Tamariki Time: Te Tangi a Hineraumati – the Sounds of Summer

A free interactive drop in session for tamariki aged 5 and under. This month, discover the cicada and use handmade instruments to replicate their distinctive sound.

When | Āhea

Fri 21 Feb 2025, 10.00am–12.00pm

Where | Ki hea

Hinātore, Level 4

Cost | Te utu

Free with museum entry

Join us for a monthly drop-in session for tamariki aged 5 and under.

This month, discover cicadas from the Te Papa collection, learn how they make their distinctive sounds, and then replicate them using handmade instruments.

Tamariki must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times.

Three children are looking at a small stone through a magnifying glass.

Fossil Finders Whānau Day 2024, Photo by Jo Moore. Te Papa (253436)

A top-down view of a cicada pinned on a black background.

Kihikihi cicadas and their sounds

Aotearoa New Zealand has 34 species of cicadas. Five of these species are then further divided into several subspecies, to give 42 unique species and subspecies of New Zealand cicada.

Can insects talk?

How does a cicada attract a mate? How do they hear? Why do they vibrate their wings and drum on the ground? Insects use many different ways to communicate. Like us humans, many insects use sound waves to communicate, but some insects use other techniques too.

Cicadas of Aotearoa New Zealand and their sounds

Once the cicadas have become adults, the males soon start their chorus to attract females. Listen to the different types of cicada songs.

Tamariki Time: Te Tangi a Hineraumati – the Sounds of Summer

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Kihikihi cicadas and their sounds

Can insects talk?

Cicadas of Aotearoa New Zealand and their sounds