‘Frown for the camera’: The unsettling gaze of the New Zealand wars wounded
Summer scholar Caitlin Lynch has taken a particular interest in a number of photos featuring soldiers badly wounded in battle.Read more
2018-04-11
1,500 mud pools: Theo Schoon’s geothermal photographs
Last year, a four-year project to digitise nearly 1,500 Theo Schoon photographs of bubbling mud and thermal landscapes came to an end. Thanks to the hard work of Image Coordinator Lucy Jackson and Archivist Jennifer Twist all of these images can now be viewed on Collections Online.Read more
2018-03-19
Drinking the world’s only deep-sea coffee
Librarian Martin Lewis describes one of his more bizarre coffee breaks at work – drinking Caffe L’affare Primo ground coffee that travelled where no person has been before, 10,000 metres below the sea.Read more
2018-03-06
Rongowhakaata: Borrowing from iwi to build the exhibition
If you’ve ever wondered what’s involved when museums loan and borrow taonga, you’re in luck: our Loans and Acquisitions Advisor Amy Cosgrove sheds light on the process behind Ko Rongowhakaata: The Story of Light and Shadow, as well as revealing an ‘average’ day.Read more
2018-02-16
Conserving Rongowhakaata’s fragile ‘Iron Man’
One of the significant taonga exhibited Ko Rongowhakaata is a nose-less poutokomanawa (centre post) called Rongotueruora, affectionately known as ‘Iron Man’. This taonga was in a very fragile state when conservator Nirmala Balram came to inspect him. Nirmala takes us through the treatment of Iron Man, and his journey from Gisborne to display at Te Papa.Read more
2018-01-23
A trip to remote Tokelau: Life a few metres above sea level
The Pacific island nation of Tokelau is one of the most remote places on the planet, and, with the entire country sitting metres above sea level, one of the most under threat from climate change. Media creator Kate Whitley describes the journey to this vulnerable ‘necklace of small islands’.Read more
2018-01-11
Cigarette packets and chocolate boxes: How we used to store our collections
Storing collections in the right space and environment is incredibly important in museums – so would you be surprised to see natural history specimens stored in colourful vintage cigarette packets? Curator Alan Tennyson and conservator Robert Clendon shed light on past practice. Modern museum storage involves rows and rows ofRead more
2018-01-08
‘It’s the objects that sparkle, not me’: A day in the life of an art collection manager
Art collection manager Anna Brookes shares with us what she gets up to day to day and her tips for getting into the industry.Read more
2017-12-14
How a museum mount maker secures the nation’s treasures
Lots of works goes on behind the scenes to get objects ready for exhibition.Read more
2017-11-20
Movembering Dr Hassell and his magnificent mo
Rebecca Rice, Curator Historical New Zealand Art, explores a mystery behind Dr Gray Hassell’s magnificent moustache.Read more
2017-11-14
‘Please do not bite the books’ and other comical library rules
Would you walk into a library with a dirty face? Take a bite out of one of the books? Or LIE to the librarian? Librarian Martin Lewis (@rarebookguy) reveals comical library rules from history and shares his five commandments to ensure happy books and librarians. No dirty faces and no lies inRead more
2017-10-11
Big Ted to Rita Angus: Gems uncovered while revamping Collections
We asked the team working on the new Collections Online website to share their favourite objects and images they’ve found along the way and tell us a little bit about working on this massive project.Read more
2017-09-26
Students give our store windows the WOW factor
When the World of Wearable Arts show is in town we like to join the festivities by handing over our shop windows to students from Wellington High School and Queen Margaret College. The year 13 fashion and materials technology students display their own striking wearable art creations as part of their course.Read more
2017-09-18
Te Papa’s new Collections site launches – get hunting
It’s hugely exciting to announce that Te Papa’s new Collections site launches today. Fiona Moorhead, Collections Information System Manager, introduces what’s new.Read more
2017-09-15
Extracting DNA from dried plants – with an eraser
Until now, it hasn’t been possible to get the DNA out of a pressed dried plant (herbarium specimen) without destroying part of it by removing a leaf and grinding it up. But new research by scientist Lara Shepherd has proven that you can use an eraser to ‘rub off’ the DNA.Read more
2017-09-11