We were all saddened by the recent passing of Auckland and Samoan rugby stalwart Peter Fatialofa (1959-2013). In the last few weeks, much has been written about his wonderful personality and character, his leadership on and off the rugby field and his rich contribution to Samoan and New Zealand rugby.Read more

By:
On:
In: Pacific
Adult morepork with juvenile. Blowhard Bush, Hawkes Bay, January 2013. Photographer: Adam Clarke © Adam Clarke, courtesy NZ Birds Online

Packed full of stunning pictures, detailed information and beautiful bird calls, NZ Birds Online is an online encyclopaedia of birds created in collaboration between Te Papa, DOC and OSNZ. We’re indebted to the photographers who’ve shared their images with us – and now the world! Joining us for our Meet the photographers series is Adam Clarke, who had the privilegeRead more

By:
On:
In: Photography, Science
Amorphophallus titanum in flower, Auckland Domain Wintergarden, 01 December 2013. Photo credit Auckland Council.

Yesterday in Auckland there was a long line of people waiting for a glimpse of something special. This wasn’t the queue for a Justin Bieber concert – the star of this show was a plant! The big attraction was a huge inflorescence of a titan arum (Amorphophallus titanium – the scientificRead more

By:
On:
In: Science
Wayward boy – the emperor penguin on Peka Peka Beach, 21 June. Photo: Colin Miskelly © Te Papa

Tell our scientists which coastal creatures you’d like to know more about in Science Live: Coastal creatures. Email sciencelive@tepapa.govt.nz with your suggestions! Walking along many of the beaches in my native UK, I had my head down, ignoring the beautiful view and the pounding waves of the slate grey sea. Instead, I’d beRead more

By:
On:
In: Science

Nearly 50 people are attending this year’s John Child Bryophyte and Lichen Workshop in Ohakune.  Bryophytes include mosses and liverworts.  The Workshop is a focussed opportunity to study these small plants.  Although usually overlooked, they actually make a huge contribution to forest biomass and functioning.  Mosses and liverworts reproduce byRead more

By:
On:
In: Science

Three of Te Papa’s botanists (plant scientists) are currently at the annual John Child Bryophyte and Lichen Workshop, held this year in Ohakune.    A small group including the Te Papa team spent the week before the Workshop exploring the Forgotten Highway (State Highway 43) between Stratford and Taumarunui, for mossesRead more

By:
On:
In: Science

One of the core roles of Te Papa is to continue to acquire taonga that enhance and add-value to its existing collections. And with more than 30,000 individual items in the Matauranga Māori collections, Te Papa’s collections are considerable. And even though a considerable number of that total is madeRead more

By:
On:
In: History, Māori

Jandals, surfboard, a good book…whatever you’re taking on holiday with you, don’t miss the third in our Science Live @ Te Papa series! Science Live: Coastal creatures will take you on a journey across the coasts of New Zealand. Our scientists will be showing you some of the amazing animalsRead more

By:
On:
In: Science

There are a number of paintings by Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947) in the latest season of  Ngā Toi | Arts Te Papa  – Te Papa’s new, changing programme of art from the national collection and beyond. Among them are familiar favourites waiting to be revisited – including Hodgkins’ wonderful impressionistic view of a group ofRead more

By:
On:
In: Art

I’ve never really been one to follow football, but like so many others I couldn’t help taking an interest in the latest New Zealand verses Mexico games. Obviously my connection with Mexico has become particularly strong through the development of the Aztecs: Conquest and Glory exhibition and even though theRead more

By:
On:
In: History