Old fishes telling new stories
Some of the fishes in our collection were collected over 100 years ago. Fish Collection Manager Andrew Stewart explains how these ‘time capsules of data’ are central in current research.Read more
2019-06-27
Using museum collections to solve the Pink and White Terraces mystery
Scientist and aspiring field art historian George Hook shares his story on how he applied new methodology to help pin down the location of the iconic Pink and White Terraces, lost to the world with the Mt Tarawera eruption of 1886.Read more
2019-06-05
How a retirement hobby has led to an expert eye for liverworts
Te Papa research associate Peter Beveridge (87) is having a very busy retirement. He recently described a new species of liverwort. Te Papa science researcher Lara Shepherd talked to Peter about how he came to be interested in these fascinating tiny plants.Read more
2019-05-20
Fabulous beasts and where they lurk in our library
A steampunk Pokémon sea dragon, mutant whales, and a sabre-toothed devil bunny of the Aztecs. Librarian Martin Lewis (aka @RareBookGuy) presents his favourite curious creatures while researching this month.Read more
2018-10-29
Revisiting icy waters: Updating ‘Fishes of the Southern Ocean’
Fishes of the Southern Ocean was the first book to bring together all of the identification information for fishes living in Antarctic waters. Recently, Te Papa hosted visiting editor Ofer Gon as he undertakes research for a second edition.Read more
2018-09-18
Searching in needles and haystacks for forget-me-nots
Read about Botanists Heidi Meudt and Antony Kusabs epic 14-day forget-me-not field work adventure. Highlights include solving a plant identification mystery and finding a plant that hadn’t been collected in almost a century.Read more
2018-08-20
Bush-bashing and bogs: Botanical hunting in the North Island
In December 2017, Te Papa Botanist Heidi Meudt was on the hunt for some uncommon forget-me-nots in two very special places in the central North Island.Read more
2018-06-19
What happens when you ask ornithologists to do botany
Bird experts Colin Miskelly and Alan Tennyson recently returned from a research trip to the subantarctic Auckland Islands. Although their main aim was to study birds, Botany Researcher Heidi Meudt sent them on a separate mission – to collect a rare flower.Read more
2018-03-06
Three New Zealand forget-me-nots discovered
Three species of forget-me-nots new to science have just been formally described by Te Papa Botany Researcher Heidi Meudt and colleagues. Heidi introduces us to their names, what they look like, and describes what makes them unique. In the latest volume of Australian Systematic Botany, Heidi Meudt (Te Papa) and Jessie Prebble (ManaakiRead more
2018-03-01
A trip to remote Tokelau: Life a few metres above sea level
The Pacific island nation of Tokelau is one of the most remote places on the planet, and, with the entire country sitting metres above sea level, one of the most under threat from climate change. Media creator Kate Whitley describes the journey to this vulnerable ‘necklace of small islands’.Read more
2018-01-11
Hit rate high in high-country forget-me-not search
Field work is a key part of scientific research at Te Papa. Each year, Research Scientist Heidi Meudt spends about three weeks in the field collecting specimens for her taxonomic research on native New Zealand forget-me-nots (Myosotis). In January 2017, she travelled to three main areas in northern South Island (Cobb Valley,Read more
2017-09-25
Myosotis hunting in the deep south
Field work is a key part of scientific research at Te Papa. Each year, Research Scientist Heidi Meudt spends about three weeks in the field collecting specimens for her taxonomic research on native New Zealand Myosotis. In December 2016, she recently traveled to the southern South Island and Stewart Island together with CollectionRead more
2017-09-13
The ‘It’s a Bug’s Life’ science education resource is here!
After two years of dedicated mahi (work), we are proud to share with you the It’s a Bug’s Life science education resource for ECE and Primary.Read more
2016-12-16
Can you see through paint? Examining a hidden wall mural using infrared reflectography
Linda Waters, Conservator Paintings, shares a technique used in her work to look through layers of paint and uncover a painting that would otherwise remain invisible.Read more
2016-10-26
Botanic gardens: our outdoor museums and why they matter
Why are botanic gardens important? And what does this have to do with Te Papa?Read more
2016-10-14