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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.

  • Close up of a motorbike in the museum
    See the Britten Bike at Te Papa

    See the Britten Bike at Te Papa

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

  • A motorbike on display in a large glass case
    Britten Bike slideshow: removing the fairings

    Britten Bike slideshow: removing the fairings

    A collection of photos showing the deinstallation of the Britten V1000, giving you access to parts of the bike rarely seen.

  • Black Magic sailing boat
    Lady Pippa Blake and NZL32 AKA Black Magic

    Lady Pippa Blake and NZL32 AKA Black Magic

    ‘She went like a rocket’. History curator Stephanie Gibson and Lady Pippa Blake discuss NZL32 AKA Black Magic and New Zealand's America's Cup win on 13 May 1995.

  • Two men standing on a stage with a bright blue and pink motorbike in front of them
    Watch: The Britten Bike with Bob Brookland and Craig Roberts

    Watch: The Britten Bike with Bob Brookland and Craig Roberts

    Bob Brookland and Craig Roberts share their memories of John Britten and explain what makes his world-beating motorbikes so unique.

  • Men walking away from cricket ground
    On and off the pitch: Cricket and photography

    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

    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 red felt triangle flag covered in metal and enamel badges for sport
    International hockey career: Elva Marama Love

    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

    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 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.

  • The New Zealand Natives rugby team posing for a team photo
    Before the All Blacks: The New Zealand ‘Natives’

    Before the All Blacks: The New Zealand ‘Natives’

    The ‘NZ Native Football Representatives’ team was the first New Zealand representative rugby team to tour Britain.

  • Rugby player kicking for goal, circa 1922
    On and off the field: Rugby and photography

    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 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

    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

    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 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.

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    Who is Peter Snell?

    Who is 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.

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    Peter Snell's donated objects

    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.

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    Watch: Sir Peter Snell hands over his Olympic memorabilia to Te Papa

    Watch: Sir Peter Snell hands over his Olympic memorabilia to Te Papa

    Sir Peter discusses why he donated his sporting memorabilia to Te Papa, and what he hopes people will take away from the exhibition.

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    Watch: Peter Snell’s winning shoes

    Watch: Peter Snell’s winning shoes

    Learn about the unique shoes Peter Snell wore when he won gold in the 800m race at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

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    Who was Arthur Lydiard?

    Who was Arthur Lydiard?

    Arthur Lydiard (1917-2004) was a marathon runner and groundbreaking athletics coach.

  • 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

    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.

  • A pair of blue-gloved hands holds a framed colourised photo of a woman in a bathing costume.
    New Zealand’s champion swimmer who needed a chaperone because she was a single woman

    New Zealand’s champion swimmer who needed a chaperone because she was a single woman

    Senior Curator New Zealand Culture & History Claire Regnault uncovers the story of Gladys Pidgeon, New Zealand’s sole female representative at the first Empire Games, who was not allowed to travel alone.

  • A pair of shears lying on sheep's wool
    Golden Shears, New Zealand’s premier shearing competition

    Golden Shears, New Zealand’s premier shearing competition

    From its beginnings at a Wairarapa Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) show in 1958 to being embraced nationwide, the Golden Shears is known globally as a premier sheep shearing and wool handling competition.