Collection Access

Members of the public can access Te Papa’s collections in various ways apart from the exhibitions:

• Te Papa provides regular back-of-house tours to collection stores. Further information on the tours offered can be found here.
• Access to specific collections in storage or archives is provided to researchers and members of the public who may wish to view particular items, for example, objects or taonga (Māori treasures) with a connection to their family (whānau), hapū (sub-tribe), iwi (tribal group), or region.
• Te Papa provides access to information held on KE_EMu its collections information system, to researchers or members of the public on request.
• Te Papa operates an active collection loans programme. Te Papa provides collection items for loan for the purposes of exhibition or display, or to enable research on an object or specimen to be undertaken.

Further information for researchers or members of the public wishing to access collections and archives for research purposes can be found here. 

In some instances, access to particular items may be restricted. This may occur if the request relates to items:

• that are unusually fragile or do not tolerate repeated exposure to light
• that are of spiritual or cultural significance to certain community groups
• that are of archival material that contain confidential or restricted information
• that are currently being researched
• that are on loan.

Access to collection information held on KE_EMu

Te Papa has similar custodial responsibilities for information relating to items of the collection as it has for the items themselves.

Researchers or members of the public wishing to access collection information held on Te Kāhui should contact Te Papa on 04-381 7000, or use our online enquiry form. 

In some instances, access to information on particular items may be restricted. This may occur if the request relates to data:

• of a confidential nature
• pertaining to items of spiritual or cultural significance to certain community groups
• resulting from research in progress.

Where access to the collections information system requires a considerable amount of staff time, or the accessed data is to be used for commercial gain, a charge may be applied by Te Papa for this access.