Mālō le soifua, Friends!
Our winter programme invites you to come together for a lively season of talks, tours, and shared discovery.
Museology
Museums sit at the heart of everything we do, and these three talks shine a light on the ideas, stories, and creative energy that make these institutions such vital places of learning and connection.
Next Friday we visit Victoria University to hear Associate Professor Dr Diana Burton presenting Theft and Forgery at Victoria University’s Classics Museum. The Classics Museum’s small but significant antiquities collection includes two objects at the heart of this talk: a Roman portrait head later identified as illicitly excavated and now subject to repatriation, and a richly carved child’s sarcophagus revealed to be a modern forgery. Dr Burton unpacks the investigations behind these discoveries and what they mean for museum practice and the study of antiquity.
In June, Sarah Hopkinson, Head of Learning at Te Papa, explores the role museums play within Aotearoa’s education ecosystem in Growing Museum Learning. She 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.
In August, committee member Richard Norman presents Museums and National Identity, examining 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, Richard reflects on what these international examples might offer Aotearoa as our own cultural sector navigates financial pressures and strategic choices.
These sessions remind us why museums matter so deeply to the Friends, they are places where ideas are exchanged and histories examined.
Winter Arts Highlights
For lovers of the arts, we have some compelling events to inspire you.
The Wellington Writers Walk, which has grown from eleven sculptures in 2002 to a beloved series of twenty‑three, celebrates poets, novelists, and playwrights connected to the capital. This July, chair Philippa Werry and committee member Tracy Farr trace the Walk’s history and introduce the new sculpture to be unveiled for Matariki 2026 — the first in te reo Māori and the first addition in more than a decade.
We also welcome Jonathan Campbell, Wellington‑based bronze sculptor, for Sculpture at 1100 Degrees. With more than three decades of technical mastery, Jonathan offers an inside look at the processes, challenges, and craft behind creating bronze sculpture, sharing stories from his years at the furnace.
In July, Lissa Mitchell, Te Papa Curator Historical Documentary (Photography), offers a special opportunity to hear directly about the making of Slow Burn: Women and Photography. Together we’ll explore how 170 works by fifty women and non‑binary artists speak to identity, whānau, place, and the connections that span generations.
This August we are delighted to partner with the Wellington Arts Society to present a lecture by arts educator Charlie Hall on the extraordinary life of Peggy Guggenheim. Her fearless collecting, from London to Paris, New York, and finally Venice, helped shape the course of twentieth‑century art. Charlie’s deep knowledge and engaging style bring her world vividly to life, from avant‑garde circles to wartime escapes and the creation of one of the most iconic private collections ever assembled.
You can be among the first to preview He Toi Whakairo, 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.
These five events offer rich opportunities to gather, learn, and stay connected as we celebrate the depth and diversity of art and culture across Aotearoa.
Botany in Bloom
Botany is a strong theme for the Friends this winter, something to brighten the season.
The Begonia House is now fully wrapped for its major renewal, and we are 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 guide you through the scale, complexity, and craftsmanship involved in bringing this beloved conservatory back to life.
At Toi Art, the new exhibition In Bloom turns the quiet, domestic tradition of flower painting into a vivid exploration of colour, sensation, and artistic experimentation. Senior Curator Art Dr Rebecca Rice reveals how artists use the humble bloom to probe the sensual pleasures of the natural world and push the boundaries of line, form, and painterly expression.
Together, these experiences offer a welcome burst of colour and creativity through the winter months, inviting our Friends community to find inspiration in the natural world.
Fantastic Tours
Spring is a great time for a getaway and what could be more perfect than an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Waikato or the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula!
Join us for A Waikato Pilgrimage, 24–27 September 2026, an immersive adventure led by Sir David Moxon as we explore historic pā sites, mission stories, sacred landscapes, and the people who shaped them. From Pirongia to Maungatautari, Whaingaroa Raglan to Taupiri Maunga, this is your chance to experience history, culture, and connection in a way that stays with you long after the journey ends.
Also scheduled for September, our History and Heritage of the Coromandel Tour. Discover the Coromandel Peninsula’s stunning landscapes, rich Māori history, and early European heritage on this seven‑day tour. From Thames’ historic sites and Coromandel town’s creative heart to Whitianga’s glass‑bottom boat cruise, Lost Spring Spa, and a wine‑tasting lunch at Mercury Bay Estate, visits to Waihi’s gold‑mining landmarks, the dramatic Karangahake Gorge, and the Paeroa Historical Maritime Park, this journey blends culture, nature, and history.
Mid‑Winter Gatherings
In July, we come together for two special events that invite us to reflect on the year gone by and look ahead to the one to come.
Join us at Le Bouillon Bel Air for a convivial Mid‑Winter Lunch on Thursday 9 July at 12.30pm. The cost is $76 per person for a delicious three‑course seasonal menu. Seats are limited; to register your interest, please email [email protected].
Our Annual General Meeting will take place at Te Papa on Thursday 16 July. We are pleased to feature keynote speaker Michael Upchurch, Publisher at Te Papa Press, the award‑winning publishing arm of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. All Friends are warmly welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there.
It is a busy schedule Friends, we hope you find something here to spark joy in the year!
Fa‘amanuia atu
Rachael Brenton-Rule – Coordinator
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Above image: Human Dynamo Workshop.
Caption: Testing laser-cut text and design elements into aluminium for the sculpture, with LED backlighting and diffuser material in place. Design: David Hakaraia. Manufacture: Human Dynamo Workshop.