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Manatū Taonga | Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH)

Principal funder

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) works to enrich the lives of all New Zealanders by supporting their dynamic culture and preserving their heritage.

MCH supports many of New Zealand’s arts, media, heritage, and sports organisations, and advises the government on cultural matters. It funds 19 organisations across the cultural spectrum, from NZ On Air to the Antarctic Heritage Trust. The organisations it funds deliver a wide range of cultural experiences for all to enjoy.

MCH’s work is as diverse as the sector it supports. It researches New Zealand and provides rich online resources like Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. It produces books, advises governments, and looks after New Zealand’s national taonga

  taongatreasuresMāori | noun. It tends to work behind the scenes, helping the people and organisations that contribute towards making New Zealand’s culture thrive.

Visit the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website

Wellington City Council

Founding partner and destination partner

Wellington City Council (WCC) has supported Te Papa since its inception, and is our major strategic partner for creative events.

Supporting Te Papa aligns with a number of Council strategies. We make Wellington a more vibrant place to live by contributing to residents’ quality of life, their prosperity, identity, and the opportunities available to them. Our visitor attractions bring people to the city from around the country and overseas, placing Te Papa at the heart of Wellington’s positively ‘cool’ vibe and helping cement the city’s reputation as New Zealand’s arts and culture capital

Visit Wellington City Council’s website

Earthquake Commission

Founding corporate partner

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has been supporting Te Papa exhibitions since we opened in 1998. EQC co-sponsors the Whakarūaumoko | Active Land exhibition in Te Taiao | Nature and Quake Braker | Te Whakangāwari Rū exhibition.

EQC is a key supporter of Te Papa Learning and public programmes designed to inform and motivate visitors and school groups to learn more about natural hazard preparedness and resilience.

Visit the EQC website

GNS Science

Founding research partner

GNS Science has been a Te Papa partner for over 20 years. GNS co-sponsors the Whakarūaumoko | Active Land exhibition in Te Taiao | Nature and Quake Braker | Te Whakangāwari Rū exhibition. GNS is also a supporter of Bush City and contributed expertise to development of the Blood Earth Fire exhibition.

GNS Science provides Te Papa with valuable in-kind scientific expertise and loans of scientific objects for exhibition displays.

Te Papa’s founding director, Sir James Hector, was an internationally renowned geologist and explorer, and is considered the founding father of both Te Papa and GNS Science – so you could say our relationship goes back over 150 years.

Visit the GNS Science website

Become a partner