Pacific Explorers
Investigate Pacific migration, navigation, and voyaging vessels by exploring our Pacific exhibitions. Get hands-on by trying virtual reality and 3D modelling.
Social Sciences, Science, Technology, Pacific Studies
Education visit
2 hours
Years 4–10
Programme is free for terms 2 and 3, 2025
During the session your students will:
Explore our exhibition Tangata o le Moana: The Story of Pacific People in New Zealand
Understand that Pasifika peoples have been Masters of design, construction, navigation, astronomy, meteorology, and marine science for thousands of years
Understand that to migrate to a new island takes planning and preparation and Pacific explorers took everything that was precious to them on their journeys
Appreciate that innovation is continuous and how new tools and materials create opportunities and challenges for design and manufacture
Practice 3D design skills using Tinkercad to manipulate, transform and arrange 3D shapes to create their own double-hulled sailing vessel inspired by Pacific vaka in the exhibition.
AR vaka (canoe) created by school student using Tinkercad. Photo by Donald James. Te Papa