    Gallipoli turns two

    Gallipoli turns two

    Tue 18 Apr 2017

    Gallipoli opened its doors two years ago today and more than 1.3 million visitors of all ages have explored the exhibition since it opened.

    News He pānui

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    Last days to see Bug Lab

    Last days to see Bug Lab

    Wed 12 Apr 2017

    Your last chance to experience our immersive world of Bug Lab.

    News He pānui

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    Sir Peter Snell gifts his medals and shoe to the nation

    Sir Peter Snell gifts his medals and shoe to the nation

    Wed 5 Apr 2017

    Sporting legend and New Zealand national treasure Sir Peter Snell has donated 14 items from his personal collection to us, including two Olympic gold medals and one of his shoes.

    News He pānui

  • Students watch a presentation
    Mahuki takes innovation on the road

    Mahuki takes innovation on the road

    Mon 3 Apr 2017

    A spot of particularly bad weather hasn't kept our innovation hub from taking roadshows across the country.

    News He pānui

  • Display cabinets featuring items from the You Called Me What exhibition
    This week is your last chance to help name a new species

    This week is your last chance to help name a new species

    Tue 28 Mar 2017

    You Called Me What?!, our exhibition looking at how new species are named, closes this Sunday.

    News He pānui

  • Tiger Moth plane is dismantled on the museum floor
    Bringing down the Tiger Moth

    Bringing down the Tiger Moth

    Thu 16 Mar 2017

    On display since we opened in 1998, our much loved Tiger Moth is about to enter a second retirement.

    News He pānui

  • Geraint Martin sits smiling on a sofa
    Geraint Martin named new CE

    Geraint Martin named new CE

    Mon 13 Mar 2017

    Geraint Martin has been appointed as our new Chief Executive. Mr Martin is currently the CEO of Counties Manukau District Health Board.

    News He pānui

  • A laughing gull sat on a post
    A new bird for New Zealand – laughing gull

    A new bird for New Zealand – laughing gull

    Tue 7 Mar 2017

    New Zealand's first laughing gull has been accepted by the Birds New Zealand Records Appraisal Committee after being identified in December in the Bay of Plenty.

    News He pānui

  • An egg shaped container covered in dirt, with a tree growing out of it
    Te Papa hosts workshop on egg-shaped burial pods

    Te Papa hosts workshop on egg-shaped burial pods

    Tue 7 Mar 2017

    Being buried in a pod may sound like something from science fiction, but it is now a reality.

    News He pānui

  • Visitors look at the colossal squid in Te Papa’s fish research facility
    Te Papa’s fish and spirit collections closed for quake work

    Te Papa’s fish and spirit collections closed for quake work

    Mon 27 Feb 2017

    The National Fish Collection and the natural history spirit collections held by Te Papa at our Tory Street research facility have been closed temporarily while the building undergoes earthquake strengthening.

    News He pānui

  • Rendering by architects Warren and Mahoney
    We’re getting ready for a new art space

    We’re getting ready for a new art space

    Fri 18 Nov 2016

    Te Papa will open a spectacular new art gallery space in the museum in late 2017. Te Papa will remain open throughout the changes.

    News He pānui