Whānau Day: Breathe | Mauri OraBreathe | Mauri Ora Rā o te Whānau

Slow down. Look closely. Breathe together. This whānau day invites you to explore our deep connections within te taiao.

Across Te Papa, you’ll find a trail designed for tamariki and curious minds of all ages – inspired by Breathe | Mauri Ora.

Through hands-on activities, the sounds of taonga puoro, art-making, and close looking, your whānau is invited to explore the dazzling scale of our universe, from the cosmic to the cellular.

This day aligns with International Slow Art Day, encouraging us to take our time, follow our curiosity, and notice new details.

This free event is outside of the exhibition Breathe | Mauri Ora. The exhibition is open 10am–6pm daily. Exhibition tickets can be purchased separately on our website.

Haere mai, all welcome.

Schedule organised by zone

Icon, Level 2

11am–12.30pm: ORO ATUA Wānanga Rongoā Puoro

A wānanga for all whānau, communities, and ages. Experience Jerome and Ruiha’s whānau practice of taonga puoro as rongoā, by coming together to help navigate the challenges of modern life.

All welcome, but we ask that participants stay for the full session.

Te Taiao | Nature, Level 2

• 10am–2pm, The Treehouse: Mauri Ora Art Workshop (drop-in)

  Make your own artwork inspired by te taiao with artist Ryan Cassidy. As you work, learn te reo Maori and New Zealand Sign Language while exploring the patterns of the natural world.

• 10am–2pm, The Backyard: Scale of the Universe Interactive (drop-in)

  Move between the visible and invisible with the interactive Scale of the Universe. Zoom from microscopic particles to vast galaxies.

Rongomaraeroa, the marae, Level 4 

• 10am–2pm: Learn About Lichens (drop-in)

  What is lichen? That leafy, shaggy, sprawling stuff on every footpath, fence post and tree? Join Fungi of Aotearoa author Liv Sisson to learn about the lichens that live among us!

• 10am–2pm: Free face painting by Daizy Designs (drop-in)

• 10am–2pm: Gelli plate printing with Lara Shepherd (drop-in)

  Print with native plants using gelli plates in this hands-on session with Te Papa evolutionary biologist Lara Shepherd.

Toi Art, Levels 4 and 5

• 11am and 1pm: Putting the 'Art' in 'Earth' tours Meet in the Toi Art foyer, Level 4

• 11–11.30am: Art is everywhere

  Explore how art can be made from everyday objects or things we see in our backyards.

• 1–1.30pm: Art takes time

  Explore how art materials can encourage us to slow down, take a big deep breath, and stop and think.

• 12–1pm: Slow Looking Toi Art, Level 5

  It’s International Slow Art Day! Slow down and explore Bill Hammond’s painting Traffic Cop Bay. What can you spot? The longer you look, the more there is to discover.

Te Taiao Whānau Day: Backyard Birds and Bugs, 12 July 2019. Photo by Jo Moore. Te Papa (141700)