Photo taken by Michael Fitzgerald © Te Papa

If you happen to be in Australia then visit the exhibition Looking for fairies: The Victorian Tradition at Bendigo Art Gallery to see our famous painting Goblin market by Frank Craig along with Jean McKay’s watercolour In the land of toadstools on display until 28 November 2010. From Bendigo itRead more

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Professor Bill Oliver

“For over half a century I wrote about and taught the history of this country. However, my reasons for standing here today owe more to a sense of belonging, of having enjoyed a long life shaped by twentieth-century New Zealand.” Bill Oliver at opening of Slice of Heaven. © TeRead more

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The shrub Rhaphithamnus venustus (Verbenaceae). Photo © Heidi M. Meudt.

During a recent family holiday to central and southern Chile, I was able to do a bit of botanising. In addition to several plants endemic to Chile, we also saw several with a Pacific connection. First stop was a day trip to the National Botanic Gardens at Viña del MarRead more

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Senior artist Vivian Lynn has for over 60 years been making critical and enquiring work. The recent selective survey I, HERE, NOW Vivian Lynn at the Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi, Victoria University of Wellington (25 October 2008–15 March 2009) curated by Christina Barton, offered a rich selection ofRead more

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Brian Brake is one of New Zealand’s best known photographers. His career covered the golden age of photojournalism  – his images featured in magazines around the world such as Life and Paris Match. He was passionate about New Zealand, the people and landscapes. Te Papa is very fortunate to have been giftedRead more

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This is the first in an ongoing series of blogs about New Zealand history. These blogs are going to focus on 20th century events and objects as well as topics in Te Papa’s history exhibition Slice of Heaven: 20th Century Aotearoa. Following from the recent blog about the diarama in the exhibtionRead more

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This striking work Look Within 2 (2007) by Papua New Guinea artist Daniel Waswas is the latest addition to Te Papa’s collection of contemporary Pacific artworks. It depicts four images of the same person, conveying a message of self reflection and addressing the idea of identity from within one’s ownRead more

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Revisiting World War II.

It’s just 2 weeks now since Slice of Heaven opened and the word from Te Papa’s hosts is that it’s “what New Zealanders have been waiting for!”  This is my first blog – ever. I was one of the team working behind the scenes to bring the stories from 20th CenturyRead more

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This morning, our fish team went to a small boatshed in Breaker Bay on Wellington’s south coast to pick up a great white shark.  Not your normal morning mission and a bittersweet one at that as these creatures are endagered animals and a protected species.  The shark had been ensnaredRead more

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There was a palpable air of excitement around Melbourne Museum< Australia, as people queued and tv crews jostled at the starting gate of the revamped Phar Lap display. The exhibit was officially opened by Victoria’s Minister for Racing, Hon. Rob Hulls, with speeches by Museum Victoria’s Director, Dr. Patrick Greene, andRead more

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Wednesday 15 September 2010 marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the first major campaign fought entirely by airforces.  Kiwi Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Park played an important role in the defence of London and south-east England.  A statue of Sir Keith was recently unveiled in London’s Trafalgar Square inRead more

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Paperskin – the art of tapa cloth is closing this weekend, on Sunday 12 September.  If you haven’t been to see these amazing tapa works, now is the time to come into Te Papa. It will also be your last chance for some time to see the 22 metre Tongan ngatu (tapa), made inRead more

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