Wellington is the Oceanian capital home to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand's national museum.
Usually called Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa stands on Wellington's waterfront. It is the country's national museum and combines collections spanning Māori and Pacific heritage, New Zealand history, art, science, and natural history. Its bicultural approach emphasizes the living significance of objects and stories, not merely their display.
Te Papa was established by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Act 1992, which brought together the former National Museum and National Art Gallery. The present museum officially opened on 14 February 1998. Its Māori name is commonly translated as “container of treasures,” with broader interpretations connecting it to treasured things and people of Aotearoa.
Wellington is sometimes confused with Auckland because Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, while Wellington is the national capital. Te Papa's waterfront location, near the central city and harbour, makes it one of Wellington's best-known cultural landmarks.