2025 media releases

Thu 4 Sep 2025

Five years after Wellington’s debut Vogue Ball, the creative capital will host its largest celebration of ballroom culture. Presented by The Kiki House of Marama, OVĀ Collective and Te Papa, a dazzling programme of events will commemorate five years of the growing Wellington Ballroom scene.

Fri 29 Aug 2025

From Sir Ashley Bloomfield high tea and vintage Colossal Squid masks to quirky museum treasures, Te Papa Foundation has unveiled the most extensive fundraising auction in its history.

Thu 14 Aug 2025

Te Papa is set to proceed with the construction of a purpose-built Te Papa Biodiversity Research Centre in Trentham, securing the future of some of New Zealand's most significant natural history collections.

Thu 7 Aug 2025

August 2025 marks a century since the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) was first named by the scientific community in 1925. Te Papa is home to the world’s only complete specimen on public display.

Wed 30 Jul 2025

From today, Te Papa Hosts will wear a new uniform, made of natural fibres and produced by New Zealand company Little Yellow Bird. The change is the latest evolution for the museum’s Hosts, who themselves are an icon of the Te Papa experience.

Fri 25 Jul 2025

Te Papa has been recognised in the TripAdvisor 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards, cementing its position as a world-class cultural destination.

Fri 27 Jun 2025

This weekend, Te Papa will once again come alive with the wairua of over 600 kaumātua as Taikura Kapa Haka 2025 takes centre stage.

This annual festival celebrating and showcasing kapa haka and kaumātua takes over Aotearoa New Zealand’s national museum on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June.

Thu 17 Apr 2025

The world-premiere exhibition, Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery is in its final days at Te Papa and has welcomed over 38,000 visitors since opening in January.

Mon 17 Mar 2025

Te Papa will extend the exhibition Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War until April 2032.

Created by Te Papa working closely with Wētā Workshop, the exhibition set a global benchmark for immersive museum experiences.

Fri 7 Mar 2025

Te Papa has announced an exciting new suite of exhibitions for Toi Art, its renowned art gallery and home of New Zealand’s national art collection.

Wed 19 Feb 2025

Te Matatini Fan Zones – an exciting new initiative, Te Matatini is making kapa haka more accessible than ever, launching two official Fan Zones in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Wed 12 Feb 2025

Two Kōimi T’chakat Moriori (Moriori ancestors) have begun their journey home from Australia, with a special handover ceremony at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.