The history of Te Papa
Our history
Te Papa's first predecessor was the Colonial Museum, which opened
in a small wooden building in 1865. Here is a brief description of
how the museum evolved over the years.
1865 to 1930s - humble beginnings
The tiny Colonial Museum opened behind Parliament Buildings shortly
after Parliament moved to Wellington in 1865. Sir James Hector led
the Museum until 1903, when Augustus Hamilton became Director. In
1907, the Museum became known as the Dominion Museum.
The idea of developing a public art gallery in Wellington was
gathering support around this time. In 1913, the Science and Art
Act provided for the establishment of the National Art Gallery in
the building. But not until 1930 did the idea start to become a
reality under the National Gallery and Dominion Museum Act.
1930s to 1970s - Buckle Street building
In 1936, a new building to house the Dominion Museum and new
National Art Gallery opened in Buckle Street, Wellington. It
incorporated the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. They sold their
land and donated the proceeds to the new organisation.
In 1972, the Dominion Museum became the National Museum.
1980s - a need for change
The Buckle Street building was never actually completed and by the
1980s was full to bursting. The National Art Gallery was
particularly concerned about its inadequacies.
The way the National Museum functioned was also in need of review.
The Museum had been much loved for many years but no longer
represented its increasingly diverse community. Society had
changed, and so had views about New Zealand's history and
identity.
In 1988, the Government established a Project Development Board to
set the scene for a new national museum. This Board consulted
people nationwide, including iwi (tribal groups), about their
visions for the museum. The goals for the Museum of New Zealand Te
Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa) emerged.
1990s - Te Papa takes shape
In 1992, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Act was
passed. Te Papa would
- unite the National Museum and National Art Gallery as one entity
- unite the collections of the two institutions so that New Zealand's stories could be told in an interdisciplinary way
- be a partnership between Tangata Whenua (Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand) and Tangata Tiriti (people in New Zealand by right of the Treaty of Waitangi)
- speak with authority
- represent and appeal to New Zealand's increasingly diverse society
- be a place for discussion, debate, involvement, and celebration
- link the past, present, and future.
1998 - Te Papa opens
On 14 February 1998, Te Papa opened in Cable Street, Wellington -
on time and within budget. Construction had taken four
years.
Since Te Papa opened, more than 15 million people have visited the
Museum. Our narrative-based, interdisciplinary, and interactive
approach has attracted international attention, as has our
commitment to biculturalism.
Our challenge is ongoing - to remain true to the community and
relevant in an ever-changing world.
For more information on Te Papa, visit the
official site here.
