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2016 News and media releases

Last chance to see old favourites at Te Papa

19 December 2016 – Te Papa’s Slice of Heaven and Inspiration Station to close 23 January

Te Papa Annual Report details a record year

19 December 2016 – Te Papa’s Annual Report has been released, revealing fascinating stories and impressive numbers from the national museum of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Te Papa Board pays tribute to Chief Executive Rick Ellis

15 December 2016 - Te Papa Chief Executive Rick Ellis will leave the role in 2017, Te Papa Board Chairman Evan Williams announced today.

Gift of works by Dali, Warhol, Miro and Pollock launches Te Papa Foundation in style

14 December 2016 - An extraordinary gift by US-based New Zealander Dr Euan Sinclair and his wife Ann Sinclair was announced tonight at the launch of the Te Papa Foundation.

Samsung Electronics partners with Te Papa’s Bug Lab

8 December 2016 - Samsung Electronics New Zealand is supporting Te Papa as the technology partner on blockbuster summer exhibition Bug Lab.

Te Papa’s Mahuki teams showcase the future of innovation in the culture sector

6 December 2016 - At Te Papa’s Mahuki showcase last night, nine teams of innovators unveiled business propositions that deliver digital solutions to challenges faced by Te Papa and other cultural service providers across New Zealand and the world.

Te Papa and Weta Workshop open blockbuster science exhibition Bug Lab

2 December 2016 – Spectacular science exhibition Bug Lab opens at Te Papa on Saturday 10 December 2016.

Spectacular new art space for Te Papa

18 November 2016 – Te Papa's new art gallery space.

New children’s books from Te Papa Press reveal Genius of Bugs

18 November 2016 – New books for children released by Te Papa Press.

Te Papa open after earthquake

16 November 2016 – Te Papa is open from Wednesday 16th November, after recovering from the earthquake which happened just after midnight on Sunday.

Te Papa will be closed on Christmas Day

3 October 2016 – From 2016 Te Papa will be closed on Christmas Day, the 25th of December.

The Fishes of New Zealand wins prestigious international award

23 September 2016 – The Fishes of New Zealand has been awarded the 2016 Whitley Medal for outstanding publication in Australasian zoology by The Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. The medal is regarded as Australia's highest award for zoological publishing and this is the first time it has been won by a New Zealand publication.

Te Papa shows world-acclaimed Secret Power artworks for the first time in New Zealand

17 September 2016 – Te Papa today opened a display of works by New Zealand artist Simon Denny, which were part of his world-acclaimed Secret Power exhibition at the 2015 Venice Biennale.

Power and luxury on show in Te Papa’s new art season

16 September 2016 – The latest season of Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa offers eight brand new exhibitions, from the gilded luxury of Europe, to the black paintings of Ralph Hotere, from fearless feminist photography, to a spectacular take on global surveillance.

Rare suffragette medal goes on display at Te Papa

15 September 2016 – A rare bravery medal awarded to New Zealander Frances Parker in 1912 has gone on display at Te Papa today.

Te Papa and Weta Workshop bring blockbuster Bug Lab to Wellington this summer

27 August 2016 – Te Papa and Weta Workshop have joined forces to bring a blockbuster science exhibition to Te Papa this summer.

Te Papa open again from Saturday 20 August after sprinkler activation

19 August 2016 - Te Papa will be open again at 10am on Saturday 20 August, after a sprinkler activation on Wednesday night closed the museum on Thursday and Friday.

Te Papa remains closed after sprinkler activation

18 August 2016 - Te Papa will be closed on Friday 19 August, after a sprinkler activation on Wednesday night.

Te Papa announces Mahuki innovation teams

17 August 2016 – Mahuki, an innovation hub within the national museum, has opened its doors to ten entrepreneurial teams. They will respond with digital solutions to challenges faced by Te Papa and other cultural service providers across New Zealand and the world.

Wellington City Council supports Te Papa’s innovation incubator

16 August 2016 – Mahuki opened its doors to ten entrepreneurial teams who have been tasked to respond with digital solutions, to challenge sets faced by Te Papa and other cultural service providers across New Zealand and the world.

New Māori meeting house book captures history and heartache

11 August 2016 – They are part of New Zealand’s landscape, often seen on country roads, but also amongst our cityscapes. The Māori meeting house, or Whare Whakairo, has been an iconic feature of our country for 170 years, and now we have a new guide to their history and meaning.

Te Papa Press forms partnership with Massey University Press

14 July 2016 – Te Papa Press is joining forces with Massey University Press under the leadership of one of New Zealand’s most respected book publishers, Nicola Legat.

Vibrant Gold for Gallipoli: The scale of our war

1 July 2016 – Te Papa’s ground-breaking exhibition Gallipoli: The scale of our war last night took out the Vibrant Gold category in the Wellington Gold Awards. The category recognises the very best of Wellington’s events, hospitality and visitor services.

Singlet withdrawn from sale

30 June 2016 – Cordy’s auction house has confirmed today that it will not be proceeding with the sale of a singlet, described as the one worn by Peter Snell in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Te Papa buys panoramic pageant of Cook’s Pacific voyages

21 June 2016 - A rare panoramic wallpaper depicting scenes from Captain Cook’s Pacific voyages has been purchased by Te Papa for the national art collection.

Te Papa hosts biggest Kaumātua Kapa Haka yet

20 June 2016 – Over 500 Kaumātua (elders) from around Aotearoa will be taking to the stage this weekend, performing tribal waiata and haka in the biggest Kaumātua Kapa Haka yet.

Rangatahi ready to rock at Te Papa this Matariki

1 June 2016 - Te Papa is revving up the Māori New Year with a performing arts extravaganza like none other this weekend.

Te Papa to welcome Māori and Moriori remains from Smithsonian Institution

23 May 2016 - The remains of sixty Māori and Moriori individuals, returning from museums and private collections, will be welcomed onto Te Papa's marae at 1pm on Friday 27 May.

Matariki events to feed the soul this winter

19 May 2016 - Celebrations for Matariki, the Māori New Year, kick off across Wellington’s galleries and museums on 2 June this year.

Te Papa’s free resources help children learn about Matariki

11 May 2016 - Schools and early childhood centres have a new resource to help children celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year.

New Zealand and Guam collect Guam heritage together

10 May 2016 - Te Papa is working with Humanities Guahan to collect objects from Guam, which will become part of the Te Papa’s Pacific cultures collection.

Te Papa marks a record year for Gallipoli: The scale of our war

25 April 2016 - More than 700,000 people have seen Gallipoli: The scale of our war in its first year, making it the most visited exhibition in Te Papa’s history.

Te Papa innovation hub reaches for the stars

20 April 2016 - On Wednesday 20 April, Te Papa will launch its innovation hub, Mahuki - innovation powered by Te Papa.

‘Soldiers’ Church’ artworks arrive at Te Papa in time for Anzac Day

16 March 2016 - Hundreds of the abstract artworks created by acclaimed New Zealand artist Max Gimblett ONZM to commemorate those who served in World War One are now on display at Te Papa.

Te Papa secures rare suffragette medal

26 February 2016 - A rare bravery medal awarded to New Zealander Frances Parker has been secured by Te Papa in an auction overnight.

Te Papa to return treasures gifted to Captain Cook to Hawai‘i

16 February 2016 - A priceless feather cloak and helmet gifted to Captain Cook in 1779 are being returned to Hawai’i by Te Papa.

Te Papa welcomes Dr Charles Royal to new leadership role

26 January 2016 – Dr Charles Te Ahukaramū Royal (Marutūahu Ngāti Raukawa and Ngā Puhi) has been appointed Associate Director of Te Papa’s Ngā Manu Atarau directorate.