Aroha Atu Aroha MaiShare The Love

On Valentine’s Day 1998, Te Papa opened its doors for the very first time. 27 years later, we’re still caring for Aotearoa New Zealand’s treasures – more than 2 million taonga that tell our nation’s stories.

This year, we’re marking the occasion with our Share the Love weekend of heartwarming activities. From live performances to hands-on crafts and unique photo ops, there’s something for everyone for just a small koha donation. Help keep Te Papa’s stories alive by supporting our Annual Appeal this Valentine's weekend.

What’s On

• Love Craft Pop-Up
  Get creative with origami or type a heartfelt letter on a vintage typewriter.

• Waiata Pop-Up Performances
  Enjoy live performances from Te Papa’s waiata club throughout the weekend. 

• Love Stories on Screen: Settle in at Soundings Theatre for a lineup of classic and cult-classic love stories, including Roman Holiday, Eagle vs Shark, and The Tiger and the Snow.

• Whale Heart Photo Booth
  Te Papa’s second whale heart has been hidden away – until now. Snap a rare photo with this incredible taonga. 

• Shrek the Sheep Photo Op
  Meet the legendary Shrek the Sheep, coming out of our collection for a special photo opportunity.

Extra highlights
Pop into the Level 1 Cafe for a love-themed dessert, enjoy high tea at Espresso on Level 4, or shop for the perfect Valentine’s gift in the Te Papa Store.

Aroha atu, aroha mai – share the love at Te Papa.

Detail of Top 16, 2007-2017 by Janet Lilo, 2018. Photograph by Maarten Holl. Te Papa (101389)