Exhibitions On now

Inside the Mana Whenua exhibition

Mana Whenua

Experience powerful stories that celebrate Māori as tangata whenua

  tangata whenuaindigenous people of New ZealandMāori | Noun – the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand.

In Mana Whenua, explore the richness of Māori life and heritage through taonga

  taongacultural treasuresMāori | Noun, oral histories, and contemporary art works.

Encounter taonga tuku ihotaonga tuku iho treasures handed down ranging from weaving, carving, and pounamu

  pounamuNew Zealand greenstoneMāori | Noun pendants, to waka

  wakacanoesMāori | Noun and whare

  wharebuildingsMāori | Noun.

Tamariki

  TamarikichildrenMāori | Noun can explore te ao Māorite ao Māori the Māori world through activities in the Te Huka ā Tai Discovery Centre next door.

Plan your visit
  • When | Āhea Temporarily closed
  • Where | Ki hea Level 4
  • Cost | Te utu Free entry
  • Ages | Te reanga All ages
  • Allow | Me whakarite 30 minutes
  • Accessibility | E wātea ana ki
    • Wheelchair accessible (Please note that the inside of Te Hau ki Tūranga is not accessible by a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or similar.)
    • Variable lighting
    • No photography

    Find out more about accessibility at Te Papa

Please note: Mana Whenua is temporarily closed to allow for the deinstallation of Ko Rongowahakaata and the installation of new taonga. The space should be open again by mid-2022.

 

Highlights

  • Teremoe – a waka taua

      waka tauawar canoeMāori | Noun     from the Whanganui region, used in battles during the New Zealand wars of the mid 1800s.
  • Tchakat Moriori – the story of Moriori, the original inhabitants of the remote islands of Rēkohu, also known as the Chatham Islands or Wharekauri.
  • Te Aurere – the ancestral voyages from Hawaiki, a distant place of origin, presented through the journey of Te Aurere, a modern voyaging waka.
  • Te Hau ki Tūranga – an exceptional meeting house at the heart of the iwi

      iwitribeMāori | Noun     exhibition Ko Rongowhakaata: The Story of Light and Shadow, and also at the core of Mana Whenua. 

Guide to Teremoe in New Zealand Sign Language

Activities

  • Activity book: Te reo Māori activity book

    Te reo Māori activity book

    Celebrate Māori language by learning Māori words and phrases through simple activities. Download two free activity books for kids – focused on pronunciation, the other includes more word searches, crossword, colouring pages, and stories.

  • Education resource: Kids’ activity trails

    Kids’ activity trails

    Use our fun activity trails to get the most out of your self-guided visit to Te Papa.

Events

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