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). On behalf of the Friends of Te Papa, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and all who knew her. Berys was a true supporter of the arts, the museum, and Wellington. She carried out her work with warmth, thoughtfulness, and a genuine care for others. Her leadership and generosity of spirit made a lasting contribution to our organisation, enriching both the Friends and the wider arts community. She will be remembered with deep appreciation.
As we honour her memory, we continue the work she cared for so deeply — fostering community, learning, and a shared love of the arts.
Friends gathered on Friday for a fascinating talk with Dr Diana Burton, Theft and Forgery at Victoria University’s Classics Museum. Diana kept us all enthralled and amused with her storytelling and it was wonderful to meet with everyone who attended.
Now we look ahead to the upcoming events that bring our Friends together to connect, reflect, and enjoy the months ahead.
JULY
Mid‑Winter Lunch
Are you looking for the perfect excuse to mix and mingle around the table this Matariki? Join us at Le Bouillon Bel Air for a convivial, members exclusive, Mid‑Winter Lunch on Thursday 9 July at 12.30pm. The cost is $76 per person for a delicious three‑course seasonal menu. This is the perfect way to catch up with old friends and make new connections with people who share your love for museums, art, and science.
Annual General Meeting
Our AGM will take place at Te Papa on Thursday 16 July from 5.30pm onward. 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. If you’re interested in how national stories are chosen, or what’s next for one of Aotearoa’s leading presses, this is an event worth attending in person. Please register your interest in coming along. All Friends are warmly welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there.
The Friends are proud to bring you an exclusive close-up look at two exciting projects happening in Wellington this month.
You are all familiar with 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. In this talk on July 1, Committee Chair Philippa Werry and Committee Member and Author Tracy Farr trace the Walk’s history and introduce the new sculpture to be unveiled soon for Matariki 2026 — the first in te reo Māori and the first addition in more than a decade. Weather permitting, following the talk we will walk around Te Papa to see the new sculpture in situ.
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. The talk and tour will take place on location at 2pm on July 2. In this special walkthrough, Dan McGuinness and Project Manager Mostyn Whyman will guide you through the scale, complexity, and craftsmanship involved in bringing this beloved conservatory back to life.
Our program this Winter has some exciting offerings for people who love the arts, whether you are an artist fascinated by the creative process or a connoisseur of the arts who loves to get inside the mind of artists and their practice.
We welcome Jonathan Campbell, Wellington‑based bronze sculptor whose practice spans more than three decades of exhibitions, public commissions, and award‑winning work across Aotearoa, to Te Papa on July 23. Jonathan offers an inside look at the processes, challenges, and craft behind creating bronze sculpture, sharing stories from his years at the furnace. If you are interested in the creative process and technical mastery or simply find his sculptures elegant, Sculpture at 1100 Degrees will be an event to inspire you.
The Friends love a Curator talk because they expand our understanding and appreciation of exhibitions hosted at Te Papa. On July 28, 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 exhibition contains many astonishing works and has garnered praise from critics. It is worth a deeper dive with a knowledgeable speaker.
AUGUST
We have another curator talk which promises to be delightfully inspirational. One of the galleries at Toi Art has a wonderful new exhibition that is guaranteed to excite the painters among us. In Bloom turns the quiet, domestic tradition of flower painting into a vivid exploration of colour, sensation, and artistic experimentation. Dr Rebecca Rice, Senior Curator Art, reveals in this talk 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. This talk, on August 6, will add a splash of colour to the darker days of the season and have you reaching for the brushes.
Committee Member Richard Norman presents Museums and National Identity, in which he examines 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. The talk is on August 20 and blends travel stories, striking visuals, and reflective questions about how nations, including our own, use museums to express identity, navigate history, and imagine their futures. Members are warmly invited to bring their own experiences, whether from past travels or places of personal significance.
Our lecture series in association with the Wellington Arts Society has brought us some engaging speakers making presentations which entertain and inform. Coming up on August 23, experienced Arts Educator Charlie Hall will speak on the extraordinary life of Peggy Guggenheim. Describing herself by writing, “I am a museum”, Peggy Guggenheim’s life took a clear path from simple beginnings to creating a collection that would help shape the course of twentieth-century art. She has a fascinating story. 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.
If you follow the permanent exhibitions at Te Papa with a critical eye, 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. This exhibition is a celebration and will be open for five years, so come along and be one of the first to see it before it opens to the public in this member exclusive event.
SEPTEMBER
September and Spring seem so far away but it is never too soon to start filling our events calendar with exciting offerings. These two talks make us as Wellingtonians feel like we are part of an inspirational community bringing nature into focus.
Join Te Papa Curators Lizzie Bisley and Heidi Meudt for an intimate floor talk and behind‑the‑scenes visit exploring the remarkable botanical legacy of local legend Nancy Adams, one of Wellington and 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 through expert insight. Then head back of house to the herbarium to view Adams’ original collections and discover how her lifelong study of native flora continues to shape our understanding of New Zealand’s botanical heritage. This is a member’s exclusive event which we are very pleased to bring to you.
Following from his inspirational talk in 2025, Dr Chris McKeown invites us into a new exploration of how artists create not just images or objects, but invitations to notice shaped by care, presence, and attention. Beyond the Aperture: The Art of Paying Attention will be held at Te Papa on September 26. Drawing on photography, neuroscience, and lived creative practice, he reflects on how art can become a meeting place between maker and viewer, supporting wellbeing and spiritual growth for both. Through stories, conversations, and contemplative creative work, this talk considers how slowing down and truly noticing may allow something meaningful to be transferred, not merely seen. For creative people, scientists, and anyone who searches for a deeper purpose in life, this presentation from a unique speaker and artist is simply must-see.
If you are planning an escape this year, look no further than us. Our tours are designed to get you away in a voyage of discovery with history and culture (and Friends!) as your travelling companions. We have on offer our Coromandel Tour, A Waikato Pilgrimage, Napier’s Art Deco and soon to be released ANZAC Day Turkey 2027 experience (stay tuned).
As we look ahead, we’re grateful for the creativity, curiosity, and generosity that our wonderful speakers and the Friends community bring to every gathering. It’s this shared spirit that keeps our organisation vibrant, connected, and continually inspired by the arts in all their forms.
Thank you for your time, we look forward to meeting you!
Rachael Brenton-Rule – Coordinator
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Above image: Begonia House, Mazz Scannell