Coastal kōwhai in the south of its range – natural or planted?
Science researcher Lara Shepherd explores the distribution of kōwhai in New Zealand – largely found in the north and likely introduced in the south. Read more
2017-03-28
Cuckoos and their toxic prey – ‘urticated’ inside and out
Cuckoos can stomach toxic caterpillars, but it appears they are also impervious to being stung externally, as bird expert Colin Miskelly discovers.Read more
2017-03-27
Young photographers display their work in a virtual gallery
Te Papa Senior Advisor, Museum Education Tara Fagan spends some time with young children as they get creative in virtual reality.Read more
2017-03-23
Elephants on your dinner table – looking at an old trade catalogue
Librarian Christine Kiddey browses for jelly moulds and other assorted household items in a trade catalogue from 1850.Read more
2017-03-21
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
In memory of Andrew Pfeiffer – Royal New Zealand Ballet’s ‘Master of the Wardrobe’
Senior history curator Claire Regnault pays tribute to New Zealand costumier and ‘Master of the Wardrobe’ at the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Andrew Pfeiffer.Read more
2017-03-16
Paul Cullen (1949-2017) – tribute to ‘witty and whimsical’ New Zealand artist
We are saddened to hear of the recent death of Auckland artist Paul Cullen (1949-2017). He was a constantly intelligent presence in the contemporary art scene for over 40 years, and his final illness only served to catalyse his productivity to the very end. Poignantly, his exhibition Provisional Arrangements at Two Rooms,Read more
2017-03-14
What can kōwhai tell us about the location of New Zealand’s forests during the ice ages?
Science researcher Lara Shepherd explores kōwhai trees, one of New Zealand’s most widely recognised native plants and our unofficial national flower.Read more
2017-03-14
The global hunt for the original wandering albatross
Vertebrate Curator Alan Tennyson explores the history of the name of the wandering albatross and the hunt for the original specimens.Read more
2017-03-10
Can New Zealand sustain its 119-year-old pension scheme as the population ages?
As the government announces plans to raise the pension age for the first time since Richard Seddon passed old-age pensions in 1898, history curator Kirstie Ross questions whether New Zealand can afford to support its aging population based on historic practices and attitudes.Read more
2017-03-09
International Women’s Day – inspiring ‘women’s work’
Our history curators pay homage to women who feature in Te Papa’s collections who have sought to create change through their work.Read more
2017-03-08
A new bird for New Zealand – laughing gull
Christmas arrived two days early for Waikato bird-watchers Annette Taylor and David Riddell when they spotted New Zealand’s first laughing gull.Read more
2017-03-07
Wellington’s Central Park: A ramble through its history
Wellington’s Central Park – less familiar to many than the famous park of the same name in New York City – is one of the Wellington’s oldest public green spaces. History curator Kirstie Ross rambles through some of the highs and lows of its 114 year history.Read more
2017-03-06
Pride and prejudice: LGBTQI+ histories made visible
Curating inclusive history collections that represent diverse experiences, including LGBTIQ+ stories, enables Te Papa to present Aotearoa New Zealand to ourselves and the world, says history curator Lynette Townsend.Read more
2017-03-03
Telling stories through fashion: A history of eco-friendly Starfish
It’s not every day that you get to delve into the nitty-gritty details of a fashion label. Te Papa’s assistant archivist Gareth Watkins is going through Starfish’s archive, recently gifted to Te Papa.Read more
2017-02-28