Our buildings Ko ō mātou whare

Te Papa is a landmark building in the heart of Wellington. It’s an engineering feat, rich with symbolism, and accessible to all.

Te Papa’s main building: Engineering facts

Te Papa’s main building: Engineering facts

What sets our building apart? Just how many base isolators support us? How many rugby fields could you fit inside Te Papa?
The three boulders on our forecourt

The three boulders on our forecourt

The three boulders outside the main entrance symbolise our commitment to New Zealand’s land and people.
He waharoa at Te Papa – Gateways to Aotearoa New Zealand

He waharoa at Te Papa – Gateways to Aotearoa New Zealand

The three main waharoa (gateways) at Te Papa are significant and special to our museum in several ways.
The spinning ball in the main entrance

The spinning ball in the main entrance

The spinning ball in our entrance is the oldest material in Te Papa as the rock it’s made from is 1.4 billion years old.