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Museum of New Zealand

Te Papa Tongarewa

Taonga and spaces included in The Te Papa Activity Book

Have you found the Haast's eagle? What about our wharenui? Find out more about parts of Te Papa that feature in The Te Papa Activity Book or explore the taonga in our collections – which ones have you seen?

Have you found these in Te Papa?

The Te Papa Activity Book

Fun activities about Te Papa Tongarewa and the taonga (treasures) we hold.

Waharoa at Te Papa – Gateways to Aotearoa New Zealand

The three main waharoa (gateways) at Te Papa are significant and special to our museum in several ways.

Rongomaraeroa

An authentic and inclusive marae (communal meeting place) for the 21st century.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

‘It’s before meaning’: Bill Culbert on ‘VOID’

Curator Sarah Farrar talks with Bill Culbert about his work VOID, 2006, made in collaboration with the late artist Ralph Hotere, and commissioned for Te Papa.

Manu Rere Moana

The navigation of the Pacific by waka hourua | double-hulled sailing waka is one of the great achievements of human technology. This exhibition celebrates the mātauranga of celestial navigation that enabled these extraordinary voyages.

On now

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Bush City

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

On now

Open daily until 5pm

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

The connected elements of Rongomaraeroa

Our marae comprises various elements stretching outside and into the heart of the museum – the marae ātea (open spaces), the wharenui (large meeting houses), and the three pathways that provide access to Rongomaraeroa.  

Colossal squid at Te Papa

We have one colossal squid on display, but did you know we have three colossal squid specimens in our collection?

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.

On now

Long-term exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

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.

Open

Permanent exhibition

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

See the Britten Bike at Te Papa

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

On now

Long-term display

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Look more closely at these taonga in our collection and online

Tuatara – Longtime resident 

The tuatara hasn’t changed much for at least 19 million years. 

Watch: Making the Haast’s eagle, pouākai

Model maker Jake Yocum and curator vertebrates Alan Tennyson explain the science and process that went into recreating a full-size model of the huge extinct Haast’s eagle, pouākai.

Mother-of-pearl pendant

Pendant made by Sofia Tekela-Smith; around 2000; Auckland, mother of pearl, thread. Purchased 2001 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds Te Papa (FE011590)

Pisupo lua afe (Corned beef 2000)

Find out about the connections between canned corned beef and Sāmoa via the sculpture ‘Pisupo lua afe (Corned Beef 2000)’.

Tivaevae tataura, anthuriums pattern, by Norma Iro

Tivaevae tataura, anthuriums pattern, by Norma Iro, photo by John Daley; photographer; about 1992; Cook Islands. Gift of John Daley, 2012. Te Papa (F.012398)

Waka hourua 'Te Aurere Iti' (model voyaging canoe)

Te Aurere-iti is a small (about one-third size) replica of the modern waka hourua (double-hulled voyaging canoe) Te Aurere. Te Aurere-iti was built especially for our Mana Whenua exhibition.