ExhibitionsNgā whakaaturanga

John Parker: Handmade Precision

John Parker is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive ceramic artists. Simple lines, clean edges, and industry-inspired forms feature throughout his 50-year career.

Phar Lap

Phar Lap was a legendary racehorse and an adored animal hero for a generation of people in New Zealand. You can pay your respects to his bones here, in the country he was born.

Toi Art

Discover our world of art, featuring new, exciting commissions alongside the national art collection.

Note: Level 5 is currently closed for maintenance.
Visit Level 4 for current art exhibitions.

Moriori – People of Peace

Learn about the Moriori people who inhabit Rēkohu | the Chatham Islands.

Tangata o le Moana: The story of Pacific people in New Zealand

Celebrate the story of Pacific people, past and present, in all areas of life.

Passports

Remarkable stories of people who migrated to New Zealand over the last 200 years.

The Mixing Room: Stories from young refugees in New Zealand

Young refugees invite you to hear their extraordinary stories.

Blood Earth Fire

Explore New Zealand’s dramatic transition from untouched paradise to cultivated land.

The Colossal Squid

Meet the only colossal squid on display in the world.

Britten Bike

See the record-breaking Britten V1000 motorbike, designed and built by Kiwi genius John Britten.

Bush City

Step outside into a living, growing exhibition. Explore native bush and a volcanic landscape.

Quake Braker

Go underground to see the amazing Kiwi innovation that ‘puts the brakes on’ in an earthquake.

Touring Exhibition – Rūaumoko: Restless land

Te Papa and the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake are taking Rūaumoko: Restless land around Aotearoa New Zealand to promote natural hazard awareness and preparedness.

Touring Exhibition – Clever Crustaceans

Combining the expertise of scientists from NIWA and Te Papa, our latest touring exhibition invites the public to meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s most famous crustaceans!

Touring Exhibition – Tatau: Sāmoan Tattooing and Photography

This exhibition presents the work of four photographers who capture the dynamic practice of contemporary Sāmoan tatau (tattooing) over the last 40 years. 

Touring Exhibition – Colossal Squid: Freaky Features!

Because they live at extreme depths in freezing water, us humans know very little about the colossal squid’s life, they are very rarely captured or seen. Find out about different parts of the colossal squid using Interactive objects and rotating models.

Touring Exhibition – Kura Pounamu: Our Treasured Stone

An exhibition created by Te Papa working closely with Ngāi Tahu, featuring more than 200 taonga pounamu (Aotearoa New Zealand greenstone treasures).

Kupe Sites

Stunning photography – landmarks from Kupe’s voyage. Host this touring art exhibition at your venue.

Buller’s Birds: The art of Keulemans and Buchanan

Illustrations from a rare first edition, and more. Host this touring exhibition at your venue.

Find out more about our touring exhibitions

Te Papa exhibitions on tour.

When the moon sees the sun

View When the moon sees the sun, 2019, a digital video with sound by Jeremy Leatinu‘u and the first in a series of recently acquired digital artworks showing in Toi Art.

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection

Generation X: 50 Artworks from the Chartwell Collection is a big noisy group show featuring contemporary art made by Gen X artists. This exhibition is presented by City Gallery Wellington.

This Swaying Earth

A suite of exhibitions where artists and makers express their relationships with the natural world.

Closed
23 Sep 2023 – 19 May 2024

The Perfect Moment

These photographs are a glimpse into The Spencer Digby - Ronald D. Woolf Collection.