Annual report shows Te Papa in sound shape for busy 2015

28 November 2014

Te Papa’s annual report, tabled in Parliament, shows the national museum is in sound shape heading into a busy 2015, Te Papa’s Board Chair Evan Williams says.

“It’s been a challenging year for Te Papa, but it’s finished the year in much better shape than when it started and is progressing to new levels of capability and performance,” Mr Williams says.

Te Papa ended the year with a cash surplus of $4 million and a deficit of $8.7 million as a result of the costs associated with maintaining and upgrading its buildings and infrastructure.

“This result represents a turnaround of $5.3 million from the forecast deficit risk advised to the Board in January and reflects the actions taken by the Board and Te Papa’s leadership team. I especially want to acknowledge the unflinching professionalism and hard work of Te Papa’s staff over the past year.

“In the year ahead whilst we will continue to work with Government to secure ongoing funding for depreciation of our buildings, we are also looking at ways to increase revenue from commercial activities and sponsorships.

“Record attendance at the Tyrannosaurs exhibition has already contributed to a strong start to the 2015 year, with first quarter delivery ahead of targets. 2015 is going to be a hugely uplifting year for Te Papa as it advances its vision to change hearts, change minds and change lives. Under the leadership of newly appointed Chief Executive Rick Ellis we will be unveiling our Gallipoli exhibition developed in collaboration with world-renowned Weta Workshop, advancing plans for a national collections, storage, exhibition and educational facility in Manukau, and pursuing a greater drive to extend Te Papa’s physical and digital reach to all New Zealanders.”

Media contact

Rachael Bruce, Senior Communications Adviser
media@tepapa.govt.nz
+64 29 601 0010 or +64 4 381 7071

Te Papa by the numbers for 2013/14

  • Te Papa being named best museum in the South Pacific in the TripAdvisor’s People’s Choice Awards for the second year in a row

  • 98% satisfaction rating from our visitors

  • 1,586,875 visits to tepapa.govt.nz up from 1.49 million in 2012/13

  • 30,000+ collection items made available free to download at collections.tepapa.govt.nz.

  • 2,289,274 visits to Te Papa exhibitions in New Zealand and overseas, with 1.289 million people visiting Te Papa Cable Street, 189,524 visiting domestic touring exhibitions, and 810,397 visiting Te Papa exhibitions at international venues.

  • 27,532 students participating in formal learning experiences at Te Papa

  • 70,979 people attending functions and events at Te Papa

  • 1,947 items loaned by Te Papa for research and exhibitions

  • Te Papa’s scientists responding to 985 requests for information from the public and science community

  • 13 short-term exhibitions presented at Te Papa

  • 712 functions and events held

  • 22 countries where Te Papa exhibitions and loans were seen or used

  • 12 new titles published by Te Papa Press

  • 33 workshops delivered by National Services Te Paerangi to regional museums and galleries

  • Te Papa working with 30 iwi claimant groups as part of cultural redress for Treaty Settlements

Download the Annual Report