Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

We at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa are tremendously proud to see Frith Williams appointed Museum Lead at Puke Ariki. This treasure of a museum is being matched by a treasure of our sector. As an expert in audience-centred design and development Frith has inspired and led across some of the most moving and impactful experiences Te Papa has produced, and also many quiet achievements and moments of beauty that have created joy, enhanced inclusion, and provoked deep thought. Frith has also been deeply generous with her knowledge and skills, giving countless tours, workshops and presentations. It’s a delight to me my home town museum will now benefit from Frith’s care and attention — and to see Zara Stanhope build up her team in this way too.

A colourful linocut of two cats climbing a tree in Te Papa’s art collection recently inspired a group of design students from Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington   Guided by curators Rebecca Rice and Lizzie Bisley, the students explored a selection of artworks from the collection, then spent time in Te Taiao creating their own animal illustrations.   Course lecturer, Jelena Rukavina Vuckovic reflected on the experience, saying, “The purpose of the trip was to not only to inspire our students creatively but also to help them understand the role that museums like Te Papa play in preserving and sharing our collective stories.”   Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gq57T2dg   Image credits: Peta Symons (main image), Sarah Hyde, Ben Berryman, Sofia Limbrick-Jones (L-R) #TePapa #MuseumEducation #MuseumLearning #NZart #TeTaiao

An interesting perspective of how a collection of Funko Pops found a new home at Te Papa.... because who doesn't love a good bobblehead figurine! Bonus points if you can name the Pops below 👏 You can read the full article by Ben Fagan here: https://lnkd.in/gtwcPQFr

In 2021, with the Te Papa Foundation’s support, Te Papa acquired a rare book of tapa cloth samples, assembled by Alexander Shaw in 1787. The samples were cut from larger pieces of tapa collected on Captain Cook’s voyages to the Pacific (1768, 1772, 1776) and represent tapa-making practices from various islands including Hawai‘i, Tahiti and Tonga. In many other museums, this type of acquisition would have been wrapped up and put on a storage shelf in perpetuity. But at Te Papa the impacts of this acquisition continue to actively ripple out to communities. Last year, Te Papa initiated a week-long wananga for contemporary tapa makers from across the Pacific to create works in response to Alexander Shaw’s tapa sampler. These new tapa works are currently on show as part of a beautiful exhibition at Adam Art Gallery: Vaiei Tupuna. Go see it if you can! We are so grateful to the French Embassy for their ongoing support of this kaupapa, and acknowledge the Disney Art Trust for contributing funds towards the purchase of the original tapa sampler.

Ni sa Bula 🇫🇯 Happy Fiji Language week! This Fijian Language Week, we’re highlighting a recent commission by Liviana Qaranivalu from Vatulele, Fiji. This work is part of a project 'Ahu: Ngā wairua o Hina - Tapa workshops in Tahiti 2023 that brought tapa makers from across the Pacific together. In this artwork titled 'Masi' , Liviana reflects on the present-day practice of Vatulele islands tapa cloth adornment. While freehand painting was once prevalent, contemporary masi makers often favour intricate, standardised patterns achieved through personalised, hand-cut stencils. This technique allows for the creation of large complex designs that can be produced quickly to meet demand. Barkcloth known as Masi in Fiji vary in designs and techniques geographically across Fiji, reflecting unique traditions passed down through families and villages, with specific motifs designated for different purposes and uses. You can learn more about the project on our website: https://tepapa.nz/ShawBook

Every so often, after a long day of scanning articles about the environmental impact of AI and foresight reports, I remind myself that we're doing this show at Te Papa over summer and there ARE things to look forward to. [Not that all foresight reports are tragic. And not that there aren't nuanced conversations to be had about energy consumption and environmental sustainability as the global population of mobile phone users skyrockets. But ... sometimes you need the promise of joy, creativity and shiny things.]

Forty years ago, on 10 September 1984, the Te Maori exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art reshaped the world’s view of Māori culture. The exhibition showcased taonga Māori as art, not just ethnographic artifacts, sparking a cultural renaissance and playing a key role in the journey toward the creation of Te Papa Tongarewa. In this zui series, speakers reflect on how Te Maori has influenced their lives and shaped engagement with taonga over the past 40 years. Join Puamiria Parata-Goodall, Gerard O’Regan, and Ranui Ngarimu as they share their perspectives on the enduring impact of this exhibition and its role in promoting Māori perspectives and culture. https://lnkd.in/gMqdZBsJ

Did you know there are still large ocean creatures we know almost nothing about? Many large squid species inhabit the midnight zone, a vast 3D space where bioluminescence is the primary form of communication. These squids have excellent vision and are often elusive, making them challenging to study with our current deep-sea technology. Our team of scientists, in collaboration with Auckland University of Technology and supported by the Pure Ocean Fund, is developing innovative light signals to attract these deep-sea squids to our cameras. By creating dynamic displays tailored to their vision and light sensitivity, we hope to bring these mysterious creatures into the spotlight. Stay tuned – we’re hoping the squids will too!

We're recruiting! Business Development and Special Projects Manager Are you a strategic thinker who is a natural at building relationships, networking and business development? - Join the Te Papa covering parental leave up until 26 September 2025. - Be a hands-on, self-starter who enjoys working collaboratively with others. - Identify and secure new partners to build Te Papa’s family of funding partners.   To read the full job ad text and access the position description, click on this link.

As we honour the recent announcement of the Hoiho (Yellow-eyed Penguin) as NZ Bird of the Year, we’re also excited to share some late-breaking news about one of our own - Colin Miskelly, who has been elected as a Fellow of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand. This prestigious recognition is awarded to only six living recipients and acknowledges Colin's decades of dedication to bird conservation in Aotearoa. As Te Papa's Curator of Vertebrates, Colin has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of New Zealand’s unique bird species. He has played a key part in developing educational programmes and exhibitions that engage the public and promote awareness about bird conservation; including the creation of New Zealand Birds Online, a vital resource for enthusiasts to understand our unique wildlife. Enjoy the carefully curated selection of Colin's feathered adventures 😊 🦅