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Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

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ExhibitionsNgā whakaaturanga

Celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment. See Gallipoli through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders. Hear extraordinary stories from young refugees.

Note: Level 5 art galleries are currently closed for maintenance.

Coming soon

Find out what exhibitions are coming up

Mānawatia a Matariki

Celebrate Matariki – the beginning of the New Year in Aotearoa New Zealand, marked by the rising of the Matariki star cluster.

Opening soon

From 23 April, 2025

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Exhibitions on now

Find out what is currently showing at Te Papa in Wellington

Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery

Created by Vivienne Westwood Limited and produced by Nomad Exhibitions, this retrospective exhibition celebrates the iconic jewellery of renowned British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022).

On now

17 Jan–27 Apr 2025

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Hye Rim Lee: Āke Tonu Atu | Eternity

See Hye Rim Lee’s immersive and imaginative Black Rose and White Rose in Toi Art on Level 4.

Open now

6 Dec 2024 to mid 2025

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Whakamaua!

Come and see Pātū Toi | Art Wall in person and view your selection or make a new one.

On now

From 25 Jul

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Treaty of Waitangi: Signs of a Nation

Discover how the Treaty has shaped relationships between the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Te Taiao | Nature

You’re the explorer in our Te Taiao | Nature exhibition zone. Celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment – and get ready for our future as kaitiaki.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War

This ground-breaking exhibition tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

On now

Ongoing

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Rongomaraeroa

An authentic and inclusive marae (communal meeting place) for the 21st century.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Mana Whenua

Mana Whenua takes you on a stirring journey that explores and celebrates Māori as tangata whenua (the indigenous people) of Aotearoa New Zealand.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Karetao-puoro

Visit three karetao-puoro (instruments that are figures too) created by artist James Webster to give karetao a voice by incorporating taonga puoro into their design. Watch the whānau of karetao in action in Tokotū (Rise Up), the story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

On now

Wed 5 Jun – mid 2026

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Manu Rere Moana

The navigation of the Pacific by waka hourua | double-hulled sailing waka is one of the great achievements of human technology. This exhibition celebrates the mātauranga of celestial navigation that enabled these extraordinary voyages.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

He Kaupapa Waka

E kau ki te tai e, e kau ki te tai e! Celebrate the thriving waka community.

On now

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

John Parker: Handmade Precision

John Parker is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive ceramic artists. Simple lines, clean edges, and industry-inspired forms feature throughout his 50-year career.

On now

On now

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Phar Lap

Phar Lap was a legendary racehorse and an adored animal hero for a generation of people in New Zealand. You can pay your respects to his bones here, in the country he was born.

Open

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Toi Art

Discover our world of art, featuring new, exciting commissions alongside the national art collection.

Note: Level 5 is currently closed for maintenance.
Visit Level 4 for current art exhibitions.

Moriori – People of Peace

Learn about the Moriori people who inhabit Rēkohu | the Chatham Islands.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Tangata o le Moana: The story of Pacific people in New Zealand

Celebrate the story of Pacific people, past and present, in all areas of life.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Passports

Remarkable stories of people who migrated to New Zealand over the last 200 years.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

The Mixing Room: Stories from young refugees in New Zealand

Young refugees invite you to hear their extraordinary stories.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Blood Earth Fire

Explore New Zealand’s dramatic transition from untouched paradise to cultivated land.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

The Colossal Squid

Meet the only colossal squid on display in the world.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Britten Bike

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

On now

Long-term display

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Bush City

Step outside into a living, growing exhibition. Explore native bush and a volcanic landscape.

On now

Open daily until 5pm

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Quake Braker

Go underground to see the amazing Kiwi innovation that ‘puts the brakes on’ in an earthquake.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Touring exhibitions

See which of our exhibitions are touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Touring Exhibition – Robin White: Tuituia | Something Is Happening Here

More than 50 works from across Dame Robin White’s 50-year career will form what the artist describes as a ‘family reunion’, bringing together works from 22 galleries and living rooms across the country. 

TOURING

2025–2027

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Touring Exhibition – Rūaumoko: Restless land

Te Papa and the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake are taking Rūaumoko: Restless land around Aotearoa New Zealand to promote natural hazard awareness and preparedness.

TOURING EXHIBITION

Currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Touring Exhibition – Clever Crustaceans

Combining the expertise of scientists from NIWA and Te Papa, our latest touring exhibition invites the public to meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s most famous crustaceans!

TOURING EXHIBITION

Currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Touring Exhibition – Tatau: Sāmoan Tattooing and Photography

This exhibition presents the work of four photographers who capture the dynamic practice of contemporary Sāmoan tatau (tattooing) over the last 40 years. 

TOURING EXHIBITION

Currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Touring Exhibition – Colossal Squid: Freaky Features!

Because they live at extreme depths in freezing water, us humans know very little about the colossal squid’s life, they are very rarely captured or seen. Find out about different parts of the colossal squid using Interactive objects and rotating models.

TOURING EXHIBITION

Currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Touring Exhibition – Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone

An exhibition created by Te Papa working closely with Ngāi Tahu, featuring more than 200 taonga pounamu (Aotearoa New Zealand greenstone treasures).

TOURING EXHIBITION

Currently touring Aotearoa New Zealand

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Kupe Sites

Stunning photography – landmarks from Kupe’s voyage. Host this touring art exhibition at your venue.

Buller’s Birds: The art of Keulemans and Buchanan

Illustrations from a rare first edition, and more. Host this touring exhibition at your venue.

Find out more about our touring exhibitions

Te Papa exhibitions on tour.

Past exhibitions

Browse our past exhibitions

When the moon sees the sun

View When the moon sees the sun, 2019, a digital video with sound by Jeremy Leatinu‘u and the first in a series of recently acquired digital artworks showing in Toi Art.

Closed

25 Jul – 19 Nov 2024

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection is a big noisy group show featuring contemporary art made by Gen X artists. This exhibition is presented by City Gallery Wellington.

Closed

27 July – 20 October 2024

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

This Swaying Earth

A suite of exhibitions where artists and makers express their relationships with the natural world.

Closed
23 Sep 2023 – 19 May 2024

The Perfect Moment

These photographs are a glimpse into The Spencer Digby - Ronald D. Woolf Collection.

Closed

Sat 4 Nov 2023 – 19 May 2024

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Dinosaurs of Patagonia | Ngā Taniwha o Rūpapa

An astonishing exhibition of the dinosaurs of Patagonia, South America – which included the Patagotitan, one of the most massive creatures ever to walk the planet, life-sized casts, and real fossils up to 230 million years old.

Closed

16 Dec 2023 – 28 Apr 2024

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Mataaho Collective: Te Puni Aroaro

Experience the ground-breaking artworks of Mataaho Collective – four wāhine Māori artists who have worked together for the last decade.

Closed

18 Dec 2022 – 28 Jan 2024

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

View more of our past exhibitions

Look at exhibitions presented at Te Papa, going back to 1998.