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Events Ngā kaupapa motuhake

Our exciting programme of ngā kaupapa motuhake

  ngā kaupapa motuhakeeventsMāori runs all year. Watch song and dance performances, join in with kids activities and cultural days, hear from our experts, and much more.

See our Friends of Te Papa events (non-members can still attend these events, but members get a discounted price).

  • Illustration featuring many elements contained in a circular design, including a kite, the Te Papa building, male and female figures, people looking at art, someone skating, and people gardening

    Wana Ake Festival: Events

    Find out what's happening at all the Wana Ake Festival events this summer.


    12 Dec 2020 – 18 Apr 2021

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

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    Free School Holiday Kids’ Activities

    Jump into the fun at Te Papa this school holidays with our free activities for little ones. These family-friendly events are for children accompanied by adults.


    Sat 17 Apr – Sun 2 May 2021

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A person with black hair and a hat on painting a wall

    Whānau Day: Design with ĀKAU

    Help us manaaki (care for) the new māra (garden) at Te Papa. Design and create bee-cons of attraction with bee colours!


    Sat 17 Apr 2021, 10.00am–3.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Woman with hands up near her face and standing near a leafy bush

    Songs for Bubbas with Anika Moa

    Join the beloved children’s entertainer Anika Moa for a special school holiday performance!


    Sat 17 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.15am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Brown teapot

    Modern Living – Sensory Tour for Blind and Low-vision Visitors

    Join a tour of Modern Living: Design in 1950s New Zealand for blind and low-vision visitors. Explore this important era through audio description, handling objects, and discussion.

    Sold out
    Sun 18 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.30am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A member of the Royal New Zealand Ballet teaches a group of children how to dance

    Royal New Zealand Ballet dance workshops

    Join us for free, walk-in dance workshops. Learn some dance steps from The Ugly Duckling with Royal New Zealand Ballet Dance Educator Chloe Bishop – especially for kids aged 5–9 years.


    Mon 19 Apr 2021, 11.00am–11.45am
    Mon 19 Apr 2021, 12.30pm–1.15pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Painting of an open book. on the pages, five yellow ducklings and one grey duckling float on water. Behind the book are clouds

    Royal New Zealand Ballet: The Ugly Duckling (relaxed performance)

    Join us for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s enchanting new production of ‘The Ugly Duckling’: a timeless tale of feathers, fitting in, and finding your flock.


    Mon 19 Apr 2021, 2.00pm–2.30pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Painting of an open book. on the pages, five yellow ducklings and one grey duckling float on water. Behind the book are clouds

    Royal New Zealand Ballet performance: The Ugly Duckling (narrated in English)

    Join us for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s enchanting new production of ‘The Ugly Duckling’: a timeless tale of feathers, fitting in, and finding your flock.


    Tue 20 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.00am
    Tue 20 Apr 2021, 11.30am–12.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Painting of an open book. on the pages, five yellow ducklings and one grey duckling float on water. Behind the book are clouds

    Royal New Zealand Ballet performance: The Ugly Duckling (narrated in te reo Māori)

    Join us for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s enchanting new production of ‘The Ugly Duckling’: a timeless tale of feathers, fitting in, and finding your flock. This session is narrated in te reo Māori.


    Tue 20 Apr 2021, 2.00pm–2.30pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Painting of an open book. on the pages, five yellow ducklings and one grey duckling float on water. Behind the book are clouds

    Royal New Zealand Ballet performance: The Ugly Duckling (narrated in English, interpreted in NZSL)

    Join us for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s enchanting new production of ‘The Ugly Duckling’: a timeless tale of feathers, fitting in, and finding your flock. This session is NZSL interpreted.


    Tue 20 Apr 2021, 3.00pm–3.30pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Zappo dressed as a pirate on a beach with palm trees and a bay behind him

    Zappo the Magician

    Zappo invites you to his new pirate-themed magic show. An exciting performance filled with songs, stories, puppetry, and astonishing tricks.


    Thu 22 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.15am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Caring for hei tiki

    Workshop: Protecting Your Taonga

    Come along and learn from our Collections team how we protect our taonga (treasures). Bring your own taonga that you want to learn how to protect properly.


    Sat 24 Apr 2021, 10.00am–3.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A black and white photo of a woman in a kitchen in the 50s

    Curators’ Tour: Modern Living

    Hear from the curators of Modern Living: Design in 1950s New Zealand during the exhibition’s final weekend. See furniture, homewares, and architecture from this transformative era.


    Sat 24 Apr 2021, 12.30pm–1.30pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A blue and white mural on the outside wall of a building

    Panel Talk: New Zealand’s Mid-Century Public Art

    In 1950s New Zealand, architects made a habit of commissioning artists to make site-specific works for new buildings. Panellists discuss why – and what happened afterwards.


    Sat 24 Apr 2021, 2.00pm–3.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • People sitting and making things at tables in a foyer, there are some people standing and observing in the background

    Anzac Day Badge Making Activity

    Create your own free poppy badge for Anzac Day.


    Sun 25 Apr 2021, 10.00am–3.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Three people posing for a photo. One, a man with a beard and a captain’s hat stands with his arms out. Another, a woman stands holding a soft-toy duck. The third person, another woman, stands to the right holding a pole, smiling

    Performance: Fool Steam Ahead

    Colossal Productions are back at Te Papa with a daredevil circus performance with incredible acrobatics and loads of belly laughs for children and adults alike.


    Mon 26 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.15am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Image of multi-coloured fish swimming on a rainbow shining over a tropical island

    Little Dog Barking Theatre performance: Rainbows and Fishes

    Join us for this beautiful new puppet show about change, colour, and creation with English, te reo Māori, and Sāmoan weaved throughout the story.


    Tue 27 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.15am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Chris Lam Sam performs in front of a crowd of children

    Mr Lam Sam’s Musical Mayhem Show

    Chris Lam Sam leads a rip-roaring school holiday show with songs, games, storytelling, and giveaways – come join the fun!


    Thu 29 Apr 2021, 10.30am–11.15am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A group of people dancing in Te Papa

    International Dance Day

    Join the family-friendly party as global dance takes over Te Papa – everything from Cuban salsa to siva Sāmoa. Includes dance workshops for kids.


    Sun 2 May 2021, 10.45am–4.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Two blurry people walking through a large web of wool that has white numbers scattered through it.

    Through memory and time: a sensory tour for blind and low vision visitors

    Join a sensory tour featuring artworks by Chiharu Shiota and Colin McCahon, with audio description, handling objects, and discussion.


    Wed 5 May 2021, 10.30am–11.30am
    Sun 9 May 2021, 10.30am–11.30am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A group of people enjoy themselves at a cocktail party, smiling at the camera

    Surrealist Art Preview Party

    Celebrate the opening of our unmissable exhibition Surrealist Art, and be the first to experience it. Live music, food stations and a cash bar ensure you can party the night away!


    Thu 10 Jun 2021, 6.30pm–11.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

    Book now
  • A black and white photo of eight people in makeup and 20s clothing looking at the camera in a variety of ways

    Surrealist Soirée

    Experience Surrealism in all its magnificence at our Surrealist Soirée. Dust off your black tie and ball gowns, this is a party like you've never known – with a side of surreal.


    Sat 31 Jul, 7:30pm to midnight

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

    Book now
  • Three white plates with food on them on a table

    Dinner, Dalí, and Masterpieces

    Our sell-out dinners are back, so gather your friends and prepare to settle in for a night of beautiful food, drinks, live entertainment and of course, Surrealist Art.


    Fri 17 Sep 2021, 7.00pm–11.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

    Book now