What it is
Te Papa, whose name means container of treasures, opened on 14 February 1998, bringing together the former National Museum and National Art Gallery in a new building on Cable Street. The building stands on base isolators that protect it in an earthquake, and its upper levels look out over the harbour.
Permanent exhibitions cover the formation of the islands, earthquakes and volcanoes, native wildlife including a preserved colossal squid, and the settlement of New Zealand. The marae Rongomaraeroa is a working contemporary meeting place, the exhibition Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War presents the 1915 campaign through giant figures made with Weta Workshop, and the art floors show works from the national collection.
Getting there by bus
The busiest stops are on Courtenay Place, about 310 to 360 metres away, four to five minutes on foot. Courtenay Place at Courtenay Central (stop 5514), Courtenay Place at St James Theatre (stop 5002) and Courtenay Place - Stop A (stop 5000) are served by routes 1, 2, 14, 20, 21, 23, 24, 29, 35 and 36 and by express routes 30x, 31x, 32x and 38x.
Closer to the museum, Cable Street at Waitangi Park (stop 6512) is served by routes 14 and 24, and Wakefield Street (near 234) (stop 6509), about 170 metres away, by the HX between Wellington Hospital and Wellington Station and the N1 After Midnight service.
