Last year, the Public Programming team embarked on a new area of programming for kaumātua, for people over 65. This was developed in collaboration with Age Concern staff and participants from a range of their groups to create tailored experiences that provide spaces for connection, knowledge sharing, and learning. Public Programming specialist Catherine Ayres and Public Programming specialist – Kaupapa Māori Lucy Schrader-Manuera share their reflections on the programme.
The day was 1 May 2025, and absolutely peak form Wellington winter; the wind was howling, rain was persistent, and a severe weather warning was in place. In the distance across Te Papa’s forecourt, we saw the formation of a kaumātua[1] troop. A troop ready to take on the weather to make it to their programme, rather than accept the offer to postpone.
Leaving their bus, they beelined to the outer wall, smiling despite the unrelenting wind trying to blow them down. Sensing its power, they transitioned into a single-file line, each helping each other stay upright as Te Papa team members headed out to greet them. Together, making it to the main entryway with no kaumātua left behind and good humour intact.
This was the start of a great public programme, with our manuhiri from Age Concern’s Manners St Coffee Group and Omai Fa’atasi. This visual represents the special combination of enthusiasm, wisdom and gratitude that we experienced from participants across the project.
He rākau tawhito, e mau ana te taitea i waho rā, e tū te kōhiwi.
An ancient tree with sapwood just adhering on the outside and only the heartwood standing firm.
This whakataukī brings insights into the nature of working with kaumātua. Kaumātua are the storehouse of mātauranga, the activators of taonga, who preserve our cultural protocols. Regardless of their tangible form ageing, their spirits are steadfast, and their minds are sharp. Some may say a bit too sharp, watch yourself. They’re quick-witted, charming, and fun. They are an undeniable cultural taonga.
Why did we embark on this new strand of programming?
Te Papa’s Public Programme team serves a wide range of audiences, but did not have a programme developed exclusively for the over-65s. Through building stronger relationships with kaumātua who don’t currently visit Te Papa (either due to social isolation or other barriers), we hoped to provide elders with the confidence to visit Te Papa again in the future, either with their whānau, friends, or independently.
How did we approach the pilot programme?
From the beginning, we were aware that collaboration with a community partner would be fundamental to connecting with kaumātua who do not currently visit. Our focus was to connect with socially isolated older people, kaumātua Māori, and Pacific elders in the Wellington region. Our approach was to identify a community partner who held strong relationships with the kaumātua groups we were trying to support, who saw value in this collaborative approach to programming, and who had the capacity to be involved. Vanessa Lavatai and the team at Age Concern were a wonderful match and have been supportive since we first got in touch.
In line with Te Papa’s Community Programming Model, we started the pilot with whakawhanaungatanga and consultation, before trialling session formats and gathering feedback through surveys and conversations. As our planning and mutual understanding of the pilot aims developed, the team at Age Concern identified three of their local groups to collaborate with. A flexible and accommodating approach was key to working in collaboration with a community partner to make the most of their capacity to respond to the opportunities that arose. In this case, it was the opportunity to work with two newly formed groups for Pacific elders.
What were the outcomes of this pilot?
We delivered six bespoke sessions for three Age Concern groups, both off-site and on-site at Te Papa. The sessions included opportunities to engage with Te Papa taonga alongside Curators and Kaitiaki Taonga, to experience guided tours of exhibitions with our Host team, as well as connect socially through sharing stories during and after the session over morning tea or lunch.
Across the pilot sessions, 42 participants visited the museum from Wellington Central, Hutt Valley, and Porirua. Many shared that it was their first time visiting the museum in years, or their first time ever.
We demonstrated a cost-effective model for working together. For Te Papa and Age Concern, the main resource was staff time. The additional costs for a successful programme were kai – for manaakitanga and facilitating social connection, and a budget to support transport costs, either through contributions for petrol or booking mobility vehicles.
We developed an engaging and replicable new programme format, designed in collaboration with the wonderful participants and staff from Age Concern. We are exploring opportunities to continue delivering this programme into the future, in partnership with Age Concern, alongside new collaboration ideas.
The greatest indication of the success of the pilot was the positive response we received from the participants. We received an average rating of 9.5/10 for satisfaction across all sessions, and the most popular answer to the question of ‘which of the following best describes this event’ was that 71% of participants felt ‘it helped me meet and connect with new people’. Below are some reflections on the experience in their own words:
‘Keep it going, so very vital and interesting, necessary information and visual aides to remember who we are, where we came from.’ – Participant C
‘Make[s] me feel that I belong to this place, and how important to know who I am as a Pacific Islander living here in New Zealand.’ – Participant H
‘So excited about todays visit. It connect me to my culture and every day life.’ – Participant I
‘Really enjoyed the respect and collaborativeness of the group/session a lot of joyous sharing.’ – Participant D
What did we learn?
This programme provided evidence of the value and impact that museum programmes can have for older people. If we create a space for participants to share knowledge and be exposed to new ideas in an environment where they feel welcomed and respected, their level of commitment and enjoyment is high.
On a personal note, as Public Programmers, each session showed us the unique joy and satisfaction that comes from working with older generations, particularly their enthusiasm for learning, humbly sharing their knowledge, and meeting new people.
We were reminded to keep flexibility at the centre of our approach, especially in a pilot project when trialling ways of working together.
Finally, this pilot affirmed that relationships and collaboration are vital to the success of programmes like this and that building those relationships takes time. This is how you reach communities through the trust that their staff have earned over time, how you learn about the needs of the participants you want to reach, and find solutions to barriers they experience.
Thank you to Age Concern and all the kaumātua who took part in this programme – we look forward to working alongside you in the future.
[1] Please note that for this article, when we refer to kaumātua, that term is inclusive of all people who are over 65 years old, not just kaumātua Māori.
