TE PAPA MUSEUM

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

If you happen to be in Wellington, make it a point to visit the museum of New Zealand. Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), is one of the largest national museums in the world.

Since opening in 1998, over 6.8 million people have visited Te Papa, far exceeding all visitor predictions. Contrary to museum trends internationally, Te Papa has attracted a huge audience of first time museum visitors. In the peak season, approximately one third of Te Papa's visitors are from overseas.

The largest cultural project in New Zealand's history and constructed at a cost of $NZ 317 million, Te Papa tells the stories of this young Pacific nation; its history, art and natural environment.

The museum powerfully expresses the total culture of New Zealand, which legally is a bicultural country. Under the treaty of Waitangi, (a giant two story replica on display in the center of the museum), there are the Tangata Whenua, the people in New Zealand by right of first arrival and the Tangata Tiriti, people in New Zealand by right of the treaty. The two cultures see themselves in a constant process of redefinition.

Te Papa considers itself integral to this debate about their identity, and wants to contribute to it. Exhibitions and events proudly come from both cultures.

WELLINGTON HARBOR

The unique geological structure of the country is also represented in the architecture of the building itself. There is a mighty charcoal colored wall slicing right through Te Papa and projecting beyond each end. This symbolic fault line is parallel to the actual earthquake fault line nearby on the western side of Wellington Harbor.

The flora and fauna of New Zealand are also showcased in the long term exhibitions Mountains to Sea and Awesome Forces. Bush City is an outside area that recreates sections of the New Zealand landscape with living fauna.

Te Papa has four individually themed Discovery Centers which are specially designed to provide an interactive, fun learning experience for children. There is