ExhibitionsNgā whakaaturanga

Toi Art

Fresh takes and new favourites. You’ll find them in Toi Art.

Toi Art opened again on Saturday 14 June, with more opening up at the end of June – see what’s coming up!

Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War

This ground-breaking exhibition tells the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

Please note: Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War will be temporarily closed from 21 July to 12 September.

Mana Whenua

Mana Whenua takes you on a stirring journey that explores and celebrates Māori as tangata whenua (the indigenous people) of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Manu Rere Moana

The navigation of the Pacific by waka hourua | double-hulled sailing waka is one of the great achievements of human technology. This exhibition celebrates the mātauranga of celestial navigation that enabled these extraordinary voyages.

Treaty of Waitangi: Signs of a Nation

Discover how the Treaty has shaped relationships between the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Britten Bike

See the record-breaking Britten V1000 motorbike, designed and built by Kiwi genius John Britten.

Te Taiao | Nature

You’re the explorer in our Te Taiao | Nature exhibition zone. Celebrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique natural environment – and get ready for our future as kaitiaki.

Rongomaraeroa

An authentic and inclusive marae (communal meeting place) for the 21st century.

Karetao-puoro

Visit three karetao-puoro (instruments that are figures too) created by artist James Webster to give karetao a voice by incorporating taonga puoro into their design. Watch the whānau of karetao in action in Tokotū (Rise Up), the story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.

He Kaupapa Waka

E kau ki te tai e, e kau ki te tai e! Celebrate the thriving waka community.

The Colossal Squid

Meet the only colossal squid on display in the world.

Tangata o le Moana: The story of Pacific people in New Zealand

Celebrate the story of Pacific people, past and present, in all areas of life.

Phar Lap

Phar Lap was a legendary racehorse and an adored animal hero for a generation of people in New Zealand. You can pay your respects to his bones here, in the country he was born.

Moriori – People of Peace

Learn about the Moriori people who inhabit Rēkohu | the Chatham Islands.

Passports

Remarkable stories of people who migrated to New Zealand over the last 200 years.

The Mixing Room: Stories from young refugees in New Zealand

Young refugees invite you to hear their extraordinary stories.

Blood Earth Fire

Explore New Zealand’s dramatic transition from untouched paradise to cultivated land.

Bush City

Step outside into a living, growing exhibition. Explore native bush and a volcanic landscape.

Quake Braker

Go underground to see the amazing Kiwi innovation that ‘puts the brakes on’ in an earthquake.

John Parker: Handmade Precision

John Parker is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive ceramic artists. Simple lines, clean edges, and industry-inspired forms feature throughout his 50-year career.

Touring Exhibition – Robin White: Tuituia | Something Is Happening Here

More than 50 works from across Dame Robin White’s 50-year career will form what the artist describes as a ‘family reunion’, bringing together works from 22 galleries and living rooms across the country. 

Touring Exhibition – Rūaumoko: Restless land

Te Papa and the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake are taking Rūaumoko: Restless land around Aotearoa New Zealand to promote natural hazard awareness and preparedness.

Touring Exhibition – Clever Crustaceans

Combining the expertise of scientists from NIWA and Te Papa, our latest touring exhibition invites the public to meet Aotearoa New Zealand’s most famous crustaceans!

Touring Exhibition – Tatau: Sāmoan Tattooing and Photography

This exhibition presents the work of four photographers who capture the dynamic practice of contemporary Sāmoan tatau (tattooing) over the last 40 years. 

Touring Exhibition – Colossal Squid: Freaky Features!

Because they live at extreme depths in freezing water, us humans know very little about the colossal squid’s life, they are very rarely captured or seen. Find out about different parts of the colossal squid using Interactive objects and rotating models.

Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery

Created by Vivienne Westwood Limited and produced by Nomad Exhibitions, this retrospective exhibition celebrates the iconic jewellery of renowned British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022).

Hye Rim Lee: Āke Tonu Atu | Eternity

See Hye Rim Lee’s immersive and imaginative Black Rose and White Rose in Toi Art on Level 4.

This Swaying Earth

A suite of exhibitions where artists and makers express their relationships with the natural world.

Closed
23 Sep 2023 – 19 May 2024

Mataaho Collective: Te Puni Aroaro

Experience the ground-breaking artworks of Mataaho Collective – four wāhine Māori artists who have worked together for the last decade.

View more of our past exhibitions

Look at exhibitions presented at Te Papa, going back to 1998.