Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Location	Wellington, New Zealand
Type	National museum
Visitors	1.5 million
Director	Courtney Johnston

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is a national museum located in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. The museum is situated on the Wellington waterfront, overlooking Wellington Harbour and the Cook Strait. It is a popular tourist destination, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually, including those from Australia, United States, and United Kingdom. The museum's unique name, Te Papa Tongarewa, is derived from the Māori language and refers to the Māori people's connection to the natural environment and their ancestors, such as Tāne, Tangaroa, and Haumea.

● History

The history of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa dates back to 1865, when the New Zealand Institute was established, with the goal of promoting the arts and sciences in New Zealand. The institute was later renamed the Royal Society of New Zealand and played a significant role in the development of the museum. The museum's current building was opened in 1998, and it has since become a leading cultural institution in New Zealand, with a strong focus on Māori culture and the country's natural history, including the works of Charles Darwin, James Cook, and Ernest Rutherford. The museum has also collaborated with other institutions, such as the British Museum, American Museum of Natural History, and National Museum of Australia, to develop exhibitions and programs.

● Collections

The museum's collections include over 800,000 objects, ranging from Māori artifacts to natural history specimens, such as those found in the Kermadec Islands and the Antarctic. The collections also feature a significant number of New Zealand art works, including pieces by Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere, and Frances Hodgkins. The museum's entomology collection is one of the largest in the world, with over 250,000 specimens, including those collected by Charles Fleming and Brian Patrick Murphy. The museum has also acquired collections from other institutions, such as the Canterbury Museum and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, to enhance its holdings.

● Exhibitions

The museum features a range of exhibitions, including the Toi Art gallery, which showcases New Zealand art from the 19th century to the present day, with works by Gottfried Lindauer, C.F. Goldie, and Michael Parekowhai. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, such as the Bug Lab exhibition, which was developed in collaboration with Weta Workshop and featured insect-inspired art and design. Other exhibitions have included works by Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso, as well as exhibitions on New Zealand history, such as the New Zealand Wars and the Treaty of Waitangi. The museum has also partnered with other institutions, such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, to develop exhibitions.

● Architecture

The museum's building was designed by Jasmax and features a unique postmodern architecture style, with a striking earthquake-resistant design. The building's design was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier, and features a range of sustainable design elements, such as green roofs and solar panels. The museum's Te Marae area is a significant cultural space, featuring a wharenui (meeting house) and a waka (canoe), and is used for Māori cultural performances and events, such as the Matariki festival. The building has received numerous awards, including the New Zealand Institute of Architects award and the Australian Institute of Architects award.

● Education_and_Research

The museum offers a range of educational programs and resources, including school programs and community outreach initiatives, in partnership with institutions such as the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The museum also conducts research in areas such as Māori culture, natural history, and New Zealand art, and has published numerous books and articles on these topics, including works by Michael King, James Belich, and Anne Salmond. The museum's research has been recognized internationally, with collaborations with institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, and the Australian Museum.

● Governance_and_Funding

The museum is governed by a board of trustees, which includes representatives from Māori iwi (tribes) and the New Zealand government, such as the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Education. The museum is funded by a combination of government funding and private donations, including support from organizations such as the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board and the Wellington City Council. The museum has also received funding from international organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Commonwealth Foundation, to support its programs and exhibitions. The museum's funding model is similar to that of other national museums, such as the National Museum of Canada and the National Museum of Singapore. Category:National museums