Cliff Whiting: Visionary, innovator, tohunga, teacher, scholar, master artist
It is with enormous sadness that Te Papa acknowledges the passing of Cliff Whiting (6 May 1936–16 July 2017).Read more
2017-07-20
Meeting a man I will never know: Jonathan Mane-Wheoki
Ruby Abraham, a Museum and Heritage Studies student at Victoria University, has spent the last five weeks on placement at Te Papa working intimately with the archive donated by Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (1943-2014).Read more
2017-07-18
Putting the pieces back together after the earthquake
Charlotte Jimenez, an intern from the Institut National du Patrimoine in Paris, has spent the last three months putting more than 250 pieces of the plaster tauihu back together. Here she explains the intricate process.Read more
2017-07-11
The heaviest, smallest, oldest, and smelliest books in our library
Our Research Librarian Martin Lewis, aka @RareBookGuy, takes a look at some of the more unusual questions he has received on tours of the Te Papa library collection.Read more
2017-06-29
The art of ako: Teaching kids to teach kids to use virtual reality
Learning innovation specialist Ewan MacLeod looks at how the Māori concept of ako guides pedagogy inside a 21st century learning lab.Read more
2017-05-19
How science fiction is guiding Te Papa’s digital team
Hazel Bradshaw, part of Te Papa digital’s team, looks at how science fiction master Neal Stephenson’s work is informing ideas at Te Papa. Last week American author, Chief Futurist of Magic Leap, and game designer Neal Stephenson made a flying visit to Te Papa as part of Techweek. Some of you will know immediatelyRead more
2017-05-16
Rare books and the marvellous art of marbling
Research Librarian, Martin Lewis, explains why he’s been losing his marbles over marbling…Read more
2017-04-27
Curating to heal: Ways of creating sovereign spaces in museums
Mātauranga Māori curator Matariki Williams discusses the role of curators healing past wrongs, something being addressed in our new exhibition about motherhood and Māori women. At Museums Australasia last year, a conference convened by the New Zealand and Australian museums associations, visiting Metis academic and artist David Garneau interrogated the etymologyRead more
2017-04-20
The strange things we find in our donation box (and what we do with them)
If you’ve ever visited Te Papa you’ve probably seen our donation box – and if you’ve put some dollars (or Euro, or yen) in there, we thank you. But it’s not all brand spanking new $2 coins that we receive. Financial accounting manager Peter Corley dives into the box and discovers some ofRead more
2017-03-17
Collaboration in conservation: Deborah Crowe and Kim Fraser’s Dual Outlook
Te Papa’s textile conservator Anne Peranteau runs through the process involved in preparing a much-loved garment for public display. In March, the exhibition When Dreams Turn to Gold: The Benson and Hedges Fashion Design Awards will open at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery (DPAG). The Benson & Hedges event was New Zealand’s premier fashionRead more
2017-02-14
Opinion: More to art collections than meets the eye
An art gallery is a theatre where art takes centre stage. But it is also an archive, a refuge, even a hospital, says Te Papa’s Head of Art Charlotte Davy. A recent story highlighted the art collections held by Councils and the proportion of their art works on public display.Read more
2017-02-07
How people are using Te Papa’s collection images
Te Papa’s rights guru Victoria Leachman runs through some of her favourite recent comments from people downloading images from our Collections Online database.Read more
2017-01-26
Conserving plastics: why you should keep your Barbie in the fridge
Many people believe that plastic items are indestructible and will last forever. But what if you learnt this wasn’t the case? Conservator, Nirmala Balram, gives us an insight into the science of plastic deterioration and how you should look after your prized plastic possessions.Read more
2017-01-18
Collecting is in our bones: our youngest exhibitor shares his story
From tin toys to antique Chinese wood figures, Star Wars memorabilia and elephants – for the past 18 years, Te Papa has displayed peoples’ precious collections in Inspiration Station, one of four children’s discovery centres in the museum. But this summer will be the last chance for visitors to see itemsRead more
2017-01-09
Pukerua Bay School Museum visit the conservation lab
Aurelia, Paddy and Isaac visited Te Papa’s conservation team to find out all about picture framing and paper and painting conservation.Read more
2016-12-22