Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

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.

  • Medal-winning magic

    Get into the Olympic spirit, and see two iconic gold medals up close.

    Closed

    Wed 24 July to Tues 24 September

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • Close up of a motorbike in the museum

    See the Britten Bike at Te Papa

    See the record-breaking Britten V1000 motorbike, designed and built by Kiwi genius John Britten.

    On now

    Long-term display

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • Men walking away from cricket ground

    On and off the pitch: Cricket and photography

    Cricket players and spectators are interesting subjects for photographers, whether they are attempting to capture the players’ movements in action – a fast bowler in flight, a poised batsman – or spectators engrossed in the game.

  • Boys sit holding a cricket wicket

    Cricket, Pacific style

    Pacific peoples picked up cricket from British colonial settlers and quickly developed their own versions of the game. Indigenous forms of cricket are now played by Pacific communities across the world.

  • A selection of 6 sports badges depicting, horseriding, bowls, rugby, rugby league

    Badges of identity: the Trevor Dick Collection

    Te Papa holds over 1,300 community club badges and pins made by Trevor Dick in Petone, Wellington during the 1950s to early 1980s, under his company name T.M. Dick & Co Ltd. The collection provides an insight into the wide range of interests, both personal and professional, that brought New Zealanders together. 

  • A red felt triangle flag covered in metal and enamel badges for sport

    International hockey career: Elva Marama Love

    View the badge-encrusted pennants carrying mementoes of the international hockey career of Elva Marama Love (née Enoka) (Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Puketapu, Ngāti Tuaho, Ngāti Kahungunu, 1929–1986).

  • A brown leather rugby ball on a black background. The ball is slightly deflated.

    Browse our rugby and rugby league collections

    Rugby is the ‘game of two halves’ according to Sean Fitzpatrick, or ‘a hooligans game played by gentlemen’ according to Winston Churchill. But whether union or league, rugby has a big place in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. Browse some of our collections.

  • Close-up of 1905 All Blacks jersey, featuring a brown crest on the top and a large silver fern on the left-hand side. The jersey is black

    The significance of the silver fern

    The ‘silver fern’ Cyathea dealbata – ponga in te reo Māori – is a species of tree fern only found in New Zealand but it is recognised internationally.

  • Rugby player kicking for goal, circa 1922

    On and off the field: Rugby and photography

    What would a New Zealand photography collection be without pictures of rugby? From local paddocks to packed stadiums, we’ve always taken snaps of our national game. Here are some of our favourites from Te Papa’s collection.

  • Jonah Lomu Rugby PlayStation game

    Jonah Lomu PlayStation game

    Jonah Lomu was a game changer on the field and in the world of popular culture. Pacific curator Sean Mallon and TV’s Julian Wilcox look at an example of his digital legacy.

  • A man stands in front of a sign which says 'stop'

    Artists against the Springbok rugby tour

    History curator Stephanie Gibson talks to Chris McBride, designer and member of Wellington Media Collective, about artists and designers making protest objects.

  • A blue helmet with gold stripes

    1981 Springbok Rugby Tour – Cardboard and clown suits

    Aotearoa New Zealand erupted into violent protests when the South African Springbok rugby team toured the country from July to September 1981. Curator History Stephanie Gibson takes us through some of the items in our collection that record what many people wore as personal protection during the protests.

  • A purple, black and white sports outfit on a mannequin

    The Amazons – a legendary lesbian softball team

    The Amazon Softball Club was the first and last lesbian softball club in New Zealand. It was formed in 1977 at a time when lesbians weren’t spoken about publically – they were virtually invisible. The club provided a safe space and an important opportunity for women who identified themselves as lesbian to meet together and have fun through sport.

  • peter-snell-700x525.jpg

    Who was Peter Snell?

    During his athletic career Sir Peter Snell won three Olympic gold medals, two British Empire and Commonwealth Games gold medals, and set at least six world records.

  • Peter Snell’s donated objects

    An overview of the 14 significant items Peter Snell has donated to Te Papa from his personal collection, including two Olympic gold medals.

  • A round badge with gold edging and an image of the sea with the Southern Cross in stars above it. It has the words New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association on it

    Champion swimmer: Jean Thomson

    Find out about Jean Dickson (née Thomson) (1912–2004) and her competitive swimming career that began at Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland in the 1920s.