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Gasav Ne Fäeag Rotuạm Ta – Rotuma Language Week

White mat made from pandanus with a pink trim

Rotuma

Read about our collections and connections to the island of Rotuma, part of the Rotuma Group, which includes several smaller islands in the South Pacific Ocean, around 650 kilometres north of Fiji.

A black and white photo of an industrial active port in a city in the late 1800s.

Little-known lives: Rotumans in 19th-century Aotearoa New Zealand

Senior Curator Pacific Histories and Cultures Sean Mallon shares two rare stories of Rotuman travellers who found their way to New Zealand in the early 1800s, and how a contemporary Rotuman artist has remembered one of them.

Sepia image of 15 people sitting on flax mats under trees

Fakpeje: Mạnu’ ne kav ta

‘Amnäk ne gasav ne fäeag Rotuạm ta, la a‘pumuạ‘ạkia fäegat ne hele‘uen la peak pạu ‘e laloag ne rän te‘. Jacki Leota-Mua ne garue ‘e Te Papa ma kạutạunạ‘iạg Rotuạm ne Niusirạgi (NZRF group), hö‘ạkia ‘os a‘häe se ‘os ‘ạtmot ta Rotuma, ne fu sousou ‘e Fiti la hạila‘oag ma mäel tarạu fol ma saghul (500kms). ‘Oris ‘amnạki la sạkiroa rere ne foh kav fak Rotuma.

A woven mat lies on the ground on top of another woven mat.

Acquisitions: ‘apei and monuma from Rotuma

In 2021, we acquired a Rotuman ‘apei sala (white mat) and monuma (blouse) for the Pacific Cultures collections. Then Curator Pacific Cultures Dr Rachel Yates reflects on the acquisition.

Three young people are sitting under a tree. One is playing the guitar, one is playing a drum and one has a ukulele. They are all laughing.

Rotuman Language Week resources from Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Downloadable resources for Rotuman Language Week, including social media graphics and posters from Te Manatū mō ngā iwi ō te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa | Ministry for Pacific Peoples' website.

What’s on at Te Papa

Mānawatia a Matariki

Celebrate Matariki – the beginning of the New Year in Aotearoa New Zealand, marked by the rising of the Matariki star cluster.

On now

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

A photo taken at dusk showing a lit-up building on a hill on a farm.

The Resene Architecture and Design Film Festival

The Resene Architecture & Design Film Festival returns to Wellington and, for the first time, some films are showing at Te Papa on 24 and 25 May. Prepare to immerse yourself in an inspiring new collection of architecture and design documentaries sourced from across the globe.

24–25 May

He Kura Toi Tangata: 50 years of the Waitangi Tribunal, 1975–2025

As part of the Waitangi Tribunal's 50th anniversary celebrations, The Waitangi Tribunal and Te Papa present a panel discussion to mark this special occasion.

Thu 22 May 2025, 6.30pm–8.00pm

Event Ngā kaupapa motuhake

Events

Our exciting programme of events runs all year. Watch song and dance performances, join in with kids activities and cultural days, hear from our experts, and much more.

Explore the website – The digital museum

matariki-night sky with designed star on it

Matariki: The Māori New Year

Learn all about Matariki and see our events. Matariki is a time to gather with family and friends to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.

A teatowel showing two small children holding their pants open and looking down. The main message is "Oh! That explains the difference in our wages"

Protest, antiracism, and activism

Read about protest collecting, decolonisation, and antiracism from our collections and tohunga (experts) and across the web.

Portrait of Chris Parker wearing a felt hat. The hat features tiny versions of the key New Zealand public figures during Covid-19, a bag of flour, a tiny self-portrait of Chris wearing his orange hoodie, and a tiny official Covid-19 symbol

LGBTQI+ histories of Aotearoa New Zealand

Explore queer objects, artworks, and stories in Te Papa’s collections and discover more about the rich histories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s LGBTQI+ communities and icons – including the AIDS Quilt, Carmen Rupe, and Xena: Warrior Princess.

A spread of different pieces of jewellery made by the same jeweller. Most of them are hanging on dark threads.

Warwick Freeman: Jeweller

Find out about Warwick Freeman, a renowned New Zealand jeweller known for his contemporary, sculptural jewellery that often incorporates natural materials and references the identity and landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Two men press their noses together for hongi

Learn online with Te Papa

Are you interested in peeking inside Te Papa to take a journey into the wonders, taonga (treasures), and events that make up Aotearoa New Zealand’s history? Find out about our online learning options.

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