Cook Islands
There are around 14,800 residents across the Cook Islands, with a significant population living in Aotearoa New Zealand, maintaining strong ties home. Explore Te Papa’s Cook Island collections and stories from the community.
‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani - Cook Islands Māori Language Week
The 2025 theme for Cook Islands Māori Language Week is 'Ātui'tui’ia au ki te raurau a tōku matakeinanga – “Connect me to the offerings of my people'.
Collection Manager Mama Grace Hutton talks about the Cook Islands collection here at Te Papa
Kaitiaki Taonga Collection Manager Mama Grace Hutton talks to Brian Sagala from the Pacific Days team at 531 PI about some of Te Papa’s Cook Islands collections.
Pacific Cultures Acquisition: Te Mana o te Ura (The story of dance)
Curator Pacific Cultures Rachel Yates has a taratara with current staff member Kate Ngatokorua about her experiences as Miss Cook Islands.
Watch: Cook Islands Tīvaevae, stitched with love
Discover the art of tīvaevae (quilting) with Cook Islands women from the Wellington region.
Browse the collections from the Cook Islands
From Tīvaevae quilts to the finely carved ceremonial adze – explore our Cook Island collections and stories.
What’s on at Te Papa
Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka: Burger Wellington at Te Papa Cafe
Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka, meaning the comforting warmth you feel eating a pork boil up, was inspired by the Māori food tradition of a boil-up.
4 - 24 Aug 2025, 9.00am to 3.00pm
Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake
Toi Art
Fresh takes and new favourites. You’ll find them in Toi Art.
Toi Art opened again on Saturday 14 June, with more opening up at the beginning of August – see what’s coming up!
On now
Sat 14 Jun
Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga
Eat Your Art Out
A high tea to delight your eyes and taste buds.
From 28 June, daily sessions at 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, and 2:30pm.
Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake
Explore the website – The digital museum
Watch interviews with the tapa artists and makers
Watch interviews with the artists and makers of tapa talking about how they started tapa making, where they are with the practice now, and sharing what their work means to them.
Protest, antiracism, and activism
Read about protest collecting, decolonisation, and antiracism from our collections and tohunga (experts) and across the web.
LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand
Explore queer objects, artworks, and stories in Te Papa’s collections and discover more about the rich histories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s LGBTQI+ communities and icons – including the AIDS Quilt, Carmen Rupe, and Xena: Warrior Princess.
Learn online with Te Papa
Are you interested in peeking inside Te Papa to take a journey into the wonders, taonga (treasures), and events that make up Aotearoa New Zealand’s history? Find out about our online learning options.
Research at Te Papa
Discover our ongoing, multidisciplinary programme of research, and find out how we can support you in your own investigations.
Te Papa Press
Discover popular, award-winning books about New Zealand’s art, culture, and natural world.
Repatriation
In 2003, the government mandated Te Papa to develop a formal programme for the repatriation of Māori and Moriori ancestral remains from international institutions to iwi. Here you can learn about the repatriation process, see all the repatriations to date, and meet the team.
Discover the Collections
View the collections held at Te Papa, learn about outreach that is happening, read our blog, or find out about a specific topic.
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