Te Papa Museum in Wellington, New Zealand
The Te Papa Museum in Wellington is New Zealand's national museum. Besides New Zealand's nature and history, it also presents Maori culture. The exhibitions are complemented with a variety of interactive exhibits.
Te Papa Tongarewa" in the New Zealand capital Wellington is New Zealand's national museum. It is dedicated above all to New Zealand's unique nature and eventful history, as well as to the legendary Maori culture. Translated, its name means something like "container in which precious things are kept" and it lives up to this designation.
For simplicity's sake, the museum is generally referred to as "Te Papa". The six-storey architecturally striking building on Cable Street in Wellington was built by the Fletcher Construction company. The material mix of lead, steel and rubber makes it particularly earthquake-resistant.
In February 1998, it was opened by successful New Zealand sports sailor Sir Peter Blake, New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and two children. In its first five months, Te Papa had already attracted one million visitors.
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A hotel had to make way
Prior to ascending as the renowned Te Papa Museum, the prime location was initially occupied by a multi-tiered hostelry. Fascinatingly, instead of eradicating the historical five-floor hotel, it was resourcefully relocated 200 meters across the boulevard. Today, this relic of the past is successfully operating under the name 'Museum Hotel'.
Discover the Te Papa Museum
Experience the wonders of the Te Papa Museum, where admission is completely free! Although there is a small fee for certain play facilities in the entertainment area, one particular attraction that draws visitors from around the world is the exhilarating bungee jump simulator. However, the museum's immense popularity is not solely attributed to this thrilling experience, as it has already welcomed over ten million visitors since its establishment.
Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of New Zealand's history and culture at the Te Papa Museum. Spanning six levels and encompassing an impressive 36,000 square metres, the museum delves into the journey of this beautiful country, tracing its evolution from its earliest settlements to its present-day identity as a modern nation.
Insider Tip: Maximize your museum exploration by taking a captivating tour. The knowledgable guides at Te Papa possess a wealth of information about their homeland, infusing the visit with an entertaining and highly educational experience.
Embark on a fascinating journey through New Zealand's past and present, encountering captivating displays and interactive exhibits that capture the essence of this remarkable nation. From Maori traditions to European colonization, and from natural wonders to artistic endeavors, the Te Papa Museum offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of what makes New Zealand truly unique.
Exhibitions at Te Papa Museum
There are Maori artworks, cultural objects, clothing and textiles dating back to the 16th century, the New Zealand Postal Archive with around 20,000 historic stamps and photographs from New Zealand's history to admire.
The country's fauna and flora are also presented in a comprehensive collection. 250,000 dried plant species can be admired in the herbarium, 70,000 different birds of New Zealand as well as typical amphibians, reptiles and mammals, including of course the kiwi, New Zealand's national bird, and the possum.
The secret star of Te Papa's fauna, however, is the world's largest specimen of the rare colossus squid, which normally lives in the Antarctic. With a gigantic weight of 495 kilograms and a length of over 4 metres, the truly colossal squid resembles a veritable sea monster. The amazing animal has been thrilling visitors to the Te Papa Museum since 2007, when it was caught by New Zealand fishermen in the almost Antarctic Ross Sea.
A separate collection has been dedicated to the South Pacific islands, presenting over 13,000 historical and contemporary exhibits from the South Pacific islands.
In addition to the indoor galleries, the Te Papa Museum also includes an artificial cave outside the building, as well as a forest landscape that showcases New Zealand's plants and their healing powers. For children, there are a variety of interactive opportunities to touch and try out. Because of the entertainment area, the National Museum has often been "criticised" as a theme park.
Thematically diverse high-calibre special exhibitions round off the impressive museum experience. Even locals who have visited Te Papa many times keep discovering new corners of the comprehensive museum.
Of course, a souvenir shop and various cafés are also not to be missed. The annexe in Tory Street, which is not open to the public, is used for science and research as well as the storage and archiving of artefacts.
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Accommodation and hotels in New Zealand
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