Overview
The natural world of Aotearoa will take centre stage in a brand new nature zone coming to Te Papa.
Te Taiao Nature — the biggest change to Te Papa since it opened 21 years ago — will be unveiled to the public on 11 May, 2019. Replacing the museum's previous nature area on level two, the new $12 million exhibition has been called "a bold and immersive journey through the natural world of Aotearoa New Zealand, combining cutting-edge science with mātauranga Māori." It will be presented in four parts, exploring our weird and wonderful wildlife, the geological forces that shape our land, and environmental challenges that face us.
The 1400-square-metre zone is a permanent new addition to the museum. The free exhibition will feature over 1200 collection items from New Zealand's natural world, along with dozens of brand-new interactive experiences, from creating your own tsunami to weighing in against a giant moa.
The colossal squid and Earthquake House will return, while the oldest specimen on display will be a giant ammonite – shelled relative of squid — dating back 140 million years. At the heart of the exhibition in a four-metre-high "nest" will be one of only 36 moa eggs in the world, dating at least 700 years.
Te Taiao Nature will be open to the public from May 11, 2019. Entry is free.