In this reflective session, Sarah Hopkinson, Head of Learning at Te Papa, explores the vital role museums play within Aotearoa’s wider education ecosystem and the unique ways they nurture creativity, collaboration, and community. Drawing on recent Te Papa Learning initiatives, she highlights embodied, socially connected approaches that enrich and extend classroom learning. Looking ahead, Sarah shares an aspirational vision for museum learning that supports long term growth, embraces diverse forms of knowledge, and creates spaces where young people, teachers, and communities can flourish.

Theft and Forgery at Victoria University's Classics Museum

Victoria University’s Classics Museum examines the complex afterlives of antiquities through two remarkable objects—a Roman portrait head now subject to repatriation after being identified as illicitly excavated, and a richly carved child’s sarcophagus later revealed to be a modern forgery. Associate Professor Diana Burton explores the investigations behind these discoveries

Wellington Writers Walk New Sculpture

The Wellington Writers Walk has grown from its first eleven sculptures in 2002 to a beloved series of 23 typographical artworks celebrating poets, novelists, and playwrights connected to the capital. In this talk, Writers Walk chair Philippa Werry and committee member Tracy Farr trace the Walk’s history and introduce the

Begonia House Tour and Talk

The Begonia House is now fully wrapped for its major renewal, offering a rare behind the scenes look at the remarkable transformation underway as every structural element is replaced, restored, or refinished. In this special walkthrough, Dan McGuinness and project manager Mostyn Whyman will guide you through the scale, complexity,

Sculpture at 1100 Degrees

Jonathan Campbell is a Wellington-based bronze sculptor whose narrative-rich practice draws on more than three decades of technical mastery, from founding his Lower Hutt studio and foundry in 1992 to casting works for many of Aotearoa’s leading artists and institutions. In his upcoming talk, Campbell will share an inside look

Slow Burn: Women and Photography Curator's Talk

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

In Bloom Curator's Talk

For the flower lovers among us, this one is unmissable. In Bloom turns the quiet, domestic tradition of flower painting into a vivid exploration of colour, sensation, and artistic experimentation. Join Dr Rebecca Rice, Senior Curator Art, as she reveals how the artists in this exhibition use the humble bloom

History and Heritage Tour of the Coromandel

8 – 14 September 2026. BOOKINGS CLOSE JUNE 8! 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

Growing Museum Learning

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Theft and Forgery at Victoria University's Classics Museum

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Wellington Writers Walk New Sculpture

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Begonia House Tour and Talk

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Mid-Winter Lunch at Le Bouillon Bel Air

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Sculpture at 1100 Degrees

EVENT

Slow Burn: Women and Photography Curator's Talk

EVENT

In Bloom Curator's Talk

EVENT

History and Heritage Tour of the Coromandel

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President's Column: May 2026

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Friends' Contribution to Conservation of Te Papa's Collections

Upcoming Events

Theft and Forgery at Victoria University’s Classics Museum