To see what's on at Te Papa check the bottom of this page.

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, is set in a breathtaking location on Wellington’s beautiful waterfront. Explore the great treasures and stories of this country – its unique natural environment, Māori culture and taonga (treasures), art heritage, and fascinating history.

Te Papa has attracted over 17 million visitors since opening in 1998 and has established itself as a ‘must see’ on any visitor’s itinerary.

Te Papa combines leading edge, interactive technology with stunning world class displays. OurSpace explores New Zealand’s cultural identity through exciting interactive multimedia and motion-simulator experiences. Tai Awatea | Knowledge Net, Te Papa’s online multimedia database, allows visitors to go beyond the exhibitions and access detailed information about Te Papa’s vast collections and travel beyond Te Papa on a series of learning trails.

Te Papa is a bi-cultural museum operated in partnership between Māori and Pakeha (non-Māori, mainly of European descent). It includes a range of magnificent exhibitions featuring a number of New Zealand’s most significant Māori treasures as well as a unique 21st century carved marae (gathering place), and a stunning historical wharenui (meeting house).

The flora, fauna, and unique geographical make-up of New Zealand are showcased in Te Papa’s long-term exhibitions Mountains to Sea and Awesome Forces. Visitors can now come face to face with a colossal squid specimen in Mountains to Sea and explore its life through computer interactives and 3-D animation. Bush City is an outside area that recreates sections of the New Zealand landscape with living fauna. Blood, Earth, Fire - Whāngai, Whenua, Ahi Kā: The Transformation of Aotearoa New Zealand tells the dramatic story of how people have interacted with, and had an impact on, New Zealand’s land and resources over the last 800 years.

Tangata o le Moana: the Story of Pacific People in New Zealand, presents the story of Pacific people, past and present, the contributions they have made to New Zealand and the impact New Zealand has had upon them and their cultures.

Te Papa has five individually themed Discovery Centres which are specially designed to provide an interactive, fun learning experience for children.

Toi Te Papa Art of the Nation, a long-term exhibition, showcases 1000 years of New Zealand’s art and visual culture displayed in 1,500m2 (about 8 tennis courts) of gallery space.

Te Papa also features the Espresso Cafe in the heart of the Museum on Level 4, and Te Papa Cafe, a family café on Level 1. Te Papa Store, located on the ground floor, offers an excellent range of high-quality New Zealand made products by some of the country’s top artists, and Te Papa Kids’ Store on Level 2 provides distinctly New Zealand educational and entertaining books and toys.

Covered and open parking for cars, vans, motorhomes. ($3.50 per hour, 24hr max. charge $28.)

Guided tours run daily. Introducing Te Papa tour (60 minutes) is ideal for visitors with limited time or wanting an introduction for an extended visit. Available 1 November - 31 March: 10.15am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and extra tour Thursdays 7pm; Available 1 April - 31 October: 10.15am and 2.00pm, and extra tour Thursdays 7pm. Cost per person: adults $12, children (aged 15 and under) $6.

Te Papa is open every day of the year from 10am to 6pm (9pm on Thursdays). General admission is free. Charges apply for tours, rides and some short-term exhibitions.

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