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2018 media releases

  • Warriors performing
    ‘Breathtaking’ Terracotta Warriors opens at Te Papa

    ‘Breathtaking’ Terracotta Warriors opens at Te Papa

    Sat 15 Dec 2018

    Following an incredible 200 strong karakia and pōwhiri, Te Papa’s landmark Terracotta Warriors exhibition officially opens to the public today.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • The 2018 Mahuki teams
    Entrepreneurialism and culture collide at Te Papa’s Mahuki showcase

    Entrepreneurialism and culture collide at Te Papa’s Mahuki showcase

    Tue 4 Dec 2018

    At Te Papa’s Glamactic Mahuki Showcase yesterday, ten teams of innovators from Auckland to Invercargill, unveiled digital solutions to challenges faced by Te Papa and other cultural institutions across New Zealand and the world.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    The terracotta warriors have arrived at Te Papa

    The terracotta warriors have arrived at Te Papa

    Mon 3 Dec 2018

    After travelling more than 10,000 kilometres from Xi’an, China, the 2,300-year-old terracotta warriors have arrived at Te Papa.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • A greenstone carved into an abstract heart shape
    Air New Zealand gifts Tohu Reo pounamu pin to Te Papa

    Air New Zealand gifts Tohu Reo pounamu pin to Te Papa

    Fri 23 Nov 2018

    The Tohu Reo pin was created by Air New Zealand in 2016 to identify fluent te reo speaking cabin crew and encourage wider te reo use in daily conversation.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Greenstone pendant
    Te Papa’s pounamu exhibition to open at Canterbury Museum

    Te Papa’s pounamu exhibition to open at Canterbury Museum

    Fri 23 Nov 2018

    'Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone', an exhibition of more than 200 taonga pounamu (greenstone treasures) opens at Canterbury Museum on 15 December.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Ben and Laura
    New scholarships honour Te Papa founders Cheryll Sotheran and Cliff Whiting

    New scholarships honour Te Papa founders Cheryll Sotheran and Cliff Whiting

    Mon 19 Nov 2018

    Te Papa has honoured its founders Cheryll Sotheran and Cliff Whiting by creating two scholarships in partnership with the Museum and Heritage Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    Iwi challenge the colonial myths that surround Te Kooti – symposium at Te Papa

    Iwi challenge the colonial myths that surround Te Kooti – symposium at Te Papa

    Fri 31 Aug 2018

    Te Papa and Te Tira Whakaari Trust co-host 'Te Kooti: Ngā Reo o Te Motu' (Te Kooti: Voices from the Iwi), a symposium to activate discussion around the legacy of influential leader Te Kooti on iwi.

    News He pānui

  • Knitted hat in pink and with cat ears
    Te Papa highlights the legacy of female suffrage

    Te Papa highlights the legacy of female suffrage

    Wed 29 Aug 2018

    On 19 September, exactly 125 years since Aotearoa became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the vote, Te Papa will open a pop-up exhibition and launch a new Te Papa Press publication to mark Suffrage 125.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    Kids go wild for Te Papa’s monster exhibitions

    Kids go wild for Te Papa’s monster exhibitions

    Fri 17 Aug 2018

    Two monstrous new art exhibitions for kids and teens open in Toi Art at Te Papa.

    News He pānui

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    Te Papa’s innovation accelerator, Mahuki, welcomes this year’s technology entrepreneurs

    Te Papa’s innovation accelerator, Mahuki, welcomes this year’s technology entrepreneurs

    Ten teams of technology entrepreneurs from across New Zealand have been selected by Te Papa to develop their innovations in this year’s residency programme at the national museum.

  • Te Papa External View. Photograph by Michael Hall. Te Papa
    Te Papa to undertake further work before decision on collections care

    Te Papa to undertake further work before decision on collections care

    Wed 1 Aug 2018

    Te Papa will take additional time to consider the best way to deliver its collections care function, including undertaking an independent review into the care of its natural history collections.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    Te Papa secures 2,300-year-old Terracotta Warriors

    Te Papa secures 2,300-year-old Terracotta Warriors

    Tue 31 Jul 2018

    China’s ancient treasures, the 2,300-year-old terracotta warriors, are coming to Te Papa this summer. Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality 秦始皇兵马俑:永恒的守卫 will open 15 December 2018 and run until 22 April 2019.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    Art monsters for kids and teens at Te Papa

    Art monsters for kids and teens at Te Papa

    Fri 27 Jul 2018

    Two monstrous new art exhibitions for the under 20s open 18 August, Toi Art at Te Papa.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    Leadership appointments bring new expertise to Te Papa

    Leadership appointments bring new expertise to Te Papa

    Tue 24 Jul 2018

    New appointments to senior roles at Te Papa show the strength of talent in the New Zealand museum and gallery sector.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    Māori and Moriori ancestral remains offered respect and dignity

    Māori and Moriori ancestral remains offered respect and dignity

    Wed 11 Jul 2018

    On Friday 13 July, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa will hold a pōwhiri (welcome) to mark the return home of 17 Māori and Moriori ancestral remains from the United States of America and Germany.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • People light tea lights and put them on the pond outside of Te Papa
    Te Papa wants Matariki celebrated as an event of national identity

    Te Papa wants Matariki celebrated as an event of national identity

    Wed 13 Jun 2018

    Te Papa believes Matariki should be celebrated by all New Zealanders as an indigenous event of national identity.  

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Some of Te Papa’s Mahuki team with Hon Dr Megan Woods, Minister of Research, Science and Innovation
    Te Papa’s innovation accelerator, Mahuki, calls for technology entrepreneurs to take up the challenge

    Te Papa’s innovation accelerator, Mahuki, calls for technology entrepreneurs to take up the challenge

    Fri 8 Jun 2018

    Virtual reality tours into artists’ studios, digital treasure hunts, and animated portraits of historical characters that come to life to tell their story, are just some of the innovations that have been developed within Te Papa’s innovation accelerator – Mahuki.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Excited children playing ShakerMod
    Te Papa and EQC’s Minecraft Mod shakes up earthquake education

    Te Papa and EQC’s Minecraft Mod shakes up earthquake education

    Tue 15 May 2018

    Skeleton horses and killer bunnies may not be traditional learning tools, but a new mod for the computer game Minecraft is using them to teach important lessons about earthquake safety.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Artist's impression of the new pigeon species
    New extinct pigeon species related to dodo found in Central Otago

    New extinct pigeon species related to dodo found in Central Otago

    Wed 9 May 2018

    Te Papa curator Alan Tennyson helps identify a new extinct pigeon species found in Central Otago. Related to the dodo, it’s been called the Zealandian Dove.

    News He pānui

  • Inside the Mountains to Sea exhibition
    End of an era – Te Papa’s nature exhibitions make way for the new

    End of an era – Te Papa’s nature exhibitions make way for the new

    Fri 23 Mar 2018

    As part of Te Papa’s renewal of its permanent exhibitions, the natural history spaces on Level 2 of the national museum will close after Easter for redevelopment.

    News He pānui

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    Dramatic performance as Prime Minister opens Te Papa’s new art gallery, Toi Art

    Dramatic performance as Prime Minister opens Te Papa’s new art gallery, Toi Art

    Fri 16 Mar 2018

    A dramatic and emotionally-charged performance from Auckland artist collective Pacific Sisters welcomed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern into the new art gallery at Te Papa known as Toi Art.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • A man stands looking at a red wall featuring paintings hung in the salon style
    Te Papa’s new art gallery a game changer for art in New Zealand

    Te Papa’s new art gallery a game changer for art in New Zealand

    Fri 9 Mar 2018

    Toi Art, New Zealand’s spectacular new art gallery, will be officially opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at Te Papa on Friday 16 March, 6.30pm.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Women’s Social and Political Union Medal for Valour
    Suffrage 125 at Te Papa

    Suffrage 125 at Te Papa

    Thu 8 Mar 2018

    International Women’s Day (8 March) marks the launch of the year-long Suffrage 125 commemorations. Te Papa has a diverse range of projects and events planned to mark this important year.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • People crowded round Te Papa on opening day
    Te Papa celebrates 20 years of “our place” on 14 February

    Te Papa celebrates 20 years of “our place” on 14 February

    Mon 12 Feb 2018

    Te Papa will mark its birthday with a special evening concert, and activities in the museum including special free tours and film screenings. The museum will be open until 9pm on Wednesday 14 February.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • PM Jacinda Adern sees Shackleton’s sled for the first time
    Ours: Twenty Objects from Te Papa

    Ours: Twenty Objects from Te Papa

    Mon 12 Feb 2018

    A unique creative collaboration between RNZ and Te Papa will mark the museum’s 20th anniversary this week by showcasing an eclectic and surprisingly diverse collection of national treasures.

    Press release He pānui papāho

  • Group of people excavating
    Giant extinct burrowing bat discovered in Central Otago

    Giant extinct burrowing bat discovered in Central Otago

    Thu 11 Jan 2018

    The fossilised remains of a giant burrowing bat that lived in New Zealand millions of years ago have been found.

    Press release He pānui papāho

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    50,000 LEGO® lovers visit Brickman’s Wonders of the World at Te Papa

    50,000 LEGO® lovers visit Brickman’s Wonders of the World at Te Papa

    Wed 10 Jan 2018

    By this weekend 50,000 people will have visited Brickman: Wonders of the World in the 35 days since opening at Te Papa.

    Press release He pānui papāho