Tim Tait is one of Te Papa’s  talented IT developers and one smart cookie.  He put together the fabulous touchscreen image browser which you can find in our Kura Pounamu exhibition – and after more of Tim’s hard work this is now available on our website. All 200 of the incredible pounamuRead more

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Takitimu marae, before the pōwhiri

On the 23-26 October 2009, fellow work colleague Hokimate Harwood and I attended one of the biggest events on the arts calendar of Māori weaving-the Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa Weavers National Hui. A biennial event, the first inaugural hui was called by Ngoingoi Pewhairangi of Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare, aRead more

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In: Art, Māori

One of Te Papa’s photographers Norman Heke is usually behind the camera. He’s been at many hui and wānanga, studiously taking photos to put together a wonderful photographic record of these events. This time Norm was able to take part in the taonga pūoro wānanga and learned how to make and play aRead more

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Earlier this week Hongoeka marae in Plimmerton was filled with the sounds of taonga pūoro (Maori musical instruments) – accompanied by the buzzing of  sanders and the call of tuis flitting among the flaxes. I was one of twenty Te Papa staff who took part in a three day wānangaRead more

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Te Papa is saddened at the passing of Sir Howard Morrison, and extends sympathy to his whanau and friends. Over a long and distinguished career, Sir Howard brought great pleasure to many with his fine singing voice, and his ability to charm and entertain. New Zealand has lost a consummateRead more

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This year marks the 25th year since the opening of the Te Māori exhibition at the Metropolitan museum in New York, 10th September, 1984. The exhibition was an overnight media and public sensation. It was heralded as an international success and continued its tour over 1985-86,  to the Saint LouisRead more

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Flooding and storms aren’t enough to stop pakeke (elders) from the East Coast from making their way down to Wellington to perform at Kaumātua Kapa Haka at Te Papa this weekend.   Senior Maori performing artists from Te Hokowhitu a Tu have had to leave earlier than planned to dodgeRead more

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The final weekend of the 2009 Matariki Festival at Te Papa is by no means the least with the return of the popular Kaumātua Kapa Haka, proudly supported by TelstraClear and NZ Post. These senior performing artists performed at last year’s Matariki Festival and this year they are going global!Read more

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In partnership with TelstraClear and NZ Post, this year’s Matariki festivities include a unique photography event utilising the existing OurSpace infrastructure as well as the newly developed OurSpace TelstraClear Screen, scheduled for installation on the front exterior of the building in the coming month.  The purpose of the showcase isRead more

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In: Māori, Photography

What do you think of the Māori seats in Parliament? On Thursday 5 February @ 6.30 – 8 p.m. two speakers will deal with this provocative issue – The role of Māori in Parliament and the future of the Māori seats. Professor Philip Joseph and Derek Fox will discuss this topic as part of Te Papa’sRead more

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In: History, Māori