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Kororā display invites visitors to protect little blue penguins who call our harbour
Kororā display invites visitors to protect little blue penguins who call our harbour
By Rongopai Tickell, 20 May 2026
At Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum, we are beginning to share the story of kororā (little blue penguins) with our visitors, especially our tamariki. Our new kororā display invites people to look closer, to understand the lives of this remarkable species, and to recognise their presence all around us.
I vividly remember my first encounter with the kororā on Matiu/Somes Island. First one little kororā pokes his head out from behind a log, pausing to check if the coast is clear. Then another appears, and another. They gather in a small huddle, heads darting this way and that, each waiting for someone else to make the first move.
Finally, one brave kororā steps forward. He waddles quickly, then breaks into a determined sprint for the bushes, his tiny legs moving at surprising speed. Under the glow of our red-light torches, we catch glimpses of him, his small blue head popping up through the grass as he climbs the steep incline. It feels almost cinematic. I find myself filming on my phone and later adding the Pink Panther soundtrack to match their cautious, comical movements.
I am completely overwhelmed by their cuteness. But more than that, I feel deeply honoured to be in their presence, to witness the mana of this taonga species in Te Whanganui a Tara.
Mātiu Island is an āhuru mōwai, one place of refuge for kororā. Here, they are protected. Here, they belong.
I work as a Learning Specialist at Te Waka Huia, Wellington Museum. Through this role, I met Terese McLeod of Taranaki Whānui, who shared her experiences on Mātiu Island and her deep love for te taiao. Together, we spoke about how to bring these stories to the tamariki who walk through our museum doors.
Terese reminded me that kororā may be our smallest residents in Wellington, but they are also our tuakana (big brothers and sisters). They lived in this harbour long before us. She laid down a wero (challenge). Kororā are under threat, and we must do better to protect them.
What many people don’t realise is that kororā live all around Wellington Harbour. Even when we cannot see them, they are there, resting in burrows or far out at sea gathering kai (food). Their absence from view does not mean absence from place.
They are determined, resilient, and fiercely loyal to their kāinga (home). For generations, kororā have returned to the same nesting sites, navigating an increasingly busy and altered harbour to find their way home. When it is time to breed, they return to the place they were born.
Kororā are also indicators of the health of the harbour itself. When they are thriving, it tells us that the moana (sea) can still sustain life. When they struggle, it is a sign that something deeper is out of balance.
But what happens when their home has changed?
What happens when their pathways are disrupted by roads, their nesting grounds disturbed, their environment threatened by dogs, pollution, and habitat loss? How does a kororā find its way back then?
These are the questions that stayed with me. They became a starting point.
Our new kororā display and education programme is a small step, but it sits within something much bigger, an ongoing relationship with mana whenua and a shared commitment to protecting the taiao (environment).
Because looking after kororā is not just about saving a species. It is about remembering that we are not alone in this place. It is about recognising those who have always called this harbour home and understanding our responsibility to ensure they can continue to return, generation after generation.
Rongopai Tickell is a Mātanga Akoranga Learning Specialist at Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington.
Fat Freddy’s Drop exhibition invites visitors to step into the album
Fat Freddy’s Drop exhibition invites visitors to step into the album
By Ian Wards, Kaipupuri Matua Taonga | Senior Curator (Taonga).
Wellington Museum’s Fat Freddy’s Drop Based On A True Story, the 20th Anniversary Exhibition is a dream come true for senior curator Ian Wards, who explains it was a genuine partnership with the genre-defying band.
Whether we are sharing the stories of globe-trotting musicians or people closer to home, I see my curatorial role as a facilitator, connecting communities and my colleagues; one cog in a complex machine of exhibition delivery.
Fat Freddy’s Drop are much more than just this, but Based On A True Story has really become an essential album for generations of New Zealanders and for music lovers around the world. With 18-time platinum album sales, Based On A True Story can be heard pumping out of courier vans, airport speakers, cafes and bars to this day.
I approached Fat Freddy’s management team in January 2024, meeting with manager Nicole Duckworth and their content manager Sarah Hunter, to pitch the idea. Nicole gave us the thumbs up, and Sarah and I soon developed a concept for the exhibition. The band are impressive archivists, so we had many taonga and rich stories to choose from.
Wellington Museum’s exhibition and creative manager David Waller developed a series of 3D designs based on the storylines, objects and images Sarah and I were putting together. The design work was incredibly helpful for communicating our ideas to the wider band and my colleagues in the museum.
Sarah has a deep personal knowledge of Freddy’s history, having filmed and photographed Wellington’s roots, dub/jazz/fusion and hip-hop scene since the mid-1990s. We could not have made the exhibition without her knowledge, contacts and creativity. Through hundreds of emails, phone conversations and in-person meetings, Sarah and I developed the storylines, and started gathering taonga from the band, their whānau and friends.
From our first discussions we agreed that the centrepiece of the exhibition would be DJ MU’s MPC, or MIDI Production Center 2000. It was this piece of musical technology that allowed MU to create long, nuanced rhythm tracks for the band’s other musicians to jam over. Vinyl albums were the other key objects; particularly the original 12“ pressing of Midnight Marauders. This single was picked up by European DJs and tastemakers, giving the band a foothold into the European music scene.
It’s this kind of relationship-building that led to us setting up the band’s collection of music awards, not just in a display case, but on shelves above a kitchen sink, just like they were in Freddy’s former BAYS studio in Kilbirnie.
Part way through the development process we heard of the unexpected passing of Fat Freddy’s band leader and music producer, DJ MU. The outpouring of love for MU and his family really underscored how special he and the Freddys are for the people of Pōneke, Aotearoa and their global audience.
We gave the Freddys space, and left it in their hands to decide whether to continue with the exhibition. When Sarah rang me to say we were still on, it was amazing and unexpected. I’ll forever be humbled by the grace of the band in continuing with the project and putting their trust in us to deliver this special exhibition for the people of Wellington.
We hope visitors will go in and experience the playful genius of the Freddys and come out feeling uplifted as we move into a new year, and the band work towards a new chapter.
– Based On A True Story: The 20th Anniversary Exhibition is on at Wellington Museum until March 8, 2026.
Building colourful collections at Wellington Museum
Building colourful collections at Wellington Museum
By Ian Wards, Kaipupuri Matua Taonga | Senior Curator (Taonga).
A poignant expression of a parent’s love, and a celebration of our multicultural city are the stories behind two colourful additions to Wellington Museum’s collection.
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho Wellington Museum actively collects and shares the stories of Pōneke for current and future generations.
Wellington Regional Hospital Nga Puna Wai Ora has donated murals made by respected former Dominion newspaper cartoonist Eric Heath, who created these vibrant artworks for Wellington Hospital in appreciation of the care and support his son David received from hospital staff while undergoing treatment for leukaemia.
Twenty years later, in 1989, while painting a second set of murals for the hospital, Eric recalled how staff did everything possible for David and his family during his nine months there, including letting a young friend cook meals with an electric fry-pan beside David’s bed and allowing David the occasional can of beer when he was tired of orange juice.
Poignantly, Eric shared that his son never knew he had leukaemia. David was told he was anaemic, as there was nothing medical staff could do for him at the time. David Heath died at 11 years of age in 1969.
Eric said that although hospital staff did everything to make David and the other children under their care happy, the building was a dingy place, so he and his wife Barbara decided to make and donate the original murals to brighten it up.
Not happy with his original work, Eric created the ones donated to Wellington Museum in 1989.
The murals, titled ‘The Circus comes to the Children’s Ward’, show animals and children, gentle drama and humour.
Eric Heath passed away aged 101 in July this year and was delighted to know that his murals had found a new home in the Wellington Museum collection.
Moving up a gear, a set of colourful costumes that stole the limelight during the Cuba Street Carnival in 2005 are also now in our collection. The Cuba Street Carnival was the precursor to today’s CubaDupa. Like CubaDupa it was a celebration of multicultural Wellington, music, creativity and fun.
The costumes’ donor Rose Mercer wore the yellow costume, and her sister-in-law Josiane do Nascimento Soares, the red one. Marita Ortiz wore the green costume (not part of the donation).
The costumes were specially made by artisans in Manaus, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, and are based on those worn at the annual Amazon Folklore Festival at Parintins.
Rose Mercer’s husband Andrew came across the Amazon Folklore Festival while running the Telecom Amazon Adventure programme with New Zealand schools in the late 1990s.
These costumes were a prominent part of the Cuba Street Carnival in 2005, with Rose, Marita and Josiane dancing on one of the floats. Andrew Mercer recalls an image of the red costume being captured by a Wellington City Council photographer and subsequently seen on the side of a bus for about a year.
For Rose and Andrew Mercer, the costumes represent a time in Wellington’s history where cultural diversity was flourishing. The Latin American community in the city had grown from a small handful of people into a large vibrant community, who frequently gathered and mingled at Club Latinos in central Wellington.
The Cuba Street Carnival included Indian, Thai, Cambodian, Pasifika and communities from the African diaspora alongside Pākehā Wellingtonians, demonstrating the diversity and welcoming nature of the wider Wellington community. These costumes are touchstones to our diversity, and also vibrant, eye-catching symbols of Wellington’s long history of summer festivals.
Ian Wards is Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington Senior Curator (Taonga).
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Fat Freddy’s Drop Exhibition Announced for Wellington Museum
10 November 2025
Twenty years ago, Fat Freddy’s Drop released Based on a True Story, an album that captured an intoxicating time in the Wellington music scene. Musicians stepped in and out of a multitude of bands and genres; live music buzzed in the city and was broadcast to a rapturous global audience. Now, Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho Wellington Museum is celebrating the band, the album, and the era of Wellington music with a new exhibition opening Saturday 22 November.
“In the early 2000s, the Wellington music scene was exploding with amazing
Pasifika-infused dub reggae. There seemed to be all these musicians in a big boil up of collaborative creativity. The twenty year anniversary of the album that captured this time, inspired me to create the exhibition. I wanted people to feel like they were stepping into the album,” said curator Ian Wards.
“The band have just announced a world tour for 2026, so it is great to be celebrating their roots just as they get back on the road in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom,” Wards continued.
The exhibition is a colourful convergence of the music, art, and people that make up the band and the album. The centrepiece is DJ MU’s Akai MPC 2000 (Midi Production Center) the beating heart of Fat Freddy’s sound, along with a collection of other instruments played on the album: Tony Chang’s cornet, Dobie Blaze’s Korg keyboard, the beloved ‘Bessie’, Fulla Flash’s 1958 saxophone, as well as the main vocal microphone. The original fish ’n’ chip menu boards by artist Otis Frizzell from the Wandering Eye music video and Hopepa’s legendary All Star yellow tracksuit also feature, alongside music videos and touring footage.
The band, who are known not only for their genre-defying music, but also their fierce independence have been integral creative partners to the exhibition look and feel.
“When Wellington Museum approached us about an exhibition we were intrigued, and the way it has all come together really represents who we are as a band. We are like a creative family. The exhibition shows what is important to us: food, whānau, and our links to the city and the coast that surrounds it. It really feels like a high-five to the Wellington music scene and the city as a whole,” said Fat Freddy’s Drop current saxophonist, Chopper Reeds (Scott Towers).
The exhibition will be open until March 2026. There will be public events throughout the exhibition period, including a guided walking tour and a hands-on workshop making pāua wontons with chef and keyboardist Dobie Blaze, creator of the signature Freddys dish. The closing weekend in March 2026 will feature an all ages sound system gig featuring the next generation of Wellington DJs..
The making of Based on a True Story, is a story of Wellington; the people, the place, and its creative soul. But it is also a story of Aotearoa, and the music that we are known for across the world. The Museum hopes that visitors will go in and experience the playful genius of Freddys and come out feeling uplifted.
“There was so much incredible art, video, music, and stories behind the scenes to choose from Freddys – the band are impressive archivists. We’ve even got their music awards collection, set up as if in Freddy’s studio where they were kept on shelves above the kitchen sink” said Wards.
Based On A True Story: The 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Space Place opening hours
Space Place opening hours
By Space Place | 23 October, 2025
Changes to Space Place hours mean more time under the stars.
Starting Monday 3 November 2025, Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi Space Place will be open on more evenings, increasing opportunities to experience the mīharo (wonder) of our southern skies.
With these extended hours, manuhiri (visitors) can look forward to more chances for guided night-time telescope viewings (weather and season permitting).
You can continue to enjoy our popular planetarium shows, explore the interactive galleries and chat with our friendly staff about how Aotearoa connects to the stars.
Whether it’s a first visit or a return trip, these new hours offer a richer experience. Explore, learn, and look up with us.
Choose a film from the planetarium schedule to plan your visit.
New opening hours
From Monday 3 November 2025, Space Place will move to a new schedule, with adjusted hours during school and public holidays.
During term time, Space Place is open during the day Thursday–Sunday, late Tuesday–Saturday and closed on Monday.
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 5:00pm – 10:30pm
- Wednesday: 5:00pm – 10:30pm
- Thursday: 10:00am – 10:30pm
- Friday: 10:00am – 11:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 11:00pm
- Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
During school holidays and public holidays, Space Place is open daily from 10am with late nights Tuesday–Saturday.
- Monday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
- Tuesday: 10:00am – 10:30pm
- Wednesday: 10:00am – 10:30pm
- Thursday: 10:00am – 10:30pm
- Friday: 10:00am – 11:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 11:00pm
- Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Space Place is closed Christmas Day.
*2026 Term Time Dates
9 February–2 April
20 April–3 July
20 July–25 September
12 October–18 December
**Holiday Open Hours
School and Public Holidays
Closed Christmas Day
Waitangi Exhibition “Significant for every New Zealander”
Waitangi Exhibition “Significant for every New Zealander”
8 May 2025
Wellington Museum is bringing a milestone photographic exhibition of 50 images commemorating 50 years of the Waitangi Tribunal to the capital city.
In partnership with the Waitangi Tribunal, He Kura Toi Tangata: 50 years of the Waitangi Tribunal 1975-2025 opens on 24 May at Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho Wellington Museum.
“This exhibition has significance for every New Zealander. It’s a great way for all New Zealanders to inform themselves about our past and learn more about one of our founding documents”, says Tānemahuta Gray, Kaihautū Director of Māori Strategy at Wheako Pōneke Experience Wellington.
“We’re hearing a lot of discussion about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles right now. It’s the zeitgeist issue of the moment and learning more about it is a great way to bring value to these conversations so we can have stronger discussions. We all have a collective part to play in this partnership.”
Through a series of 50 images and narratives, the exhibition explores pivotal moments, landmark cases, and the enduring legacy of the Tribunal in addressing Treaty of Waitangi grievances.
“This exhibition gives us a chance to get close to the personal stories of how people bring claims and provides a bird’s eye view of the breadth of work the Tribunal undertakes to understand each claim,” says Gray.
Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi unveiled the landmark exhibition, developed by the Waitangi Tribunal to mark its 50th anniversary, on 5 February 2025. Proudly sponsored by the Borrin Foundation, it captures the rich history and profound impact of the Waitangi Tribunal over the past 50 years. The exhibition closed at Waitangi on 6 April 2025 ahead of its move to Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum.
Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi Curator Owen Taituha said it was an honour to collaborate in the development and staging of this powerful exhibition, which not only celebrates the Tribunal’s 50th anniversary but also provides a deep, visual reflection on its journey and achievements.
“He Kura Toi Tangata offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the Tribunal’s history and the significant role it has played in shaping modern New Zealand.”
The exhibition also features a 35-minute documentary Karanga Rā: 50 years of the Tribunal by Te Whatanui Flavell of Hautu Creatives featuring interviews with three former Tribunal Chairs Sir Eddie Durie, Justice Sir Joe Williams and Judge Wilson Isaac, former Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and claimant lawyer Horiana Irwin-Easthope, reflecting on the achievements of the Tribunal.
Wheako Pōneke Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive Diana Marsh says it’s important to show the exhibition in Wellington.
“When I attended the opening of the exhibition at Waitangi in February, I saw how much this show connected the work of the Tribunal to our people and land. I know the rich history of the Tribunal and its significant impact for all New Zealanders will resonate with Wellingtonians.”
Tānemahuta Gray says Wellington Museum, which actively collects and shares the stories of the people of Pōneke, has an important role to play in telling the story of the Tribunal through the exhibition and public programmes, supported by Public Programmes partner Kāhui Legal.
“It’s wonderful we can bring the exhibition to this side of Te Ika ā Māui and the capital city and uphold the mana of the Waitangi Tribunal. The Tribunal is based just a few blocks away from our Museum, and so many people in Wellington know people who have worked there and been part of the fabric of it all, so in a sense it’s a story of Wellington too.”
He Kura Toi Tangata: 50 Years of the Waitangi Tribunal,1975-2025 is at Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho Wellington Museum from 24 May to 25 September 2025.
The name He Kura Toi Tangata was bestowed by Tribunal member Tā Pou Temara and means Treasured Contributions.
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