President's Column

President’s column – February 2020

We hope you have had a wonderful summer break and are looking forward an exciting 2020 at Te Papa with the Friends

Read more |January 27, 2020

President’s Column – December 2019

This December brings the opening of Te Papa’s exciting immersive summer exhibition, the magical and intriguing Wonderland, a brand-new exhibition developed in Melbourne by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Wonderland celebrates the rich screen history of English author Lewis Carroll’s (Charles Dodgson) timeless stories.

Read more |December 2, 2019

President’s column – November 2019

Throughout history, voicing protest against government action or inaction has remained common for all societies. Fifty years ago 15 million protestors across America were demonstrating against their country’s involvement in the Vietnam War

Read more |November 4, 2019

President’s column – October 2019

Wellington’s spring weather is rather chilly after three weeks of fabulous architecture, art and landscapes, with constant cloudless skies and temperatures of 35C and above. Our group of 21 had a simply wonderful time in Egypt and Jordan on the Friends first overseas tour.

Read more |October 7, 2019

Vice-President’s Column: September 2019

Already we are into September and 2019 seems to be passing by very quickly. As you are reading this column, our President, Elizabeth Kay, and 40 other intrepid travellers are experiencing the wonder and majesty of our first overseas tour – to Egypt, home of the pyramids and amazing ruins of ancient temples. A second tour will commence a few days after this first one. We are eagerly looking forward to hearing of their experiences.

Read more |September 6, 2019

President’s Column: August 2019

In July the Friends were treated to some wonderful talks. We spent a fascinating morning at Solander Gallery, hearing from visiting international artist Danielle Creenaune about how she creates her unique and beautiful wood lithography, or Mokulito, prints. And visiting archaeologist Tony O’Connor introduced us to the now little-known Phoenicians

Read more |July 29, 2019

President’s Column: July 2019

It may be darkest midwinter, but the Friends and Te Papa are certainly not in hibernation. We were thrilled to welcome over 400 members to the Friends very first museum Take Over night.

Read more |June 25, 2019

Presidents Column: June 2019

Ngā mihi o te tau hou! Happy New Year! The Māori New Year, when the seven sisters of the Matariki star cluster appear in our southern skies, marks the turning point of winter in Aotearoa. This year Matariki will be observed from Tuesday 25 June to Wednesday 3 July.

Read more |June 4, 2019

Presidents Column – May 2019

Thank you to all those members who have now renewed their subscriptions and congratulations to the winners of our membership draw. The last few months have been very busy for the Friends and Te Papa, with constant long queues for the fabulous summer exhibition, Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality.

Read more |May 7, 2019

Presidents Column – April 2019

We will forever remember 15 March 2019 as one of New Zealand’s darkest days. Pride in our country is usually a response to our beautiful landscape, or a magnificent win by the All Blacks, but these past weeks we have had reason to be proud of ourselves as a people of compassion, tolerance and diversity.

Read more |April 1, 2019