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EventsNgā kaupapa motuhake

Our exciting programme of ngā kaupapa motuhake runs all year. Watch song and dance performances, join in with kids activities and cultural days, hear from our experts, and much more.

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  • A child is smiling up at someone with them. They are both in front of a gigantic screen with dots of light and swirling patterns.

    Breathe | Mauri Ora Events Season

    Explore our Breathe | Mauri Ora events season, featuring panel discussions, a wellbeing symposium, taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments), performances, and immersive dining. Discover experiences celebrating our connection to te taiao (nature).

  • A top-down view of two plates of food. One has a savoury course and one has a dessert.

    February at Te Papa Cafe

    Celebrate February at Te Papa Cafe with our Valentine’s Day specials.

    1 - 28 Feb 2026, 9am to 3pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A close up of a hand drawing a bird on a piece of brown paper.

    Toi Art Saturdays: Sit and Sketch

    Discover something new in Toi Art each month – talks, performances, and activities inspired by the exhibitions on show.

    Sat 7 Feb 2026, 10.00am–1.00pm

    Sat 7 Mar 2026, 10.00am–1.00pm

    Sat 4 Apr 2026, 10.00am–1.00pm

    Sat 2 May 2026, 10.00am–1.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A woman looking at wooden drawers of insects.

    Bug of the Year Collection Tour

    Buzzing for bugs? Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get up close with this year’s Bug of the Year nominees.

    Wed 11 Feb 2026, 11.00am–12.30pm

    Wed 11 Feb 2026, 2.00–3.30pm

    Wed 11 Feb 2026, 5.30pm–8.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A large art gallery space with an artwork made from chrome bars, a red umbrella, and some beds set into the bars.

    Toi Art Drop-in: Cardboard Creations

    Build cardboard tube creations inspired by Yona Lee’s artwork, Kit-set In-Transit, at this free interactive drop-in session for tamariki (children).

    Sat 14 Feb 2026, 10am – 12 midday

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • Five people in Chinese Dragon costumes are on the stage at Te Papa

    Multicultural Festival

    Celebrate Wellington’s rich cultural tapestry at the free Multicultural Festival, featuring vibrant global performances, local talent, and joyful celebrations honouring Chinese New Year and community diversity.

    Sat 14 Feb 2026, 11am to 2pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A man with long hair, a beard and cap is in the foreground playing a pūkāea - a long, narrow traditional Māori taonga puoro instrument, used to welcome people. A second man plays a taonga puoro instrument behind him.

    Hā ki roto, hā ki waho

    A one hour immersive performance of taonga puoro (Māori musical instruments) and spoken word celebrating the exhibition Breathe | Mauri Ora: An Immersive Journey into Nature by Marshmallow Laser Feast and the connection to te taiao (nature) in our own backyard. 

    fully booked

    Tue 17 Feb 2026, 7pm to 8.30pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • An image of an orange-red table with tea and teapots along with three-tierd plates with small cakes.

    Eat Your Art Out

    A high tea to delight your eyes and taste buds.  

    Daily sessions at 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2pm, and 2:30pm. 

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A person in Chinese cultural clothing is gesturing towards a stylised image of a snowy mountain and a red sun. There are five horses at the base of the mountain.

    Horses, Dragon, and Tiger: A Trilogy of Dance Films

    Free screenings of a trilogy of dance films by internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker Daniel Belton The trilogy includes a screening of Daniel Belton’s new work, HORSES.

    Wed 18 Feb 2026, 11am, 11.30am, and 5pm

    Thu 19 Feb 2026, 11am, 11.30am, and 5pm

    Sat 21 Feb 2026, 4.30pm and 6.15pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A night-time photograph of Wellington city with large fireworks exploding over the harbour.

    Lunar New Year Late Night

    Celebrate Lunar New Year at Te Papa with a late-night museum opening and a stunning waterfront fireworks finale for an unforgettable cultural evening experience. 

    Sat 21 Feb 2026, 6pm to 9pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A plate of dessert with some ice cream, cake and a themed orange ball with a horse on it.

    Lunar New Year Dinner at Te Papa

    Experience an intimate Lunar New Year celebration at Te Papa with a three-course dinner, fine wine, cultural ambience, and exclusive harbour views of the fireworks display. 

    Sat 21 Feb 2026, 7pm to 10pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A male Curator is standing in an exhibition facing the camera, wearing a flat cap, green sweatshirt and a hei tiki pounamu taonga around his neck. He speaks to two women who have their back to the camera, holding a small piece of material in his hand. 

    From Land, Sea, and Sky: Unseen stories from nature

    Discover inspiring stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique native species with an evening of one-off spotlight talks from natural history, art, and mātauranga Māori curators. These talks are part of the programme of events for Breathe | Mauri Ora: An Immersive Journey into Nature by Marshmallow Laser Feast.

    Wed 25 Feb 2026, 6.30pm to 8pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • An adult has a toddler on their knee and they are both colouring in a piece of paper on the table in front of them.

    Te Wā Tamariki: He Wae ki pakiaka

    A free interactive drop-in session for tamariki (children) aged 5 and under. This month, learn about native plants in Bush City.

    Fri 27 Feb 2026, 10am to 12pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A person is talking to two other people about an artwork on the wall that is brightly coloured string on a black wall.

    Lucky Dip Art Talks

    Zoom in on the artworks and stories in Toi Art, with a 15-minute tour guided by Te Papa’s knowledgeable hosts. 

    Wednesdays and Sundays, 11 to 11.15am

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A woman wearing a silk gown with puffy sleeves stands with arms outstretched in front of a background of purple flowers. Flames engulf her head and arms while she smiles serenely with eyes closed.

    Slow Burn – Photography symposium

    A day of collegial conversation about contemporary photography in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a special focus on the work of women and photography. 

    Sat 28 Feb 2026, 9am to 5pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A stylised figure in black is standing under a stylised white thumbprint.

    Friends Event: Those Mitford Girls!

    The Mitford sisters: six aristocratic British siblings whose lives read like a novel – full of glamour, scandal, and extreme political divides. Brought to you in association with Wellington Arts Society, Susannah Fullerton looks at the lives and works of these unconventional sisters.

    Sun 1 Mar, 4pm–5pm

  • A stylised figure in black is standing under a stylised white thumbprint.

    Friends Event: A Career in Ruins

    Following his popular talk, Stonehenge: Old Rocks, New Theories at Te Papa in 2025, UK-based Archaeologist and BBC broadcaster Julian Richards has returned to New Zealand’s shores.

    Join Julian as he takes us through his ‘career in ruins’, sharing how youthful curiosity and an unremarkable school education resulted in his discovery of the joys of archaeology.

    Mon 9 Mar, 6pm–7pm

  • A male curator wearing a high visibility vest talks and gestures at a large tree fern in Bush City. He is talking to a group of 9 people who are all looking at the fern.

    From Land, Sea, and Sky: Unseen stories from nature

    Discover inspiring stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique native species with an evening of one-off spotlight talks from natural history, art, and mātauranga Māori curators. These talks are part of the programme of events for Breathe | Mauri Ora: An Immersive Journey into Nature by Marshmallow Laser Feast.

    Wed 11 Mar 2026, 6.30pm to 8pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A person in a white top and trousers, with white fur around their wrists is performing in front of a crowd under red and blue lights.

    After Dark: He Rā Whatiwhati Kō

    Join us for a free, adults-only (16+), late-night event. Enjoy live music, workshops, performances, and a cash bar – all in the museum after dark.

    Fri 13 Mar 2026, 7.30 to 11.00pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A woman is using her hands to say sign language and smiling at the camera.

    New Zealand Sign Language Awards Night

    Join us for a powerful evening of celebration, storytelling, and connection as we mark 20 years of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) as an official language in Aotearoa New Zealand.

    Sat 9 May 2026, 7pm to 11pm

    Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

  • A stylised figure in black is standing under a stylised white thumbprint.

    Friends Event: Caravaggio

    Experienced guide at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, the Royal Academy and Greenwich, Rosalind Whyte will introduce you to the drama of the life and the art of the famous Italian painter of his time, Caravaggio.

    Sun 17 May, 4pm–5pm

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