Slow Burn: Women and Photography Curator's Talk

EVENT

You’re invited to a special opportunity to hear directly from Lissa Mitchell, Te Papa Curator Historical Documentary (Photography), the curator of Slow Burn: Women and Photography | Ahi Tāmau: Māreikura Whakaahua as they share the intentions and ideas that shaped this major new exhibition. Together we’ll explore how 170 works by 50 women and non binary artists speak to identity, whānau, place, and the connections that span generations. This session offers a rare behind the scenes insight into the curatorial process and the questions driving contemporary photographic practice in Aotearoa.

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EVENT

Museums and National Identity

Friends of Te Papa invite you to an illustrated talk exploring how museums across Central and Eastern Europe express national identity shaped by centuries of empire, conflict, and cultural change. Drawing on his recent journey along the Danube, committee member Richard Norman reflects on what these international examples can offer Aotearoa

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EVENT

Peggy Guggenheim- A Life of Collecting

Join distinguished arts educator Charlie Hall for a vivid, insider’s journey through the extraordinary life of Peggy Guggenheim, the collector who reshaped modern art. From daring wartime acquisitions to the creation of her iconic Venetian palazzo museum, this richly illustrated talk brings her remarkable story to life. With Charlie’s trademark

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EVENT

Members exclusive - Preview of He Toi Whakairo

Be among the first to experience He Toi Whakairo: The Art of Māori Carving, a landmark exhibition bringing together seven centuries of artistry from Te Papa’s collections. Featuring 147 taonga spanning the 1300s to today, the exhibition reveals whakairo as both a deeply ancestral practice and a vibrant, continually evolving

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EVENT

Annual General Meeting 2026

This year’s AGM features a keynote from Michael Upchurch, Publisher at Te Papa Press, the award winning publishing arm of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

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EVENT

For the Love of Letterpress

For the Love of Letterpress offers a behind the scenes tour of Wai te ata Press with Sydney Shep, showcasing the studio’s remarkable letterpress technologies and the only working collection of Chinese full form heritage type in the southern hemisphere. Visitors will explore unique presses, wood and metal type, and

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EVENT

Nancy Adams Talk and Back-of-House Tour - Members Exclusive

Join Te Papa curators for an intimate floor talk and behind the scenes visit exploring the remarkable botanical legacy of Nancy Adams, one of Aotearoa’s most influential botanists and illustrators. Begin at the vibrant Nancy Adams: The Art of Seaweed display, where her artworks, specimens, and research come to life

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EVENT

A Waikato Pilgrimage

A Waikato Pilgrimage (24–27 September 2026) offers a deeply informed journey into the region’s early settlement, church history, and enduring relationships between state and community, guided by Sir David Moxon. Across Pirongia, Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain, Whaingaroa Raglan, and Taupiri Maunga, participants will meet local kaumātua, explore significant pā and mission

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EVENT

History and Heritage Tour of the Coromandel

8 – 14 September 2026. The Coromandel Peninsula does not just have an abundance of natural beauty but is also rich in Māori history and early European settler heritage. This tour will explore the historic town of Thames with a knowledgeable local guide. We visit the Carnegie Library and Thames

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NEWS

Late June Newsletter

Hello Friends, Remembering and Celebrating Berys Walter The Friends note with sadness the passing of Berys Walter, a former dedicated committee member and Chair of the Friends (2009–2012). …

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FEATURES

President's Column: May 2026

The Friends of Te Papa stand at a remarkable intersection of local commitment and global connection. As members of the World Federation of Friends of Museums …

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NEWS