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Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

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Read, watch, playKōrero, mātaki, purei

Browse New Zealand’s rich history through pictures, quizzes, videos, and articles. Learn about the natural environment, Pacific and Māori culture, and everything in between – from vintage fashion to rugby

  • An illustration of two kiwi birds, one is much bigger than the other one.

    Kiwi – the national bird of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Along with being a symbol of Aotearoa, the kiwi is also one of the strangest birds in the world – with noses at the end of their beaks, and giant eggs that take up much of their body.

    Kiwi feathers are used for kahu kiwi are woven cloaks and are highly prized taonga (treasures) as they carry the wairua (spirit) of the kiwi whose feathers make up the cloak.

    They share their name with a fruit, their image is often used in logos, and the word Kiwi has become a nickname for people from Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • Three women in brightly coloured dresses are greeting each other on a Pacific Island.

    Vanuatu

    Vanuatu is a South Pacific archipelago of over 80 islands, known for its extraordinary cultural diversity, with more than 100 spoken languages, with the official languages being English, French and Bislama, an English-based creole language. Find out about Vanuatu in our collections.

  • Two people are holding a banner that says 'Ahu-Nga Wairua o Hina

    ‘Ahu: Ngā wairua o Hina – Tapa workshops in Tahiti

    After acquiring a book of tapa samplers collected by Alexander Shaw that represents tapa-making practices from various islands in the Pacific, tapa makers, Te Papa curators, and our Senior Librarian, gathered together in Tahiti for a wānanga (workshop) to explore and respond to the samplers in the book.

  • Two men press their noses together for hongi

    Learn online with Te Papa

    Are you interested in peeking inside Te Papa to take a journey into the wonders, taonga (treasures), and events that make up Aotearoa New Zealand’s history? Find out about our online learning options.

  • Red pandanus seed pods joined together and shown in two rows on a white background

    Sāmoa

    Our collections represent stories of Sāmoa and its people. Explore some of our Sāmoan stories about our collections from Apia to Auckland, tatau to travelling umu boxes, headdresses to hip hop, and more.

  • Ika moana ika whenua

    Two studies that will help us understand how the relationship between Māori and cetaceans has changed since people first arrived in Aotearoa by combining mātauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge) with techniques used in archaeological science to tell this story. 

  • Dawn Raids in Aotearoa New Zealand

    The Dawn Raids were the Government’s promise to ‘get tough’ on law and order and immigration in the 1970s. Raids took place in the early hours of the morning or late at night when police would enter homes to convict and deport so-called ‘over-stayers’. 

  • matariki-night sky with designed star on it

    Matariki: The Māori New Year

    Learn all about Matariki and see our events. Matariki is a time to gather with family and friends to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.

  • A black rectangle with a faint Māori design in the background with words in silver that say Te Maori 40th Anniversary

    Te whakaaturanga o Te Maori – Toi Māori ki te ao

    From 1984 to 1986, the exhibition Te Maori was a pivotal moment in Māori cultural revival showcasing traditional artwork on the international stage. It is widely acclaimed as an exhibition that changed the way that museums and art galleries interpreted and managed taonga Māori.

  • A sepia photo of a man in a hammock with two small children on his lap.

    Leslie Adkin

    Leslie Adkin was a farmer and noted amateur geologist and ethnologist. Photography was also a passion of his, and he documented every aspect of his life, from his family to his scientific interests, from the 1910s until the 1950s. Explore some of the Leslie Adkin collection.

  • A snow-topped volcano that is spouting volcanic ash and smoke.

    Active land: Natural events in Aotearoa New Zealand

    Restless whenua, strong people. Rūaumoko, god of earthquakes and volcanoes, lays his challenge – his restless rumblings present us with taonga as well as hazards. A country where colliding and subducting plates cause quakes, volcanoes, tsunami, and landslides.

  • Cook Islands

    There are around 14,800 residents across the Cook Islands, with a significant population living in Aotearoa New Zealand, maintaining strong ties home. Explore Te Papa’s Cook Island collections and stories from the community.

  • A man is in a small canoe that has a sail in front of part of a Pacific island beach.

    Kiribati

    The Republic of Kiribati is an island nation of over 32 atolls in Micronesia, in the central Pacific Ocean, with most of its population of over 119,000 living on the island of Tarawa. Find out about Kiribati in our collections.

  • A colourful stage within a room with sunlight through coloured windows bathing the room in shades of blue and purple

    Te Marae o Te Papa Tongarewa: Rongomaraeroa

    Rongomaraeroa is a unique marae (meeting place) within Aotearoa New Zealand. Like all marae, it is founded on Māori principles of kawa (marae protocol) and tikanga (cultural practices) it was created for our unique museum context as a contemporary marae acknowledging the whakapapa (ancestral history) and the taonga (treasures) of all peoples who call Aotearoa New Zealand home.

  • Tuvalu

    Tuvalu is made up of six atolls Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, Nukulaelae, and three reef islands, Nanumaga, Niutao, and Niulakita, making up a total land area of 26 square kilometres.

    Explore some of the collections in Te Papa, and read about the lives and history of the people of Tuvalu.

  • A barkcloth with boxes drawn on it and each box has an alternating shape

    Tapa: barkcloth art in the Pacific

    Find out about how tapa has been used, read about wānanga (workshops) contemporary makers, and see the tools used to make tapa and the beautiful taonga (treasures) in our collection.

  • A black and white photo of a woman in a white coat sitting at a desk and looking at the camera.

    Nancy Adams: Botanist and artist

    Nancy Adams (1926–2007) was one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most notable botanists and a talented artist. One of Te Papa’s most prolific botany collectors of all time, she also painted and drew an incredible number of botanical illustrations. She used her artwork to produce important books about Aotearoa New Zealand’s flora, including seaweeds, flowers, trees, and alpine plants.

  • A top-down view of a cicada pinned on a black background.

    Kihikihi cicadas and their sounds

    Aotearoa New Zealand has 34 species of cicadas. Five of these species are then further divided into several subspecies, to give 42 unique species and subspecies of New Zealand cicada.

  • A brown wooden-looking ceremonial comb on a pale grey surface

    Tonga

    Tonga, officially known as the Kingdom of Tonga, and also known as ‘The Friendly Islands’, is a group of islands in the South Pacific. It is currently the only Pacific country with a constitutional monarchy. Read stories and view our collections in connection to Tonga and the people of Tonga.

  • ma_i280489_tepapa_toy-train_tile.jpg

    Growing up – toys, treasures, and TV

    What do children care about? What do they play with? How do they learn? How can museums represent the experiences of young people? Included here are stories exploring what it is like to grow up in Aotearoa New Zealand, and objects showing how childhoods have changed.

  • Poi

    Learn about poi in our collections, explore stories intertwined with this practice, and watch the techniques and performances by kaumātua (respected elders) in te ao Māori.

  • A red paper flower representing a poppy with a green stalk made of wire. There is a tag on the stalk with the words Returned Services Association and their emblem.

    Anzacs of Aotearoa New Zealand

    ANZAC refers to the soldiers from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia who served in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during the First World War. Anzac Day is held annually on April 25 as a national day of remembrance to commemorate those who served and those who died in all international wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

  • Close up of the Te Tiriti ki Waikato-Manukau | Waikato-Manukau sheet, showing the beginning of the English text

    The Treaty of Waitangi

    It is celebrated and argued over. It contains contradictions, and yet it offers clarity. It has a rocky past, but it is providing New Zealanders with new ways forward. It is the Treaty of Waitangi – this nation’s founding agreement.

  • Collection Manager with a kahu huruhuru (feather cloak)

    Taonga Māori

    Biculturalism. Decolonisation. Mātauranga Māori. Dive into te ao Māori, explore Matariki, brush up on your reo Māori, and learn how the kiwi lost its wings.

  • A spiny lobster on a white background.

    Crustaceans of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific

    Crustacea includes lobsters, crabs, shrimps, prawns, hoppers, wood lice, water fleas, and several other groups. Most crustaceans live in the sea but some are found in freshwater or on land. The one thing they all need to survive is water, or at least a moist habitat.

  • A set of bones in a flat plaster cast on a black background

    Fossils and dinosaurs

    Te Papa’s collections and research on dinosaur bones, animals, and plant fossils from past geological ages, and the people involved in the discovery of their remains.

  • Photograph of a colossal squid

    Colossal squid

    All you’d want to know about the colossal squid – from its anatomy, to how it was found.

  • Spiders and insects

    Insects, arachnids, myriapods, bugs, creepy-crawlies, moths, butterflies and their allies.

  • A clump of white flowers on a stalk with a blurred background.

    Forget-me-nots (Myosotis)

    The forget-me-nots (Myosotis, Boraginaceae) are often small rosette herbs. There are over 45 native species of Myosotis in Aotearoa New Zealand – find out more about these species and their habitats, botanical art, and Te Papa’s research in this area.

  • White painted text on black background "I am scared I stand up"

    Art and photography

    Explore the work of artists such as Robin White, Tiffany Singh, Matt Pine, Colin McCahon, Tony Fomison, and Rita Angus through videos, podcasts, and in-depth articles. Find out about favourite art works from our curators, or see what is in our collections.

  • People standing in a group ready for a protest. There are police standing to the left of them.

    Photographer: Ans Westra

    Dutch-born New Zealand photographer Ans Westra is known for her black-and-white documentary photography of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, including protests and marches, Māori communities, street photography, and industrial scenes.

  • An aerial photo of a city in ruins after an earthquake.

    Faultlines: Earthquakes in Aotearoa New Zealand

    Around 20,000 shakes are measured every year in Aotearoa New Zealand – about 55 a day – our whenua (land) never stops shaking. Plates collide. Pressure builds. The land ruptures. How do we cope with living on such shaky ground?

  • headdress made from feathers and shell

    Pacific

    Hear about tatau (Sāmoan tattooing), weaving in Tokelau, browse our Pacific collections online, and read blogs.

  • A small flowering plant on the side of a tree. The flowers are yellow.

    Orchids in Aotearoa New Zealand

    There are over 100 species of orchids in Aotearoa New Zealand and come in a variety of shapes, colours, and dimensions. They thrive in diverse habitats across the country. Take a look at Te Papa's research and work with orchids as well as highlights from our collections.

  • A rat in a tree attacking a bird in a nest at nighttime.

    The Current

    Idea: Soil connects us to culture, food, nature, people, and place, so we shouldn’t treat soil like rubbish.

    How do you feel about this idea?

  • A kaka, a type of parrot with red under its wings

    Birds of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Birds are an important part of New Zealand's nationhood. We are the only nation where the people are often colloquially known by a bird name – ‘Kiwi’.

  • Photograph of a mosquito

    New Zealand Mosquito Census

    We need your help tracking New Zealand’s native and introduced mosquito species so we can get a better understanding of which species live where and how they’re spreading. Simply catch it, freeze it, and send it!

  • School kids cleaning a river of plastic

    Community stories: Taking action for nature

    River cleaners, tree planters, possum trappers, and climate crusaders. Explore stories from around Aotearoa New Zealand of communities taking care of their natural environment.

  • A very old photo with people standing in front of a wooden building. There is a dog in the foreground.

    Rēkohu | Chatham Islands

    Rēkohu Chatham Islands are 862 kilometres east of Christchurch and are 45 minutes ahead of New Zealand time. The Chatham Rise, a 1,400-kilometre mostly underwater land mass connects them to New Zealand. Lakes and lagoons cover about a quarter of the biggest island.

  • Underside of a fern frond with brown seed pods

    Botany

    Te Papa’s botanical collections and research encompass marine algae (seaweeds), lichens, mosses, liverworts, lycophytes, ferns, and seed plants.

  • A lot of different fish on a blue background.

    The deep sea

    Colossal squids, fishes, and creatures of the deep. Te Papa holds the largest and most comprehensive collection in the country, and the largest collection of New Zealand fishes anywhere in the world.

  • Tail of a whale as it dives into the ocean

    Whales, dolphins, and sharks

    Researching, caring for, photographing, and displaying the whales, dolphins, and sharks of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific.

  • A round disc made of turtle shell that has been carved into a pattern.

    Solomon Islands

    The Solomon Islands, an archipelago nation situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, is made up of over 900 islands with rainforests, coastal environments, and coral reefs. The people of the Solomon Islands are primarily Melanesian and the official language is English, however, pidgin English is widely spoken.

  • Ariel view of a ring-shaped island

    Tokelau

    Tokelau is in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawai‘i and Aotearoa New Zealand. Find out more about Tokelau through videos, blogs, and an activity book.

  • An illustration of a red ball of string on a blue and green background. Part of the string is tied in a not

    Asian Mental Health

    Many individuals from Asian diasporas in Aotearoa New Zealand have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues. This project responds to this call and aims to highlight various discussions, understandings, and perspectives on mental health of Asian communities in Aotearoa.

  • Distorted neon taonga on black background

    Watch: Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho

    Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho is a five-part series looking at the relationships we have as Māori with our taonga today, and with the practice of archiving.

  • 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 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 is an ongoing project using language to highlight complex issues of cultural identity within various Chinese New Zealand communities. It begins with a series of videos, of people sharing stories of their connection to their heritage Chinese languages, speaking in Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Hakka.

  • A black and white photo of two teams playing rugby

    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.

  • A part of a necklace made of long curved bone sitting on a white surface

    Fiji

    Fiji – officially the Republic of Fiji – comprises over 800 islands and the official language is English, though most speak Bauan or Hindustani. Find out more about Fiji through our collections, videos, blogs, and a Fijian language activity book.

  • Women wearing the same dresses and headwear are sitting in a group. One is playing the guitar and one is singing.

    Niue

    Discover some of our Niuean stories about our communities and collections from kahoa hihi to katoua, tiputa to titi, the coral atoll to coconut, and more.

  • Closeup of a tattoo on a man's thighs

    Tatau: Sāmoan tattoo

    Explore the history of Sāmoan tatau, watch interviews with people talking about what their tatau means to them, and discover objects and photographs within our collections.

  • White mat made from pandanus with a pink trim

    Rotuma

    Read about our collections and connections to the island of Rotuma, part of the Rotuma Group, which includes several smaller islands in the South Pacific Ocean, around 650 kilometres north of Fiji.

  • Sailing vessel

    Voyage and discovery in the Pacific

    The history of the discovery of Aotearoa New Zealand goes back a millennium and contains the stories of many fine explorers, from Kupe to Cook. Here, explore Pacific exploration and European colonisation through our taonga, kōrero, and events.

  • Portrait of Chris Parker wearing a felt hat. The hat features tiny versions of the key New Zealand public figures during Covid-19, a bag of flour, a tiny self-portrait of Chris wearing his orange hoodie, and a tiny official Covid-19 symbol

    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.

  • A face mask woven from flax muka on a black background

    Making Histories: Communities and Covid-19

    Making Histories is a Te Papa project which aims to support visitors and communities around New Zealand to reflect on and share their experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

  • two fashion dummies with two outfits on in front of a steel frame and a dark background

    Fashioning ourselves: clothing, identity and culture

    From woollens to workwear, pōtae (hats) to Panamas, feathers to fur, and khakis to korowai (cloaks). Explore stories that highlight the influences, industry, and imagination of fashion in New Zealand through our collections, exhibitions and research.

  • The underside of a fern frond

    Ferns in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

    Ferns are so prominent in Aotearoa New Zealand, we even wear them on our sporting uniforms. From botany research to citizen science, pressed-fern books of the 1800s to collecting All Blacks and tourism memorabilia, our collectors and curators spend a lot of time with ferns.

  • te-pahi-medal-display-700x525.jpg

    The story of the Te Pahi medal

    This medal is the first official state gift given to a Māori chief by a foreign leader. Yet this national treasure vanished from Aotearoa New Zealand for over 200 years.

  • A lady in a lab coat bent over a dried plant, she's holding tweezers

    Science and nature

    Botany, fishes, birds, insects, fossils, molluscs – read about Te Papa's scientific research and stories from leading natural history experts.

  • Rugby player kicking for goal, circa 1922

    History

    Read about trans histories, the Moon Landing, colonisation and impact, Edmund Hilary, tiny activism, Scots in New Zealand, and so much more.

  • PM Jacinda Adern sees Shackleton’s sled for the first time

    Ours: A podcast of twenty Te Papa objects

    From Jacinda Ardern’s encounter with the sled of her Antarctic hero, to a nine-year-old boy obsessed with the colossal squid, this new podcast series brings New Zealanders face to face with their favourite objects from Te Papa.

  • Autumn Splendour dinner set by Crown Lynn

    Crown Lynn pottery: A Kiwi icon

    A series of articles looking at the social and cultural impact of a one-time ‘essential industry’ and familiar presence in almost all New Zealand homes.

  • A lady reads inside under a parasol

    Te Papa at home

    Jigsaw puzzles, activity books, hundreds of hours of videos covering Aotearoa New Zealand’s vast history, quizzes, hubs on specialist topics, whānau challenges, and inspiration points to keep you active at home.

  • huia-e-mervyn-taylor-tepapa-800x600.jpg

    Dive into the collections

    Explore 800,000 artworks, taonga, photographs, collection objects, and botanical and zoological specimens from Te Papa’s collections. Learn about different cultures – or your own! – or find inspiration for your own artworks.

  • Our building

    Our buildings

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

  • Nirmala with Iron Man

    Behind the scenes

    Explore how exhibitions are created, how we care for our collections, and the research that happens behind-the-scenes.

  • A man works on one of the giant model's faces.

    Watch: 15 years of Te Papa videos

    We’ve been creating videos and posting them on YouTube since 2009, so there’s no shortage of things to watch – from a live squid dissection to kapa haka to curators talking about art, there’s something for everyone. Even brush up on your te reo Māori!

  • A baby grins, he's poking his head above a bathtub. There's water splashes on the walls.

    The little page of calm

    Relax with a jigsaw or quiz, watch a sunset video from Mahitahi Bruce Bay, or browse animals and other highlights from our collections.