Vehicle access: Our vehicle entrance will be reduced to one lane from 25 July until the end of November 2022, due to the construction of a new set of traffic lights outside Te Papa.
Info about vehicle access to Te Papa 25 Jul – Nov 2022

  1. Home
  2. Discover the collections
  3. Read, watch, play
  4. Science and nature
  5. Birds of New Zealand

Birds of New Zealand

Watch: Rediscovering the 'extinct' takahē in 1948

We've resurfaced colour footage not seen since the 1940s. One of New Zealand's greatest wildlife stories – the rediscovery of the 'extinct' takahē  in 1948, found alive in Fiordland.

You might also like

  • David Riley in the cold store holding one of the film archives
    Rediscovering Te Papa’s film archives

    Rediscovering Te Papa’s film archives

    David Riley, who works in our Digital Collections and Access team, is digitising 190 film reels – the content of which hasn’t been seen for 70 years. Find out what he’s found so far.

    Arts Te Papa

  • Notornis / Takahe, Dunedin 1895, 1949, by Sir Robert Falla, Augustus Hamilton. Te Papa (LS.003274)
    South Island takahē

    South Island takahē

    Learn about the largest living (flightless) species of rail in the world on New Zealand Birds Online with pictures, facts, and book excerpts.

  • Mobula japanica (Mü ller & Henle, 1841). Spinetailed devil ray
    Natural history books

    Natural history books

    Books about the unique and incredible natural environment and science research of Aotearoa New Zealand.