Dominating a significant section of the Wellington waterfront, New Zealand’s national museum, opened in 1998 as a symbol of biculturalism, is impossible to miss. "Te Papa Tongarewa" loosely translates as "treasure box," and the riches inside include an amazing collection of Māori artifacts, the museum’s own colorful marae (meeting house) and excellent natural history and environmental exhibitions.
The Treaty and Nationhood
Although you won't see the original Treaty documents here (they are on display at the National Library of New Zealand), Te Papa’s Treaty of Waitangi: Signs of a Nation exhibit on level 4 offers an excellent overview of NZ’s founding document. Learn how many people signed it, the differences between the English and Māori translations and the relevance of the Treaty to NZ today.
On the same floor, Mana Whenua and Mana Rere Moana, two other permanent exhibitions, provide insights into Māori culture and waka (canoe) heritage – a great primer for a future harbor tour with Te Āti Awa and to better understand NZ’s indigenous history and how Māori came to NZ. Te Papa’s contemporary meeting house, Rongomaraeroa, is also on level 4. There, you can get up close to a real-life working marae, explore its contemporary design and learn about the role of marae throughout the country. Very much a place used by Te Papa staff and visitors today, you may get a peek of a traditional, spine-tingling marae welcome while you’re there. Count yourself lucky if you do.
NZ at War Exhibit
Created by NZ film director Sir Peter Jackson and Wētā Workshop, Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War is a high-impact immersive exhibition on level 2. Designed to take you into the stories and lived experiences of eight New Zealanders who served in the Gallipoli campaign of World War I, it is a series of larger-than-life human sculptures and audio stories. Book online to secure a Gallipoli Early Bird Entry (tepapa.govt.nz) at 9.30am to get ahead of the crowds and move through the exhibition at your own pace. Photography without a flash is permitted.
Quake House Experience
For a sensory experience that will immediately impress upon you the active nature of NZ’s geology and landscape, head to Quake House within the Te Taiao Nature exhibition on level 2. Loosely divided into four main areas, the exhibit invites you to enter the realm of Rūaumoko, god of volcanoes and earthquakes. Queue (on busy days) to step inside Quake House and experience a short, simulated earthquake complete with sharp jolts and a believable demonstration of how earthquakes damage buildings.
Te Taiao Nature is a great space for kids and anyone who likes hands-on, interactive displays – and wants to see a colossal squid. A final detour to Te Papa’s underground basement as you leave will take you to the base isolators that protect the building during shakes. Give yourself 10 minutes in the Quake Braker exhibit to see how the isolators work in practice and watch a video showing their installation.
But Where to Start?
To get your bearings on arrival, try Te Papa’s one-hour introductory guided tour. Included is a welcome, an overview of the main exhibitions and some museum history. Run three times daily for groups of 10 or more, these tours can be booked online or at the information desk on level 2. Added bonus: museum entry for two days is included in the tour ticket price. (tepapa.govt.nz/visit/guided-tours; adult/child $60/30).
