Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

On Monday, Te Papa had the privilege of hosting an intimate pōwhiri to welcome the whānau and close friends of Georgina Beyer, who brought with them personal taonga from Georgina’s life. Georgina Beyer (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou) was a pioneering leader and cultural icon. She was celebrated as the world’s first openly transgender MP and mayor. Georgina was a popular MP and proved to be an eloquent and effective speaker, supporting LGBTQI+ rights, prostitution law reform (2003) and legalising civil unions (2004). Her personal items now join the taonga of other iconic trans New Zealanders in our collection. We’re deeply grateful to the whānau for sharing these precious items with Te Papa, allowing us to preserve and honour Georgina's legacy and significant contributions to our history.

🌟 Te Papa Foundation’s Digital Auction is live: bid, win and make a difference! 🌟   The Te Papa Foundation’s digital auction, hosted by Webbs, is officially live! This is your chance to bid on a fantastic selection of items and experiences, all while supporting our vital cultural and educational initiatives. From luxurious getaways to rare artworks—even a year’s supply of Fix & Fogg peanut butter—there’s something for everyone.   How to Get Involved: •     Browse: Discover unique items and experiences. 🖼️🚢💽🍸 •     Bid: Register with your email at webbs.co.nz then place a bid at any time during the auction period. 🌿📚 🎨   Don’t wait—start bidding on your favourites today! 🔨 https://lnkd.in/gwXzwxWW   And if you don’t already have your tickets to Spring Soiree on Saturday 7 September, don’t delay—this black-tie event in the museum is going to be a night to remember. 🎟️ Tickets available at link below:   https://lnkd.in/gTj_sJcD   A heartfelt thank you to Webb’s and our generous sponsors for making this possible. 🙏 Partridge Jewellers Dancing Sands Distillery Homegrown Creative Hobbiton™ Movie Set Great Journeys New Zealand | KiwiRail Streamliner Productions Panasonic New Zealand Ltd. Royal Wellington Golf Club Wētā Workshop Ltd Interislander Footnote New Zealand Dance Sounds Air Orchestra Wellington Accor

Imagine entering a world where bugs are the size of cars? Welcome to "The Bug Lab Exhibition" – a collaboration between two creative powerhouses from Aotearoa New Zealand: Wētā Workshop Ltd and Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. This isn't just an exhibition; it's a mind-bending journey that turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. It’s a true display of New Zealand’s innovation and creativity. Both Wētā Workshop and Te Papa proudly carry the FernMark. Learn more about The Bug Lab Exhibition at https://lnkd.in/gij-hBZX or follow Te Papa for more. #NZStoryteller #FlyTheFern

🌿 Just Released: Hot off the Press! 🌿 Calling all nature lovers, hikers, and budding botanists! The Identification Guide to the Ferns and Lycophytes of New Zealand by Leon Perrie & Patrick Brownsey is here, and it’s a game-changer. Dive into Aotearoa’s fern world with this essential guide, featuring stunning visuals and easy-to-follow diagrams for identifying 201 species across our diverse landscapes. Leon Perrie, Botany Curator at Te Papa, hopes readers will gain a new perspective: “I hope they learn to see the different ‘faces’ of our many ferns. When I began learning about different plants, a forested hillside looked like a green blur. With the same vista, I now see the various characters (i.e., species) that make up that community, as well as understanding the role of each species within that community. I think that being able to recognize the species around us strengthens our connection with them and with nature in general, and that can only be good.” https://lnkd.in/gZUf9y_A #FernsOfNZ #Botany #NatureLovers #TePapa 

Te Papa will always be free for New Zealanders, but from September our international visitors will support the museum through an entry charge. This will help sustain Te Papa as we care for the taonga and treasures, and tell the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand. Read about the change on our website: https://tepapa.nz/Tickets https://lnkd.in/gCFuDYsT

Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastline is more than just beautiful scenery—it’s home to a thriving world of seaweed, explored and documented by a significant number of pioneering women. For over a century, these dedicated phycologists have helped shape our understanding of New Zealand’s macro-algae. Starting with the trailblazing ‘two Lucies’—Lucy Moore and Lucy Cranwell—followed by Nancy Adams, Eileen Willa, and Wendy Nelson, these women have left an indelible mark on seaweed science in Aotearoa. Their passion and collaboration have built a rich botanical whakapapa that lives on today. Te Papa’s herbarium now holds about 30,000 algae specimens from New Zealand. Remarkably, 33% of our collection are specimens collected and identified by these extraordinary women, which speaks volumes about the profound impact they’ve had on seaweed science in Aotearoa. https://lnkd.in/g93u8t2E Image 📷: Stenogramma interruptum (C.Agardh) Mont. ex Harv., Collected by Dr Lucy Moore, Worser Bay. Identified by Nancy Adams. Te Papa (A003078) #AotearoaScience #WomenInScience #Phycology #SeaweedScience #NewZealand

Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki - Happy Cook Islands language week 🇨🇰 To celebrate this year's theme, 'Connect me to the canoe of my tribe' we are highlighting a special piece from our collections - the world's only surviving old-style carved and painted Mangaian canoe. This vaka (canoe) is called A'ua'u, which is an old name for the island of Mangaia in the Cook Islands where the vaka originated. It was made by two Cook Island carvers, Tangitoru and Terepo, who travelled to New Zealand and brought the vaka in 1906. At just over four meters long the A'ua'u was crafted from a hollow log, featuring a distinctive vertical stern. The hull's painted patterns, made by Tangitoru, are said to duplicate the tatau markings on his own body, and on the bow there is a carved star motif that is believed to have been used as a steering and navigational aid. Vaka (canoe) A'ua'u, circa 1900, Mangaia, by Daniela Tangitoru, Terepo, Mr Atatama, Mr Ata, Ngaruao Autemate. Purchased 1907. Te Papa (FE010422)

We’re excited to announce that Orchestra Wellington, New Zealand’s oldest regional orchestra, will be providing the evening's entertainment at Spring Soiree on 7 September. We also have some phenomenal items and experiences lined up for our live auction, all donated by our generous community of donors and partners. Auction Highlights: 🎨 Max Gimblett quatrefoil painting 🍇 VIP tour and wine tasting at Brennan Wines 🚁 Luxury helicopter-access lodge stay at Minaret Station 💎 White gold, sapphire, and diamond bracelet from Partridge Jewellers 🍽️ Gourmet dinner with artist Lisa Reihana in Auckland 🌳 All-inclusive retreat at Wharekauhau Country Estate Limited 🚤 Private Auckland harbour cruise with wine and picnic This event is more than a celebration—it supports Te Papa’s vital cultural and educational initiatives. We look forward to an evening of exceptional entertainment and meaningful connections. Don’t miss the chance to make a difference and enjoy an unforgettable night. Join us at Spring Soiree! Tickets available below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gTj_sJcD Image: Te Papa Foundation Spring Soirée 2023. Photo by Nick Grobler. Te Papa.

The excitement of the Olympics has begun!   In celebration of this global event, we’re thrilled to present a special exhibition celebrating the achievements of Sir Peter Snell, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s greatest middle-distance runners. This exhibition showcases his incredible career and the innovative training methods of his coach, Arthur Lydiard.   "I was just 21 and when I burst through to win … I was stunned ... It was hard to believe that suddenly I was an Olympic champion." – Peter Snell on the 1960 Rome Olympics   At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Snell wasn’t considered a medal prospect – but in the final moments of the 800 metres, he surged to victory. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Snell won two gold medals, in the 800 and 1500 metres, making him the only man to achieve this feat since 1920.   We invite you to explore the legacy of this legendary athlete and draw inspiration from his remarkable journey. This short-term exhibition is a must-see for sports enthusiasts and history buffs alike.   https://lnkd.in/gEhmz7z6   #Olympics #PeterSnell #Athletics #SportsLegend #Aotearoa #NewZealand #MuseumExhibition #SportsHistory

Come to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa for a relevant and important public talk series about the land! They are all free to attend. Come with curiosity and questions for our scientists, researchers and community leaders! 🤔 Next Tuesday 23 July: About us, our buildings, what to do and how we should communicate about natural hazards. https://t.ly/Z5rS8 🏙 Tuesday 13 Aug: About what we know so far on earthquakes and tsunami near us, and what has been done. https://t.ly/0BXLR ✅ Tuesday 27 Aug: About better approaches for communities to plan and respond using Māori worldviews. BOOK NOW: https://t.ly/xOGoe Click the event link for more details: https://lnkd.in/gNPDqENp This event is hosted in partnership with the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. Speakers are Lauren Vinnell Catalina Miranda Julia Becker from Joint Centre for Disaster Research at Massey University, William Power Sheng-Lin Lin Nicola Litchfield from GNS Science, and Christine Kenney Jon Proctor Suzanne Phibbs from Te Toi Whakaruruhau o Aotearoa. #naturalhazards #publictalk #aotearoa #newzealand #earthquakes #communities #building #resilience #kaupapa #maori #tsunami #faultlines #communication