WellingtonSee & Do
The exterior of Te Papa Tongarewa, half glass and half concrete.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

  • Location

    55 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington

  • Website

    Te Papa

New Zealand’s national museum reflects the country’s identity, history, and culture. It takes pride of place on Wellington’s waterfront.

Any visitor to Wellington should have the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa at the top of their to-do list. At 36,000 square metres and six stories high, Te Papa is the country’s largest museum and contains a vast repository of collections. It’s home to more than 800,000 artworks, objects, and specimens. It curates cutting-edge interactive exhibitions with a contemporary and bicultural approach. Te Papa is a museum experience that’s accessible to all. 

Among the long-term exhibitions is Te Taiao Nature, where you can explore New Zealand’s weird and wonderful wildlife. It tells the story of the country’s seismic history and how it has influenced the incredible native flora and fauna. Those natural wonders are on display in Bush City, a living outdoor exhibition. You can experience thousands of native plant species and some fun family-friendly activities on an onsite bushwalk.

Two children and an adult stand above a table with a microcope on it. A petri dish sits underneath.
A group stand in a semi-circle while looking at a tall Māori sculpture at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington.
The entrance to the Gallipoli The Scale of Our War exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
A red wall with more than 20 portrait paintings inside Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Te Papa is also home to a dedicated gallery space. Toi Art spans almost 4,000 square metres across two floors. Te Papa is the custodian of more than 40,0000 artworks covering painting, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, works on paper, moving images, embroidery, and installations. Toi Art showcases some of this work with the intention of removing the barriers of traditional art galleries. It shows visitors that art is for everyone. Two monumental sculptural works command attention in the space: ‘Black Phoenix’ by Ralph Hotere, and ‘Ngā Morehu’ by Shona Rapira-Davies. 

In 2015, Te Papa joined forces with Wētā Workshop to create an exhibition that humanises the stark realities of war. ‘Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War’ follows eight ordinary New Zealanders through the Gallipoli campaign, using their stories and words to explain this harrowing event. Models of the people, at 2.4 times human size, reflect the monumental impact of war. The ground-breaking exhibition combines cutting-edge technology with important historical storytelling for an unforgettable museum experience.

On 14 February 1998, Te Papa opened its doors for the first time. In the 25-plus years since that day, the museum has welcomed almost 34 million visitors.

Bring home more than memories

The Te Papa Store on the museum’s ground floor is a treasure trove of gifts, art, and keepsakes. The merchandise showcases the incredible talent of New Zealand artists and makers. It exemplifies Kiwi ingenuity and pays homage to the country’s diverse cultural landscape. 

Looking for more?

At start of items
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