Friends of Te Papa

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 as our own cultural sector navigates financial pressures and strategic choices.

This session blends travel stories, striking visuals, and thoughtful questions about the future of arts and culture in New Zealand.

Join distinguished arts educator Charlie Hall, Director of the long‑running John Hall Venice Course and a specialist in Italian art and culture, for an illuminating journey through the extraordinary life of Peggy Guggenheim. With decades of experience lecturing for Christie’s Education, The Serpentine Gallery, Kirker Holidays, and Soho House, Charlie brings a rare blend of scholarship, storytelling, and on‑the‑ground insight from his work in London and Italy.

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 artform. Visitors will encounter an extraordinary range of forms and materials, offering powerful insight into the skill, innovation, and cultural identity embodied in Māori carving. Friends’ members are warmly invited to enjoy this exclusive preview before the exhibition opens to the public.

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 a range of typographic treasures that illuminate the craft and history of printing. As Reader in Book History and a practising printer, Sydney brings deep expertise in book history and print culture to this engaging, hands‑on experience.