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Behind the scenes of Te Taiao | Nature

See how we made Te Taiao | Nature through a series of behind the scenes videos and articles.

  • Visitor in front of a cabinet filled with hundreds of specimens
    Watch: Making the Endemic Wall

    Watch: Making the Endemic Wall

    Collection Manager Antony Kusabs provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how we built the endemic wall – which includes 700 objects into one epic cabinet.

  • Man makes a full-size Haast’s eagle model
    Watch: Making the Haast’s eagle, pouākai

    Watch: Making the Haast’s eagle, pouākai

    Model maker Jake Yocum and curator vertebrates Alan Tennyson explain the science and process that went into recreating a full-size model of the huge extinct Haast’s eagle, pouākai.

  • Two people work on a model of full-size model of a moa skeleton
    Watch: Making the moa

    Watch: Making the moa

    Moa are the tallest birds ever known, and were completely unique to Aotearoa New Zealand. See how the team overcame the challenges of putting male and female moa skeletons on display.

  • Māui snaps a selfie
    What would Māui do? Playing with tough topics in Te Taiao | Nature

    What would Māui do? Playing with tough topics in Te Taiao | Nature

    Experience Developers Jen Craddock and Ralph Upton explain how the Te Taiao | Nature exhibition team used mischief-maker Māui as their guide and inspiration.

  • A man looks in a vial
    Watch: Recreating bird smells

    Watch: Recreating bird smells

    Did you know that many New Zealand manu (birds) have strong odours? Bird expert Colin Miskelly and perfumer Francesco van Eerd describe how they recreated smells for Te Taiao | Nature.

  • People gather round a computer screen
    One shot: Capturing the heart of our new quake house

    One shot: Capturing the heart of our new quake house

    Our Earthquake House has had a makeover. It includes a new immersive video experience featuring actors Rachel House and Rākau Tamaira. Making the new video was no simple task – particularly as the whole thing had to be filmed in one shot.

  • Taxidermy albatross in taxidermy studio
    Watch: Taxidermy albatross

    Watch: Taxidermy albatross

    ‘It’s a bit nerve-racking at times, you don't get any second chances.’ See how taxidermist Peter Wells worked on two albatross, mounted in their mating ritual display.