Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Māori Highlights Tour
Description
Discover the richness of Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous culture on this one-hour introductory tour, guided by one of our skilled and experienced hosts. Focusing on key Māori content and concepts within Te Papa, this tour offers a welcoming entry point into te ao Māori — the Māori world. Using a selection of significant taonga (treasures), your guide will share stories and insights that highlight foundational aspects of Māori culture, history, and values. This is not a deep dive, but a thoughtfully curated overview designed to spark curiosity and understanding. This tour includes the international visitor entry charge. Domestic tour pricing is available on our website.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Māori words ‘Te Papa Tongarewa’ mean ‘container of treasures’. At the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, you’ll discover the treasures of our land and people, and hear their stories told with authority and passion. The Museum is built on a unique bi-cultural partnership that recognizes and celebrates Māori as tangata whenua – the original people of this land. Our collections are spread over six floors of engaging, interactive displays. You’ll encounter Māori and Pacific cultural treasures, New Zealand’s extraordinary natural environment, its most important works of art, and its unique history. Our range of engaging and informative tours enrich any Te Papa visit, and bring the stories of New Zealand’s land and people to life. A tour with one of our knowledgeable hosts is a fun way to help orientate the first-time visitor, and adds depth and understanding to the Te Papa experience. Te Papa, including Te Papa Tours, is a Qualmark-endorsed visitor activity and has achieved Qualmark Enviro-Gold accreditation.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Reviews(23)
This is a fantastic museum- and free. There is a special dinosaur exhibit that was expensive - so I did not enter that part. All exhibits had signs in English and Maori and good explanations. My favorite was the earthquake house which simulates a 4.6 earthquake. There was a 10 minute wait, and only 8 people can fit in at once, so make sure you have time. Our tour group only had 1.5 hours, so its not enough time to see everything. I did stop by the ground floor cafe - it takes a very long time in line and to order and get your food. i had fries - they were about $5USD and a huge quantity and hot. This is definitely a museum worth stopping by.
Loved the museum, and this tour. Angela is an amazing ambassador for her heritage, and passing on some knowledge for us to be more aware of the Māori history.
Led by passionate guides, the tour delved deep into the stories and traditions of the Māori people. From the powerful haka demonstration to the intricacies of traditional wood carving, every moment was a connection to Aotearoa's rich heritage. The interactive sessions, where we tried our hand at weaving and learned about the significance of taonga (treasures), made the experience both educational and hands-on. It's not just a tour; it's a heartfelt journey into the heart of Māori culture. If you're at Te Papa and want a meaningful encounter with New Zealand's indigenous roots, the Mana Māori Tour is an absolute must.
Not really much Maori culture and life to see. Would have liked to see and meet more people and watch when they work, etc.
Defiantly a place to visit, I had a great time and I was exposed to Maori culture and culture of Pacific People. There is an exhibition of European Pilgrims art and furniture, there you could see some Greek Orthodox Icons.
Very very informative tour. Highly recommend if you are in Wellington. Our guide was very enthusiastic about sharing his culture with visitors from all around the world.
Excellent guide . Beautiful displays to develop an appreciation of Maori history , expertise and culture
A must visit if in Wellington. I wish we had more time. Exhibits are nice, modern, interactive. Great experience for kids. Traveling from overseas, I particularly enjoyed the Māori exhibits on the top floor.
My daughter and I really enjoyed our Mana Maori tour. Being Maori and educated I knew quite a bit but was a good opportunity for my daughter to learn from a professional not just her mama. The tour itself covered many areas of the museum which was great. I loved how the guide was honest and up to date with new understandings as the light gets brighter so to speak. That was refreshing not being stuck with old information, and nice to see others can get an accurate account of Polynesians that would become known as Maori. Would absolutely recommend otherwise walking around on your own you may miss they whole understanding of things.
Visiting Te Papa Museum was important for me because I am staying in rural New Zealand for 6 months and, although I had availed myself of You Tube videos, I needed to know a more comprehensive history of Maori culture. From the start, the money was well worth the highlight tour. It wetted the appetite of my curious nature about the wonderful and mysterious Maori people. Warrior/whenau. A family oriented warrior culture? Who knew that many Maori can name the boat their ancestors travelled to New Zealand on? There is no way you could cover this museum in an hour or even an afternoon and do it justice, but the tour introduced me to places and customs to explore in person. It was a great place to start my 6 month journey to the land of the long white cloud!
