Collections and Research areas

Art and Visual Culture intersects a variety of museum collections through photography, botanical art, craft and design, and Māori and Pacific visual culture.

From the Egyptian coffin of Lady Mehit-em-Wesekht to Britten's motorbike, Te Papa’s History Collection holds a diverse range of objects.

Take a glimpse of the Māori world through the imagery and insights of taonga (cultural treasures) we care for.

The diverse cultures of the Pacific Islands are represented in this collection. Included is the feather cloak presented to Captain Cook by Kalani‘ōpu‘u.

The Natural Environment team cares for and develops Te Papa’s natural history collections.