What kind of facilities does Te Papa provide for the disabled?
Te Papa warmly welcomes all visitors and provides the best possible arrangements to ensure that people with special needs can fully enjoy their visit.
A number of services and facilities are available, including disabled car parking, wheelchairs, and wide access seating. For more information click here.
back to the top
What are Te Papa's opening hours?
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is open 365 days of the year (including public holidays).
It is open from 10.00am until 6.00pm, with a late night on Thursday (10.00am until 9.00pm).
back to the top
What is Te Papa’s policy on photographing collection items?
It is a condition of entry to the building that the public may not make direct copies of any work or object on display.
Photographing, videoing, and other recording of general scenes within the building, people, the building itself, exhibition overviews, and other areas are permitted for personal purposes.
Photography, videoing, and other recording may still be prohibited, by notice, at the entry of touring exhibitions where this is a condition of the loan.
This means no one is allowed to take a direct photo, video, or other kind of copy of any painting, display case, taonga, object, or other work on display in the Museum.
Photographs, videos, and other copies may be taken:
- of people who are standing beside or around collection items
- of general views of the exhibitions that may include collection items incidentally
- of the exterior and interior of the building
- of events and activities happening in the museum, unless these are specifically restricted.
Commercial or professional photographers, film crews, and so on, must apply to the Director, Commercial/Operations, for permission to film or photograph in the Museum.
back to the top
What can you tell me about the Te Papa Audio Guide?
The Te Papa Audio Guide is a lightweight portable M-PEG CD-ROM player, developed especially for museums and historic sites.
It adds to the Te Papa experience and provides a selection of audio tracks about some of our most interesting and significant exhibits. There are also five self-guided thematic tours, including a highlights tour.
Te Papa was the first museum in New Zealand to use this audio-guide technology, and was the first in the world to use these state-of-the-art M-PEG players. The technology has subsequently been adopted by some of the world's leading museums and historic sites.
The Audio Guide is available from the Information Desk on Level 2. There is a $5.00 charge and a bond is held, eg, credit card, drivers licence, or passport, until the Audio Guide is returned.
Wellington residents! Ask a Te Papa host about our free audioguide tour for Wellingtonians. A special offer in partnership with Wellington City Council.
Groups wanting Audio Guides can be offered a discount. Advance bookings are encouraged, and can be made through the Information Desk.
back to the top
What are some of the other features of the Audio Guide?
Each track can be accessed in any order the visitor chooses. The player is easy to use, and provides the listener with clear digital-quality sound.
Most tracks contain sound effects and music as well as voice commentary, and some tracks are highly dramatic. Some tracks (such as those at exhibition entrances) are triggered automatically by an infrared sensor. There is also a tour of Bush City that starts automatically as you enter the exhibition.
There are about one-and-a-half hours of audio in each of four languages: English, Māori, German, and Japanese.
There are features for disabled people. The instruction buttons are in Braille, and there is a small screen on which the English, Māori, or German text can be read as it scrolls by (suitable for hearing disabled people).
An effective way to get the most out of Te Papa (and to help you find your way around) is to use the Audio Guide in conjunction with the Te Papa Explorer. The Te Papa Explorer is available at the Information Desk on Level 2 and costs $2.00.
back to the top
Where are the car parking facilities?
There are 250 car parks at Te Papa. These are open to everyone.
Bus parking is also available along with spaces for motorcycles and bikes.
A taxi stand is located outside Te Papa for Wellington Combined Taxis only, ph: (04) 384 4444.
Special needs parking is available for people with disabilities. Five disabled car parks are available - two on the left of the car park entrance and three on the left as you enter the covered car parking section.
There is a free fifteen-minute set down time where you can drop people off and leave Te Papa without incurring a charge.
Car park charges:
Fifteen minutes - one hour $3.00
One - two hours $6.00
Two - three hours $8.00
Three - four hours $10.00
Four - five hours $12.00
Daily maximum $12.00
Arrive after 5.00pm - $6.00
back to the top
How many seats are there in the Soundings Theatre?
Soundings Theatre accommodates 328 people, plus three spaces for wheelchairs.
Soundings Theatre is located on Level 2.
back to the top
What kind of tours are on offer at Te Papa?
Group tours are available during opening hours. The following tours are popular examples of what we offer.
Fabulous Te Papa
A 90-minute tour exploring Te Papa’s fabulous treasures - from whales to waka, birds to bikes. Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin. Booking: advance bookings only. (For French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin tours, book at least one month in advance.) Cost per person: adults $12.50, children (aged 15 and under) $6.50. Minimum charge to ensure tour departure: $125.
Te Papa Highlights
A 90-minute tour specially designed for international visitors. The tour starts with a mihimihi (an informal Māori welcome), followed by highlights from New Zealand’s natural environment, art, and history. Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin. Booking: advance bookings only. (For French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin tours, book at least one month in advance.) Cost per person: adults $21, children (aged 15 and under) $10.50. Minimum charge to ensure tour departure $126.
Te Papa Sampler
A 60-minute tour covering selected highlights and areas of Te Papa for groups on a busy itinerary. It is tailored to suit the nationality and interests of the group. Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin. Booking: advance bookings only. (For French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin tours, book at least one month in advance.) Cost per person: adults $9.50, children (aged 15 and under) $5. Minimum charge to ensure tour departure: $95.
Māori Highlighlights Tour
A 60-minute tour designed particularly for the international visitor with a special interest in learning about Māori culture. Knowledgeable hosts introduce various taonga Māori (treasures), the stories associated with them, and their links with the living culture. Language: English only. Available: at an introductory level, or a more in-depth version tailored to complement previous cultural experiences. Booking: advance bookings only. Cost per person: adults $23.50, children (aged 15 and under) $13. Minimum charge to ensure tour departure: $141.
For more information about tours at Te Papa click here.
back to the top